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- 19 Oct 1891 (Production)
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1 doc
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On the proposal to appoint a Syndicate to consider allowing alternatives for one of the classical languages in the Previous Examination, and the opposition by '[a]n important group of residents' thereto. Refutes the argument that 'it would be a waste of time to re-open the question because it was decided in the negative eleven years' previously. Sets out 'some of the reasons which appear to render the reconsideration of this question expedient'.
Points to the fact that the question has been 'and answered in the affirmative' by both the Victoria University and the Scottish University Commission. Refers back again to the 1880 proposal by the Syndicate to allow French and German to be taken as a substitute for Greek in the Previous Examination, and claims that what was being recommended was 'a much more novel departure than the same proposal would now involve.' Argues also that 'however valuable a branch of knowledge may be, but little is gained by forcing an inadequate fragment of it on minds whose interests are absorbed in a diverse line of study.'
Refers also to the Report of the Headmasters' Conference, held in Oxford in December 1890, which demonstrated an attitude amongst the headmasters of the leading schools, including Clifton, Harrow, Marlborough, Rugby, Winchester, Shrewsbury, Sherborne, and Wellington College, 'in favour of some relaxation in the obligation now imposed by the Universities of studying two classical languages.' Cites the evidence of Mr Welldon, Headmaster of Harrow, on the subject.
Denies that the matter involves 'taking sides with Physical Science against Classics', and that those who are in favour of the change desire to lessen the mount of literary training imposed on students of science, and contends that rather than giving too much literary education 'to boys whose bent is scientific rather than literary' the present system, 'in consequence of an unsuitable choice of instruments', gives too little.