332 



NATURE 



[Feb. 2, I 



actively engaged in educational or administrative work in one 

 of the institutions in which such teaching is given. 



2. That your petitioners have been engaged for the la^^t three 

 years in examining the state and requirements of University 

 education in London, and in conferring with the persons respon- 

 sible for the teaching and administration of the institutions in 

 which such education is carried on. They have thus been led 

 to the conclusion that there exists in the metropolis and its 

 suburban districts a general and growing demand for the develop- 

 ment of University education. They are convinced that this 

 demand cannot be met while higher education in London 

 remains in its present unorganized state, and while the various 

 institutions giving University instruction are deprived of the 

 means of common discussion and concerted action. For the 

 teaching given in these institutions their respective governing 

 bodies are alone responsible, and each of these bodies for the 

 most part acts in educational matters on the advice of its own 

 teachers ; but there is no common centre, such as a University 

 would supply, where these governing bodies and their teachers 

 could meet for purp9ses of conference, and wherein measures 

 for the better organization of teaching could be discussed and 

 settled. It is matter of experience to those who have taken part 

 in the administration of such institutions that they suffer from 

 the want of public recognition and support — a want due, not to 

 defects in their work, but mainly to the anomaly of their 

 position as institutions performing some of the functions without 

 having the status of a University. 



3. That the severance from the work of teaching of the work 

 of examination for degrees, and the assignment of such examin- 

 ation to the existing University for London as its sole function, 

 has had an injurious effect upon University education in London. 

 The restraint exercised over efficient institutions through examin- 

 ations held by a body which is neither responsible for their 

 teaching nor in communication with their teachers acts as a 

 fetter upon education, and gives undue consequence to examin- 

 ations and their results. Examinations so arranged are less 

 efficient than they might be made as a test of real merit, and tend 

 to encourage dissipation of intellectual energy. In the Faculty 

 of Medicine, although a systematic course of study in a recog- 

 nized school is now required by the existing University of 

 London, the want of due relations between the examining 

 institution on the one hand and the teaching bodies and pro- 

 fessional authorities on the other has led to unsatisfacto y 

 results. 



4. That the evils above mentioned cannot be fully remedied 

 but by the establishment in London of a Teaching University— 

 that is to say, a University which (i) provides for the student in 

 all the subjects included in its Faculties the best attainable 

 teaching with the necessary aids and appliances ; (2) requires a 

 regular course of attendance on such teaching as a preliminary 

 to graduation ; and (3) secures to the teacher a direct and 

 adequate representation in its councils, and a due share in its 

 administration. 



5. That such a University may be formed without trenching 

 upon the province of the existing University of London, the 

 functions of which are entirely different, and without superseding 

 any institution now giving genuine University instruction in the 

 metropolis. A Teaching University for London would incor- 

 porate or associate such institutions without injury to their 

 individual life, as the Victoria University has incorporated 

 Colleges in the North of England. 



6. That the metropolis;, regarded as the seat of a Teaching 

 University, possesses for students in every Faculty, but especially 



. in the Faculties of Laws and Medicine, advantages which cannot 

 be equalled in any other place in the United Kingdom. Such 

 a University, once established, would supply the motive power 

 for various amendments in the University education of London, 

 which are generally admitted to be needful, such as the greater 

 concentration of the teaching of particular subjects in the earlier 

 scientific stages of medical education ; the foundation of addi- 

 tional chairs, attached either to particular institutions or to the 

 University, for the further prosecution of special studies ; the 

 promotion of new Faculties ; the encouragement of general 

 education as a preliminary to the training for all professions ; 

 and, finally, such a presentation (to the public of the needs of 

 higher education in London as might secure from the corporate 

 or private munificence of the metropolis the endowments 

 necessary to enable it to keep pace with the growth of popula- 

 tion and with the progress of learning. 



7. That your petitioners, wishing to promote the foundation 



of a Teaching University in London, have held conferences with 

 representative London teachers of University rank in the Faculties 

 of Arts, Science, and Medicine, and have submitted to them the 

 following statement of the objects to be aimed at in the founda- 

 tion of such a University : — 



(i) The organization of University teaching in and for London, 

 in the form of a Teaching University, with Faculties of Arts, 

 Science, Laws, and Medicine. 



(2) The association of University examinations with Uni- 

 versity teaching, and the direction of both by the same 

 authorities. 



(3) The conferring of a substantive voice in the government 

 of the University upon those engaged in the work of University 

 teaching and examination. 



(4) Existing in'-titutions in London of University rank not to be 

 abolished or ignored, but to be taken as the basis or component 

 parts of the University, and either partially or completely 

 incorporated, with the minimum of internal change. 



(5) An alliance to be established between the University and 

 the professional societies or corporations, the Council of Legal 

 Education as representing the Inns of Court, the Royal College 

 of Physicians of London, and the Royal College of Surgeons of 

 England. 



8. That these conferences have resulted in three reports, each 

 embodying a substantial approval of the objects above stated 

 and of the proposals of your petitioners for the purpose of 

 effecting them. 



9. That your petitioners have also held conferences with 

 committees of the Senate and Convocation of the existing 

 University of London, and that, simultaneously with the action 

 taken by your petitioners, and, as they believe, in consequence 

 thereof, the questions at issue have, it is understood, been under 

 the consideration of the Senate and Convocation. Their deli- 

 berations have resulted in a report, which has been communicated 

 to your petitioners, and recommends various changes in the con- 

 stitution of the Senate as the governing body of the University, 

 the establishment of P'aculties and Boards of Studies, and the 

 introduction on the governing body of representatives of such 

 Faculties. 



10. That such proposals differ from the proposals of your 

 petitioners in the following, among other, respect< : — 



(i) In not requiring, as a preliminary to graduation in the 

 Faculties of Arts and Science, a regular course of instruction in 

 some recognized teaching institution. Such a course of instruc- 

 tion, however, continues to be required by the existing 

 University as a preliminary to graduation in the Faculty of 

 Medicine. 



(2'\ In admitting Colleges not situated within the London 

 district, the effect of this provision being that the suggested 

 Faculties and Boards of Studies could meet but seldom, and 

 thus would not afford to the teaching institutions of the 

 metropolis adequate means of common discussion and concerted 

 action. 



(3) In the absence of any sufficient conditions for securing 

 that the associated Colleges shall be doing effective University 

 work. 



(4) In not providing for the direct representation upon the 

 governing body of the associated institutions, or of University 

 teachers. 



(5) In granting an unduly large representation to the graduates 

 of the University. 



11. That it appears to be difficult, if not impossible, for the 

 University of London, consistently with its relations towards 

 institutions situated elsewhere, and towards private students, to 

 accept modifications which would enable it to fulfil the objects 

 above mentioned. 



12. That your petitioners have also held conferences with 

 committees of the Councils of University College, London, and 

 King's College, London, respectively, and have submitted to 

 them the above statement of the objects of the Association. 

 The subject having been subsequently brought by the committees 

 before their respective Councils, these Councils adopted resolu- 

 tions expressing their approval of the objects above stated, and 

 have since determined to petition Your Majesty to the same 

 general effect as is set forth in this petition. 



13. That an alliance between the Teaching University above 

 described and the chief professional societies and corporations of 

 the metropolis, such as the Inns of Court, the Royal College of 

 Physicians of London, and the Royal College of Surgeons of 

 England, would be desirable as securing professional interests in 



