Repository: UIHistories Project: Magazine - The Reptonian (1917 Selections) [PAGE 9]

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unprecedented increase in registration, and with additional in tructor

carry on the work, the professional course in landscape gardening v fairly launched and is now in the front rank of landscape gardening course- in the country. This institution was the first to tablish a profe orship in Civic Design, a most important phase of landscape gard< ing. We are proud, and justly SO, of the fact that the division of landscape gardening has attained SO great a measure of distinction in 80 short a time. We are, however, still in a process of development. It has been impo ible to maintain the desired measure of efficiency in the face of the rapidly increasing demands for instruction. We have simply tried to provide instruction and practice for those who wished it. We have now to standardize our methods in order to give all students an equal chance for development. It is hoped to increase the teaching force, thus enabling the faculty to take added responsibility for the welfare of the students, who heretofore have been forced to be content with a minimum of guidance and instruction from their overworked instructors. It is a p a r t of our plan ultimately to extend the landscape g a r d e n i n g work into the g r a d u a t e school, offering courses which will lead to the degree of M.L.A. It is a m a t t e r of regret that we have not so far been able to give this advanced instruction. With this opportunity provided. m< of our ambitions in the way of instruction for the students of this art will have been provided. It may be of interest in this connection, to quote a few word- from a recent letter to me from an enthusiastic friend, for among other things he says: "It is a source of g r e a t satisfaction to hear from time to time the landscape gardening division referred to, as 1 have heard it in the West and in communications from the East, as a school of more than ordinary standing among the professional schools in this line. From fellow members of the American Society o[

Landscape Architects, letters have been received from time to

time inquiring about g r a d u a t e s to (ill office positions in some of the best oflices in the country, and I am glad to refer them to you. It is further interesting and encouraging to compare your school with those? of other colleges, fur especially noticeable is its even

d elopmenl of curriculum". <

W are glad of course, to have these expressions of encouragement and ppreciation from others. \W f 1. however, that in the development i < his important work al Illinois, we h a w just made a beginnin The ul