SUPERVISION, INSTRUCTION AND SUPPORT 



college of agriculture in its dealings with boards of educa- 

 tion, boards of agriculture, the legislature and the public 

 generally. 



There is another wheel in this machine which, in the 

 evolution, has come to discharge important functions and 

 that is the specialist. It is recognized that county, district 

 and state agents must have knowledge of rudiments and 

 fundamentals of good farming and housekeeping, respec- 

 tively, before they go among the people for work. It is 

 recognized, also, that they are constantly observing the best 

 work along these lines in their fields, but still there is a work 

 for some specialists. They can concentrate on -one thing more 

 effectively. It is easy to overdo the specialist idea, however, 

 especially if college authorities are disposed to follow their 

 catalogue nomenclature. It is a mistake to assume that 

 agents or demonstrators need help in all phases of subject 

 matter. They have correct and usable knowledge of about 

 90% of the agriculture and home economics which are 

 necessary in their business. The 10% which the specialists 

 furnish, however, is worth more than one-tenth in effect 

 because it represents the new and advanced things in science. 

 Specialists waste much time and cause some friction when 

 they assume to teach the whole body of knowledge under 

 their subjects. They can accomplish much more if they 

 devote their time to helping the agents and demonstrators 

 only in the lines which are vital and urgent, and also new or 

 unfamiliar. Whatever the specialists do should be done 

 through the county agents. 



A specialist should contribute the aid that the agents, 

 farmers and their families can not get from their own study 

 and observation. Of course the agents are too busy, generally, 

 to follow up a subject as far as their own conditions demand, 



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