UIHistories Project: A History of the University of Illinois by Kalev Leetaru
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Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1876 [PAGE 92]

Caption: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1876
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92

2". The other measure is of a different, b u t scarcely le»s important character. It is to make provision for a regular course of lectures in Agriculture, to be given to the entire Senior Class of the University, male and female, partly by members of the Faculty and partly by distinguished Agriculturists and others. The almost universal extent of this great industry, the food-producing, life-sustaining industry of the world, will fully justify us in thus attempting to interest every graduate of the University, whatever their proposed business, in its grander facts and great leading principles. The course should aim to embrace a view of the fundamental facts and principles of Agriculture as a science and an a r t ; of its great leading branches and their relations; of its lai»ger public aspects as related to other industries and to national welfare, and of its history and foreign developments. The University will in this way multiply its influence over the agriculture of the country, and still more completely fulfill the grand purposes of the Congressional grant. A fund of $250 placed at my disposal for this purpose would probably enable me to secure the necessary outside aid for the course to the present Senior Class, embracing about 35 students. In accordance with your instructions, I purchased in Paris, the past summer, for the Agricultuial Chemist, a large and powerful microscope, and some fine balances, and they are already here, in good condition. I lay before you a communication (" F ") from Prof. Burrill respecting some additions to the cabinets and illustrative apparatus for the School of Horticulture. I know too well your desire to promote the interests of this department to feel any need of argument to induce you to give favorable consideration to this request. And in this connection I take pleasure in laying before you a communication from Mr. Riley, State Entomologist of Missouri, whose services might now be" obtained permanently for this institution. Mr. Riley has exhibited an industry and talent in his department wrhich has won him, though still a young man, a most enviable reputation in his department.

LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS.

The State Board of Charities have asked your wishes in regard to appropriations to be asked from the coming Legislature. In the absence of any recommendations from you, I gave them the following : 1. Taxes on lands $6,000 2. Agricultural and Horticultural experiments '. 3,000 a. Library cases and additional furniture 2,500 4. Geological cabinet and ores , 2,500 5. Physical Laboratory . 1,000 6. Art Museum.. 1,500 $16,500

ELOCUTION.

The study of elocution is now pursued here by the efforts of a voluntary teacher paid by the fees she charges. This teacher, Miss Jennie Bryant, is proving a most excellent and popular teacher, and has inspired such an interest that she has five daily classes of voluntary students who pay for their instruction. The students of the third and fourth years are now required by the Faculty to deliver original orations at the morning chapel exercises, two each morning. I recommend that Miss Bryant be employed to train the students for these and other public elocutionary exercises required of them. The time demanded of her will be at least one hour a day for the ordinary daily work and something more for the training for commencements and other public occasions. $20 a month is suggested as such pay. I must also beg your indulgence in bringing before you the labor system. You are already familiar with the history of this system. At an early day the compulsory labor was abandoned chiefly on account of the inability of the University to provide a sufficiency of employment for the increasing number of students. But still as much labor as possible was provided and the students were encouraged to join the labor classes. Goodly numbers have been found who desired employment for their leisure hours. Nearly all of the ordinary work about the building and grounds* has been and is still performed by student labor, and many students thus pay their expenses in part or wholly. Many others find employment in the shops and thus pay their way. In addition to this paid labor, there has been introduced into several of the technical deparments, a system of educational labor, consisting of shop practice in the machine and carpenter shops, full practice in engineering and grafting, and nursery and greenhouse work in Horticulture. This work should be extended to other departments as fast as practicable. Thus far labor has been maintained in its due place of honor here, and a sound and healthful public sentiment has existed among the students, recognizing its vast public necessity and utility, its importance as an element of personal success, health and happiness, and the great fact too often unknown or forgotten that its usefulness and nobleness are inherent, its degradation only accidental. I urge your continued attention and fostering care to this feature of our plan, because it is evident that the constant tendency will be to drift away from labor both in sentiment and practice into old ruts and channels. I predict that whenever the trustees and officers of this University shall cease to give their active and hearty support to the right and just opinions and practice Ijere, the false and pernicious views of the labor question which too largely possess society at large will also gain currency here, and will prove when they come a serious obstacle to the best success of our great special work. Two main argumenis for a good labor system ought never to lose their force with ourselves or our successors: 1st. The powerful influence that actual labor will exercise over the practical departments, not only in giving interest, directness and practical force and value to the studies, but also in giving a notable prominence to tyhese departments themselves which otherwise they may fail to hold in coming times. 2d, The value of a lahor system as a means of bringing education within the reach of many worthy students who musxt win their education by their own efforts or go without it, We have always had an unusual number of such students here, and it has been our policy to afford them all the aid possible by giving them employment. I see as yet no solution of the difficulty of providing a full supply of labor, but ought we not to hold this in view as one of the great ends to be attained in every arrangement for the work on our farms, gardens and grounds, and in our shops, buildings and everywhere ? Doubtless the work