Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1868-01-28
The State Uni ersity-Its Advantages

and was doubtless written by Prof
Chadbourne, the President of the
State University:
1t is intended to make the study o.
Agriculture prominent in the Uni
vcrsity, not because there is now q
large number of students who will
choose it as an. employment for life
but because it is the great interest oil
the State; and the time has come
when every effort should be made to
make farming more attractive to the
| young men of the country. We must
learn how to increase our crops with
out the amount of hard labor how're
| CURED, and show that there is in the
field as profitable a sphere for a
thoroughly educated man, as in any
other place. In a word, we must try
TO educate men on to the farm instead
OF educating them off from the farm
Many believe this can never De done.
We believe it can be. There will be
much disappointment, we doubt not,
in reference to the industrial schools
now organizing in the country.
There will be failures, but, in the end,
we doubt not, there will be success.
1t may not come III the way which
we think it ought to come, but when
it comes, the people will recognize it
and be satisfied. Agriculture is so
connected with Natural History and
Chemistry that every man ought to
be acquainted with its general prin-
ciples, and by making the depart
ment prominent, we hope to do some
thing to promote agricultural science,
and to make thoroughly educated
farmers no longer the exception, but
the rule. We trust the day is soon
coming when farmers and business
men will recognize the fact that edu
cation is something more to a man
than a means OF earning living. To
secure a living is the first thing, but
this can be done with little or no
education. The real object Of educa>
ton is to make life worthhaving-that
is, 10 Increase in every man and wo-
man the sum Of rational enjoyment.
Students can enter the UNIVERSE
ty at any time. and select such stud
les, and attend such lectures, as they
please. Those who have graduated,
can pursue an advanced course, hav-
ing the direction and aid of the Pro-
lessor in special departments of sci>
ence. The College of Letters has
Latin and Greek in the first two years
of its course. The College of Arts
has no ancient languages. This course
of study is intended to give gener-
al scientific education. Those who
wish to give special attention to any
science, can pursue it as an elective
study. AS soon as there is demand
for them, special schools of science
will be established. The College of
Letters and the College Arts are now
well organized, so that all additions,
for some time to come, will be in the
direction of industrial science and
professional schools.
Next to the Agricultural depart.
ment, already referred to, it is plain
that q Law School must be one of the
earliest provisions Of the University.
1t should be organized the coming
year, if possible. The City of Madi-
son, as capital of the State, offers par>
ticular advantages for such a school.
Many Of the Alumni are already
prominent members Of the bar. They
would, by means of Law School, be
brought into new relations to their
Alma Mater. 1t is of the highest
Importance to any institution to have
its Alumni heartily interested in all
its affairs. They understand its wants
better than others can It's honor
and prosperity can certainly be dear
er to none than to them.
There is now connected with the
University a preparatory depart
ment, which, for the present, seems
needed to furnish students for the
higher classes When students are
supplied from High Schools and Acad
emies, there will be no longer need
Of this, and it will be abolished. But
while the College of Arts gives such
a wide range in optional studies, there
must always be much of the work
done in the University that is done
in the preparatory department. A
knowledge of the ancient languages
is not required for entering the Col
lege of Arts, but certainly the stu,
dents ought to have the privilege of
choosing them as optional studies
Most of them do elect Latin, and GER
tainly they cannot be rightfully de-
barred from its study because they
have not attended to it before. In
consequence of thesspreparatory de-
partment, many students not only
attend the University who could not
otherwise attend, but many of them
ale induced to take thorough course
OF education, who never would have
thought Of it, had they not been
brought under the influences that
there surrounded them. 1t is hoped
that such an interest will be taken
by the teachers OF the State in Uni
versity education, that the scholars
in our High>Schools will naturally
look forward to the time when they
shall enter upon the University
course. Then preparatory depart
ment will no longer be needed.
The Female Department, as now
organized, has it own course of study
and Board of instruction. The build
ing now occupied by ladies is not fit
tee for that purpose, and it is also
needed for gentlemen. If it is pro
posed to make proper provision for
young ladies in connection with the
State University, then suitable build
ings must be supplied, and other ar
fragments adopted, that shall give
the department the highest rank pos
sible, and promote the good order
and good name of the University
In addition to the instruction given
by the lady teachers, to whose imme-
date care the government of the
building occupied by ladies is com
mitted, instruction is given in differ
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