Connecticut western news., 1908-11-26
A MASSACHUSETTS
 EDUCATIONAL PLAN
A LOW PRICED COLLEGE COURSE
costfor Four Years Will be but $l38 Berkshire County Selected as the Place in Which to Make the PreIimi- nary Canvass.

An educational enterprise intended to place college training within the reach of every high school graduate in Massa- chusetts has been for some time under consideration by men prominent in bus iness and in universities. The various phases of such an institution have been carefully considered, and evidence of popular interest and patronage is now sought as warrant for the undertaking In brief ..the proposition is to establish at certain centers in branches of Massachusetts college-an institution open to both sexes and with complete provision for instruction by lectures, recitations and examinations in the sub- jects commonly included in the degree of bachelor of arts.
 Berkshire has been decided on as a county Ill which to make preliminary canvass of the local situation as regards the demand for such college. and Pittsfeld has been selected, as the center for that part of the state. The high school building, library and museum of that city will afford excellent accommo- dations and aids to the college, and the local authorities have expressed their cordial interest in the plan. The Con- nectlcut valley district is to have as its centers Springfield, Northampton and Greenfield. Each of these places has, aside from it's site, many of the other facilities which would be necessary in the district centers of the college One subscription of $100, ,000 has already been pledged toward the endowment fund of $i ,000, 900 which 1t is hoped to raise
 The following letter, issued to parents of students in the Pittsfield high school thoroughly explains the proposition.
 Boston, November, 1908. To the Parents of the Students of Pitts
 field High School:-
 It is planned to establish in Plttsfleld, in September, 1909, branch of the pro- posed Massachusetts college, if 150 stu dents from Pittsfeld and other places in Berkshire county can be secured for the freshman class, and if the city and school authorities will grant the free use of the high school buildings, libraries and apparatus for afternoon and eve ming exercises. The college course will extend through four years. and the studies will consist, as at present planned, of languages, history, rconu. mics, government, science. mathematics. fine arts, education, psychology, ethics and philosophy. There will be some opportunity for choice of studies,
 The entrance fee will be $50, and the tuition fee will be $3 for each term. sub ject taken. If nine term-subjects arc taken each year, the cost to the student the first year will be S30 for entrance fee, $27 for tuition fees, and about $l5 for books and stationery, a total of $12. For the sophomore, junior and senior years the cost will be $27 for tuition fees, and about $15 for books, etc., each year. The total cost for four years training will thus be S136 for fees and about $60 for books and stationery. The students will live at honle, where they will continue to enjoy it's benefits and moral restraints, and, where necessary, work for a livelihood. The minimum expense to the student per annum at Harvard, Amherst, Williams, insti- ute of Technology and other endowed institutions is about $500, or $2000 for the four years.
 The academic year may be divided into periods of 15 weeks each, beginning September l, January 1 and May 1 of each year. The requirements for the degree of bachelor of arts will be the satisfactory completion of 36 lecture courses of 45 hours of exercises each two lectures and one recitation in each of three subjects per week for four years.) The college will be open to all past graduates of high schools of both sexes. If you wish to avail of this op- portunity to secure four years college training for your children, please give below their names and ages, and the J ear when they will be ready to enter the freshman class, and return this sheet within three days to William D.