The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-19
THE HAsKIN LETTER
City Universities
BY Frederick ]. HasISin.

/ limitation need be only temporary.
Other professional instructions di-
rectly can be given with equal pro-
priety In an institution belonging di-
rectly to the municipalities. The stu
dents taking these courses can fire.
qucntly be OF great service to the
municipality while pursuing their
studies. The University of Wiscon-
sin has recently established a course
In taxation, Last year a number Of
students in this course were employed
In the state capital computing tax
finances: They were paid $500 for a
half years work and were also cred
tied with the amount of time so em-
|ployed.
With the ever increasing recogni-a
ton of the need of securing the high
est possible efficiency in every de-
partment of municipal control comes
the need of increasing numbers Of
trained experts in every science The
city university, acting In close coz
operation with all of these depart-
ments, should be; better equipped to
prepare men and women for munich
pal service than an outside institu-
ton. The health departments require
"a large number OF specially trained
physicians each year. In this partlcu-
lar science a municipal cooperation
with medical school already estab-
lished may work out better than the
establishment OF an entirely new in.
stitution, but the cooperation must
be definitely organized.
The work completed in Akron is
suggestive of the many services by
which the municipal college can serve.
the city in addition to the most i'm
portant one OF supplying trained
workers for city positions. The COT
leges can find definite lines Of prac-
ttcal work in the direction OF the
various public utilities and the grad
yates will be better prepared in a,
university which is corporate part
of the municipality itself The train
ing of teachers for public service has
long been we'll recognized duty Of
every city. The university idea sim
ply extends this service to prepare
men and women for other branches OF
public service. Chemistry, biology and
economics of every sort are required
in the daily municipal routine and
students can secure practical exper-
fence in many instances while rem
dering the city q more efficient SER
vice than is now available.
The department OF charities and
correction in every large city gives
exceptional opportunity for the stu
dent in sociology to acquire expert
experience. The necessity of placing
public institutions of this kind under
the direction OF those who have had
special training is becoming more ap.
parent each day. For sociological
training alone, the city university in
active cooperation with the work Of
the municipality could offer possibili-
ties OF training that are not now
available In any institutions.
Much OF the work OF the newly es-
tablished organization will be experi-
mental at first. Its present work is
the gathering from all the universi-
ties in the country a definite amount
of the cooperation now existing be-
tween them and the local municipali-
ties. Suggestions are also being
asked as to how this cooperation may
be increased. In many cases the city
40 NV . AAhSAy " tShC CudISG UI 6OUl0
Institution already established than
to found a new one. The University
Of Akron had its beginning as Buchtel
College, which has only recently
been taken over and reorganized by
the city.
Most of the private institutions will
welcome any means of cooperation
with the city for public advantage.
They realize their obligations to the
municipality for freedom from taxes
and other advantages, and are eager
to give greater practical service to,
the community. The general public
is awake to the iced of expert knowl-
edge upon various matters pertaining
to the public good The universities
recognize their duty in training men
and women for public service, These
three conditions warrants the effort
now being put forward towards the
establishment of city universities
upon the broadest possible basis.
=