The Monitor., 1891-09-25
WHAT Is UNIVERSITY ExrENsIoN.


many queries as to the real purpose and
scope Of the movement.
The English universities were the first to
recognize that by the ofdiIa ary educational
system very small fraction of any CON-
munity could participate in the advantages
Of higher education. In England, as in
America, only those WHO spend from
twelve 10 fifteen consecutive years in COM
men schools, academies, high schools, COL
leees ard UNIVERSITIES receive a 'thigher
education in the ordinary meaning OF the
term. But in England, as in America, also,
statistics prove that the total amount of
schooling which the average child receives
is not more Than four, or at the most five,
full years. The higher branches Of educa-
tion are, Of course, under the ordinary
system terra ineoguita 10 all but few.
1t was to bring higher education within
easy reach Of the masses that some of the
English university lecturers and professors
were induced to give courses Of instruction
at yafious places throughout the country.
The movement was at once dubbed "uni-
versity extension" and tle name has clung
to it. Its success from the start was
phenomenal. For several years these out
side courses OF lectures have been given in
various towns ard cities throughout Eag-
land, ard as they become Known the de-
mand was greater than the supply. They
are now feature of higher education in
England, and in many places the lecture
courses are self-supporting. Needless to
say, tie large majority CT those who take
| advantage of such courses would otherwise
be debarred from university facilities.
| Ia America the movement first took root
in the city of Philadelphia. It's success on
his side the water vas still more rapid and
| gratifying than in The old world. Although
it is scarcely year since systematic courses
of instruction were undertaken in the yiein-
iiy Of Philadelphia, tie American Society
FOR the Extention OF University Teaching
| has branched ont Into the principal states
of the union and has LEGAL organizations at
| all principal centeis. This ould Of course
h axe been impossible but for the co opera
tion of the leading colleges and universe
ties. Such leading educators as DR.. Charles
II. A dams OF Cornell, DR.. James q. Angel
| of Ann Arbor. DR.. VIM. r. Harper of the
new Chicago university and many others
mittee of the national society and have
given enthusiastic support TO the move
| ment. The organization is such that dur
| ing the coming winter there will be many
independent courses cf lectures given
hioueheut tie country IL professors and
| lecturers from leading universities.
| The aim Of the national University Ez-
tension" society is fer The present almost
wholly in the line of organization and it
is hoped to make every college and uni
velsity in the country a centre OF universal
extension. The ultimate aim is undoubt-
| edly a rt1ex one. Il is believed that uni
versity extension viii not only add greatly
| the progress of popular education by af-
fordipg largely increased facilities for study
versities by exerting wide spread in
| fiuence in the work. The great success of
| the Chautauqua movement may be taken
as fair indication Of the American thirst
for higher education outside the ordinary
channels. University extension differs
| from the Chautauqua movement in being
much more comprehensive and in aiming
literally to bring the advantages of uni
versify education within the reach of all.
The question Of funds to carry on this
| great work has given its promoters some
anxiety. But they are going ahead with
the belief that in proportion as the people
see the need for university extension they
will endow that trapch of the educational
system as literally as any other. The
basis upon hict the work is undertaken
is that il is missionary v ork TO stimulate
the desire for study 10 the great mass of
the people. II is not claimed that it is
| possible to bring 10 an isolated student the
same advantages that he or she would OBJ
tain by actual attendance upon e WELL
equipped college. The most that is ex-
pected is to give these " 10 have neither time
nor money to attend college as nearly as
possible the advantages Of fall course at
the best institution in the land. The
students application mast supplement the
work of the instructors. But it is hoped
that as the advantages of higher education
among greater proportion of the mass' s
is realized by wealthy college beEeiactors a
share OF their benfactiens, at least, will be
devoted TO the cause of university exten.
sisn. AT present he woik ofthe national
society is carried On by voluntary contri.
buttons and an annual fee from members.
| There will be lecture fees, Of course, when
| the movement is under full sway and it is
hoped that most of the lecture courses
will be self-suppoitlng.
A recent publication touches one phase
of the university extension question as
| follows:
There is still another side to this ques.
| ton. The average child in our American
| cities leaves school before he is 10 years
old. He has learned to read, bat not how
to read or " hat 10 read. Te what uses BIZ
puts this power in many cases the literature