Many a citizen of Lansing. Mich. (pop. 80,000) despaired of adult education in his city last May when lack of funds shut down the municipally-financed evening school. But such defeatists reckoned without Try. (for Trygve) Narvesen, Norwegian-born secretary of the local Y. M. C. A.
By last week Try. Narvesen's three-month-old "People's University" had 2,615 enthusiastic students, 71 teachers. The students paid nothing for their schooling and the teachers received nothing for their instruction. Founder Narvesen had just added a twenty-first building to his rent-free campus and ten more courses, each complete with a slogan, to the 58 he started last October. Lansingites were proud as peacocks and Michigan's State Department of Instruction was forming a special division to promote the Lansing plan throughout the State.
Slogan of Try. Narvesen's salesmanship course is "If you can SELL—well—nearly all is well." He proved that proposition to bewildered Lansingites before the course started. When he had finished talking to them, Lansing manufacturers, preachers, city officials, bankers found they had been "sold" on the idea of letting the school use their buildings free of charge even for light & heat. Other citizens discovered their spare time signed away to teaching their hobbies. Printers had agreed to put out catalogs and sales literature for nothing. Residents of Lansing and neighboring towns were loudly exhorted to come and be educated without spending a cent.
Classes are held one evening each week. In the directors room of American State Savings Bank citizens wrestle with Political Science ("Business brains becoming active here, will build stronger political leadership") under Businessman John F. Brisbin, assisted by Clothing Merchant Louis May and Editorial Writer Glenn K. Stimson of the Lansing State Journal. Division Superintendent F. W. Openlander of Reo Motor Car Co. goes to Olds Motor Administration Building to lead discussions of Current Industrial Problems. Lawyer William H. Wise teaches Effective Speaking ("Not more talk, but more effective talk") at the Reo Club House. James E. Moroney, young Olds purchasing executive who owns 1,800 reproductions of paintings, lectures on the History of Art ("A cultural course led by a very competent authority") in Capital National Bank's club room.
Emil A. Marklewitz who teaches German ("Priceless literary gems were written in German") earns his living as a high-school physics instructor. Joseph R. Blanco, a Reo foreman, teaches Spanish. A high-school teacher and a radio service man explain the mysteries of Radio ("Understand this marvel of the Age"). Alpha Pearl, who teaches the school's most popular course. Stenography ("A profession to professionals—a great convenience to others") at the Y. M. C. A. building, practices her vocation by day at the Kirby Mercantile Agency. There are courses in Dramatic Interpretation at the Reo Club House, Lip Reading and Amateur Photography in the Olds Tower, and a Stamp Club ("Join strong men who have a real hobby") at the Y. M. C. A.