240 The Nature-Study Idea 



How can a teacher prepare himself to teach 

 agriculture in the special schools that are now 

 being established? 



Beyond pleasing personality and moral char- 

 acter, there are two powers that qualify a per- 

 son to teach : ( i ) the teaching ability, which is 

 in part a natural quality and in part gained by 

 experience; (2) knowledge of the subject- 

 matter. 



The subject-matter can be acquired partly by 

 attendance at summer schools and by home 

 reading, but if you are intending to fit yourself 

 for the best positions you will need to attend a 

 good college of agriculture. Even though you 

 are farm bred and know the practical business 

 of farming, you will need the college training 

 to give you a rational grasp of the field and to 

 enable you to put your abilities into teaching 

 form. For these best positions, you must take 

 nothing less than a full four-year course, for 

 you will have to compete with the regular 

 graduates of these institutions; and four years' 

 training is little enough to fit you in the fun- 

 damental sciences and arts, and to prepare you 



