252 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XX. No. 503. 



versity exists for creating and maintaining 

 standards, intellectual and moral. In order 

 to have the highest intellectual standards, it 

 must be a place where progressive thought is 

 pursued and cultivated. But the number of 

 men vs^ho claim to be occupied with the pursuit 

 of progressive thought is no sure criterion of 

 the degree to which the university is uphold- 

 ing such standards." 



SERVICE OF SCIENCE IN SOCIAL WORK. 



The application of the laboratory method 

 of training to the study of social subjects of 

 vital importance to the community, especially 

 to municipal communities, is well exemplified 

 by the School of Philanthropy, conducted by 

 the Charity Organization Society of New 

 York City. 



The Committee on Philanthropic Education, 

 under whose auspices the summer school has 

 been held in New York City for six weeks of 

 each summer for the past six years, estab- 

 lished last year a winter course, primarily 

 intended for those who are engaged in prac- 

 tical social work, and who could give only a 

 limited amount of time to lectures, class exer- 

 cises and study. For this purpose the course 

 was entirely successful, 159 students being 

 registered, 121 eligible for, and 50 receiving, 

 certificates. 



It was later decided greatly to extend the 

 scope of this course, and to offer a sufficient 

 amount of instruction to justify those who 

 enroll in it in devoting their entire time to 

 it during the academic year. 



Arrangements were made for extended 

 courses of lectures on each of the more im- 

 portant branches of social work, such as: The 

 care of families in their homes; the care of 

 dependent children, both in institutions and 

 by placing-out agencies; the care of the sick 

 in hospitals, by dispensaries, by district nurses, 

 etc.; state and municipal charities; reforma- 

 tories, prisons and asylums; official inspection, 

 sanitary and industrial; neigliboi'hood work, 

 civic improvement and educational advance. 



The courses for the coming winter consist 

 of from four to twelve lectures each, and in- 

 clude discussions by students, and opportuni- 



ties for personal consultation with instructors. 

 There will be, in addition, single lectures by 

 eminent persons, dealing with particular insti- 

 tutions or problems upon which they are espe- 

 cially qualified to speak. 



The enrollment will be limited to the fol- 

 lowing classes: 



1. Men and women who have been engaged for 

 one year or more in some form of philanthropic 

 activity, as a profession, and who desire to im- 

 prove their knowledge of the methods of social 

 service. 



2. College graduates who have taken at least 

 one year's work in social economics or some kin- 

 dred subject. 



3. Senior students in theological seminaries or 

 medical colleges who may wish, by special ar- 

 rangement, to take one or more courses of lectures. 



4. Others who satisfy the director by some indi- 

 cation of fitness, that thtey are likely to profit by 

 the opportunities of the school. 



One of the best services such enterprises 

 render to society is the diffusion of the dis- 

 coveries, often of a preventive character of 

 course, of the various branches of natural 

 science among the very people who are in 

 most need of them. The distance between the 

 scientific laboratory and the ' submerged tenth ' 

 is very great indeed; but the well- trained 

 social worker does a very large share in bridg- 

 ing that distance and, therefore, in proving 

 the value of science to the general welfare. 

 The whole propaganda of sanitation depends 

 on this process of enlightening popular senti- 

 ment to its own advantage, and thus increas- 

 ing the economic efficiency of the less capable 

 portion of the population. 



Virginia's program of educational purposes. 

 The Cooperative Education Commission of 

 Virginia, which was organized last March, has 

 formulated a policy under the title of a ' pro- 

 g'ram of purposes ' which have recently been 

 made public. These purposes constitute a 

 comprehensive scheme of objects in which it 

 is desired that all the varied educational in- 

 terests of the state should unite. They are as 

 follows : 



1. A nine months' school for every child. 



2. A high school within reasonable distance 

 of every child. 



