Function and Principles of Extension

 According to Mildred Horton (1952), the four great principles underlying extension services are:

1. The individual is supreme in a democracy.

2. The home is a fundamental unit in a civilization.

3. The family is the first training group of the human race.

4. The foundation of any permanent civilization must rest on the partnership of man and the land.

If we accept these principles as those underlying our extension activities, we must plan our work in accordance with them.

Principles underlying the Philosophy of Extension

1. Extension is an organization to plan, execute and evaluate programs with the people, and not for the people.

2. Extension is an organization set up to teach people and motivate them to action, not to dictate what people should do.

3. Extension should help people to help themselves.

4. Extension should be based on felt needs and enlightened desires of the people.

5. Extension should reach the people where they are.

6. Extension aims and objectives should not be rigid but should be flexible (Time, date, etc.)

7. Extension should change the people and not the subject matter.

8. Extension should work in harmony with the culture of the people.

9. Democratic procedures must be adopted in the formulation and execution of the programs (group ideas only)

10. The designated programs should give the greatest benefit to the greatest number of people in a society.

Philosophy of Extension

Philosophy is the pursuit of wisdom, a body of general principles or laws of a field of knowledge. Philosophy of a particular discipline would furnish the principles or guidelines with which to shape or mold the programs or activities relating to that discipline.

The philosophy of extension work is based on the importance of an individual in the promotion of progress for rural people and for the nation. Extension Educators should work with people to help them, develop themselves and achieve superior well-being.

The basic philosophy of extension work that is directed at the conversion of the whole man determines the approach that must be adopted for its implementation. Compulsion or even a beneficent act does not necessarily improve the man. The only way to secure the cooperation of a person for betterment is to educate him. Therefore the primary aim is to transform the people by bringing about desired changes in their knowledge, attitude, and skills.

According to Kelsey and Hearne (1967), the basic philosophy of extension education is to teach people how to think, not what to think. Extension's specific job is furnishing the inspiration, supplying specific advice the technical help, and counseling to see that the people as individuals, families, groups and communities work together as a unit in "blueprinting" their own problems, charting their own courses, and that they launch forth to achieve their objectives. Sound extension philosophy is always looking ahead.

The philosophy of extension is explained in the following statements:

1. Extension has a philosophy of culture:

a. It respects the culture of people.

b. It brings about cultural change through cultural development.

2. Extension has a philosophy of social progress:

a. Its works are based on the needs and desires of the people

b. It facilitates change and helps people to adjust to them.

3. Extension has a philosophy of education for all:

a. Disseminates useful knowledge to all people.

b. Regardless of personal, social, and economic characteristics.

4. Extension has philosophy concerning teaching:

a. It teaches by doing:

i)Hearing-doubtful

ii)Seeing-possibly doubtful

iii) Do – believe

b. It reaches people to practice themselves.

c. Teaching is inadequate till the knowledge is put into practice.

5. Extension has a philosophy of leadership:

a. Teaches educates, and stimulates people through local leaders.

b. Utilizes assistance of voluntary leaders.

c. Locates, trains, and uses functional leaders.

d. Extension trusts in what it can get others to do.

6. Extension has a philosophy of local responsibility:

a. Encourages people to contribute increasingly in their own affairs.

b. Prepares suitable leaders to determine programs and plans.

7. Extension has a philosophy about the truth:

a. Sells only proven facts.

b. Realise that going beyond truth will lose people‘s faith in extension.

c. Continuously seeks new truth as of today‘s whole truth maybe tomorrow‘s partial truth.

8. Extension has a philosophy of democracy:

a. Functions only with the voluntary co-operation of the people.

b. Co-operation with the individuals, groups, and institutions that are interested in common welfare.

c. Selects and solves the problems based on the felt needs through group action.

d. Democratic in the organization.

9. Extension has a philosophy of dignity of the individual and his profession:

a. Believes that each individual is endowed with certain inalienable rights.

b. Dignifies the farm, home, and family.

c. Holds that changed man is more important than the changed practice.

10. Extension personnel have philosophical characteristics:

a. Extension personnel have the right attitude, integrity, and high sense of service.

b. Extension personnel have deep faith that man does not alive with bread alone.

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