Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-29

uanlnk OF SClentiStS ana HoCloloBlsla IuT thN
public service. For this is what the wiscon-
sin idea really Is, broadly speaking; this,
combined with University Extension work.
Reference to the University OF Pennsylva-
mia catalogues OF recent years will demon
strate how important a part the University
OF Pennsylvania has taken in public affairs.
Absent on public business appears after
many names.
Active Leave. Of Absence
SO long ago as 1892 Samuel McCune Lind
say, then Professor OF Sociology at the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania and now Professor
OF Social Legislation at Columbia, was ap-
pointed special agent OF the United states
Senate Finance Committee TO report on
wholesale prices In Europe. He was in 1899
and 1900 the expert on the United States In
dustrlal Commission on Railroad Labor. And
from 1900 to 1902, Governor Brumbaugh, then
Professor OF Pedagogy at the University was
the first OF several Commissioners of Educa-
tion Pennsylvania furnished TO Porto Rico.
The catalogues abound with many other in
stances too numerous to mention.
Unlike Wisconsin. the University Of Penn
syivanla has not yet attempted to cover the
entire State in its extension work But It
has reached out by degrees to various In
dustrial and commercial centres in the years
since the quiet inception OF the service. and
definite results have been accomplished. The
idea OF looking after the public welfare In
stead OF restricting its opportunities to the
classes was old at Pennsylvania before IL
had been heard OF elsewhere for the present
great institution Is founded on the Charity
School," organized in 174o, continued as the
Academy in 174s, and chartered by Thomas
and Richard Penn in 1853 THE Academy
and Charitable School" This, two years
,An Nha
Lord Proprietors." developed into The Col
lege. Academy and Charitable School" out
OF it rose the University OF Pennsylvania.
incorporated in 1871. and the first American
institution chartered as a university.
University Extension proper, as originated
at oxford and developed IN this country by
the Society for the Extension of University
Teaching. has dealt almost exclusively with
literary. esthetic, and, In general, cultural
subjects. The University OF Pennsylvania,
through its Wharton School. however. has
made departure that represents a marked
advance. 1t has carried out the original idea
OF democratizing knowledge, of bringing the
University to the people who cannot come
TO the University. 1t has maintained its
academic ideals. but has tempered them TO
| the practical demands OF modern American
| business life.
Reaching Out to Ambitious Youth
An innovator in it's Wharton School of Ac-
| counts and Finance In 1881, three decades
later. It decided upon the policy OF making
| available the courses in economics, account
ing. transportation. commerce and cognate
subjects 10 out-of-town students. Previously
it had made these courses accessible to am
bilious young men employed during the day
| through the Evening School of Accounts and
| Finance. In 1912 the University created the
| Extension School OF Accounts and Finance.
| Glasses now meet in Scranton. Harrisburg,
! Wilkes Barre and Reading. They pursue a
| course OF study consisting OF four subjects
each year. extending over period OF three
/ years.
| Members OF the faculty. who give the same
courses In the Wharton and Evening School.
conduct the work OF the Extension School
The plan adopted. which has proved success
fui In operation. has been TO have the fac
| ulty member In charge OF each course con-
duct every other session OF the classes which
are held weekly. In alternate weeks the
courses are In charge OF assistants. Liber-
ality OF admission requirements is character
istic OF the extension courses. Matriculates
must be at least IS years old. II less than
| 81 II is required that they have preparation
equivalent TO three years In a recognized high
or preparatory school Candidates more than
81 years OF age. who do not offer such a pre-
paratory course OF study. are admitted on
satisfying the faculty that they have had an
amount OF business experience and general
knowledge sufficient 20 pursue the work with
benefit.
II is the policy Of the University TO sex
tend the extension" as rapidly as possible 20
other centres. The growth OF the out-of-
town courses has been extremely encour-
aging. Each year large numbers OF aspiring
young men have awaited themselves OF the
! opportunity TO make themselves more EN-.
eient business men. offered by the extension
school. Its success has parAlleled that OF It's
prosecutor the Evening School. which. since
its foundation in 1904. has been the leader as
well as pioneer OF similar institutions.
Promoting Public Health
The University comes In close contact
with the general welfare at another and
vital point-the public school system
ThrOugh the eollegs courses for teachers II
opens out 20 the sehoOlmarms and peda.
gOsues Of the eity's schools the rich resources
OF learning of the most eminent members 0i
its faculties These courses. IN which are en-
rolled a large proportion Of PhnAdelphis's
teachers. are given IN the afternoons and
evenings and On Saturday.
Another publie service activity IN whlch
the University elazed the way was the ss-
tabllshment of the courses IN public health
graduates % Which are eagerly snapped az
b. municipalities an over the country. Fai
completion of these courses. the degree q
Dr. H. p. Doctor of Pnhlic Healthl Il
awarded In charge of this school Is Dr. A
C. Abbott for many years chief q the Ba-