UNIVERSITY DEGREES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLI, Issue 9257, 26 January 1916, Page 8

UNIVERSITY DEGREES

WHO SHOULD EXAMINE A CONTROVERSY REVIVED. SPIRITED SPEECH BY UNIVERSITY CHANCELLOR. The address of the Chancellor (Sir Robert Stout) at the opening of the annual meeting of the Senate of the University of New Zealand yesterday contained. a spirited reply to the recommendation of the Board of Studies that the examinations for degrees should bo conducted in each college by the lecturers and professors of the college. This proposal was forwarded some time ago by tho University Reform Association, and it will be remembered that on that occasion Sir Robert Stout opposed it very vigorously. “The Board of Studies,” said the Chancellor, “has by a majority recommended that the Senate of the University should cease to perform its statutory function of appointing examiners, and that the duty of examining candidates for degrees and diplomas should test in the teachers of the affiliated institutions. The Senate cannot delegate its function in the manner suggested by the Board of Studies. . . , What the board has now recommended the Senate cannot lawfully do. Perhaps it is therefore unnecessary to waste the time of the Senate over the recommendations of the board to far as vesting the power of examining students in the teachers, or the special boards, or the general board, mentioned in the board’s resolutions, is concerned. It is surely to be regretted that the Board of Studies should at its first meeting have spent its time in formulating and passing recommendations which the Senate has no power to carry out. It may he, however, that these recommendations are meant for the Parliament of the Dominion, and that they are a part of that propaganda that has been carried on, in Wellington and Christchurch, to effect the abolition of external examiners. If so, it is not what I assume the creators of the Board of Studies understood the function of the board would be.

"The proposal of the board is that there ©ball be two grades of examinations in, at all events, the B.A. and B.So. degreeg What is to happen in the law. medical, musical engineering and; other technical degrees does not appear. There is to he first what is called an integpiediate examination, the standard of which, it has been suggested by the Canterbury College professors, shall not bo so high as tho present ordinary pass Standard of B.A. and B.Sc. The examinations at the pass grade are to be conducted; by the ‘professors and lecturers of the college. I' assume this means that 'the‘professors and lecturers in a college in English, for example, will examine only in English, and so with other subjects. The resolution of the board is not clear. Examinations in subjects taken at a higher grade than pass (i presume this means repeat subjects and also honours) shall be conducted by a special board consisting of of all tho 'responsible’ teachers of the subject in the affiliated colleges. A moderator. who may or may not bo a teacher at an affiliated college, may be added tq each special board, if tho board ofstudies, on the recommendation or ithej (? responsible) teachers thinks fit. , The results of examinations higher than intermediate 'as a whole’ (sic) Shall he determined by a general board which is to consist of chairmen of the special boards. 'Responsible' teachers are not defined. It will bo news to mapy that the colleges possess teachers that are not 'responsible.’ "In tho B.A. and B.Sc. degrees the candidate Is bound to take only one or two subjects of a higher grade. The teachers are therefore mainly to examine their own students. The special boards are to examine in the higher grade. This would mean, if there is a professor in’ each college, say of Latin, that the four Latin professors are to examine all those taking Latin at tho higher grade. The papers would require to be prepared by the special board some time before the end of the last term. Every teacher would therefore before the term expired know the questions his students would have to answer.; Would it be his duty to question his class on the subjects which he knew would appear in the examination paper? Is tho Board of Studies aware that in connection with, one university this very question has been raised?’’

Tne Chancellor discussed the proposal of the Board of Studies in detail and quoted evidence to show that the Universities of tho Mother Country and of other portions of tho Empire had not adopted the system now suggested and had, in fact, maintained the principle of external examination. The University experts of the United Kingdom had not thought it desirable that teachers should bo the examiners of their own students.

“If this principle is to be adopted,” he added, “ft cannot be confined to University examinations. There are other ‘responsible’ teachers who can examine their students. We have just as able and upright men and women on the staffs of our primary and secondary schools as we have on tho staffs of our affiliated colleges. Why then do ’ we have a large number of inspeotous of schools? They are not teachers. Some of them have done very little teaching. For what purpose are they maintained in their present position? Is it not that the State may ascertain how- our educational administration is carried on? Further, wo have entrance examinations in this University. Would not the certificate of any teacher he sufficient to certify the ability of his pnpils to enter the balls of learning in our University? Are external examinations to be denounced?_ If so, what is to become of the Civil Service examinations, both junior and senior, and scholarship examinations, accountancy, medical, degree, etc., etc.? Must they all be abolished F Teachers are examined, and are awarded certificates on their examination- If this principle of external examination is not approved, the teachers’ certificates I presume will be granted by the officials of the Normal Schools. This will make a saving in the Education Department expenditure. "There is a more important question, however, to bo considered. If tho teachers are to be examiners, and if the Board of Studies is to frame programmes of studies, there is little left for the Senate of the New Zealand University to do. The cost of administration of the New Zealand University with its Senate, its Board of Studies, its Examiners, etc., is large. We are in troublous times and shall ■ sooner or later fed the great financial pressure that follows every war, -No war has been so dossal as the one in which onr Empire is now engaged. It is our duty to husband our resources, and it is criminal to waste money unnecessarily. If then the New Zealand University is not necessary as an examining and a degree-granting university, it is the duty of our Parliament to abolish it. If the teachers of colleges are to he responsible for the granting of degrees and diplomas. let the University Colleges be constituted four independent universities, with power to grant degrees, and to perform other university functions.

“There are several persons still alive who took some part in the constituting

of the university and they will regret that such a national institution should cease to exist. About fifty years ago, when the question of making provision for university education first arose in Otago, many thought that it would be for the benefit of the life of onr coming nation,’ that the intellectually-gifted of our sons and daughters should belong to, and be educated at a university, and that sectional or district prejudices, which often arise, should not divide us in the pursuit of the highest educational development of our people. They may have dreamed dreams; and persons who wore not then born .when such subjects were discussed may be right in now assuming that our early settlers knew nothing about university matters, though many of these had bad a university education. It was hoped that no political or partisan feeling should ever enter bur halls of learning. They did not foresee the future/ Such partisanship has invaded one college, in fact it is said it is found in two, so that no one who cannot pronounce the ‘shibboleth’ of a so-called University Reform Association has much chance of having his services utilised in tho administration of a college. .We have for a tew years had a persistent demand from some of the professors of our colleges that the professoriate should control .our university education. Some of these who made this demand have now left New Zealand, and I notice that one of them has found in his present place of residence that its primary and secondary, as well as university education, require a complete alteration. Was it not one of our ablest English philosophers who said 'The-eye sees that which the eye is prepared to see’ ? • ~ “Those who hare stood by the cradle of the New Zealand University may regret to have to take part in its obsequies; but if it is not required, it must be abolished- Our resources are wasted if there is a useless institution maintained in our midst. Monetarily there will be a great gain by its abolition. We can save the cost of the Senate, of the University office, of the Board .of Studies, of our calendar, of all the examinations, entrance, degree, ■ diploma, etc., ©to. If it is the function of the teacher to examine -his students, he needs no extra salary for performing this duty. This is. in fact, the rule in Universities where the teachers aid in examining. The primary and secondary schools teachers can. examine pupils who'desire to enter the University, and can give them necessary certificates. Fortner, thbre are forty-five inspectors of schools that can be dispensed with if the teachers are the proper persons to examine their pupils, and the staff of the central Education Department could be much reduced. Very many thousands a year could thus be saved, and it will not be denied that it is the duty of the Gqveminent to see, especially in this crisis of our history,' that none of our resources are-wasted, No-doubt-a degree granted -by-one of-the colleges will not be considered by the public equal to oiie granted by the University. . The degrees to be granted under the new, proposals, even if .the University be maintained, will be only college degrees,, for the main part of. the examination for - tho primary degrees is to; be conducted by the teacher .of the student alone. It will be only correct to tell the public, that tho degrees granted have been granted by the college,’ that they ore: not truly University degrees. “In the days of long, ago the idea was that with a New Zealand University, controlling and granting degrees, etc-, provision could be made for new schools, or colleges, in other" parts of-tie-Do-minion.' but this will be''difficult to realise, if we establish four separate Universities.” :::