UIHistories Project: A History of the University of Illinois by Kalev Leetaru
N A V I G A T I O N D I G I T A L L I B R A R Y
Bookmark and Share



Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - History of the University (Nevins) [PAGE 59]

Caption: Book - History of the University (Nevins)
This is a reduced-resolution page image for fast online browsing.


Jump to Page:
< Previous Page [Displaying Page 59 of 399] Next Page >
[VIEW ALL PAGE THUMBNAILS]




EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:



TURNER'S LIMITED CONCEPTION

47

lated in the State act of 1867. The sturdy old professorfarmer had hoped to see planted at Springfield or Jacksonville an institution which should offer practical courses, and little or nothing else, to resident students of scant preparation; and which should unite investigative activities with those of modern extension work. As he told the Monmouth County Fair in 1866, he wished to see experiments in all arts made annually under direction of the Trustees by county superintendents appointed and controlled by the University, to which annual reports should be made. The same thing, meanwhile, should be going on in other States, so that the whole Union would eventually become one vast experimental farm; and while producing one crop for present wealth, should evolve scientific knowledge from year to year, to be diffused over all classes of society. This was in every way a noble conception, with features calling to mind the present national system of engineering and agricultural experiment stations; but one impossible in the undeveloped state of scientific agriculture and to infant institutions of learning. I t is true that the Legislature's petition in 1853 for a land grant to each State for industrial education had suggested that the new universities should give "a, liberal and varied education, adapted %p the manifold wants of a practical and enterprising people"; but the context of this phrase makes it evident that the general interpretation of " a liberal education S was as a more practical and scientific one. And in all his speeches Turner said no words friendly to the inclusion of the liberal branches in the Industrial University, and did much to confirm the prejudice against them. He thought that "the professions have been studied till trifles and fooleries have been magnified