The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-22
DETAIL OF THE WORK
ROUND-TABLE CONFERENCES ON
UNIVERSITY EXTENSION.
Various Features Presented by Pro-
Evening by President Harper.


for the discussion OF university extension
work were fairly we'll attended by those
who are keenly interested and actively con-
nected with the movement in this city. The
several topics considered were presented
first through tie agency of a paper or an
address by one OF the visiting leaders in
university extension work and then taken
up in discussion by the audience. The dis
cussions We're strictly informal and were
INDUCED in freely by nearly all present.
The opening subject was on 'Constitu-
ton and Organization of Local Commit
tees 1t was presented by O. f. Barbour,
of Rockford, ILL., Mr.. Barbour is connected
with a local center at Rockford. In the
round-table discussions many valuable
points were brought out by the remarks of
those whose experience had been the
benehciartes of the university extension
movement. The formal meetings were
given up to the addresses of the university
men, who, while. deeply interested in the
movement and responsible for it's inception,
cannot appreciate 1t to the same extent in
detail as can the persons who, from actual
profit from the movement, have learned to
study its strong and weak points. Yester-
days conference was meeting of both
forces OF the movement. 1t was an oppor
tunity for ea6h TO profit by the experience
of the other.
Mr.. Barbour spoke of the inability of To-
cal committees TO interest in the work the
people who stand greatest in need of it.
he spoke OF the kflockIord center, which
had strong expectations wnen organized or
securing the attendance and cooperation
OF. the working classes. he said curing
series OF lectures on sociology one lecture
was given in The opera mouse In order that
no one could IeeI amy hesitation about go
ing II he felt inclined. Then the price OF
many nrms bought Whole blocks OF tickets
and gave them aosiheir employees; but suli
the house was not filled.
TACT IN INTERESTING PEOPLE.
Prof r. G. Moulton, of the University of
Chicago. who Opened the discussion on the
educational significance of large audiences
in extension work.. took up the thread of
thought started by Mr.. Barbour. Prof.
Moulton began. university extension work
with its beginnips in England. He said he
found in England less apathy among work.
ingmen toward the movement. The most
successful work he ever did, he said, was
before classes averaging 100 persons He
believed lectITt;r tsk1qy to De the best
method, and found that 1t was not hard
TO MAINTAIN theTmterest IN given line
OF work IL IL were begun with properly
prepared iecture. In co.Iege WORK Saiu,
a lecture was not OF the same Importance.
.
every thing in "a doeiie manner. bur great
audience of auultS whose minds are more
or less culturedl and trained mas not
specialized on the line OF the SUBJECT at
hand, is more critiSai and must be handled
with more tacE1B9 i9Tf1r
Rev. f.. E., baker, of Dayton. o., talked of
the best means II interesting community
in the extension WORK. he spoke of the
WORK in DaytonT Where class OF 500 per-
sons. many OF .them schooteachers, mad
been organized for "a lecture course during
the coming winter? Mrs. SewaIl was OF the
opinion that the newspapers would be
strong influence in arousing interest in the
work. She feared that the idea and object
of university, extension was not properly
understood by the general public, and
knowledge or the purpose OF the work and
the methods employed was all that would
be necessary to largely Increase the size OF
After a discussion. by DR.. Francis w.
Shepardson, of the. University of Chicago,
OF some of the prudential matters pertain
ing to the organization and maintenance OF
university extension center the noon re-
cess was had. Luncheon was served in the
east parior by the Indiana branch of the
DR.. Albion w. Small, director of the
affiliation work Of the University of Chi
cago. opened the afternoon conference.
Possible Animation Of Local Centers; Cor
respondence Work were his themes. He
spoke of the fact that the University of
Chicago would give no credit to extension
students except. that they went to the uni
versity and took "A stringent examination.
dianapolis mightn arrange for long and
perod Of sS TSen the
definite outline Of ,its curriculum and could
demand some better recognition.
THE UNIVERSITY RATING.
Miss Helen Lang of this city. asked why
it is that the university insists upon exami-
nation at the university when the examina-
ton made by. the agent of the university at
the center Is as Searching as the one at
the university. Prof James explained that
there is a general opposition among aca-
demic men at the university and an apathy
of the general public to the university ex-
tension movement When a student comes
from any college, hight school or academy
to the university and asks for an advanced
standing he is not given the rating he seeks
upon the strength of having successfully
completed certain courses in the school
from which he came If it is found that
his representations are true, then, If the
college or school from which he Games is
as preparatory by the university, he is ad-
United TO take The examinations for the
standing he seeks In this way the univer-
ing with the best colleges and schools in
their relations with the university.
sition 10 diminish the examinations either
In number or severity. She believed the
general exeamination required by the uni
versity was only the equivalent of the gen.
eral review examination required of senior
pupils of all the work accomplished before
graduation. She believed in examinations
and objected 70 having any eliminated
Mr.. ~. w. Lee. of the Ottumwa Qa.) CEN
ter was on the programme TO lead the dis
ters in the Formation of Circuits and in
the Selection OF Common Courses" He was
not present. but he sent a circular letter
containing much valuable information on
the subject. This was read by Miss Har-
riett f. Jacobs, of this city and the dis
cusson of IL was led by Prof. Shepardson.
He urged that cities lying geographically
close together should organize circuits. and
arrange TO carry on the same class of work
during given season or term. Then the
lecturers. coming either from Chicago or
other distanct points. could make one trip
would lessen the expense and would create
a community Of Interests which would add
strength 10 the movement. He gave as an
instance the towns OF Rock Island and
Moline, H. and Davenport. Ia. which are
almost the same as one city. He said that
q few years ago one lecturer would go from
Chicago 10 Moline on Monday night: an
other would gol from Chicago to lecture at
Davenport on Tuesday night. and a third
would go from, Chicago 10 Rock Island 10
lecture on Wednesday night. Three times
the amount of railroad fare really neces-
sary had TO be paid. The three cities might
adopted the same course OF lectures Other
cities might have been added so that a lee
turer could stay a week a circuit.
In the discussion the point was brought
would willingly form a circuit If they knew
OF the desire on the part of one another.
For the reason that n single center cam
not always know the feelings OF the others
II was suggested that the department at
the University OF Chicago should devote
more attention 10 bringing centers together
into a circuit, DR. Dewhurst said that the
University of CHICAGO had started out with