FARMERS^ INSTITUTES AND EXTENSION WORK. 361 



few of the States — to institutions only whose appropriations have 

 been considerably beyond those of the majority. 



Under the method of leadership now proposed, made possible by 

 reason of certam modifications in the com'ses of study, the class 

 instead of requiring the presence of a thoroughly trained scientist to 

 teach and oversee its work may be led by a layman with perhaps 

 only slight experience in teaching and limited information along 

 scientific lines. He should preferably, however, be a resident of the 

 neighborhood in which the class is organized and should be selected 

 or approved and appointed by the head of the extension department. 

 Wlien appomted he becomes the official representative of that depart- 

 ment and is held responsible for all apparatus, books, and material 

 furnished to the class by the institution. 



His main business is to see that the work required of the students 

 is performed as outlined in the printed course. He is also m charge 

 of the apparatus and material for laboratory work and has oversight 

 and du-ection of all of the operations prescribed for performance by 

 the students. He conducts the quiz on the previous day's work, 

 using the prmted outline furnished hun, assists the students in their 

 reference work, and oversees the practicums. He keeps a record of 

 the attendance, requires weekly exammations, and transmits them 

 together with his report upon the week's work to the chief of the 

 extension department at the central institution. 



Practicability of the method. — The practicability of utilizing a lay 

 leader in conducting a class for study in agriculture can only be 

 finally determined by actual trial. The conditions under which the 

 courses are given are, however, such as to make it very probable that 

 faii'ly good class work can be done under the supervision here pro- 

 posed. This seems probable from the fact that the text of the courses 

 is by the best experts that the country possesses, the lessons are 

 most carefully arranged, the reference list is very complete, the 

 library is accessible, and tune is given for consultmg the references, 

 the laboratory exercises are plainly outlmed in the text and the 

 apparatus for conducting the several processes is enumerated and 

 supplied. The quiz is guided by suggestive questions; the weeldy 

 examinations are forwarded to the central office for inspection and 

 ratmg to be returned to the student with the corrections marked, 

 and the final examination is held by an expert sent from tlie institu- 

 tion conducting the course. ■ 



The leader undoubtedly should be a man of more tlian ordinary 

 education, good judgment and practical experience, if possible' a 

 graduate of a college of agricidture, or of a normal school, an intelli- 

 gent, practical farmer of established character and reputation in the 

 community. Any such person should be capable of guiding tlie work 

 effectively in aU of its details except perhaps in the manipidation of 



