Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1908-06-11
UNIVERSITY EXTENSION.

Education for adults is now widely
recognized both by educators in this
country and England as a most inn
portant safeguard to democratic insti-
tutions. The old idea that education
ends with the school-room has depart
ed 1t is as fallacious as a scheme of
religion that would call for constant
church-going in one place for four
years and end with diploma to signi-
fly that church-going had been done
for life. Education is a life process
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-
prevail the growth of the American
Society for Extension of University
Teaching, the pioneer in the United
States in this movement for adult edu-
cation. Founded in 1890 by Philadel-
phia's second Benjamin Franklin
the late DR.. Pepper, then Provost of
the University of Pennsylvania, this
Society, supported by the generous i'm
pulses Of the community, has conduct
ed its admirable work for eighteen
years, spreading information, human
izing knowledge and bringing to
thousands the lessons of history and
culture. During the past season over.
10000 persons attended its courses
and lectures, which were delivered at
nearly 100 active centres. It's 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 Ex-
tension audiences are gathered at
these various centres, where course
after course on historical, literary,
philosophical, scientific and social sub
Jects is given. To see a lecturer NOV
ing from town to town instead of from
classroom to classroom in a univer-
sity,-going to the students because
they are unable to come to hin,-car-
ryIng with him the university atmos-
phere OF clear cautious, keen, wide
awake thinking is an interesting and
suggestive spectacle.
In University Extension it is not
the book that takes the initiative but
the man charged with the book. The
living teacher is the centre of inspir-
alton, no mere pedagogue- furth-
est removed from the mere pedant-
but the man learned, in whom with
learning has been bred conscience, the
man teaching and eager to teach.
The whole movement has become
one of the most interesting education
al growths of the time Showing this
interest and organization in Philadel-
phia, an entire department devoted to
it at the University of Chicago and a
service deliberately organized for it
within the past four years at Columbia
and within the past five at Berkeley
with a firm, strong and sound organ
ization therefore in the three largest
cities as radiating centres, and in en-
thusiastic operation beyond the Rock
les, such a movement need not depre-
cate its past nor tremble for its flu
ture.
Of the influence Of the society's
work upon Philadelphia the Philadel-
phia Press says, 1.-The extraordinary
and remarkable results secured by the
American Society in this city makes
that organization the most important
supplementary work in Philadelphia. ;"
system of instruction like Univer-
sity Extension is certain to be endur--
ing, if not in specific results at least
in influence. If it does not transform
each beneficiary into a scholar it GER
tafnly opens to him new horizons. a
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, II. helps to CON
vince him that society is becoming
more humane and more considerable.
Has not the time arrived for the in
PRODUCTION of such work in Woodbury.?
# some of our philosophical people
could be found to take the preliminary
steps, there Is little doubt that their
efforts would be we'll rewarded The
subject Is deserving of consideration 3