172 HOW NATURE STUDY SHOULD BE TAUGHT 



Had that teacher at once accepted the correc- 

 tion, with a few words expressing pleasure at the 

 little fellow's power of observation in a field in 

 which no one could expect her to be so well in- 

 formed as the daily visitor to the blacksmith's 

 shop, she would have gratified the boy and have 

 won the good will and respect of all the little 

 folks. Can you not see them all looking at James, 

 and then at the teacher, with a pleased expression 

 that says, " I wish I could have done that, told 

 my teacher something she didn't know and got 

 such a pleasant answer." 



And then James ; see him. How his eyes 

 glisten with pleasure, but how embarrassed he is, 

 and how he wriggles in his seat ! It is so much 

 good fortune, and it came so suddenly that it is 

 almost uncomfortable. He is in haste to get 

 home to tell about it ; and eager, too, to see 

 something else and tell his teacher, and so are the 

 others. 



But stop, we are dreaming, this was not the 

 real situation commended by that professor of 

 pedagogy. Drag yourselves back from the Utopia 

 to the real thing. Look at the quick glances of 

 the class as at a culprit ; look at the assumed 

 dignity on that teacher's face. Oh, James, I 



