UNIVERSITY REFORM

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7449, 25 May 1911, Page 5

UNIVERSITY REFORM

SOME OUTSIDE OPINIONS. VIEWS OF ENGLISH AUTHORITIES This morning w© print a further batch of opinions received by the University Reform Association from educationists abroad upon questions raised in connection with the New Zealand University. It will be remembered that the questions to which answers were sought were: A. Ought we to endeavour to'’substitute for the purely external examination some form of test in which the opinions of teachers is, taken into account? B, —What general powers should bo given to the professorship the organisation of the university and the colleges? Some of the later replies are: L Professor A. L. Bowley, M.A., F.S.S., has held many important university posts, and is now Professor of Economics and Political Science and Dean of the Faculty of Economics at London University. He is the author of numerous works on Statistics and Economics, and has for many years been an examiner of the New-Zea-land University: Question A: Yes; the present arrangement is not satisfactory. I have found it difficult to jude© what the teaching may have been from t*>o !T ,, Pf'hns. The method vfonld he for the teacher to send to tho external examiner a note in tho matter of tho teaching given, together with- suggestions as to half or two-thirds of each paper to be set. The external examiner should take these into consideration and complete the paver, using some, at anv rate, of the material succeeded. His additional questions would influence the teaching in the following sessions. Where the external examiner was in doubt as to the award, he might communicate with the internal teacher—but as this would mean three months’ delay, it might be better that the teacher should send notes on the students’ work in class. .Throughout, I assumed that the final responsibility for award rests with the external bodv. and express no opinion a£ to the advisability of this. Question B; The nrofessors, as a body, sitting with the principals of the universities, should renort on all matters relating to studies, svllabusos. examinations, and awards, to the executive body; and their reports should be adopted, unless sufficient reasons (technical, constitutional, or financial) axe shown to the contrary). The professors should represent the opinions of non-profeasorial members of their faculties, which should be ascertained at faculty meetings. The professorial body should be represented in tho supreme governing or executive body, with power to vote on all matters not affecting their own salaries. Generally, a university should be democratic. tho democracy consisting of the teachers and graduates, so.* far as is consistent with the rights of the body that provides the funds. ARTHUR L- BO WHEY, M.A., Cambridge. Dean of Faculty, of Economics, and Reader In Statistics. University of London, Professor of Mathematics and Economics at University College, Reading. 11. Professor T. F. Tout occupies tho Chair of Mediaeval and Modern History at the University of Manchester, and is an historical writer of worldwide repute, among his many contributions being the volume on “ Germany and the Empire” in the Cambridge Modern History. On many •occasions ho has examined for the New Zealand University. Question A: I have examined for many years for New Zealand, and think the present system carefully carried out and mechanically efficient. It is, however, impossible for one external examiner to assess accurately the merits of candidates of whoso personality and education he knows nothing; and it is quite impossible for . Mm to set questions that have any relation to the teaching. I strongly think that the time has com© when the svstem of sending papers to Encdand should be replaced bv an examination conducted locally. I think', however, that the reputation of degrees might suffer in the eyes' of the general public If some external authority did hot co-operate with the teacher, though I think the teacher onelit to fix the curriculum': and so© that the pavers correspond to it. The outside examination does keep a fair etandard, and is impersonal; but it is arbitrary, accidental and tho reverse of stimulating to the teacher. I think care will have to be taken with local examiners not to lower the standard. *W© teachers all like to let our pupils through, and a New Zealand teacher may b© rather isolated from general academic movements. Question B: The control of all strictly academic matters ought to rest with the professors. This is secured in tho newer universities of England by the full powers given to the Senate of Professors and .the faculties of recognised university teachers of a certain status. The conncil of the newer universities of England, a lay body, in which academic opinion, though in a minority, can nevertheless express itself, should review all the work of the academic bodies involving policy, and will - thus provide the necessary check upon them. This is tho least that should bo done. In practice the professors in the newer universities have a great deal to say about policy. and a preponderant influence, upon most appointments. Such extra legal powers can, however, only follow when the academic and lay hoards are on good terms. As academic heads I should much prefer a vice-chancellor and dean • of the faculties with limited powers to the .autocratic American president who tends to get all the initiative into 1 his own hands. T. P. TONT. 111. Professor H-anry Gotidy; M.A., D.C.L. (Oxon.), Hon. LL.D. (Edinburgh) is Rogius Professor of Civil Law, Oxford. He was formerly Professor of Civil Law. Edinburgh: . for many years edited, the u Juridical Review,” and has made groat contributions to legal literature. He is a past and present examiner of the New Zealand University. Question A; . Examinations, in mv op»nMn, are at be a t hut an test o p a. student’* merit. It is very difficult avoid "cramming" for them, and not, seMom a. student of surer-fi-ial minUtle* higher ’ marks and ret s a higher Mace than one of more sterling merit- Th ? s may be d-i© to vari~n« pairs©?. «nch. as cram. car»o'» , t,v for ramdiv p-ivir>"-nff inf'»rmot*on or mnicPv pon«v?TVT°rinEr idea®. But, nuhanniJv, we r *nnot. dis-renee w, th ** p I think, to restrict them as much as posjvr sM-'Wt.e. otiob, oMeVo* nr I nra to t*»«nk the is bo®‘. The of a TV©'*© l>**n or "of 'flu* tolnMon o f a got,', th© SO-'-’-'A vMoa TW fhoye nr© O* l '©” s-ib-ootc „ q T * w-'b -r = T r, nf of L n r v f T n j nVv-rld r pi-*>iiTr ex' , Tn , ’- > ' , t. ! oT»c or o +v, er tc !inl, ©* , s V->ve tano-u* t cp l f is d s m-»i7t ff> r at/it] th«* f'n‘rest-in ?r, dpd to in fn-p-onr of c^rt^.v n f e> At *pv rat© he wAnid en-a*-© *>,«. of rarrialitv. it. tnaV© the tpaebing o F certain subjects fall into a nflrr'iw groove. With much that Mr Jordan has said I quite agree. The tip tie to repress is "coaching” and cramming, and the thing tt> encourage is resort by the students to libraries and laboratories for independent work. Perhaps it might, he a good thing for the University of New Zealand, looking to the peculiar position in which it is placed as regards examinations for degrees. to allow to each candidate a certain number of marks according to the pro- 1

ficiency already shown by him in hia curriculum. But this may bo impracticable. I should add that I think it an important consideration in favour of the existing system of examination that it produces uniformity of standard among tho several colleges. Question B: I am of opinion that the professors and other established teachers at each college should bo formed in collegiate boards, and that they should have power, as such, to regulate the teaching and the course of study in the several departments. They should fix the hours of lecturing and the subjects to be lectured upon* recommend text books, and make recommendations to the general council or senate of the university and the chancellor with regard to university examinations, degrees, and the like. In case of difference of opinion on any important matter, there should l>e the right of appeal at the instance of any member to the senate. I am further of opinion that it would bo expedient that at least two members of each sueli academic board should have a seat on the senate of the university. Such members should ho elected by ballot by their colleagues.' I should not give these professorial boards power to elect new professors, but I think that each faculty in a college (where a regular faculty exists, e.g., arts, law, or medicine) should have the right to present names to tho local governing council for election. I may. of course, have misunderstood, from insufficient information, the position of the local collegiate councils, but it does not seem to mo wise that almost purely lay bodies should regulate the internal affairs of the college, so as to say what shall bo taught and tho like. They should deal with external affairs, such as finance, buildings, ceremonial, etc. HENRY GOUDY. IV. Professor J. Shield Nicholson, D.Sc,, occupies the Chair of Political Economy and has mad© important and numerous contributions to tho literature of economic and social problems, including u Principles of Political Economy," “Strikes and Social Problems,” “ Banker’s Money,” “ Effects of Machinery on Wages/’ etc., etc. He has examined for, the New Zealand University. - « Question. A: » In my opinion it is desirable that thera should be a combination of externa! and internal examiners. This is the custom in Edinburgh, and the tendency in recent times is to give more weight to the olaea work. In examining for the University of London, I have always folt the difficulty of not having the opinion of the teachers concerned in the candidates. In other universities the internal examiner in general lias the predominant voice. At tho same time in the case of Now Zealand it would be impossible for the examiners to meet and discuss the candidates, that ia if the external examiners are to be chosen from this country, and I do not think It would be desirable to have examinations conducted wholly by the internal teachers. A good deal would be.gained if the teachers sent in a report of tho class work of the students as a guide to the external examiners, and a - certain proportion of marks might bo allowed for this work (a plan now being adopted in Edinburgh as regards certain subjects). . In ,my opinion the work of examination is difficult and responsible, and in practice examinations forms an important part of tho university system. On tho whole the work for examinations under proper teachers ia a . good discipline. Question B; I think as much power as possible should b© given to the professors in the organisation of the university and college work. When I was, appointed to Edinburgh in for some years after, the whole of the real organisation was in the hands of the senatus, i.e., the professors. After the Commission of-1889 a good deal of tho work was transferred to the ■ university court, on which the senatus has four representatives out of fifteen. ; The eenatua still retains the chief educational power, and the main work of the court is supposed to he financial.. The lecturers (i.e., non-professors) are members of the respective boards of studies, though not of the senatus, and they do not attend meetings of the faculties except on invitation. Some inconvenience has been felt from the exclusion of the lecturers ir. important subjects . from the senatus and faculty meetings, but the numbers are too great to admit of full inclusion. In practice the professors and lecturers of nn w department really control the work done and tho system -works well. J. SHIELD NICHOLSON. V. / Sir Joseph Larmor, M.A. (Camb.), D.Sc. (Oxon. 1 , Lon., Dublin), F.R.S., has occupied university, posts in Ireland and England, and is now Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge and secretary of the Royal Society. Question A:, . « Yos; each' college should: have a repre gentative on each examining board, and there ought;, to bo on© or two external examiners on each, say from Australian universities or from past student©. Generally I think tho plan of tho Scotch universities, before it was “reformed” twenty years . ago, is most suitable to . a young country where general education is more important than specialised knowledge. Students of special promise would thus be fully prepared to take advanced course© in England, as used to be done with so much success by Scotch students* Later on a more complete system would be possible. Question B: Each college would presumably have a local governing body, of , whom ono-half would be chosen from the professorial staff and the other half from local public men, who would be likely to help the adrainietration and promote the interests of the college in public- life. The university might be controlled by a senate, of which each college might bo represented In above proportion; in addition about a third of the members added representing the central government and public life of Now Zealand. . There would be a standing committee for administration. An omnipotent president is not desirable unless tho ideal man is available, which seldom happens., A chancellor might bo equally active in" representing the university, and promoting its interests, routine work being taken, off by a vice-chancellor chosen for a. term of years from tho colleges • m - order. J. LARMOR.