172 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



local mauager is destined to be the most important factor in the in- 

 stitute work in the future — a superior man, thoroughly educated 

 and trained. 



The line of development in institutes is even now in the direction 

 that I have indicated, and it is likely to be on us as a living question 

 before we are prepared, unless we begin now to educate men for the 

 new duties which the developed system will impose. We are now 

 but in the kindergarten stage of the institute idea in education. The 

 increasing needs of men will demand that it be perfected, and its 

 progress toward this perfection can only be by adding to its power 

 to impart valuable information and by extending it so as to be in 

 some form or other within the reach of every citizen every day in the 

 year; in other words, to make it highly educational and constantly 

 and universally useful. To hasten that day, training schools for in- 

 stitute managers are a necessity. 



THE INSTITUTE TEACHERS. 



The other class of workers upon whom the institute is dependent 

 for efficiency is, as has been stated, the force of teachers. Unless 

 this is efficient the institute is a failure, no matter how carefully it 

 has been organized, or how well attended;, or how judiciously the 

 topics to be treated have been chosen. The teacher is the life of 

 any school; more than the text-books or buildings or equipment, nec- 

 essary as these are. If he is uninteresting or otherwise incapable, 

 all of the trouble and expense previously incurred is wasted effort 

 and money; like a great manufactory, equipped with intricate and 

 costly machinery, suited to the production of beautiful and perfect 

 fabrics, but rendered worse than useless by reason of its being man- 

 ned by unskilled or careless workmen. 



Institute instruction is a new profession scarcely 20 years of age 

 in the oldest states. It began in weakness but has grown until now 

 it requires strong men to teach institute audiences. Many who were 

 acceptable lecturers 20 years ago are not now asked to teach. They 

 have failed to keep abreast of the advance of science and their ad- 

 vice is no longer sought. Many also who have succeeded admirably 

 with classes of students in college or university work and whose 

 capability, so far as learning is concerne'd, is admitted, find them- 

 selves altogether unfit to give instruction to audiences of farming 

 people. This work is a profession difficult in the extreme and re- 

 quires peculiar training and special personal qualities and exper- 

 ience to properly perform. The audiences are composed of all 

 classes, both men and women, boys and girls, the scholarly profes- 

 sional man and the illiterate. The meeting is voluntary; all are free 

 to come or go at will. There are those who are deeply interested 

 in the subjects on the program, and others who care nothing for the 



