THE EXPRESSIVE WORK OF THE SCHOOL. 259 



tigation and exact, clear statement has long been recog- 

 nized as one of the most valuable results of the scientific 

 studies in higher institutions. How much better and 

 easier to form habits of truth-seeing and truth-telling 

 during the earlier years of a child's life ! 



Cannot we, in our nature work, even in the kinder- 

 garten, lead our children to observe as carefully and 

 express as exactly as they are capable of doing ? More 

 can be done in this kind of training in nature study 

 than in any other line of work, simply because nature 

 study gives better opportunity for personal observation 

 or investigation. It is much more natural and much 

 easier to tell exactly and clearly that which has come 

 to us through our senses, than that which we have re- 

 ceived from or through others. 



For this training in seeing and telling the truth, the 

 first essential is plenty of good material, so that each 

 child can see for himself, and can correct for himself 

 by reference to the material before him any errors he 

 has made in observation or statement. 



With the material, an apple, for instance, in his hand, 

 our pupil says, " My apple is round like a ball." True, 

 but not all the truth. At your question, " Is it exactly 

 round like a ball ? " even the little fellow in the first 

 grade will look again, and may add, " It has a hole in 

 one end." Another look will bring out, " It has two 

 holes, one at each end," much nearer the truth. 



If you are satisfied with the first answer as describing 

 the form of the apple (the term " round " is very in- 

 definite and inexact, although much used), you accept 



