Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-03-24
WORKING THEIR WAY.
~ 4. b. oOwgiII, Department q uni
vsrsLty extension. Lawrence, Kan.

Eager desire for higher educatioh
sends to American colleges and uni
yersities many a young man ana
woman without the support Of a bank
account. The story of heroic effort
inspired by a purpose not understood
by the many who see only the out
come, may be told to another gener-
alton, but is now to the actors grim
contest without romance. But the
story is enacted more frequently as
the value Of university training be-
comes more widely known.
Formerly 1t was thought that
higher education was for the Few.
Now, society begins to realize that
the interest Of all the people--the in
terests of the state and the nation
the ability Of our people to hold their
own in the fierce and fiercer COM
petition Of the present and the imme-
date future require that higher edu-
cation and the power thereby de-
yeloped become general. The in
stinct Of self-preservation, as per-
tanning to the whole people and to
each separate unit, in the conditions
foresh allowed sends children OF poor,
children Of fairly well-to-do, and
children Of rich parents to the school.
For the children Of the rich and
Of the well-to-do, the question OF
meeting the expense may be Of small
importance. But the increasing
numbers Of those who must earn a
part or all of their keep, presents a
subject Of growing interest and conse-
quence. The fact that in many cases
the self sustainers of a generation
ago have become leaders in the
worlds great work of today, lends
inspiration to the present generation
Of those who face the double prob
lem of making living and OF hold
ing their own in the contest for edu-
cational supremacy. Society has no
present prospect more full Of promise.
no present investment more certain
of profitable return, than the out
come of this double problem.
1t is worth while to inquire how
a few Of the many who are working
their way to education are solving the
problem. For this purpose inquiry
was made of several hundred stu
dents-both men and women, at the
University Of Kansas.
A young man reports that during
his first year at the University be
worked Saturdays, afternoons and
holidays at odd jobs, and did car
penter work for his parents in sum-
mer vacation. During the next yeal
he worked at odd jobs, table waiting
and laundry delivering, and in sum.
mer vacation worked for the Mis-.
souri, Pacific railroad. During bis
third year he did carpenter work
afternoons and Saturdays. His to-
tai expenses per year were s270.
He found no lack Of courtesy on the
part Of other students because Of the
fact that he had to work his way"
Another young man whose ex-
penses average about $500 q year,
works on a farm during his summer
vacation earning 500. While at
the University he does janitor work
for which he receives S12 per month
and his room. He experiences no
lack Of courtesy on the part of other
students.
Another whose expenses are stated
to be $3.50 per school year earned
S175 while In school and 500 dur
ing vacation. The work was re
touching in photo studies" "None
so far" is the reply to the question,
do you find any lack Of courtesy on
the part OF other students because
Of the fact that you have to work
your way?"
With total expenses per year
amounting to $500 a young man whe
had saved some money from his sal
airy as a teacher and who earns $125
in the harvest fields during his sum-
mer vacation, adds $3.50 during the
school year at waiting on table"
Another former teacher whose to-
tai expenses per school year are about
$500, earns about $3.50 per year
from a laundry route in which he
has purchased an interest.
A young farmer pays all Of hk
expenses, 5000 per year. from his
farming which he describes as fol-
lows; 81 owned team and thS
year before l entered the University
] rented forty acres Of wheat land
and used my fathers farming i'm
plements to SOW the wheat. Then
the work Of myself and team would