St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-03-11
A START IS MADE
In the Direction of Higher Quit
ure, a la University Extension.

In the Direction of Higher Quit
High School hall was we'll filled at the
meeting of the Academy of Science
last evening. Prof. Carman, principal
of the high school, in explaining the
cause of organization, the plan and pur-
pose of the Academy of Science, said
that Prof. Wilson had started a field
club last September for the study of
geology. Besides number of high
school students the class was found to
contain large number of adults. 1t
was proposed to organize class for
those other than students of the school,
which resulted in organizing the Acad-
emy of Science. The subject Of the
scope of instruction being discussed,
the plans were resolved into form out
lined as university extension, modelled
after the plan of England as preferable
to that in vogue in Eastern states. In
December last it was determined to
organize classes for higher education.
and have course of twelve lectures
upon different branches on Monday
night of each week. 1t was also deter
mined by the executive board to call
general meeting for the purpose of get
ting expressions upon the subject from
college professors, that being the object
of the meeting last night, together with
the view of organizing classes.
Prof MCLain, of the state university,
was introduced and spoke at length
upon the subject of higher education,
taking particularly the branch of En-
glish literature. He defined university
extension to be doing the same work
outside of the university thlt is done in
it. He urged the Importance OF this, par
ticularly with reference to English liter
ature, and cited the University of
Virginia as being at the head as a
teacher of Anglo-SaXon in this country,
and paid tribute to Jefferson for en-
grating the plan upon that institution.
Superintendent Of Schools Gilbert
spoke favorably upon the subject and
urged the Importance of general cult
ure. He asserted that the American
had discovered that he wanted some
thing more than wealth, and that there
had been failure in general culture.
The old Yankee expression II want teW
kneow" had become motto instead of
by-word. He asserted that the time
had gone by when any one could teach
school. The teacher must have culture
as well as professional training.
President Northrop, of the state uni
VerSlty, was introduced, but said he
was too weary to make a speech. He
asserted his hearty cooperation in the
work, and would pronounce a benedic-
ton upon the Academy of Science and
its work in the name of the university
and colleges.
Prof. Boyd. of Manchester college,
delivered an interesting talk upon the
importance of university extension, en-
bracing the study of higher mathemat-
les, as a social benefit. He asserted that
literature had it's hills and valleys in
the history of the world; but that there
were no depreSsions in the field of
mathematics. 1t might have its periods
of silence, but the tendency is to a
higher plane. The general audience
was dismissed, and about 200 persons
remained to be organized into classes
under the auspices of the Academy of
Science. The lectures will commence
in short time, and the beginning not
deferred until fall, as was at one time
proposed.