Comment on the New Building Block

The visit of a number of distinguished educationalists to New Zealand has excited great interest in the subject of education. Now that it is all over it is a suitable time for us to inquire if the University of New Zealand and in particular, Victoria College is doing all that it might in educational and cultural leadership in the community.

We all know that in the past Victoria College has been hampered in its activities by the lack of funds, but it is questionable if the funds which it has induced reluctant governments to grant have been devoted to the best purposes. At Victoria College there has been a great bias towards scientific studies. I do not wish it to be thought that I dispute the important place which Science holds in modern life, but Science has not yet proved that other studies should be neglected. Further, Science is not something we should swallow whole. We ought to try to determine which scientific studies are more important. which are less so.

In fact, we should strive for a balanced outlook in summing up the relative importance of scientific and other studies. It seems that this is something which Victoria College has not done. On an average of the figures for the years 1935 and 1936 there is one full-time teacher for more than forty students in the departments of English and History; indeed, in these departments there are no part-time teachers. In Law, the position is worse still, for there is one fulltime teacher to every seventy students, and remember Victoria is the Law College of New Zealand.

The situation, however, is very different when we come to consider the scientific studies. In these departments there is one full-time teacher to every twenty-one students, and if we include the demonstrators, one to every seventeen.

As I have already said, I do not question the importance of Science, but I do consider that at Victoria the other departments have been neglected. But the bias is shortly to become more pronounced than ever.

The Government has agreed to grant Victoria College money to extend its buildings. Part of the money will be spent on new administrative offices, which are urgently needed, but the greater part (at the lowest estimate £30,000) will be spent in building a new biology block. The question boils down to this: Why Biology? Biology consists in the study of Zoology and Botany. Zoology is of primary importance in the study of Medicine, but I have it on the highest authority that the facilities for the study of Biology at whilst Botany is studied both at Massey and Hamilton.

It appears then that from a utilitarian point of view, which in this case is the benefit which Biology can confer on the community, there is small reason to fear we shall suffer from our inattention to Biology.

On the other hand, the facilities for the study of Arts and, above all, Law. are most insufficient for our needs. There is another aspect which must not be forgotten, con only be learnt under the most The educational and cultural value of the Arts and Law faculties an immense, and surely the same cannot be said of Biology.

A University should be an educational and cultural force in the community. Its main object should be to turn out graduates who will form an enlightened body in the Dunedin are entirely adequate, community, and who will be able to view every question with an out-look; both broad and reasonable. The torch of civilisation should be cherished at the University, and its graduates should be equipped to bear it when they complete their course, but surely a Biology block cannot greatly assist in this essential task.

It is at universities that the quality of constructive thought is best learnt, and from there it is handed on to the community. But the ability to think constructively arduous condiions, when the departments of English, History, and above all. Law, are so shamefully understaffed.

The result of biological experiment in its zoological aspect, and to a large extent in its botanical aspect are available from overseas, but the destiny of New Zealand must be worked out by New Zealanders. Is it not the task of the University to seek to ensure that it will be worked out by those who have learnt to think clearly and express themselves cogently?

The graduates of Victoria most fitted to carry on this task and to Inspire others to do so. are those who have studied the great writers of the past, those who have read of the work of men and institutions in other countries, and those who have been trained in the severe mental discipline of the Law.

(Contributed.)