Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-11-07
MinnesOta'S Annual
University Week.

y
nesota will so ION tourP' again this
year For one week last June the peo-
pie If a number of small towns in Min
nesota 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 tbs institution
BY which this is made Inssible. The
project originated vstli Pfesid mt Geo
+. Vincent, Of the GniyeHalty OF Min
nesota. and at once gained the popular
nickname OF president Vincent's Edu-
cational Circus, largely because of
the touring method and The fact that
it was at first planned 80 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 university--lacul.y, stu
dents and equipments temporarily
detached and tranaferted to other
parts of the State, thus actually ex-
tending the benefits of the States cost
Hest educational plant to wider field
than ever before. The plan is eonsid
cred by the United states Bureau of
Education an excellents device for
bringing together for mutual profit a
State university and the people who
support it.
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 Demon
strations during the daytime and high
class entertainments at night. Thus;
Monday is Business Mems Day There
are lectures on all kinds of topics in
teresting to business men, from mark
citing problems to fighting forest fires,
rs we'll as a few talks OF more general
nature. In the efening there is a con-
cert by the University Glee Club. fues-
day is Art and Literature Day. with
lectures on libraries, cIldren's books.
women's clubs, civic betterment. the
drama, and similar subjects. There IS a
reading hour in the afternoon, in
charge OF a trained elocutionist. and
an Industrial art exhibit: in the even
ing an illustrated lecture: Art in
Common Things"
Wednesday is Home Welfare Day In
the day sessions such problems as
THE Human Beings of High-School
Age" Why Babies Die rational liv-
ing. kindergartens and industrial edu-
cation are considered, while at night
a prominent educator gives an Illus
trated lecture on How Minnesota Ed
ueates Her Children Thursday is
Public Health Day, with appropriate
lectures and exhibits. In the evening
there is a dramatic recital of mod
ern play.
Friday is Farmers Day. ard live
questions of farm policy are discussed
by experts in agriculture. There is also
an address on THE Social Possibilities
of Rural Communities by an educator
who has made special studies IN this
field. In the evenings professors FROM
the university give a scientific demon :
stration of the gyreseope and iquld
air. Saturday is Town and Country
Day, with Social Life in Town and
Country as the leading topic. In the
evening the University Dramatic clup
appears in Shakespeare Merchant OF
Venice.
Genuine interest is aroused in i've
towns visited. In most instances the
people take the visit of the universe "
as the business Of the week, ana -ae-
vote all their attention tc it. Not only
the townspeople, but farmers from
OUTLYING districts as web. attend the
sessions Boys forming camps are
orga nized in connection with the lni-
yeTsitv Week. and always prove pop
Mar feature. The university autherl-
ties and those who cooperate VITA
health boards and other
agencies-are particularly careful =
provide speakers who not only know
their subject well, but are able to tax
10 a nonuniversity audi
epce. The expense of obtaining such
men would tie prohibitive but for an
ingenious arrangement of circuits,
whereby the travelling University Week
is able to play" six communities III
the same neighborhood by interchang-
ing days. :,
1t is estimated that there are several
ways in which this novel plan of eX-
tending the influence of a State uni
yersiiy will have direct effect: In the
first place, it VIII make the work Of
the university well and faNorably
fnevn Where it has before been known
only Vaguely or even mistakenly; 7
win break down the already weakening
barrier of educational exclusiveness,
a m ,,tIr. i,f, ,,fufaY1t still II is one more