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 of the 

 world is not performed by timid persons. 



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. (P. 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 



