Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-11-19
A DEMOCRATIC
UNIVERSITY
Work Of Extension Division Said to
Make the University of Wiscon.
sin the Most Democratic
Institution in the

World.

Two years ago when the plans
now in operation for broadening the
work Of the University Extension
Division were outlined to Senator
James II. Stout of MenOmOnie, WiscOn-
sin, he said, IF these plans are carried
out the University of Wisconsin will
be the most democratic institution in
America" After a moments thought
be said: '"The University of Wiscon-
sin, if these plans are carried out, will
be the most democratic institution in
the world" What are these plans?"
They include methods Of instruction
by lectures. The University of WiscOn-
sin sends the leading men in its fac
ulty. and other experts who have
knowledge and enthusiasm in special
lines, to lecture at gatherings of in
terested citizens, to clubs, common
councils, county boards, and in fact
to any organizations which are inter
ested in promoting the public welfare,
and which are willing to give time and
work to the study of the best means
Of securing the material, moral and
physical Improvement Of individual
citizens or communities.
In the next place it maintains regu-
lar correspondence with the individ-
uals. or groups of citizens. who wish
to study the branches which are given
IN the University and technical col
leGeS, or which are preparatory to
work of this grade, or which are help
full to these, citizens in the daily or
vocational work. however elementary
the subject may be.
The University has already outlined
$40 courses iii which instruction is be
ing regularly given. Something of the
need of this work. and the eagerness
with which it is taken is shown by the
fact that although the first student in
this correspondence work was enrolled
less than two years ago, and but few
of the courses were prepared before
September 1, 1907, the number of en-
rollments has increased from 100 on
September l. 1907, to 1920 on Septem-
Der l. 1908.
| There are also many classes. The
| method of instruction by correspond
ence is not by any means new, but it
has been developed in the University
of Wisconsin on very much more prac-
tical and better lines than those for
| ImerIy used. A number of large co..
respondence schools have enrolled stu
dents in Wisconsin during the past few
wears and have received several mil
lions of dollars from these students for
| instruction. a careful study of the
situation shows. however. that only
| i've per cent. of those who have en-
| rolled and paid their fees have con-
| tinued the work until they secured
| much benefit from il. 1t is true that
| there have been many young men and
| women who have pursued the course
| until they have gained knowledge and
| training that have enabled them TO do
| much better work and to secure larger
| salaries. but the proportion has been
small The failure TO get better re-
| suits has been shown. however, TO lie
| almost entirely in management rather
| than TO fault in the plan.
| In the or linary commercial cores
| pondence SCHOOLS the students are soil
! cited by agents whose fees depend up
| on the amount of money received
| from the student The more involved
technical courses are more expensive
| than the simpler ones, and the agent