PAPERS, ADDRESSES, AND DISCUSSIOXS. 



The followinsr paper \A-as presented l»y John Hamilton, farmers' institute spe- 

 i-ialist. of the Ottice of Experiment Stations. U. S. Dei»artment of Asrricniture : 



THE USE OF ILLUSTRATIVE MATERIAL IN INSTITUTE WORK. 



It is unnecessary to occupy time in discussing the value of illustration in teach- 

 ing. It is now agreed that no method of imparting information, whether hy oral 

 delivery or otherwise, is complete that does not provide for appropriate illustra- 

 tions. The almost universal use of the cartoon hy the pul)lic press, of the half- 

 tone engraving hy magazine writers and text-hook authors, and of stage settings 

 hy theatrical managers, in which the story itself is represented l)y living actors, 

 are all evidence of puhlic appreciation and approval of tlie demonstration method 

 in teai'hing. \\ hether tlic purpose he simply to amuse or. on the other hand, to 

 impart valuahle information, the illustration method is now adopted hy those 

 who are most siu-cessful. and the degree of success is usually according to the 

 appropriateness of the illustrations and the skill with which they are presented. 



PURPOSE OF THE INSTITUTE. 



In the farmers' institute the purpose in presenting a suhject at all is usually 

 threefold — lirst, to interest the audience; second, to impart instruction, and 

 third, to induce individuals to adopt and put into practice the truths presented. 



The methods in use in accomplishing these ends are — lirst, a statement of the 

 truths to he taught presented in such orderly arrangement as to develop the 

 thought most clearly and to fit it for the comprehension of the hearers ; second, 

 illuminating the subject through illustrations, either verbal or by the use of 

 objects, so as to create and maintain interest and fix the important points in the 

 mind of the hearers. 



MATERIAL FOR ILLUSTRATION. 



The utensils used in illustration are numerous and (luite dissimilar. Anec- 

 dotes, word pictures, anuising stories, intonation, gesture, are familiar forms of 

 illustration within the reach of every speaker and are effective when discreetly 

 and skillfully used. On the other hand, the delivering of stupid or worn-out 

 stories, or for a speaker to intone, gesticulate, or pose in a studied or artificial 

 way is to hinder rather than help his address. The individuality of each speaker 

 enters quite largely into the question and is often such as to make proper and 

 effective the use of a method or illustration by one man that would be inappro- 

 priate and perhaps altogether improper if presented by a:ny other. 



No doubt the purpose of the connnittee in assigning this subject was to call 

 attention to illustrative material of an entirely different character from that 

 which has just been referred to ; to the use of objects or some visible form of 

 demonstration that will both interest and instruct. 



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23344— No. 154—05 m i 



