The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-05-29 00:00:00

Stottril6b2e Orperser

SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1969.

DEGREES FOR SCIIOOI4/eIASTERS.

Great Britain and Ireland pride themselves on
their freedom, and Engnehmen usprei.,ll are in
the hshit of suaering al the cantrof which pater.
util Governments in other eountries exercise
Oyer the people. Li Line of onr many other
thiugs we might mention we UN deoidedly too
free —hi the matter of edmation. AllYboAY in
this country C,II out us for iiinhoohnutuk or
Schoolmistress, no lilatter how limptalitild they
May he for the iturrtent duties of a teacher.
We have of late years, ho.veVer, made some slow
611,1 comparatively powerless movements toward,'
reform in this respect. 'floe system of certdi-
elites in the Government aud Miter schools, tee
eat iblisliment of tile Co:lege of Preceptors and
of the Seholastie Registration Association, have
all tended in this direction, itani the latter UtOlt-
eiition has made an effort at ref non which is
deserving of the highest praise, aliatever may
be the result. the ass xiatiou eppliel to the
Usiversity of Cambridge to admit seliaolunts•
tars, under ronditiont to b • agreed upon, to thii
university examinttions, oni to tho degree of
Literate on the extininstMn beimf eacceuifully
passed. A quite:de, or what might ho more
popularly called it select Commiti.e 44 the 111:1i•
vrrsity, Ii t 3 Lillie!' thiproposition into MI il!r•
*thin, and has just issited hirecominandations
11l respect, to this praposal. The chief recoat-
menuution is that the " Connell of the Semite
be emilowered, if they think lit to admit ti any
one or more of the examinations compriied in
• certain selmilnles, any person furuishiug evi-
deuce to them that he has f i three years previ•
One to his upplicatien, been b evi fish' engaged in
tuition ;" and a; a result of this each person who
may I..isS un elscsicidion will reee;ve a cortifi-
eate to that elect, while ev.:ry person who passes
the ordinary exanduations now requir.ol for it
degree, will receive the new degree of " Lite-
rate " in such or stirli a class of CitlibrAge.
The latter degree woalt in scholarly value he
equal to all ordinary Camlwidge degree, and
would prove that its possessor Ma, posscs,ed at
least KO ethic ttiaind fitness to to cli others.
Th:s would he a grand ,form on the present ail-
INCIWO of stints among Ht. litkol 53Ler.:. it is a
matter of universal complaint amongst Us ClUt
the profession of at schooloia,ter is tilt highly
respected in this country, and we heists that
mach of this is owing ti the Unrecognised posi-
tion of the schoolmaster iu e nine:4Mo with the
universities. University degrees are highly
%milted, because we know that on the whole they
are worthily earued, slid never granted without
Inure or less fitness for them. 'flloy always pre-
suppose and guarantee it cert alit ediuniti oil
training and curriculum, and this commands
respect even among the illiterate, and still more
respect among thotm who know with what study
and labour these degrees have been gable 1.
Unfortunately there is little chance of the re•
oommeudatlons of the Canthridge gymlicote
being carried out Jost ye, for the Sit de lie
decided to take no notion in the tinittor till it is
Beni whether an etinostiou ti COUnell Is to he
est.shlithed rindm. Mr. Forster's Educational
Bill, and the select oetuniiit,o on this hill has
deferred the consideration of the el,iiiseS este,.
Balling the said in:tonal till the next session.
But the movement for scouring a recognised
university kcal.; to the schoolmaster, aud the
willingness of Cambridge University to tweeds
to time WWI of the tante importaitt ineinhers 14
the tholattie professiou, ate nilat eticoUregink
proofs (list the teudoney of modern society is
iowar.ls elevating the smdal status of the unteh
by uiiiusuistiaog i sigAranion f MS fitness for the
post he voluntarily 1:11,10401 to evrilpy.