Mr. Wingate ventured on uncertain ground. He was in a minority when
attacking the custom in so public a manner. He pulled on a projecting
beam and loosened the whole framework of a social custom without knowing
what his next move would be if things came tumbling down.
What was needed was a larger program of action.
The plan of working out the dilemma from the standpoint of domestic
science gives permanence and dignity to the reforms proposed. A
disciplinarian must never intimate that his requirements are trivial or
personal or disconnected with the general good of the school. As soon as
one or a hundred pupils can feel that they are out of class by holding
to an old custom the reforms proposed will make rapid headway.