OTHER EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES 389 







service organization has been created. The effect of this great 

 movement can not be estimated. In the South, where it has 

 been the longest in operation, the improvement in agriculture is 

 most noticeable. Thousands of community organizations are 

 drawing together for better rural life, hundreds of thousands of 

 demonstrations are conducted each year and the actual number 

 of persons reached already mounts into the millions. The wastes 

 are being stopped, the bad practices remedied, the diseases eradi- 

 cated, tne fertility of the soil conserved and built up, the market- 

 ing systems improved, and country life is beginning to take on an 

 air of interest and attractiveness which will hold its people and 

 draw others to the great life of this foundation calling of the 

 people. 



The work is yet in its infancy. With the years there will be 

 improvements. What -are now regarded as experiments will 

 settle into accepted practices. Skill, form, system, all will grow 

 and be developed as they have with the teaching in the schools. 

 But the fundamental principle of having the teacher go to the 

 one to be taught and to illustrate the lesson by a demonstration 

 conducted by the one receiving the lesson will remain the very 

 foundation of the new educational system. It has already tri- 

 umphed where the word of mouth instruction failed. The dream 

 of the founder has become the reality recognized and established 

 by law. 



HOME ECONOMICS WORK UNDER THE SMITH-LEVER 



ACT 1 



THE chief objections of women to country life are usually (1) 

 the generally small returns in farming, (2) the drudgery of farm 

 work, and (3) the social isolation. More money for home con- 

 veniences and greater efficiency in household management both 

 have in view the lessening of the drudgery of farm work and 

 the securing of certain periods of leisure to farm women which 

 may be used in productive, social, and recreational ways. 



i Adapted from Journal of Home Economics. 7: 357-358. The American 

 Home Economics Assn.. Baltimore, 191.5. Office of Information, U. S. 

 Dept. of Agriculture. 



