Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-11-13
A Travelling University.

A SeCIOn OF Jne lulNNloltg VI NN"'
nesota will go "on tour" again this
year. For one week last June the
people Of number of small towns in
Minnesota had the state university in
their midst in the form Of its most
characteristic activities, and the eigh-
teen communities benefited have unan-
imously asked that the experience be
repeated this year.
University Week" is the institution
by which this is made possible. The
oject originated with President Geo
E. Vincent, of the University Of Min
resota, and at once gained the popu-
lar nickname Of President Vincent's
Educational Circus" largely because
Of the touring method and the fact
that it was at first planned to hold
most of the sessions in tents,
The plan is something more than
merely university extension To all
intents and purposes a representative
portion Of the uniyersty-faculty stu
dents and equipments temporarily
detached and transferred to other
parts Of the state, thus actually ey-
tending the benefits of the states cost
liest educational plant to a wider field
than ever before The plan is con-
sidered by the United States bureau of
education an excellent device for
bringing together for mutual profit
state university and the people who
support 1t,
What University Week really Is
may be seen from a typical program.
Each day Of the six is devoted to some
special topic, with lectures and DEM
onstrations during the day time and
high-class entertainments at night.
Thus: Monday is Business Mems
Day. There are lectures on all kinds
of topics interesting to business men,
from marketing problems to fighting
forest fires, as well as a few talks of
more general nature. In the evening
there is a concert by the University
Glee club. Tuesday is Art and Liter
ature Day, with lectures on Libraries,
childrens books, womens clubs, civic
betterment the drama and similar
subjects. There is a reading hour in
the afternoon, in charge of a trained
elocutionlst, and an industrial art ex-
bibit; in the evening an illustrated lee
tCre: art in Common Things"
Wednesday is Home Welfare day.
In the day sessions such problems as
The Human Being of High School
Age why Babies Die" rational. liy-
ing, kindergartens, and industrial ed
Iucation are considered, while at night
a prominent educator gives an Illus
trated lecture on How Minnesota Ed |
Iucates Her Children" Thursday is
Public Health Day with appropriate
lectures and exhibits, In the evening
there is dramatic recital of a mod (
ern play,
Friday is Farmers Day, and live
questions Of farm policy are discussed
by experts in agriculture. There is
also an address on THE Social Possi-
bilities of Rural Communities" by an
educator who has made special studies
in this field. In the evenings profess
Scrs from the university give a scien-
tlhc demonstration of the gyroscope
and liquid air. Saturday is Town and
Country Day. with Social Life in
Town and Country" as the leading
topic, In the evening the University
Dramatic Club appears in Shakes
peare's Merchant Of Venice.
Genuine interest is aroused in tbe
towns visited. In most instances the
people take the visit of the university
as the business of the week and de-
vote all their attention to it. Not only
the townspeople, but farmers from
outlying districts as well. attend tbe
sessions. Boys farming camps are
in connection with the Uni-
Versity week, and always prove nom
uiar feature. The university author
''ies and those who cooperate with
them-State health boards and other
agehcles-are particularly careful to
provide speakers who not only know
'heir subjects well, but are able to
.aIk interestingly to a non-uniyersitv
audience The expense Of obtaining
'uch men would be prohibitive but for
IN ingenious arrangement of circpits
the Travelling University
week is able to play" six commrni
lies in the same neighborhood by inter.
changing days.
IT. Is estimated that there are sey.
ANHl MlNg Ia y,.I.s..t