River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-01-14
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 III. 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 plansT
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 Study 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
240 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 /, 1907, the number of en-
rollments has increased from 100 on
September 1, 1907, to 1000 on Septem-
Der /, 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
years and have received several mill
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. It 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 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