Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-04-08

the training and treatment of back
ward children.
Geology will be initiated in the sum-
mer session time table during the COM
ing summer; also several new courses
in art, a new course in elementary
Norwegian and course in astronomy.
Urges Publicity for University.
The report of DR.. William H Allen
on the survey of the University of
Wisconsin to the state board of public
| affairs in summary form was given out
last week. This is the report to the
board and not the report of the board
to the legislature. Every angle of the
| activities of the university and a criti-
cism of what the institution is doing
that it should not do and what it is not
doing that it should do is made in the
| report. 1t covers some one thousand
five hundred legal pages.
One of the most important recon-
mendations Of the investigator is a
suggestion to abolish compulsory mill
tary drill. There is nothing in the
uniVersity's relations with the federal
government to make military drill nee
essary. Because of this department,
says the report, the efficiency of the
department of physical training is re-
duced three-ffths; the same amount
Of time spent in teaching the arts of
peace and method of efficient citizen
ship would do more to advance the in
terests of the state.
Among the principal causes of IN
necessary expense which are ex-
planned in the detailed report are:
Lack of an accounting system to show
unit cost for kinds of work, including
lack of adequate time records for the
noninstructional force; classes of one,
two, three, four and five students, and
under ten without notice of justifying
reason for each; according to the only
official record $42 per week of salary
was spent upon one student in one
class (second semester 1913-14, or
$1,512 per year; reimbursement of
schedules which causes wasteful use
of space; sending out an 802-page cata-
ters; inadequately supervised re-
search; overlapping of courses; unsu-
pervised administrative officers and
bureau heads; inadequate comparative
information when the budget is made;
construction or renting of additional
space when existing. space could be
utilized; purchase of land at private
sale when the alternative of condem-
nation might both reduce cost, estab-
lish lower level for real estate in
Madison and help check the increase
in cost of living for students; losing
$4,000 during 1913-14) on commons
exhibit 28) in spite of the large vol
ume of practically certain business, or
$4,000 if depreciation and interest be
charged; the fact that profits on dor
mitory equal losses on commons does
not wipe out the loss; lack of informa-
ton regarding graduate and research
work; absence of a place or plan for
study by university management of
university problems and conduct; lack
of definition as to what quantity and
quality of contact with students is ex-
pected to be given by Instructors
whether fifteen hours, or eight, or
forty per week; failure of directors,
deans and president to know univer-
sity work from the SIDE of classrooms;
failure to draw upon student and fac
ulty resources of information as to in
efficiency, waste and needs not yet
met; types of organization of faculty
and regents which lead to action with
out adequate inquiry; failure to use
students and faculty for reducing adj
ministrative cost while supplementing
theoretical courses with practical field
tests; usurious interest paid on sum-
mer session salaries in leaves of alb
sence when not paid in cash; and alb
sence of information in the hands of
regents which would enable them to
exercise Independent determinative
judgment, and inability to secure in
formation when they ask for it.
The report declares it is clear that
VIXEN support of the university is
measured by numbers reached, the
university is not less literally support
ed than any other public educational
activities.