Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1908-11-19
A DEMOCRATIC
). UNIVERSITY
Work of Extension Division Said tC
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 H. 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
he 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 it's 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
l)uy SlCdl VI AlQlN luudl
| citizens or communities.
Correspondence-stud Methods.
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
24O courses in 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 1900 on Septem-
Der 1, 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-
teal and better lines than those for
merly 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
five per cent. of those who have en-
rolled and paid their fees have con-
tinued the work until they secured
| much benefit from it. 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 ordinary commercial CORES
pondence schools the students are soli-
| 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
| naturally tries to get the student to
| take the more expensive courses. 100
| frequently the young man who mas had
| insufficient elementary training Is IN
| dlsced to take courses for which he has
not had adequate preparation. After
| taking a few lessons, and trying 60
deal with technical terms with which
| he is entirely unacQuainted, he gives
up the work in despair: He not only
loses his money, but he also loses ms
courage. He has heard that John Smith
has taken q course similar to the one
undertaken by himself, and has been
successful in his studies, and he feels
that his failure is due to lack of men
| tai grasp, when, in fact, 1t is due only
to his endeavOr to study some subject
for which he has not had sufficient ele-
7 mentary training.
The University Plan.
The University works in an alto
4 gether different way. 1t learns the
educational status of the student by
a careful examination whenever
possible in the larger communities 1t
tries to gather a number Of students
who are interested in studying the
same topics. While the student in the
ordinary correspondence school Is iso-
lated the correspondent student of the
University has the opportunity of meet
ing weekly with others who are study
ing the same subject.
Occasionally an instructor from the
University meets these students III
their classes and explains the Difficult
ties which they have met as directly
as the work done in the University
In some of the large manufacturing es-
adjustments Of the state the instruc-
tors meet the classes fortnightly and
the results have been SO remarkable
in the way of arousing enthusiasm
and imparting knowledge that the
owners of the plants have provided
class rooms for their employees in which
to do this work, and have given their
employees the time in which to do it.
1t is already evident that this plan of
work will revolutionize the methods of
technical education in many manufac,
turing lines. .,,i-.