Welsh Journals

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THE WELSH OUTLOOK NOTES OF THE MONTH The The appointment of the Royal University Commission on University Educa- Commission tion has already justified itself. Not only has it resulted in a small body of experts addressing themselves to the one particular Welsh problem, but our own leaders have begun to realise that there are problems The three articles in our last number came as a great surprise to those who thought the Professors a happy band of quiescent, if not somnolent, scholars interned in musty libraries or malodorous laboratories, safe from all party strife. In a pink paper destined to become famous, the Cardiff Senate with one unani- mous voice demanded, in the name of educational freedom, a separate University for South Wales. News of this disturbing decision quickly spread and rallied the friends of the federal system to the defence of the status quo. Meetings of the College Councils suddenly became interesting, and at Cardiff the Senate was actually invited to meet the Council to discuss the educational future of the Principality. It seems to have needed a Royal Commission to bring this about! The case against federalism made by the Senate is so grave that it is naturally being asked Why have we not heard these complaints long ago? Are not the maze of regulations, the pages of syllabus, and the multiplicity of courses the creation of the Senators themselves ? This is the criticism made by Z in an article which we print on another page. There is no very satisfactory answer. Doubtless in Wales the original pioneers of the Welsh schemes were too much influenced by the bad tradition of London University. The exter- nal examiner was unduly exalted and the internal examiner and teacher unduly distrusted. Salaries have been low. Many of the ablest teachers have been tempted to richer and freer fields. Some of JULY, 1916 those who remain have grown old and tired in the service. It is no light matter to embark on funda- mental changes in curricula, with no funds available for reforms, and with a sacrosanct Charter in the way. Whatever the defence put forward for supine- ness in the past, there is no mistaking the energy and enthusiasm of the younger and fresher teachers. backed by the experience of their senior colleagues. We think those who have been present at the various discussions will agree that an irresistible case has been made out for the removal of restrictions on the teacher's initiative and a simplification of degree- schemes. While the case for separation is un- doubtedly very strong on educational grounds, the friends of federalism have much on their side when they plead for one University as the symbol of national unity. In a country so rent with sectarian and political divisions it is no light matter to discard any organisation which binds the whole nation in the endeavour to advance the sum of human know- ledge. The National University, the National Library, the National Museum, the Central Welsh Board, and the National Campaign against Tuber- culosis, are pointed to with pride as examples of idealistic efforts to raise the quality of our common life while deepening the sense of national oneness. There is force, too, in the contention that at any rate for some time, a degree would carry a smaller commercial value in the world if granted by a local University instead of by a national one. We shall not be surprised to find that the Commissioners are prepared to grant to each College complete freedom to arrange its pass degrees, bringing only the Honours Courses, the post-graduate work, research fellowships, and so forth, under the direct control of the National University.