Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1902 [PAGE 231]

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212

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

[Dec. 10,

Since the acquirement of the School of Pharmacy in 1896 there has been a slight increase in attendance at the School, but not so great as might have been expected nor required by the demand for pharmacists and assistants. There has been, especially during the past two years, a notable scarcity of help although wages have increased nearly 50 per cent, the salaries for conrpetent and thoroughly experienced pharmacists averaging $75 a month while assistants with three or four years' experience easily secure employment at wages of from $50 to $60 a month. While several causes have operated to bring about this condition the attempt on the part of the School to require some standard for admission and also the requirements of the Pharmacy law for a preliminary education for registration as apprentice have contributed in no small measure to exclude many from taking up pharmacy as avocation. This Advisory Board, speaking for the pharmacists of the State does not in the least deprecate any attempt to improve the educational status of those who engage in pharmacy, realizing as it does that the present times require more , thorough mental equipment and scientific training than formerly in pharmacy as well as in any other trade or profession. So long as medicine was more particularly curative, the preparation and compounding of medicines was all that was required of a pharmacist; but with the changes wrought by preventive medicine he should have in addition to a thorough knowledge of the fundamental branches also a fair insight into the biological sciences in order properly to serve the physician and the public. The faculty of the School has long since recognized this tendency and as you are aware has been promised such facilities as would enable it to institute a third year course. Incidentally it may be suggested that when the State offers to its sons and daughters through this University such splendid opportunities to fit themselves for the vocations of agriculture and mechanic arts and industries, it may also consider the condition of those who devote themselves to the care of the sick and afflicted. For our present purpose however it is desired to endeavor to get more youths to enter the study of pharmacy and also to secure a better class of educated young men and women. It is suggested that by including free scholarships in the School of Pharmacy to the graduates of the high schools of the State in the annual offer for scholarships in the University, some may avail themselves of such privilege upon graduation and thus in course of time a steady supply of a superior class of apprentices be secured. This would serve the two-fold purpose of relieving the present embarras* sing situation with reference to good help, elevate the educational standard* and incidentally add to the prestige of the University by presenting perennially its many opportunities in the most practical manner. The only condition for acceptance should be that the candidate shall register as an apprentice in pharmacy. By presenting such offer to the many high schools throughout the State the University would no doubt derive considerable benefit and a better education in pharmacy be greatly promoted. Respectfully submitted,

ALBERT E. EBERT,

For the Advisory Board, P r e s i d e n t D r a p e r ' s bill for expenses a m o u n t i n g to $102.92 was ordered p a i d with t h e approval of t h e F i n a n c e C o m m i t t e e .