Let us examine the “rightness” or “wrongness” of responses to inquiries through
a few activities preservice teachers do in our classes. If we tie a string around the
middle of a bar magnet, let it dangle, twist the string, and let the magnet come to
rest, the same end of the magnet will point toward the earth’s magnetic north pole
each time we do this. In this respect, the magnet is like a compass. If the ends of
the magnet are labeled, we can read the name of the end that points north. If we
do the same thing with a lodestone (which is a natural magnet), however, and
ask what we should name the end that points toward the North Pole, we obtain
two opposite but equally correct responses. Some people call it “North” because
it points to the North Pole, and some call it “South” because opposites attract.
Although these responses are opposites, both are “correct” based on the reasons
given.