Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-29
UNIVERSITY EXTENSION.
rwR1rrEx FOR THE DISPATCH. !

easy change. However, the nature of the
| work remains the same; and the name Is not
| altogether without justification. In the first
| place the movement has gone out from uni
| versities, and is an extension OF the labors
| of men of university education and activity;
! and int does not give those who profit by its
teachings the equivalent of university
education, it at least enables them to get q
| glimpse into that world of science and liter
ature which has been SO highly praised and
so ardently loved by those who have left
| the most distinct footprints on the sands of
| time.
Furthermore, it has been found true in
| England and will doubtless prove so in this
country, that the mingling Of university
| professors and business men and laborers,
| brought about by this movement, has been
| q powerful factor in creating mutual respect
| and sympathy between the Representative
| OF the different classes thus drawn together
| in the pursuit of common aim. Another
result of the movement, and one that en-
titles it to the designation OF university ex-
tension is, that the training here offered is
| calculated to lead men and women to in
vestigate for themselves questions OF impor-
| tance in order to form independent judg-
| ment thereon. 1t is a well-known fact that
the large majority of mankind rarely think
and decide for themselves; but that they de-
|
ions, in reality, however much they may
deceive themselves into thinking that they
| form their Judgments independently of
those about them. Though men OF univer-
| sity training are not always free from
prejudice, and many are easily influenced
by those with whom they associate, yet 1t
remains a fact that the eIafning received by
the investigation and literary handling Of
! subjects tends in general to produce more
! rational mind, and one more apt to lead its
possessor Alright amid the complications
of modern life than If he had allowed his
mind to go to seed, as is but too often the
case in the rush for wealth.
1t Offers More Than Lectures.
1t cannot be emphasized too strongly
that university extension offers not only
| lectures but also class discussion and the
writing of essays on topics connected with
the subject of the lectures, the writer's
thereof having the benefit Of the subse-
| quent criticism of the lecturer and the
| further discussion in class Of the points
emphasized or criticised by HIM. Bacon
says writing makes an accurate man." and
| many who are not accustomed to putting
| their thoughts upon paper, knowing that
| they will be subjected to the friendly criti-
| cism Of an expert, will be surprised TO ind
what difference it makes in their method
| of thinking when they commence to do so.
| Accordingly it should be considered a most
| important part of every course that as many
| as possible of the hearers of the lectures be
| induced to prepare one or more essays in
| connection with it, and submit them to the
| criticism OF the lecturer.
Not least among the advantages to be
! gained by university extension is that it is
| the means of bringing together minds of q
| similar trend: and the opportunity for the
| exchange of fideas thus gained is of real and
great importance How often the remark is
| made, "Oh, I read that but have forgotten
| it." Now, II that individual had talked over
the contents of the forgotten article or book,
| as the case may be, with one or more friends,
he would not have forgotten them with such
readiness. Rousseau proposed for fixing
| thing in the memory to repeat it ten times.
That will no doubt aid in doing so; but we
are of the opinion that discussing the matter
| pro and con with friends or acquaintance
| will have more lasting effect For repetition
easily becomes mechanical, and the mind
| then wanders to some other subject; but a
real. live discussion keeps the mind active
| and brings the subject up to several different
| points of view, thus broadening the impress
sion while it is being deepened.
The Preparation for Life's Work.
Herbert Spencer complains, in his work
| on education, of people entering into the
marriage relation without the slightest con-
cention of the duttes of narentaoa. so it ia
vjtb the great majority In enter;n, ~, tha;r
life worl How few there ore wbo r.oIIr
-,oha ,ha he.t of tbeir no.,t,o, IN li,a H.
| littIa ia done IN this land vh;cb is the
di.e NJ labor To tmnress on men and
vornen ideas of the dignity NJ Iahor II
bowever NV mean. Of 1ectnres m ynechanica
| the relations of trade to society. etc. men
| and women could be brought to realize the
| fact that there is nothing degrading in hand
work, but that on the contrary, honest LABOR
well performed Is something OF which any
one may be proud, 1t woulo De great gain
for the community at large The immortal
words OF Pope are worthy to be written in
large letters on the wall OF every school
room and workshop In the land:
| Honor and shame from no condition rise
| Act well your part. It's there the honor lies.
| The present condition of politics among us
| is q crying evil which only the education Of
the public up to the point where they will
| demand better service from the public
servants will be able to remedy. University
extension can do at least something toward
| awakening interest on this subject by
| lectures and discussions on the rights and
| duties of the citizens, founded on q study of
| the laws, both municipal and national. The
great philosophers have taught us that sin
| is the result of ignorance. If that Is true of
the sins of commission, how much more
| true is it of the sins of omission. Now the
are mostly those of omission, absorbed as