60 The Nature-Study Idea 



than a good scientist. But being a good scien- 

 tist ought not to spoil a good teacher. The 

 Integument-Man sees the little things and 

 teaches details, and his teaching is "dry." He 

 lacks imagination. 



The child wants things in the large and in 

 relation; when it gets to the high-school or 

 college it may carry analysis and dissection to 

 the limit. 



The Integument-Man teaches science, al- 

 though it is not necessarily the best science. 

 The child wants nature. 



The Integument-Man thinks that if any work 

 is only accurate it is thereby of value; and 

 accuracy in nature-study begets accuracy in 

 science, when the pupil takes it up later on. 

 This is all well enough; but the child can be 

 accurate only so far as it can comprehend: it 

 must work in its own sphere; integuments are 

 not in the child's sphere. 



The degree of statement is more important 

 than final accuracy if there is such a thing as 

 final accuracy; all knowledge is relative, and 



