Abstract
THE monotonous progress of the Oxford and Cambridge Bill through the House of Commons has never been interrupted. The Government having drawn its measure, consents to modify it in a few trivial points, but wherever it does not consent, the House accepts it and passes it as an elementary matter of party discipline. Very few of the amendments are of serious importance. Lord Edmond Fitzmaurice has added perhaps the most valuable. He enables the Universities to give a definite status and payment for any special educational work done out of the University under its control. Thus the funds of Oxford and Cambridge may be freely used in support of their missionary efforts in the large and neglected towns of England. There is no reason why permanent educational centres should not be established under this clause in any part of England. Any College with too much money can assign a sufficient portion of it to the advancement of learning in the neglected provinces. Leeds, Bristol, Birmingham, Halifax, Sheffield have had university men lecturing in their midst under the University Extension Scheme, and Lord Edmond Fitz-maur ice's amendment invites the colleges to support and endow this movement. Under it the “idle fellows” who now run off to the bar will be drawn more and more into teaching, for teaching will open to them more and more of a career. No doubt there is risk that the possibility of such grants may paralyse local effort. But as yet it is only a possibility, and the colleges may be trusted to distribute their money only in places where adequate local effort cannot be expected. Another amendment by Mr. Trevelyan enables the Commissioners to review the conditions under which university emoluments can be given, especially those relating to age. There is no doubt that the age of undergraduates has increased, is increasing, and ought to be diminished. The honour man keeps back at his school as long as possible in order to make sure of getting his entrance scholarship. Even if the age at which entrance scholarships can be taken were restricted, honour men might in many cases delay so as to have a better chance after they come up of the scholarships and fellowships which are to be gained while in residence. It is reasonable to say that the work which a man is to do under the pressure of a prize examination ought to be over by twenty-one. What comes after is another matter. The competitions of the University imply a discipline which is admirable for youth “under tutors and governors,” but which is merely fatiguing to men of mature intellect with serious objects in life.
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The Universities Bill and University Movements . Nature 16, 77–78 (1877). https://doi.org/10.1038/016077a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/016077a0