The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-04-16
EXTENSION WORK TO
RURAL COMMUNITIES
UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES CAN
AID IN BETTERING OF CoUN-
TRY LIFE.
DR.. BROOKS on RACK
PRESIDENT OF BAYLOR UNIVER-
STTY, WACO, TEXAS, GIVEN
GRILLING AND FINALLY
COMES ROUND.

A system of extension work adapt
ed to the rural communities Of the
South, and how the uniYersdties and
colleges can aid in a practical way in
the betterment OF country life condi-
tons, was the broad topic assigned
for discussion at the college confer
ence--the first open meeting of the
conference for education in the South
which was held yesterday afternoon
in the assembly room of the Young
Mems Christian association.
College presidents of note members
OF their faculties and experts who
have devoted much time to the So
luton Of the problem connected with
education in the realm of country
life conditions movement in which
the State OF Virginia is just now tax
ing the lead-inCluding a number of
brilliant women, engaged in the dis
eussion. which developed the fact that
while the extension" movement as
It IS called. is making many converts
among men engaged in the work of
higher education, that a numb Der of
them cling firmly to ideals and tradi-
ton and evidently regard the par
uClpation of colleges and universities
In rural uplft as II lowering of the
dignity of the institution. In fact
violent opposition to the teaching Of
manual arts and the domestic sciences
and the promotion of agriculture in
the rural schools developed from one
source, but majority Of the edu-
Gators who took part in the discus
sion were heartily In favor of the
extension work.
Have Fun With DIR. Brooks
The conference had some fun at the
expense of President Brooks, of Bay
Tor university. Waco. Texas who can
didly admitted that the 500 young
men and women at the famous Rap-
fist college are simply given liberal
literary education and that none Of
the practical things brought out in
the discussion of the afternoon were
included in its curriculum. He ad-
mitted, further, though that he had
about come to the conclusion that at
least so far as the girls are concerned
that cooking should be added to the
course leading to the degree of bach
el0r of arts
Miss Parrish, of the University of
Georgia, interrupted DR. Brooks to
ask:
to do?"
DR. Brooks replied promptly.
though somewhat numbly that his
college was training it's girls to be
good wives and mothers, and admit
ted even more humbly the force Of
Miss Parrish's succeeding interroga-
tory, that Baylor was giving them
only theory and no practice. Then
ne rallied nobly to the occasion and
pulled himself out Of the dilemma
into which the earnest advocates Of
extension work had precipitated him
by the declaration that if he could
md the right man or the right wo-
man there was a place for him or her
on his faculty
Miss Parrish exclaimed: I'm send
you one" and she said it in a man
ner that indicates that she means
business
Need Trained Teachers.
supervisor J. /. Burnes, of Arkan-
sas, suggested a survey system of ru-
raj schools, and urged that the col
leges should take the lead by inaugu-
rating special courses to train teach
ers for this purpose, and in this view
ne was sustained by Supervisor Geo.
N. Lynch, Of Florida, who argued that
the universities and colleges should
get in touch with country life and
send out practical men to speak in
country, life language" to the peo-
pie they expected to reach.
Or. L. +. Brogden. of the Uni
sersity of North Carolina: DR.. Camu-
DtAi' "a ltLC HlFcTSltS OF Georgia. and
others expressed similar views, hold
ing the idea that the time has ar
rived for the colleges to reach out
and aid in the problems of rural edu-
cation, and Supervisor Wick. Of Ala
bama, put forth the argument that
with IA units as the standard that
cation, 10 should he applied to AGA =
demic subjects and : to vocational
ends. Miss Rodabush. of the state
Agricultural College of Mississippi.
interested the conference with her
outline of the work of that institu-
ton, which now has enrolled $50
girls. These young women are given
practical training in domestic science
and then sent out as teachers to the
rural schools A model home, where
the girls are taught housekeeping and
cookery is one of the features of the
institution.
Or. Wilkins, of Tulane university,
New Orleans, while not exactly throw
ing cold water on the enthusiasm of
the speakers who were advocating the
rural extension work. admonished
them not to forget the congested city
dweller and the many-sded problem
his condition presented
DR. a. A. Murphree, president of
the University of Florida. and chair
man of this conference, presided at
the conference.