Report of the Senate on the amended draft charter : together with communications from affiliated colleges, from graduates, and from other individuals, relating to the same / University of London.

  • University of London. Senate.
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Senate on the amended draft charter : together with communications from affiliated colleges, from graduates, and from other individuals, relating to the same / University of London. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    duties of the University of London towards liberal education generally, and with a resolution to disengage it from the fetters which have hitherto prevented it from an expansion commen- surate to its national position and promise. The Senate proceed to consider the substantive objections which they find advanced against Clause 36. In the language of University College, the proposition ‘ that collegiate educa- ‘ tion shall no longer be necessary for candidates for Degrees ‘in Arts and Laws, is one likely to be injurious to the cause ‘ of regular and systematic education ; not only lowering the ‘value, but altering the very meaning of an English University ‘Degree.’ Other Colleges, especially Manchester College (p. 34), urge objections the same in substance, but somewhat differing in phraseology. What is called Collegiate training, or the Collegiate test, is held forth as an indispensable preliminary to University ex- amination, and as essential to the value of a Degree. These objections on the part of the Colleges derive all their gravity from assuming, that the change proposed will lower the standard of intellectual proficiency and the measure of positive knowledge now attested by the Degree. The Senate deny with confidence that such will be its effect. They are most anxious to maintain undiminished the intellectual value of the Degree. They are far from wishing to make it attain- able at a smaller cost of diligent and effective study than it now requires. Least of all are they disposed to encourage what is called ‘cramming,’ by students who have omitted or evaded the obligation of continuous study ; the importance of which the Senate feel as strongly as the Colleges. Their B.A. De- gree now represents two examinations, with an interval of two years’ continuous study between them. It would still repre- sent the same, after the change proposed in Clause 36, as it does at present. The only difference would be, that the two years of continuous attendance on Lectures would no longer be required to be performed in a College. It is however contended by the Colleges, that unless the two years of continuous study be passed under their inspection, there will be no continuous study at all; or at least that the Senate can acquire no assurance that there has been such. The Senate on the contrary believe, that as satisfactory a guarantee for this fact can be obtained elsewhere. In the first place, it is to be remarked that the thirty-eight Institutions now affiliated constilute but a very small proportion of the educational establishments existing in the country. No one can reasonably maintain,that the numerous other educational institutions, schools, and private tutors, are unfit in the mass to impart effective instruction, or to attest continuous study; and that such virtue or aptitude resides exclusively in the enrolled Colleges. Nevertheless all other educational establishments and teachers are at present discpmlified, so far as regards the u