HISTORY OF EDUCATION. -731 



more mature members of society attempt to train and instruct 

 ihe less mature members, in the interests of conformity, to a set of 

 social standards and the individual achievement of certain social 

 acquisitions, then the study of the history of education will be of 

 the nature of a dual process involving firstty the estimation of the 

 standards and culture of this and that age and people, and, secondly, 

 the characterisation of the methods and institutions by which these 

 ages and peoples have attempted to educate successive immature 

 generations. 



7.— THE UNIVERSITIES AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON THE 

 CURRICULA OF THE SCHOOLS. 



Bv PROFESSOR CARSl.AW, D.Sc, University of Sydney. 



(Abstract.) 



The Universities must have some security for the previous training 

 of those who wish to enter their classrooms, but the conditions 

 which they impose affect the work of many who will never pursue 

 their studies at the Universities. A tendency in England and 

 elsewhere to substitute for a University Entrance Examination a 

 school-leaving examination. This question to form one of the 

 topics to be discussed at the Imperial Universities' Conference in 

 London in 1912. Also the confusion which is caused by the different 

 standards required in the several Universities. 



The evil influence which some of the regulations for the English 

 examinations have had upon the schools. Compulsory Latin and 

 Greek still required at Oxford and Cambridge from almost all those 

 proceeding to a degree in those Universities. The effect of this 

 regulation upon the English schools. Influence of the Board of 

 Education, and the other English Universities, in modifying the 

 school curricula. The neglect of the study of elementary natural 

 science in the schools, and the importance of some change in this 

 respect. The crowding out of the school time-table of proper work 

 at modern languages owing to the large amount of time given to 

 the other subjects. 



The position in Australia. The governing bodies influenced 

 by the former customs of other Universities which have been 

 changed in recent years. The different regulations in force in 

 Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia will 

 prevent closer co-operation among the Universities and cause con- 

 fusion in the schools. 



Effect of compulsory Higher Latin. Tendency towards pre- 

 mature specialisation in the schools. The schools should give a 

 broad, modern or classical and liberal education. Specialisation 

 to be reserved for the Universities. Increased importance of the 

 work by the departments of Public Instruction in determining the 

 curricula of the schools. 



