Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1929-08-08
INTEREST GROWING IN COLLEGE
EXTENSION COURSES

/
That interest in higher education is
decidedly on the increase among those
unable to attend college is indicated
by the fact that State College extern
sion classes and correspondence
courses have in ten years of unbroken
growth since their establishment in
1919 more than tripled in number of
students enrolled.
Nine hundred and thirty-five indi
yiduals, representing every walk of life
are taking work in extension classes.
whereas 463 throughout the United
States, its territories and Canada, are
taking Washington State College
courses by correspondence. More than
so different occupations, including that
OF elevator operator, minister, army
officer, dressmaker, doctor, Y. w. c. A.
secretary, journalist, publisher and
dietitian are included in the list en-
rolled in extension classes Nearly
twice as many women as men are TAX
ing extension work, but nearly score
more OF men are enrolled in correspon-
dence courses.
Individuals ranging in age from 10
TO II are benefiting by the two types
of extension work. Only residents of
the state are served by the college
extension classes, but correspondence
students are found in eight states of
the Union, in Canada and in the
Hawaiian Islands.
Some very interesting students are
| found among the big correspondence
family, according to DR.. F. F. Nader,
director of general college extension.
He tells the story of Mrs. E. L. Garnder,
Concrete, Washington, who is just COM
pleting an entire high school course by
correspondence, having begun her
study in the fall of1926. She desired
to keep up in school work with her
daughter who entered high school at
that time, the W. S. c. director said
He also tells of the case OF Miss
Geneva Pierce, Spokane, who by at
tending four summer sessions, has with
the aid of correspondence courses
practically completed requirements for
her bachelors degree without spending
single semester in residence.
Then there is Mrs. Alice Phelps
Clegg," Dr. Nader continued She
IS college graduate isolated in a
small community with no particular
interest to occupy her time. She found
he correspondence courses very help
ul in keeping in touch with present
lay subjects and in relieving the
monotony Of life in tiny town and
abroad camp. She was first inspired
o enroll by hearing about the cor
dependence courses over the radio"
Still others of the correspondence
,roup are invalids unable to attend
College in person, men and women in
industry who are tied up with many
responsibilities during the day and
ind relaxation and diversion in follow
ng their favorite hobby by correspon-
lence, and forest rangers who lessen
he tedium of their lookout hours by
studying. A good number of such
;tudents are enrolled in the short
tory writing course, one of the most
popular in the correspondence cur
riculum.
Forty-five of the correspondence
itudents are working toward high
ichool credit, the balance toward
college credit, and few taking
courses for information and interest
only. A total of 1853 are enrolled for
! interest alone in the extension group.
Not only has the past year been
most successful in our history in en-
| ollment, but it has opened up new
possibilities for development in coming
ears" DR.. Nader says. Il enjoy my
| york as director because ! believe that
correspondence courses and extension
,lasses offer genuinely valuable
means for ambitious persons to in
rease their efficiency They reach
people who cannot possibly come to
ollege 1t is interesting to see how
his service has convinced some of our
4 most conservative college professors of
| It's genuine educational worth"