The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-01-11
STATE UNIVERSITY.

When we reflect that less than ten years
ago the University OF Minnesota had but a
nominal existence and that aspeclai Board OF
Regents were still engaged in rescuing its at
fairs from financial diff culties threatening ut
ter ruin, its present comparatively prosper
GUS condition is source of cOngratulatiOn
ameng all friends of education. BY the sale
of a Comparatively small proportion of the
lands granted it by Congress, the imdending
ruin was averted, and the remaining proper
brances, that it became feasible, in the year
1867, to put the institution into actual oper
alton as a preparatory school. Two years
later. in 1869, the first college class was
formed and faculty organized. From the
first the progress of the institution has been
steady and continuous. Considering the
briet period our university has been in oper-
alton. COMPARISON with similar institutions
of greater age in our neighbOring States OF the
Northwest, affords no cause to be ashamed OF
its progress or its condition. Over one thou
sand youth from all quarters of the State
have been trained and instructed within our
University halls, and have gone forth to the
activities Of lite, stronger and ADLER to serve
not only themselves but The State, whose free
gilt they have shared. The actual enrolment
ut the present time is trile under 400, Of
whom over 100 are students Of FULL collegiate
rank. From personal knowledge, to large
extent, take pleasure in saying that these
students, as a rule, comprise the aspiring, Ca
pable and worthy young persons to whom the
conduct of affairs in the course OF events may
safely he intrusted. 1t affords me no less sat
isfaction to be able to recognize in the faculty
a body OF men devoted to their profession,
laboring zealously and harmOniouslv to sub
serve the highest interests OF the institution
with which they have allied themselves.
invit. your attention to the various sug.
gestiOns embraced in the report OF the Board
- pororfc I'm apurOpriAtiOn ia asked for to
purchase corner of land to obtain frontage
upon University avenue, which land is now
in process Of condemnation to that end. 1t is
greatly to be desir. d that this addition to the
University grounds be made while the land
can lie obtained ut a comparatively low price !:
and should you deem the amount required
properly available tor the purpose recon-
mend that the desired appropriation be
made.
|, moreover, ask your special attention TO
the late action of the Board, relative to the re-
striction OF the preparatory instruction to
such students as cannot obtain the same IN
the public schools of their own cities or dis
| tri Is. This is further step towards the
abandonment OF all preparatory work to the
schools oil the State. 1t is based upon the ex-
pectation that our several high schools will
generally so ARRANGE their courses OF study
| us tn fit students Tor college work iu . reason
able time and thus fill the chasrn between
the common schools and the University. This
| has already been done to some extent, with
excellent results, and submit whether the
State mignt not advatageously lend its aid, to
a limited degree, towards the high school tn
| ition of pupils OF such neighboring districts
| and towns as are destitute Of the advantages
Of such instruction.
Perhaps the most inevitable conclusion t.
which . study Of our school system leads il
| the necessity that its various departmental
agencies and appointments should form aux
,iiary PARTS OF . harmonious whole-that ii
successive steps should constitute regular
gradatiou from the alphabet to collegiate ma
tur,ty. and that like the rills and streams
which, however differing in character and va
rying in cour>e, reach common goal In thu
ocean, the primary instruction OF the common
school should lead, BY easy stages, 10 tn
browning scholarship oil the University. Al
alike are the gift OF the State to her people
dictated by the enlightened policy which
uulif3es the citizen for the duties demanded q
him and which s0ws and nouTishes accordin
to.the bounty Of the expected harvest i
nothing il supporting unity Of design an
action more essentia! TO success. 40 aaner
. to isolated plans, or to persist in uuplanne'
efforts without definite aim, il to voluntasil
. sacrifice for each the advantages which Nigh
Otherwise be combined for the whole and il
. parts.
, To the end desired it Is, therefore, q
: sential that in every stage Of instruction an
in every variery Of school, the purpose or,
least, the p sslbilisy Of this ascending contiI
l uity should be constantly in view, and, e
/, pecially, that the finishing course elesewhel
e should tit pupils for freshmen at the Unive'
e sity This Is essential to the highest ef6cienc,
: whether in the lower or the higher bfanche
: It would save the time, labor and means no
9 comparatively wasted in special preparafol
schools, and furnish > perennial supply
/ pupils to push forward, without intenupaol
i The advantages are obvious to AL concerned
! and although, unhappily, the majority mn
: tall out by the way, diverted BY the ex19el
8 cies Of business pursuits, it should ever BE
d leading and cherished object of Our educatiol
i a system ~ afford, It least, standing oppo
; tunity y the more fortunate and persiste