Weekly Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1908-1909, 1909-01-08
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 We're 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
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 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.
Correspondence-Stu 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 1,200 on Septem.
| Der 1, 1908.
There are also many classes. The
method of instruction by correspond
| ence is not by any means new, but il
has been developed in the University
| of Wisconsin on very much more prac.
teal and better lines than those for
|
respondence schools have enrolled stu
dents in Wisconsin during the past few
years and nave received several mil
lions of dollars from these students fol
| 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 dc
much better work and to secure larger
salaries, but the proportion has beer
| 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 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
naturally tries to get the student to
take the more expensive courses. Toe
! frequently the young man who has had
insufficient elementary training is in
| duced to take courses for which he has
not had adequate preparation. After
| taking a few lessons, and trying to
| 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 his
courage. He has heard that John Smith
| has taken a 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 it is due only
| to his endeavOr to study some subject
| for which he has not had sufficient ele-
| mentary training.
The University Plan.
The University works in an alto
| gether different way. 1t learns the
| educational status of the student by
| q careful examination. Whenever
| possible in the larger communities 1t
| tries to gather nunaber of students
| who are Interested in STUDYING the