68 
A PROPOSED MIDLAND UNIVERSITY. 
At the present time the bulk of these local Colleges send 
their candidates for these distinctive letters to the Universitv 
of London. Why should they do this ? Has the University 
of London any peculiar merits as an examining body which 
could not be possessed by any other body ? This can hardly 
be, since the examiners of the University of London are 
themselves gathered from all quarters, and could become 
equally examiners in any other duly constituted examining 
body. Take the examiners of the University of London— 
and it must be distinctly understood that the University of 
London does nothing but examine—take the examiners of the 
University of London, and put them in another centre for 
examining purposes, and why should the result differ from 
that at present attained.? London is not an educational 
Mecca. 
I suppose the fear really is that if there are a number of 
degree-giving bodies, the standard of degrees may be lowered. 
Well, to start with, what is the standard at present existing? 
Of course, this is uniformly high ! Every educationalist will 
at once tell you that it is impossible, or well-nigh impossible, 
to conceive a more diverse system than that at present 
appertaining in England. Institute a comparison between a 
high honour degree and a “poll” degree at Cambridge. 
Both equally result in B.A. Compare London, again, with 
Durham; and add to these the personal University powers of 
the Archbishop of Canterbury, and what, then, must be our 
opinion of the uniformly high quality of the English degree¬ 
giving examination, or want of examination? The cry of 
lowering the standard of a degree is a farce ; but it serves its 
purpose of making the English public fear a multiplicity of 
degree-giving bodies. It is quite true that a diversity of 
standard could exist, and might result from increase of the 
number of degree-giving bodies ; but such diversity exists 
now, and could hardly be greater. Personally I much regret 
it, and probably nineteen out of every twenty educationalists 
do likewise ; but it is absurd to suppose that the present 
disparity could be intensified. Further, every practical 
educationalist knows the value of each degree, so that he at 
least is not deceived. Nor do I think that, with proper 
addition of at least an equal quantity of external examiners to 
any local degree-giving body, very great disparity need 
exist; it would not surprise me, indeed, to find uniformity 
much greater than it at present is. 
The movement in favour of a Midland University was 
originated about a year ago amongst the professorial staff of 
the two Birmingham Colleges—Mason Science College and 
