The St. Louis Republic., 1903-03-15

COMPREHENSIVE SCHEME OF EDUCATION.
A system of education pursued by German med
ical institution which has established lecture courses
throughout the realm and sends corps of lecturers
regularly ut work from place to place at stated In
tervals commends itself to the attention of unver-
sites everywhere and especially the consideration
of the American State universities
Some two years ago The Republic proposed a
scheme of general education somewhat similar
lines. scheme Of what might be termed tinerant
education: placing within the reach of every ndi-
vidua in the States those advantages which he is now
compelled TO seek in the university centers; making
the State university literally State institution in
place of localized one.
University education. including the several profess
sional branches, must in order do its whole work
carry itself to the people.
The influence of the present State University is
restricted. local. It embraces trifng proportion of
population only those persons who can abandon all
bread winning employments and come to the educa-
tiona for period of years 1t requires sacri-
fee which but few make.
Present university work is not continuous The
small number of students who graduate each year
tire to their several homes and are necessarily cut
Off from its direct intimate influence. To arrive at
greatest effectiveness the university must be at once
a center for the general diffusion Of knowledge and
means for communicating fresh knowledge every
part of the State 1t must be in close touch with the
people that its effect will be universal and its work
upon the individual continuous.
Every center of population should contain branch
center. it Of the central university These
small university centers could be constantly visited
by tnerant professors and lecturers delivering their
several courses in rotation. Quick transportation and
the easy accessibility of all parts of the State would
admit Of education routes. that single Instructor
could carry on his course in several parts of the
State large corps of educators, though compara
lively small in proportion to the scope of the work
would be distributed over the State. Each new fact
of science each development the technique of arts
or crafts. each newly adduced bit of professional
knowledge of general knowledge would thus be i'm
parted directly TO the people while the work of the
more elementary character would proceed regularly
and steadily.
Such university work would be within reach of
every individual in the State; education would entail
no sacrifices there would be one who could not
afford either the money the time required for uni
versity attendance the student might pursue his
everyday occupation.
What benefits would accrue to the community IT,
for instance, its doctors, its clergy its lawyers its
architects, engineers and mechanics were constantly
in touch with the best thought and the newest facts
in their respective cangs thought facts gathered
and digested at great central bureau of research
and condensation.
University work this broad and comprehensive
plan of carrying learning to the peoples door would
tend speedily to popularize education. Conceive an
institution with travelling corps of five hundred lee
turers and Instructors They could reach three hun
dred thousand whereas the largest State uni
versities. with faculty of Fifty, administer but
three thousand. The value Of learning would be