Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1868 [PAGE 156]

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and practical education of the industrial class, in the several pursuits and professions in life ;" and that section *7, of the act to provide for the Illinois Industrial University, says the Trustees "shall, so far as practicable, arrange all the regular more important courses of study and lectures in the University, so that the students may pass through and attend upon them, during the six Autumn and Winter months, and be left free to return to their several practical arts and industries during the six Spring and Summer months." Section 8 provides that, " students shall have attained the age of fifteen years, and shall have passed a satisfactory examination in each of the branches ordinarily taught in common schools of the State." Section 9, in regard to honorary scholarships, says, that " all such shall be selected from the common schools of the State, and shall be those who have attained the greatest proficiency in the branches of learning usually taught in the common schools of the, State; and, WHEKEAS, it is no doubt the intention not only of Congress, but of the State Legislature, that this University should be for the benefit of the industrial classes attending the common schools of the State, and that said University should be in session during the winter. Therefore be it ordered, that without opening the school in the regular course, that there be a winter session of twelve weeks, commencing the first Monday in December, 1867; that there be admitted to said school one honorary scholar from each county, as provided by section 9, of said act, and that the County Superintendent of schools of each county be authorized to select two persons who shall act with him in the examination, and who shall form a board of examination for the purpose to determine who of said applicants shall be entitled to said honorary scholarships; and that the said board shall examine all the applicants, students from the common schools of the State of Illinois, and if they pass a satisfactory examination in all the branches ordinarily taught in the common schools of the State, and shall be of the age of fifteen years, and shall bear a good moral character, the said Board shall give to each of said students a certificate of the same, setting fourth their age, place of residence, and the school district from which they are to be transferred. These examinations should be made as early as November 15th, and a report made to the Regent of the University, and by him to be reported to the Executive Committee, who will meet at the University on Thursday, Nov. 20th, 1867, to consider how many of said applicants can be accommodated in said schools. That if there are more applicants than can be provided for in said University, that they be admitted from each county in proportion to population as determined at the last census, and that these be, determined by lot. That the course of study at said sesson, shall, in all cases, be a thorough review of all the branches ordinarily tanght in the common schools of the State. This is quite necessary and proper, for the single reason that a student of fifteen years of age, who shall pass a satisfactory examination in the branches before stated, are to be admitted into the University, and as these have not fully mastered all of these branches of learning, it is but just that they be thoroughly instructed in them by a careful review. Beyond a review of the elementary branches, the student shall select one or more branches allied to Agriculture or the mechanic arts, viz: Chemistry (elementary), Botany, Mathematics, Entomology, Veterinary Science, Book-Keeping or Natural Philosophy. To carry on this session of school, teachers of well known ability shall be employed, with the view of being appointed as professors at the opening of the regular course of the University in March, should they give full satisfaction.