THE GRESHAM UNIVERSITY.
[TO THY EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—My attention has just been drawn to the article on " The Gresham University," in the Spectator of February 20th, in which reference is made to the action which the Council of the London Society for the Extension of University Teaching is taking with regard to the Draft Charter now before Parlia- ment. As it is clear that the position taken up by the Council is not understood, I hope you will do me the favour of allowing me space to state in a few words what is urged by them.
It is stated in the article that it cannot be admitted that attendance at "University Extension" lectures can be "en- titled to count, in any sense understood in the academic world, as a substantial part of a qualification for a degree." What the writer of the article states cannot be admitted, has been already admitted in the most emphatic way by the University of Cambridge. For in 1885 the Syndicate entrusted with the carrying on of the Cambridge University Extension work—which included such men as the Bishop of Durham, Canon G. F. Browne, and Professor Henry Sidgwick—found itself, after fifteen years' experience of the work, so much satisfied with the educational results, that it submitted a recommendation to the University to apply to Privy Council for a new statute empowering the University to recognise approved series of University Extension courses as a " sub- stantial part of a qualification for a degree." The statute was obtained, and under it an approved series of courses, in educational sequence, extending over at least three years, together with evidence of satisfactory knowledge in certain elementary subjects, is now accepted by the University in lien of one year's residence and the passing of the " Little-Go." It will surely be admitted that the Council of the London Society, in following the lead of the University of Cambridge acting under the advice of such educational authorities as those above-named, are on safe ground.
The Council claim that experience has shown that a valuable training, worthy of University recognition, can be given to evening students by adopting the method of the University Extension system, which involves, in addition to lectures, class-work and regular paper-work for the lecturer, together with a final test examination. An indefinite increase of efficiency in the way of greater sequence in studies might be secured by the offer of adequate University privileges to such students as satisfied all the conditions laid down by the University. It is surely short-sighted policy for a new University, which will be called upon to undertake a very large and important work in London, to ignore the important results of the valuable educational experiments which have been carried on with so much success during the last twenty
Sec., London Soc. for Extension of University Teaching. Charterhouse, March 1st.
[Mr. Roberts does not appear to see that the University of Cambridge, in admitting that an Extension course of three years may count as equivalent to one year's residence and the passing of the " Little-Go," practically deny that it is at all equal to what the University Extensionists ask when they desire to be recognised as one of the qualified institutions for the new University. The recognition of three years as one may be entitled to rank either as a substantial or as an un- substantial part of the qualification claimed, according as the word " substantial " is interpreted.—En. Spectator.]
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