The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1908-06-19
UNIVERSITY, EXTENSION.
Most Interesting Educational Growth
OF the Times.

of the Times.
Education for adults is now widely
recognized both by educators IN tnls
country and England as a most I'M
portant safeguard to democratic lnstl-
tutions. The old idea that educatlon
ends with the schoolroom has depart
ed. 1t is as fallacious as a scheme OF
religion that would call for constant
church-going in one place Tor 1our
years and end with diploma to Sig
nifv that church-going had been
done for life. Education is LIE pro-
cess and ends only with the grave.
Those who are interested in the wild
est possible spread Of knowledge
among the masses will note with ap-
provaI the growth of the American
Society for Extension OF university
reaching. the pioneer in the United
States in this movement for adult ed
ucation. Founded in 1890 by Philadel-
phia's second Benjamin Franklin
the late DR.. Pepper then provost OF
the University of Pennsylvania, this
Socitey, supported by the generous
impulses of the community, has con-
Quoted its admirable work for eighteen
years, spreading information, human
izing knowledge and bringing to thous-
ands the lessons of history and Gull
ture. During the past season over
100000 persons attended its courses
and lectures, which we're delivered at
nearly 100 active centres. Its stu
dents have increased from 5000 in 1891
to $4,000 in 1908. From the last OF
September until the first OF April, on
every night in the week, the extension
audiences are gathered at these var1-
Gus centres, where course after course
on historical, literary, philosophical,
scientific and social subjects is given.
To see lecturer moving from town to
town instead of from classroom to
classroom in a university-gofng to
the students because they are unable
to come to him-carrying with him
the university atmosphere OF clear,
cautious, keen, wide-awake thinking
is an interesting and suggestive spec
tacle.
In University Extension it is not the
book that takes the initiative, but the
man charged with the book. The liv-
ing teacher is the centre of inspira-
ton, no mere pedagogue-the furthest
removed from the mere pedant-but
the man learned, in whom with learn
ing has been bred conscience, the man
teaching and eager to teach.
The whole movement has become
one of the most interesting educational
groWthS of the time. Showing this
interest and organization in Philadel-
phia, an entire department devoted to
it at the University of Chicago, and
service deliberately organized for it
within the past four years at Columbia
and within the past five at Berkeley
with firm, strong and sound organ
ization therefore in the three largest
cities as radiating centres, and in en-
thusiastic operation beyond the
Rockies, such a movement need not
deprecate it's past nor tremble for it's
future
Of the influence of the Society's
work upon Philadelphia the Press says,
1.-The extraordinary and remarkable
results secured by the American So
ciety in this City makes that organiza-
ton the most important supplement-
airy work in Philadelphia" A system
of instruction like University Exten-
sion is certain to be enduring, if not
in specific results at least in influence
If it does not transform each benefi-
ciary into a scholar it certainly opens
to him new horizons, world of new
suggestion, new desires and directs to
wholesome ways the desires he already
has. AS an effort also of them that
have, put forth to them that have not,
it helps to convince him that society is
becoming more humane and more con-
siderate. Has not the time arrived
for the introduction OF such work in
Westminster? If some of our public
spirited people could be found to take
the preliminary steps, there is little
doubt that their efforts would be well
rewarded. The subject is deserving of
consideration.