River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-12-24
STUDY WHILE THEY
ARE EARNING PAY
Practical University Extension Meth
DDS of Teaching Men Employed
in the Shops.

The University Extension Division
of the University of Wisconsin COM
menced work with it's first regular
class in a shop in the Filer-Stowell
plant in Milwaukee last March. Mr..
Thomas J. Neacy the general man.
ager Of the plant, is enthusiastic in
commencing the work done in the
class. In describing this work for a
newspaper reporter lie said: Glasses
are held in the shops at stated inter
walls in mechanical courses, one day
being given to one subject, and an
other given to another course" The
instructors from the University EX-
tension Division carry a collapsible
blackboard and illustrate as much as
does the teacher in the school room.
These instructors are the men who
have been teaching individual men,
bers of the class by correspondence.
By means of the classes, the teacher
has. an opportunity to come in per-
sonal contact with his pupils, and eX-
amines them and knows exactly the
progress of each. The pupils are able,
by this method, to PROFOUND and an
sWer questions, and get far clearer
idea of what they are trying to do
than by the long distance style of con-
tact which is the one in use in the
ordinary commercial correspondence
schools. Mr.. Neacy adds to his state
ment the following which is drawn
from an extended practical experience
as manager of a large plant:
"a young man working in a shop
or manufacturing institution of any
kind gets a certain amount of practical
experience-he can work with his
hands. Before he is competent to
handle others or even attain a high
degree of proficiency as mechanic or
engineer he must have a little train
ing in using his head-to be able to
unravel some of these perplexing
problems which constantly arise in
this work. Then to be properly
finished, he should take a course d.
rect at the state university. The
capable man who has this shop ex-
perience, supplemented with the ex-
tension course in his work is then an
apt scholar in school, and will leave
the ordinary college man far behind.
At the conclusion of his university
work he knows something. He Is
man whom you can send out on
difficult engineering job and know
that it's going to be handled right.
There are few men sent out in charge
of construction work who can report
progress to the satisfaction of the
head Office. Such men are in demand.
Demand for Skilled Mechanics.
1T is the skilled mechanic that we
want. Advertise tomorrow for a
clerk and you will be swamped with
applicants Look for an expert me-
chanic and you can't End one. 1t IS
a fact that the best men in that work
come from Europe-we don't raise
them here. However, things are
changing and we are beginning &c
realize the necessity of teaching our
own children to continue and complete
their education in their chosen line OF
work This extension is simply cor
respondence school, but it is a good
one, properly conducted and in good
hands. A number of men of the city
are interested in this work OF the
University, and with myself will work
to secure appropriations to enable the
scope of work to be enlarged"