Journal of 



Applied Microscopy 



and 



Laboratory Methods. 



VOLUME IV. SEPTEMBER, 1901. NUMBER 9 



Laboratory Courses by Correspondence. 



Not every one who desires an education finds it possible to spend three or 

 four years at a university. Many teachers with only a high school education 

 hold good positions which they would not feel justified in resigning for an ex- 

 tended course of study. Correspondence courses carefully planned by compe- 

 tent instructors enable such teachers, while still holding their positions, to devote 

 some time to a systematic study of branches connected with their work, and thus 

 to increase their own knowledge and at the same time be better prepared to in- 

 struct their pupils. Those who are working for university degrees, but are com- 

 pelled to spend the shortest possible time in residence at the university, find in 

 the correspondence system a solution of the problem. Others who are neither 

 teachers nor university students are deeply interested in particular subjects ; 

 such people, even when relying entirely upon their own resources, will advance 

 along the chosen line, but progress is more rapid and satisfactory when efforts 

 are systematized and directed by those who have often traversed the ground 

 before. 



It has for some time been recognized that many university courses can be 

 pursued successfully by correspondence. The favorable results secured in lan- 

 guage, literature and history suggested that an attempt be made to conduct lab- 

 oratory courses also. 



Several years ago the writer was asked to conduct a course in botany by 

 correspondence. With many misgivings as to the success of any laboratory study 

 by this method, a course in the Morphology of Algae and Fungi was planned and 

 the work was begun with a single pupil. The result soon showed that a persist- 

 ent student could do the work thoroughly in spite of the difficulties. 



Several courses were then announced, each course being the full equivalent 

 of the same course as conducted at the university. The following is the general 

 plan for the Algae and Fungi and the other two morphological courses are simi- 

 lar : Material, selected with extreme care, is sent to the student and all prepar- 

 ations for the microscope which require a knowledge of technique are also 

 included. The directions for study are in the form of twelve lessons, each lesson 

 covering three laboratory exercises as conducted at the university. In the lab- 

 oratory work more than fifty types are studied, and these are arranged so as to 



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