The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-04-24
UNIVERSITY EXTENSION.


Profes sor Munro Of Brown Speaks to the
Massachusetts schoolmaster's Club.
Professor Wilfred ii. Munro of Brown
spoke to the Massachusetts School
masters Cub in Boston, Saturday, upon
university extension. Among other
things Professor Munro, said:
The idea Is not new. and the phrase
has been in use about twenty-five years.
since Professor s ewart began his lee
lures To ladies and mechanics in the
north OF England. About the sa me
time Professor Dadmund began simil ar
work in Providence, although 1t was n OF
called BY that name.
When the work was recently put In
my hands, was In Europe, aud / went
to England and studied carefully the
system of university extension main
tanned there. i found that 1t was GUS
tomary to have larIe fees, which necessi-
tated large classes or else some moneyed
man to stand behind the classes and
share the expense.
In this country we have gone into the
work in a missionary spirit with small
fees. aud, instead of written lectures, W.
have had freer style. We have made
the work as much IA possible like the
work of the university classes, and the
results have been as satisfactory. The
university extension work does not take
the place Of university work and is not
intended TO. neither does it take The
place OF popular lectures. It's purpose
Is TO teach those who would not
study at a university.
The lar est class OF those who are
reached are the lady teachers In the
grammar schools. who, perhaps, receive
the greatest benfit. A good many bust
ness men attend the lectures, aud also
young people who have left school.
Unless the university In charge of the
work is willing to assume the RESPONSE
biity of the instruction given, the work
will be "a failure. Outside OF our own
faculty and well-known specialists we
are very careful about the names we put
down for Lectures. A young man who
wishes TO lecture must first deliver his
lee ure to a critical audience, compos ell
of the director and such gentlemen as he
NAV select.
We began modestly. with few centres
and courses, aud did not ATTEMPT Co
force the idea upon the people, but last
year the growth has assured us OF the
SUCCESS of the work.
The effect of the work upon the lee
turers has been very great and very valu-
able Many of them have changed the
methods Of handling their university
classes. as n result OF their outside work.
But the university goes into IL because IL
seems 10 be its pain and simple duty.
For Years the public has been pouring in
money for the support Of the college, aud
this is AN opportunity for the universi Nv
TO do something for the public Of all
classes, from business men aud teachers
TO mechanics.
Last year our thirty-fve courses at
Brown was more work than was done by
any other COLLEGE in the country. But
this year H. IL not so. The University of
Wis :onsin has done more work than we.
and the same movement Is going on ali
through the West. notably at Chicago.
| Colorado springs aud Sad Francisco.
Unless we work faithfully In New Eng
land the West will supercsde us ia edu-
cation, as IL has In politics.
The popular courses have been his
| tory. literature aud social scieucs 30.
tany. political economy an a biology brve
| also bren successful eyurseA