200 The Nature-Study Idea 



a higher plane, has said or written errors. 

 Every person, and particularly every teacher, 

 should make all effort to be accurate; but if we 

 wait till every possibility of error is removed, 

 the world's work will never be done. Many a 

 man sacrifices his chances of usefulness for fear 

 of making a mistake. The real work is not per- 

 formed by timid persons (p. 59). 



The best way to acquire the knowledge is to 

 work for a time with a good teacher, who has 

 enthusiasm and human sympathy. Read books 

 and leaflets. Above all, go into the field and 

 study the objects themselves. Do not wait until 

 you are thoroughly equipped before you begin 

 to teach, else you will never begin. When you 

 have begun and your pupils begin to press for 

 answers, you will learn. When you discover 

 that you have made an error, admit It and 

 acknowledge It. The pupil will respect you. 

 Honesty always wins respect. (Pp. 44, 172.) 



It is not necessary that you become a scientist 

 in order to teach nature-study. You simply go 

 as far as you know, and then say to the pupil 

 that you cannot answer the questions which you 



