New Mexico state record., 1920-11-26
EXTENSION WORK
HAS BIG FUTURE
NEED FOR 1T is PoIN fEO OUT BY
THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF
EDUCATION.
PERTINENT FACTS SET FORTH
Discharged Soldiers, Working People,
Foreign-Born Population and Mil
lions of Youths Can Be Greatly
Helped by This System.
BY JAMES p. HoRNADAY.

Washington.-The federal bureau of
education believes there is fine fu-
lure for university extension work. 1t
finds upon investigation that for two
decades extension work has beef IN
Creasing in volume. The growing rec
ognition of the value of its varicuS
forms is indicated by the fact that
within the last five years the total
amount Of appropriations for its sup
port has more than doubled, and the
number of students has increased
more than threefold. The need for
extension education on Il very large
scale now and for the next few years
at least is indicated by the following
facts, says the bureau:
|. There are now in the United
States approximately four and half
million discharged soldiers, one-half
of whom We're overseas, and all OF
whom have had impressed upon them
In many ways the Importance of edu-
cation. Ii Is a matter of common
knowledge that these men, nearly all
VI ii'ih s'hiS ihNiAs nv N'-N' ~ '''N>
advantage of all available information
for instruction In things pertaining
to their yocations, to citizenship, ana
to general culture. Few of them will
or can go TO college; practically none
of them will enter the ordinary public
high schools they are loo Old for this.
Some, but comparatively few, Will lind
their way into special vocational
schools and part.time classes in indus
trial plants. A great majority of them
must depend upon such opportunities
as can be provided by extension ed
ucation.
For Working Men and Women.
.. The shortening of the hours of la
Dor and recent increase in wages have
given TO millions of working men and
women time and means for self-im-
pfovement far beyond anything which
such men and women have ever known
before in this or any other country.
The closing of the barrooms through
out the United States has relieved
large numbers of men Of the tempta-
tion 10 spend their leisure time and
money In various forms of dissipation
connected with the barroom. Every
where these working men and women
are eager for instruction, both for i'm
proyement IN their vocations and for
better living and more intelligent cit
izenship. Not only do they take ad-
vantage of such opportunities as are
offered them by the organized agencies
OF education. but in many places they
undertake To provide opportunities for
themselves in their own time and at
their own expense. Few of these have
had any schooling beyond the ele-
mentary grades.
3. Among the foreign-born popula-
tlon In the United States there are
many, both of those who have taken
out their citizenship papers and of
those who have not, who, though able
TO read and write In English and 9th
,rwise fairly well educated, know moth
ing of our country, Its history. its
ideals. the form and spirit of its gov.
ernment, Of the agricultural and in
dustrial opportunities offered In yGri-
Gus parts of the country. Much might
be done for them through educational
extension york.
Enfranchlsed Women Need Aid.
4. Within the last year millions of
women have been given the franchise,
and now all the privileges and re-
sponsiblities of active citizenship.
These women by their ballots or 9TH
erwise will determine the policies of
municipality, state and nation. They
6re conscientious; they realize they
need instruction as TO the duties and
responsibilities of active citizenship
and help toward an understanding Of
the many complex and difficult prob
lens which. by their ballots, they will
help to solve. Through their clubs
and various other organizations edu-
cational extension workers can do
much for them which could be done
very hardly, If al all, in any other
way.
;. There are in the United States
approximately twelve and one-half
million boys and girls between the ages
of sixteen and twenty-one who are
coming to their majority at a time
when in order to make a living and
assume the responsibilities and duties
of life and citizenship more knowledge
and training are needed than ever be-
fore. Two and one-half millions of
these attain their majority each year;
less than one-eighth are high-school
graduates only little more than one
fourth nave any high school education.
That large percentage Of them would
take advantage Of any adequate oppor-
tunities offered them for further in
struction, either In class or by corre-
spondence. is definitely proven by the
response they make to the advertise
ments Of all kinds of correspondence
schools conducted for profit and by
the efforts they make to provide for
themselves the means of instruction.
Military Rank for Army Nurses.
Hereafter the members of the army
nurse corps Of the United States
army will have relative rank as
follows: The superintendent. the