TEACHING AND INFORMATION GIVING 61 



neglecting to reply at all. It is a relatively inexpensive, 

 quick and satisfactory method when properly used. 



The circular letter, though it is less satisfactory because 

 it must necessarily be more general and therefore less per- 

 sonal, is widely used because it is an easy way to reach 

 many people quickly. The free mailing or franking privi- 

 lege encourages the use and the abuse as well of the cir- 

 cular letter, so much so, in fact, as to make this means of 

 communication much less valuable than it might otherwise 

 be. Many farmers receive so much franked material from 

 Congressmen, as well as county agents, that in some cases 

 they do not even open it. Then, too, it is easy to spoil a 

 letter in the writing of it. A circular letter should be con- 

 cise and brief, and make its points stand out clearly and 

 definitely. Not often should it be more than one page in 

 length. 



Gathering information from farmers by questionnaires 

 a common practice is useful and desirable only when (1) 

 the information is necessary or very important, (2) the 

 questions asked are few in number and pimple in form, so 

 that they can be answered easily and understandingly, and 

 (3) the results are promptly made known to the persons 

 who answer them as well as to those for whom they are 

 gathered. 



THE PLACE OF THE SPECIALIST 



Good teaching whether with minors in a classroom or 

 with adults in a field meeting has at least three essentials : 

 (1) A thorough knowledge or mastery of the subject, (2) 

 the right pedagogic organization of the teaching material 

 or methods, and (3) the necessary force and personality to 

 convey the message convincingly to the student. Accord- 

 ing to the educational psychologist, education is the pro- 

 duction of changes in human beings ; changes in knowledge, 



