Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-29
UNIVERSITY EX-
TENSION WORK
SHOULD NOT Be
REDUCED

uLkUUEU
Vigorous protest against the pro-
posed crippling of the poor man. s
college" " as the Extension Division
OF the University of Wisconsin has
come to be known among those most
familiar with it's work thruout the
state. has been called forth by the
action of the joint finance committee
of the state legislature in recommend
ing that che appropriation for exten-
sion work be fixeed at $150,0 a
cut of % perc cent from last year.
1t is pointed out by friends of the
extension mevement that if the
legislature does not come to the
rescue by, refusing to accept this re
commendatEon, the most democratic
form of education in the state will
be handicapped in its effort to in
crease the efficiency of the individ-
uaI and the common schools.
It is felt that if the people of Wis
consin realized the extent of which
is being taken of the edu-
catiOnal opportunities made available
by university extension to the rest
dent of the most remote rural dis
tric4 equally with the college grad
uate who wishes to continue work
along certain lines, they would raise
an unanimous voice against a retren-
chment policy which would result
in cutting down that service. The
people at large feel that emphasis
is rightly being directed to the edu
catiOnaI needs OF the common peo-
pie and the common schools. Those
in touch with university extnesion
see IN 1t tfle great democratic agency
by which that need can be met most
and most effectively.
The rapid growth of university ex-
tension and practical value f the
service which it renders are regard
ed as unanSwera.ble evidence of its
right to hearty support from the peo-
pie who can, if they will, avail them
selves of it's advantages. And this
means all the people, for the depart
ments of the university extension
are so organized that the indiyid-
uaT need of the student is met. FX-
pert instruction is equally available
for the man who has had but little
schooling and for the one to whom
extension means continuing his edu
eaton Beyond the usual high school
or university course.
Comparative figures for the last
TWO years Show big growth in each
Of the four departm ents and in the
Use of the bureaus established in con
nectfon with the division. Last year 81
registrations in the correspondence
courses numbered 1928 as against
3, f59 for the preceding year, an in
crease of II per cent. The lecture
filled ,439 engagements,
mostly in rural communities, as a
gainst 1,17O, an Increase of % per
cent. There was a SO per cent in
erease in the number OF packet ID
Draries lent in the debating and pub
ic discussion department 5,188 libra
rfes being sent out during the year
% 463 communities. The general wei
fare movements of various sorts,
agencies and with the cooperation
IF <fe state press, is a statewide in
fluence. Letters are constantly re-
eeived asking for information on wei.
iar movements OF various sorts,
many communities have called for
local surveys, and still others are
asking for advice and direction in
hose problems of human betterment
which are SO closely linked with
problems of industrial expansion and
=conomi9 development.
Thirty cities availed themselves of |
service given by the mu-
aicfpal and sanitary engineer. at a
saving Of thousands of dollars to
he communities served. The munici
pal reference library collected infor-
nation and material in response to
requests contained in 1,766 letters,
an increase of 27 per cent over the
preceding year, ami the bureau Of
visual instruction, a new bureau,
sent out 5689 packages each one con
tanning one or more sets Of sli IS
and films with a lecture outline. A
large proportion of these went into
the district and grade schools.
IN six districts branch offices are
conducted with local classes in both
academic and vocational work. Man.
ufacturers whose employees have
benefited BY the classes have indors'
ed the extension work highly and
many instances are cited where men
and women have been enabled to
secure better positions as direct