"Well, that's the Chief's attitude to teachers; he never says anything
of any importance whatever."
"But why?"
"He is of the old school. He has been inspecting schools for forty
years. In the olden days an inspector was a sort of Almighty; teachers
quaked before him because with a stroke of his pen he could reduce
their money grant. To this day the old man treats teachers as a king
treats his subjects--with kindness but with distance."
"Has he any views on education?" I asked.
Smart shook his head.
"None, but he has heaps of views on instruction and discipline. By the
way, he thinks that Macdonald's discipline is very good."
"And you?"
"I think it rotten," he said ruefully, "but what can I do? A junior
inspector is a nobody; if he has any views of his own he has to pocket
them. I would chuck out all this discipline rot and go in for the
Montessori stunt. Take my tip and never accept an inspectorship."
"I won't," I said hastily.