Notes by the Glasgow University Court, on memorials of the Lord Provost, magistrates, and council, and of merchants, &c., of the city of Glasgow, 20th October, 1863.

Date:
[1863?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Notes by the Glasgow University Court, on memorials of the Lord Provost, magistrates, and council, and of merchants, &c., of the city of Glasgow, 20th October, 1863. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    questionable, ■whether it woxild promote a thorough College Educa- tion, to allow the period of instruction in Classics, Philosophy, and [ Science, required for Graduation in Arts, to be condensed, at the t will of the Student, irrespecti'V'e of any entrance examination, into , three, in place of four years. The mind of a youth from 14 to 17 | or 18 years of age is only maturing, and it would be, at least in many cases, inexpedient to attempt to crowd so much into so short a period. ; Lastly, it appears to the Court to be also questionable, whether, , if so much as eight months in the year is to be spent at the Uni- versity, that period should be broken up into two sessions, of five months, and three months, with an interval between them of one ^ month. Admitting that there are strong arguments in favour of ‘ short sessions, it would certainly inconvenience a large number of , Students, now in the habit of attending the University, to spread F the period of public tuition, over so many as nine months in the f year. | With reference now to the merits of the proposal, contained in | the Memorial of the Lord Provost, Magistrates, and To'wn Council | of Glasgow, the Court have endeavoured, as far as in their poAver, | to make themselves acquainted with the various interests which its f adoption would affect, and have given much consideration to its < practicability and working. While they feel disposed to view it i favorably, they are not of opinion, that it is the only, or even, j perhaps, the best remedy Avithin their reach, and they are glad, I therefore, that the amended constitution of the Scottish Univer- ; sities renders it necessary, that all such matters should be discussed ! with the Senatus Academicus, and submitted for the consideration ' ^ ] of the General Council, and, that any resolution come to, should i have the sanction of the Chancellor of the University. It is with the view then of communicating with the Senatus, and of eliciting the opinion of the Council, on the merits of the different plans which might be adopted, that these Notes have been prepared. The views of the Court may be shortly explained. I. The proposed lengthening of the Avinter session. The Court recognise the advantages, Avhich an extension of the length of the winter session possesses over every other plan, as being a return to the former practice of the University. They are likewise of opinion, that such an extension Avould be found to I