Smyrna times., 1896-01-08
ITS AIM AND OBJECT.

ITS AIM AND OBJECT.
University Extension MOvement.-A Graphic
Description of this Highly Popular Edu-
catiOnal Movement by one of the
Prominent Educators.
The introduction of University Ex-
tension courses into a community
marks an important epoch in its edu-
catiOnal history. The courses offer to
all education by means of a systematic
course lectures and class instruction in
the subjects usually taught at our uni
versities. After each lecture of the
course, the members are given an op-
portunity to ask questions on points
given and the lecturer answers them
and general discussion follows: this is
what is meant by the "class instruc-
tiOn." Neither the public nor the stu
dents should entertain the idea that
attendance at University Extension
lectures or classes is a short cut to the
results of four years of continuous
study in the environment of college
life. In fact there is no short cut to
knowledge. University Extension
teaching is a new force which has for
its aim the consolidating and guiding
of the loose educational interests in a
given neighborhood, into the definite
purpose of an organized center. DIR.
5. NJ. Patten, of the University of
Pennsylvania says: ''The educational
field is divided into three parts: pre-
paratiOn of the boy for industrial life,
preparation of the adult for citizenship
and preparation of the scholar for spec
ialized work. The boy and the scholar
are provided for, but the citizens are
neglected
How shall we keep alive in our busy
men and women of to-day such a sense
of culture and of social and political
conditions as will make for good citi-
zenship? The University Extension
movement is a definite means to this
end, creating clearly defined agency
coordinate with other educational
forces, which will do for the citizen
what the school does for the boy, or
the University for the scholar. No
supporter of the movement claims that
it is possible to make scholars or to
produce Investigators by six lecture
courses. But experience shows that
it is possible by this method of work
to improve our mental conditions bv
interest in higher things. 1t is no
small matter to set an entire cOmmun-
ity talking about new subjects, to ele-
vate the general tone of coversation
and discussion, and many who have
been prevented by the circumstances
of their lives from taking up any formal
college work, have found on enrolling
for an Extension course, that they are
in sympathy with students of the higher
subjects, and that they have latent
powers Of which they had been before
unconscious.
In this day, the homes are few which
are not supplied with books, and what
we most need, is a teacher, an inter
prefer to open all the pages of them to
us. The University Extension work,
like the college course itself, is chiefly
valuable to the student as a guide to
books, and aid in understanding why
they were written and what they mean,
and an inspiration to further thought
and reading. The University Exten-
sion is designed to accomplish such
results as these for busy people. The
man of leisure may seek culture in
travel, in associating with congenial
spirits. The fortunate young people
of wealth may take college course
and come in contact with at least one
or two of those strong natures who al
ways exert an influence over those who
know them. But the culture to which
we have reference is for the less for
tunate many and may be secured by
less elaborate and less expensive meth
DDS, and degree of skill secured il
handling books, which are, after all
the tools to help us in prying out the
secrets of man and nature. Perhap,
all would be interested in brief glanc,
at the financial side of the question
According to the statement of the
Board of Directors for 1894, to which
we are indebted for great deal of om
information, we find that from Novem
Der, 1890 to the first of January 1894
1876 centers have been organized, 901
courses of lecture have been giveI
which have averaged over six lectures
each. In nearly all of these centeri
a surplus was found in the treasury a
the end of the first course. Yet in onl,
a few cases was the fee more than 81 81
for the course of six lectures. This il
the aim of the University Extension
work in America to-day-the education
Of all classes of our people in the highe
realms of culture with the least posi-
BILE expense to them We are glad t,
knoW that the matter of forming cen
ter here in Smyrna is being considered
by our towns people and may it hav,
the support of all when in the nea
future, it is brought before us all.
Two Opinions.
The political papers are beginning I,