KNOWLEDGE BY POST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2730, 11 July 1906, Page 80

KNOWLEDGE BY POST.

(For the Witness)

Uncle Sam has gradually ustuped the traditional powers of a fairy godmother so far as a certain kind of education is concerned.

What do you wish to be?

I do not ask, "What lino will, you probably drift into?" or, "Where has Fate cast you lot?" but, '"What would you rather become above all other things 1 ? What is your secret ambition? For what do 3'ou consider yourself best suited?"

It does not matter whether you are on the "Roof of the World" in fax Thibet, toiling in a Siberian mine, groaning on the equator in a dense African jungle, or within the Arctic Circle on the golden Yukon, you can be prepared by American professors for the calling you wish to -enter if you will insert your name among the yearly increasing number who now obtain "knowledge by mail.'

Fifteen years ago the nucleus of the present correspondence school system was originated, when a few typewritten instruction sheets were mailed to a little group of mineis who wished to qualify themselves to become mining engineers, yet wero not sufficiently well endowed with money to permit them to leave their work to study. To-day there arc over a million students enrolled on the registers of the great correspondence schools of America, alone. The first typewritten 6heets have long been withdrawn. Now the student receives his papers in care-fully-printed little books, while the curriculum has been enlarged a hundredfold. Stepping-stones to well nigh any career have been laid by the originators of the scheme, prime among whom was the late President Harper. Si<rle by si-do on this gigantic register of the world's citizens are the names of men and boy.s, women and young girls. Some of the students are still in their early teens ; some have nearly reached the allotted span of three scort years and ten. There are no restrictions, save that the applicant for enrolment mu6fc have a sufficient knowledge of the English language to enable him to understand and write it clearly.

The contents of the mail bag of a great correspondence school i 6 garnered from ail quarteis of the world. New Zealand's sons are well represented, despite the advantages offered them in their own colleges. The papers of men living in Australian back-blocks are langed beside those from workers throughout the United States and Canada, Great Britain, Russia, and' Alaska. Others come from Copenhagen, Milan, Madrid, pait of South Africa, Egypt, India, Japan, Siam. and Corea — the " Hermit Kingdom." Some have travelled from New Guinea, the South American Republics, Borneo, Burma, and Hawaii. If the stories of some of these papers could be collected they would be interesting reading. They would tell how they had been written — some in the tropics, some where the ink ficze in the. bottles. Some have journeyed to the schools by the fastest methods known to civilisation; others by bullock waggon, on bioiicho or mules.

Of course, th^rt 1 are coripspondence s--ehools in other paite of the woild, but nowhere sa\e in America is the s\6tcm so all-inclusive. It is hardly neceb^ary to say that some of these coilegPb aic absolute fakes, for they undertake to achieve that which it> beyond the pow<*r of mortal man. It lie& with the student to make a wife choice. Ho must judge for himself whether the study he wishes to tyke up could possibly be'tauglit by any &aye the oral method or actual practice. At the present time, besides the really well-known institutions where training is given in anything fiom a eupplementary school course to imtiuction in mechanical, steam, ci\il, and electrical engineering, architecture, physics chemistry, and textile manufacturing, t litre are many institutions, whpie such things a;> law, journalism, illustrating, the art of caricature, navigating, advertising, the " science- of salesmanship,"' painting in all its branches, designing, stenography, diessmaking, millineiy, "the tonsoridl art" (hairdrc-sing and barbers' trade), penmanbhip, bookkeeping, telegraphy, taxidermy, automobiling, carpentry, tinsmitbing and plumbing are taught. I have even seen ifc asserted that "there are fortunes to be made in the scrap-iron business," and every branch of that can be taught by post. The Sdiool of Applied Philosophy offers a bar-

gain course* in the "Science of Happiness" at a dollar! Systematising can b« thoroughly mastered in 20 lessons.

Some few venture to head their advertisements "Be a Star," and promise to equip you for a stage career while you are working in your homo following your usual avocations. Others avow that music, both instrumental and vocal, can be taught be the same method. A few insist that they can qualify anyone to "earn big money"' as a sick-nurse if 6he will but take their mail course. Some beseech you to join a correspondence school in which the "ait of friendship" is taught, where you are- assured you will probably meet a friend who "will make you happy for life."

Even religion is now being studied by post. One school can show as many as 61,000 names of students who are taking this course. They are scattered throughout the woikl ; some are the inmates of prisons.

In occasional instances the text-books used in these correspondence classes are also studies in the leading American universities. Languages are usually taught, if you take a course by mail from a good school, 'by the aid of phonographs. This enables the pupil to hear the necessary accent and to send the teacher in return records of his own speech. Diplomas are ultimately granted, stating the students' acquirements and the grade of work he has accomplished.

The cost of tuition by post necessarily varies as widely as does the choice of subjects. Some few are five dollars, others approach, and occasionally pass, the 100doflar mark. There is no age limit, and invariably liberal time is given for the completion of the studies.

I will take as an illustration the American School of Correspondence (as it is one o£ -tli© lavge&t an-d t>est known), a*zxcß describe the methods of instruction there in vogue. On request, papers are immediately sent out to ,any address. The applicant for •enrolment fills these in, answers the few questions asked regarding age, birth, nationality, etc., and encloses the sum agreed upon. He can either pay casli or five dollars down, and future monthly instalments of five or three dollars until the whok amount for the course he has chosen is paid. (Note. — Five dollais are, roughly, equivalent to one pound.) There is, however, a large rebate for prompt payment. Throughout the entire period of tuition the school pays its share of postage expenses. No "stamped' addrested envelopes", have to be enclosed. Immediately upon receipt of the initial forms the school mails to the student his first pamphlet, together with full instructions. He makes out his papers to the best of his ability, an-d returns them. These aia really carefully revised ; n» error is co minute as to escape mark. "Facts, figures, punctuation, capitalisation, and grammar" are all considered in the giading of the papers-. Any difficulty is cheerfully explained, and personal letters are wmk-n to each student commenting on li!a progress, qualifications, and apparent attributes. Continual efforts are made to peisuade him that he is more than a mere cipher or name. In many instances it would seem that $he correspondence school student receives more individual attention than does one of an oi dinary -sized class, where the hours are necessarily limited and claimants ior attention many. Theie is marvellously little delay in the sending out of the succeeding pamphlets. The examination papers are marked "Perfect," which rates at 100 per cent. : "Excellent," 90 to 100 per cent. ; "(iood,' 80 to 90 per cent. ; and "Fair," 75 to 80 per cent. If there is a comma or a period in the wrong place the 'Perfect will not be awarded. Hence this grading is eagerly striven for. On graduation the average percentage is given. Two years is considered sufficient time for a student of the American School to take over his course, but five is allowed, as untoward delays may occur.

There is a special inquiiy department, to which anyone may apply for practical in* formation on any difficulty that may confront him in his daily work outside hia course. Alto, an employment bureau, both, for the convenience of graduated students and to aid those who wish to come within reach of the laboratories or machine shops worked in connection with the college. The patent department is another feature worthy of mention. The patent attorney is an expert, and his services are at tha disposal of a£i student of the school vulMs