THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON.
[The following communication has been addressed to Members of Convocation of the University of London. It will, we believe, interest a great number of our readers.—En. Spectator.]
TO THE MEMBERS OF CONVOCATION,—In view of the adjourned extraordinary meeting of Convocation, to be held on Tuesday, November 3rd, a number of graduates met on Wednesday last to con- sider the proposed scheme for the establishment of a Teaching University for London.
As the result of their deliberations, it was thought desirable that your attention should be called to some of the more striking objec- tions to the proposed scheme ; and that, having regard to the grave importance of the question to be submitted to you, affecting the very existence of the University as at present constituted, you should be especially requested to attend on Tuesday next, and to give your support to Mr. Bone's amendment, to receive the report submitted by Lord Justice Fry without adopting it en bloc.'
Should this amendment be carried, the following resolutions, expressing what is believed to be the feeling of the majority of the graduates, will be moved,—" That Convocation, whilst affirming the general principles of the desirableness of bringing the teachers and the Examiners of the University into closer relationship with one another and with the Senate, and of modifying the constitution of the Senate in accordance with the previous recommendations of Convocation, and without giving to the teachers an undue share of representation on the governing body of the University, refers back the scheme to the Special Committee for further consideration." "That the number of members on the Special Committee be increased by one-half."
Among the reasons that induced the meeting to recommend this coarse are the following :—First. It is contrary to the precedents of Convocation to include in the same motion the proposals both to receive and to acinpt a complex Report such as that submitted by Lord Justice Fry. The usual practice in presenting a scheme to Convoca- tion has been, first, to move the reception of the Report, and then to propose, one by one, the adoption of its several clauses. Secondly. The scheme itself is open to the following among other objections It proposes to transfer to a number of new and untried bodies, not necessarily consisting of graduates of the University, the functions hitherto exercised by Convocation. 2. The bodies proposed to be constituted include Teachers of Insti- tutions which differ widely in their objects, and some of which have no reasonable claim to University rank. 3. In the proposed consti- tution of the Senate, the representation of Convocation (instead of being increased in accordance with the repeatedly affirmed wishes of Convocation), would be diminished from one in four, as now, to one in five. 4. On the other hand, the proposed representation of the faculties on the Senate would give an undue and preponderating influence to teachers, which, considering the views held by certain representative teachers, would tend to the lowering of the standard of the examinations. 5. The arbitrary restriction of the area of the University would exclude from participation in its work the London graduate teachers of such provincial Colleges as are now associated with the University by their curriculum of studies. 6. Except as regards the establishment of Boards of Studies, the soheme contains no indication of the means of effecting other Univer- sity reforms, the importance of which the graduates in Convocation have already affirmed.
As regards the grievance of the Teachers of the London Schools of Medicine, many of whom have been induced to support the pro- posed scheme, it may be here noted that the Royal College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Physicians are now actively engaged in considering a proposal to confer on those who obtain their diplomas the title of doctor; and it is expected that this action will help to check the progressive decrease in the number of London medical students.
Finally, it is thought that, without revolutionising the present government of the University, changes may be introduced into its organisation by which the more important objects of the Association for promoting a Teaching University for London may be attained, and that the main purpose of such changes should be,—(1), To bring into closer relationship the teachers, the examiners, and the Senate ; (2), to deepen, without narrowing, the influence of the University upon the higher education of the country ; and (3), to strengthen the corporate feeling among the graduates which gives to the University its unity and force.—Signed, on behalf of the meeting, Plume
MAGNUS, Chairman. October 28th.
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