Repository: UIHistories Project: Course Catalog - 1876-1877 [PAGE 56]

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54

Illinois Industrial

University.

OBJECT OF SCHOOLS.

The object of the schools in this College is to furnish a sound and liberal education to fit students for the general duties of life, and especially to prepare them for those business pursuits which require a large measure of literary and scientific knowledge and training. It is designed to meet the wants of those who wish to prepare themselves for the labors of the press as editors or publishers, for teachers in the higher institutions, or for the transaction of public business. Students in the agricultural and other technical schools, desiring to educate themselves as teachers, writers, and professors, in their special departments, require a knowledge of the Ancient, as well as the Modern Languages, to give them full command of all the instruments and facilities required for the highest proficiency in their studies and proposed work. The University seeks through these schools to provide for this important part of its mission—the furnishing of teachers to the industrial schools of the country, and investigators and writers for the Arts. The large liberty allowed in the selection of the special studies of his course will permit the student to give such direction to his education as will fit him fully for any chosen sphere or pursuit.

INSTRUCTION.

The plan of instruction embraces, besides the ordinary text-book study, lectures and practical exercises in all the departments, including original researches, essays, criticism, proof reading, and other work intended to illustrate the studies pursued, and exercise the student's own powers. It is designed to give to all the students voice culture and a training in elocutionary practice. A prominent aim will be to teach the right use of books, and thus prepare the student for self-directed investigation and study, which will extend beyond the curriculum of his school and the period of his graduation. With this view, constant use of the already ample and continually enlarging stores of the Library will be required and encouraged. As a farther aid in this direction, members of the advanced English classes are expected to act as assistant librarians. In this service they are able to obtain much valuable knowledge of the various departments of English Literature, of prominent authors, and the extent and scope of their writings. Of special value as an incentive to, and the means of practice in, English Composition, should be mentioned THE ILLINI, a monthly paper edited and published by the students of the several colleges, each of which is appropriately represented in its columns. A printing office has been provided for in the Mechanical Building, and a press with the requisite supply of type. The Library is well supplied with works illustrating the several periods of English, American, French, and German Literature, as also those of Ancient Literature. It contains at present over ten thousand well selected volumes, and is constantly growing by purchase at home and abroad. Valuable American and Foreign periodicals are received regularly in the Reading Room, a list of which is given on page 18.