Item 36 - Letter from [ ] to Henry Sidgwick

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Explains that he was away for the latter part of the previous week, and therefore unable to answer Sidgwick's note; expected until the previous day that the Headmasters' Committee would meet that day. Hopes that he will carry part II of his scheme [in relation to proposed changes to the Previous Examination], and believes that part VII or some modification of it is the necessary sequel to part II. Is unsure whether Sidgwick's plan is exactly what he should have proposed, but what he wishes to see is more freedom, and so he hopes the scheme will become law.

Suggests that to know 'the general tendency of opinion among schoolmasters', reference should be made to the proposed list of subjects for the [ ] Certificate] [ ], in connection with the approval of that proposal by the meeting at Highgate, and the resolut[ion] passed at the meeting without a division...that the [university should] be urged to accept that certification is of value in regard to [ ] [ ], etc.' Adds that the 'real meaning' of the foregoing is that the schoolmasters 'want freedom and an end to the system of bolstering up'. States that he both expects and wishes the standard in the alternative system [in the Previous Examination] to be high 'so that this new liberty may bear fruit in real and valuable knowledge of [ ] subjects in place of [...]' Latin and Greek. Believes that the change would be of great use towards spreading good education, and that it is the duty of the universities to make some such change 'if they claim to regulate and influence the [education] of the country'. Adds that, while agreeing with the proposed scheme, he wishes it to be understood that he is opposed to anything which [would involve all literary qualifications for a degree. Hopes that Cambridge will show sufficient faith in the true classical studies to believe that they can survive 'without being bolstered up by restrictions....'