184 The Nature- Study Idea 



qualification. It is undoubtedly true that many 

 good nature-study teachers are repressed and 

 spoiled by principals, supervisors and trustees; 

 but it is also true that many persons who think 

 they can teach nature-study are self-deceived. 

 Perhaps your superior has been prejudiced 

 against the work by poor teaching on the part 

 of some former teacher; it is scarcely possible 

 that he could be now-a-days opposed to it on 

 principle. If he is opposed on principle, there 

 is probably nothing to do except to wait or to 

 change your place. If he has had experience 

 of shoddy work, you should ask him the privi- 

 lege of giving a few lessons on trial, or should 

 call his attention to the work or writing of a 

 successful teacher. Perhaps your work with 

 children at their homes would interest him. I 

 think that most of the opposition to this teach- 

 ing on the part of principals and superintendents 

 is the result of misapprehension of what good 

 nature-work is; it should be the pride of nature- 

 study teachers to correct this feeling by doing 

 the very best kind of work. 



