UNIVERSITY SENATE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10211, 22 February 1919, Page 7

UNIVERSITY SENATE

SOCIAL SCIENCE DIPLOMA i ■ , . . ■. | r AN AMBITIOUS SCHEME. '■-■-■. Press Association. CHRISTOHURCH, February 21. I At the University Senate to-day, the [Board of Studies recommended that a diploma in social science should he established, eubmitting a. suggested course of subjects. The course sugIgested was in two parts, one compulsory and the other optional. The compulsory subjects were sociology, ecc~ Inomics, history, and political science. | A wide range of subjects was suggested for the optional portion of the examination for the diploma. The Rev. A. Cameron moved that the Senate agree to the recommendation. Professor Huntor mov«d an amendment that the matter be referred to the Arts and Commerce Committee. He contended that the course of subjects suggested was far too ambitious. A much, more modest course was necesjsary at the present time. Under the [ proposed requirements for the diploma a % student would be able to get a diploma not in accord with modern sociology. T;ie Hon. J. A. Hanan (Ministeri for Education) said he hoped something would be done on the fines suggested to the Senate. He wanted to see the subjects mentioned in the recommendation given greater prominence. If they granted a diploma it would, he considered, give greater prominence to them. No more important question had come before the Senate. If they did not have a public which was enlightened on these matters, they would drift into a state of chaos.

;~Dr Anderson supported, the amendment, stating that the proposed diploma appeared to' him to be mors suifed for a post-graduate course than for the bulk of" the people. If it were necessary to meet the needs of the people in the. matter & more moderate programme was needed than the ono submitted. Professor Hunter's amendment was carried. The Board of Studies recommended the Senate to provide for the study of anthropology in the University by the establishment of a diploma in that dubjeot, the Dunedin members of the Board of Studies to be a committee with power to co-operate and report to the Senate at the next meeting.

Professor Hunter moved that tho [Senate.should agree to the recommendation, and that it should be referred to the science committee. Professor Macmillan Brown said it was a living duty for them to encourage thVstudy of the subject, more particularly in view of the fact.-that as a result of the war New Zealand would be administering some of the' islands in the Pacific. He had spoken to some of those who were administering the affairs of these islands, and found in the majority of cases they had been taken frofnTthe law and other professions, and had absolutely no knowledge of the customs and traditions of the natives. Professor Hunter's motion wat. agreed to. The Senate agreed to the recommen->, dation of the Board of Studies that the third class in honours be no longer awarded. UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS. | In regard to University examinations, the Senate decided: That in each .subject a board of examiners be set up, consisting of responsible teachers in the four colleges, with whom may he assooiated, if the Board of Studies on the recommendation of the teachers ol the subject thinks fit, an assessor, who may or may not be a teacher atian affiliated oollege, and that the question of merit be referred to tho arts ana commerce committee. ' ;$%.<,--v. ; " .