University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1909-05-19

ceeded even beyond the most sangline
hopes.
The course in journalism covers four
years. 1t leads to one undergraduate
degree. Bachelor of Science in Journal
ism. 1t is not supposed that the award
ing of this degree makes journalist
any more than the comforting of a di-
ploma makes a lawyer or doctor or an
engineer. 1t is expected. however. that
the man or woman who pursues faith
fully the courses of instruction given
at the University of Missouri will at
the end of four years be better equip
ped for hi gh service than The one who
has not had such training. How far
success has been attained in the first
years teaching is difficult to determine.
The result of the teachers work Is not
determinable by weight or measure
Certain it is. however. that the students
in the School even with only few
months training are the better pre-
pared to be members of the great teach
in. profession of journalism than they
were when they entered the school. The
students may them>elve, give testimony
to any who may ask. The metropoli-
III
has recognized this fact by the try
outs given the more experienced stu
dents and by the calls which have come
for them.
Plan Copied by Other Schools.
II is no longer Il question whether
journalism may be taught or. if you
please. whether there may De training
for journalism. 1t is simply question
whether the University of Missouri has
adopted the best method. 1t has been
the pioneer among American state uni
versiticS i'm this regard. Its example
has been thought worthy of imitation.
\ half dozen great state universities
have followed its lead and others are
preparing to do 81. Two universities in
Great Britain have adopted similar
plans of organization and from far off
but progressive New Iceland comes the
suggestion of similar school there.
The difficulties in the way of the
schools success were not unforeseen.
1t was to occupy new field. 1t was
to meet doubt and diStru,t from some.
misapprehen>ion from Others and de-
Structivc criticism from Il few. The
organizer of the school must expect per-
>onal opposition from those who prefer
complaint to achievement Most of the
criticism has been constructive and
kindly. For it all. much thanks,
He who was chosen from your own
membership to lead in this new pub
lie service through no sclfsccking of
his own. has not felt called upon to
make to any critical reply. His time
has been fully occupied in laboring fo-
the schools success. Some criticisms
have been upon the expenses of the
school and of the University Missouri
an. This expense has been less than
onet third the amount which the critics
have seized upon for condemnation. No
school or department in any American
university of first rank is maintained
at as small a cost per student As the
School of Journalism of the University
of Missouri. No Just criticism lies
here.
Concerning Misapprehension
The necessities of the first year COM
PEELED the adoption of a plan which was
unfortunately seized upon as the State
competing with private enterprises.
While it was proper for tie State in
training for dairymen to sell butter.
and in training for physicians to sell
hospital space. and in training for farm
ers to sell cattle and corn and wheat
it was not regarded as proper for the
State in trainin" for journalism to
permit the business men of Columbia
to pay for the support of such public
enterprise. The competition was not
large. if it really was competition. the
total receipts of the University Mis-
>ourian from local paid advertising be-
in" scarcely more than 81 .5no. But it
was sufficient to ba used to create feel
ing against the school, based mostly
upon mi>apprehen~ion. Any other
course than that pursued in the first
year would have been impossible 1t
was therefore from the standpoint of
p,Ihlic pcnnomy and tho hiuh.-t ,,nou