River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1925-04-23

is evidenced by the increasing de-
mand for it. During the ten years
from 1914 to 1924, the demand for
the service increased 500 per cent
while the financial support accorded
it by the legislature was increased
only 16 per cent. In 1914 there were
1000 new enrollments of students,
in 1924 there were 10000.
This condition has necessitated
retrenchment, curtailment and even
The abandonment of some depart
ments which were of great benefit to
the people. In addition to extending
instruction in the form of study
courses to individuals, a great vari-
ETY. of community service has been
extended. Cities, towns, schools,
churches and clubs call upon the Ex-
tension Division for thousand diff
ferent kinds of service, from advice
as to the best kind of lighting or
sewer system to providing a pro-
gram for a community day enter
tainment. Last year 10000 reels of
moving picture films and 5000 sets
of lantern slides were loaned free to
the people of the various commun-
tiles for public educational enter
tainments. Speakers are furnished
on all subjects for all occasions. And
individuals are given instruction in
practically every branch of knowl-
edge in which instruction is given at
the university proper.
A nominal fee is charged for study
courses but much Of the community
service along lines of municipal re-
search, domestic science and public
health have been furnished free. The
fees collected for study courses do
not cover the cost of the service but
the increased demand for these
courses has compelled the Extension
Division to abandon much of its free
community service and concentrate
its available resources on the study
courses. The bureau of industrial
relations, the health bureau and de-
partment of sanitary engineering
were discontinued. The personnel
of the lecture bureau was reduced
one-half; home economics has be-
come part time service; the secre-
tary snip of group and community
service has been discontinued; the
staffs of three engineering depart
ments has been reduced from 13 to
z members; business administration
has been cut from six to four; and
the department Of German instruc-
ton has been reduced by half. One
of the six district of field officers To-
Gated about the state has been closed
and the force of field workers has
been reduced from 81 to s. This last
curtailment was the most unfortun-
ate of all because these field workers
seek out the laboring people who
most need the service, organize study
classes and place opportunity in the
way of people who are most in need
of it.
Regardless of what the people
may think about the university as
whole, it is unlikely that they want
this extension service abandoned or
even curtailed. The attitude of the
people is reflected in their demand
for its service, in the demand for
education everywhere. Wisconsin
University Extension Division was
the pioneer among departments of
this class. Other institutions have
copied it and are now excelling it in
many lines, because of their better
financial support.
The Extension Division is asking
for an increased appropriation in
keeping with the increased demand
for its service. The sums asked for
will merely enable it to continue its
present service.
This University Extension Divis-
ion is the most democratic thing in
the state. 1t is the poor mans col
lege. If you want it continued, tell
your representatives in the senate
and assembly.