Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 15.djvu/544

 530 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

The University of Wisconsin has established another and progressive precedent by adding to its extension department a bureau of municipal reference for the purpose of collecting data and information on all subjects of municipal activity and munici- pal government, with the view to making that material accessible to the cities of the state. Such bureaus have already been estab- lished in New York, Boston, Baltimore, and Milwaukee; but this is the first instance where the plan has been incorporated into the curriculum of a state university. The new bureau will be in charge of a specialist in municipal administration who is also one of the university faculty.

Boston now has a city history club, the objects of which are declared to be:

(l) The formation of a club for boys and young men for the purpose of instruction in the history of Boston — not only that of the past but that now making, with a view of promoting a better understanding of the prin- ciples of our municipal life; (2) the cultivation of club spirit which will enable the boys when grown to communicate in public life with mutual understanding.

May there be a great multiplication of agencies having for their prime purpose these fundamental objects.

Rochester is conducting an experiment in the way of utilizing the schools as social centers as a part of the local educational activities of the city, that bids fair to revolutionize work of this kind. The experiment has been continued for two years with growing success. The idea has been described as the promotion of "the democratic friendly spirit of broad acquaintanceship which made the little red schoolhouse in the country the fine opportunity-gathering place it was." The use of the school- house as a meeting place for people has been tried in several cities, notably in New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia; but the significant fact about the Rochester experiment is that this whole social center movement is under the direct auspices of the board of education, which is promoting an adequate use of the school- house at all times. Governor Hughes was so impressed when he spoke before one of the social centers that he declared :