Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-03-14
University u a1tnDeHOI,s.

III conversation with FreSlceM Fol
we'll, "f the University "f Minnesota,
We were especially grat'fic'l !" lear" the
and conprehensive,'ess
with which This young State has organ
ICED her higher educational systcu.-
The normal idea Of the University is
systematically carried out in a variety
Of alternative courses. The pupil is
first prepared in the Latin school," tor
admission to which h. must be thirteen
years old, and well grounded in common
English studies. Students Of this
sch"ol who pass the requisite exam;n:.-
ti"n arc admitted to the collegiate
department." where II ch'ice il sll"we1
between two courses If study, dcsis na-
ted rs the classical and the scientific
The organization OF these two depart
ments is entirely provisional, and ill.,
tended to meet the present necessities
Of students in that new State. It is
expected that the numerous high
sch""ls and colleges that have been
established will sum relieve the Uni.
versity Of all this preparatory instruc.
ton. in which case both the Latin
school aud the collegiate department,
will be discontinued.
Students completing the collegiate
course, or its equivalent in other insti-
tut.ons, will be admitted into such 'scoI.
lcse" If the University proper US they
may select. Four Of these colleges arc
designated. but only two-':Agricul,urc
and Mechanic Arts" and "Seience,
Literature and Art "-have, as yet,
been organized. The course in these
colleges occupies two years In the
preparatory and collegiate courses the
student is confined to such classical,
mathematical, und literary studies as
will thoroughly prepare him tor thu
university course. This realizes more
fully the German than the America:
idea If University. Preparation aud
discipline are esteemed Of greater value
than the accumulation Of few scien.
tifc facts and principles, which can be
FIR more ctfectually mustered after. the
mind l'as been thoroughly grounded in
judici"us preparatory studies.
The collese If Is Science. Literature
and Art" is intended to embrace
an extended course of classical
aud literary studi''s. The college
| OF agriculture and Mechanic Arts
is "uc 1t tho fruits OF the n"ble pulley
# Congress in The Act Of 1872, grant
ing to the d tfercnt States public land:
in proportion to the number Of their
Senator's and Representatives. Min.
ncsota, having four Senators and Rep.
resentatives, received 10000 acres
The college studies are divided int,
coursc*of agriculture" and g mccI,an.
1c arts" aud the latter subdiviled int.
''civil engineering" and mechanical
engineering" Each Of these courses
embraces Il wide range Of studies. If:
tording to youth admirable facilities 10,
II professional education in those d.
partuents in which public necessity j.
calling FIR the highest order Of cultiva
ted intelligence. From the organ,za
ton If these courses it is evident tina,
scientific th"ruughMcss, comb. ned with
practical efficiency, have been a;ued al
all the way through. Our only objec
ton is that the studies are t." crowded
for the time allowed. Il would BE- bet
ter tt culargc the course somewhat. und
to extend it over another year, even il
it were necessary t" cut down the prep
aratory collegiate course.
1t is very satisfactory feature il th<
nanag eu,ent Of this institution that i,
will accommodate, US fur az p.xsiblc
pupils who have not been able to mas
tor the preparatory courses. Fron, the
class Of 8 irregular" students in OUT
colleges have sprung s"'"e If our no.
Llest men. We could name distinguish
ID members # the United States Senate
~huse only education was that Of the
c"u'u'on sch"ols, supplemented by 1t
brief attendance upon the college
classes. In the agricultural schools ii
our country provision should be made
for th"se wh'se time aud money will
not admit Of complete course. The
University II Minnesota sccms to hav.
embraced this important idea Mill,
tar> instruction and discipline are iul
parted in all the departments.