608 EXPERIMENT STATION KECOED. [Vol. 37 



recognized that in the past a large proportion of college graduates 

 without special pedagogical training have done well as teachers, but, 

 "they have succeeded in spite of the lack of professional training, 

 axid the percentage and degree of successes might have been much 

 larger if the professional training had been provided. No matter 

 how well manned and equipped the subject matter departments of 

 the colleges of agriculture may be, they need the help of strong de- 

 partments of agricultural education, not only in the training of 

 undergraduates for teaching positions but also in improving the 

 quality of teaching within the subject matter departments." 



Two other papers of direct interest to educators were presented. 

 One of these was a study of the prevailing requirements for gradua- 

 tion in agriculture in the land-grant colleges, presented before the 

 college section by Dr. C. D. Jar vis of the U. S. Bureau of Education. 

 The second was a discussion of the status of agricultural engineering 

 instruction in the land -grant colleges, by Dean Stout of Nebraska. 



In Dr. Jarvis' study, a dexiided increase was noted in the entrance 

 requirements for college work in agriculture within recent years, 

 coupled with greater uniformity among institutions and considerable 

 optional substitution of vocational for academic subjects. Much 

 difficulty was found, however, in comparing the requirements for 

 gi'aduation, mainly because of the diversity of practice as to units of 

 credit. Wide variations were also encountered in subject matter, its 

 distribution by courses, proportion and kind of prescribed and elec- 

 tive work, and similar matters. The study made it apparent that 

 there is still much difference of opinion as to the optimum college 

 course in agriculture, although the discussion following its presenta- 

 tion indicated general agreement on the part of those present that 

 as much uniformity should be obtained as would be feasible under 

 varying conditions. 



The report of the committee on college organization and policy 

 was in two sections. The first section dealt with administrative 

 organization, presenting fourteen recommendations for considera- 

 tion. Under the plan proposed, the indi^^dual specialist capable of 

 working independently is regarded as the unit of organization. A 

 subject matter department would consist of the group of working 

 specialists on that subject, regardless of the kind of service, and 

 authority for subject matter would be confined to this group of 

 specialists, administrative control being limited to the amount and 

 method of work. Administrative authority would be on the basis of 

 kind of service, with the various kinds coordinated under a chief 

 executive. 



The remaining section of the committee's report, and likewise the 

 report of the committee on extension organization and policy, dealt 

 largely with the relations of the colleges to other agencies, such as 



