Miss Maile can easily keep this matter out of the superintendent’s hands
by inviting the gentleman into her room, appointing a committee to
apologize for the room, since one of its members has committed a breach
of good manners. The words can be very few.
“We are sorry to have been rude. Please excuse us.”
We would suggest also in a school where there is a strong tendency
toward bad manners, that you apply the principles of suggestion and
approval. Some morning when the pupils are in a good mood, say:
“I want to tell you how _proud_ I am this morning.” (Smile at this
point, allowing your pupils to wonder what you are going to say next.)
Then, after waiting four or five seconds, continue: “I have been
watching pupils in my classes lately, both here in the school and
outside, and I have noticed many pupils who are very polite. It looks
fine to see a pupil pick up something another has dropped. I remember a
boy—a fine looking fellow—everyone liked him, and I used to wonder why
it was that everybody spoke to him and why everybody liked him so well.
I noticed that whenever he saw a chance to do a kind act for anybody he
always did it. If he happened to annoy anybody, he always stopped and
told the person he was sorry; whenever he walked in front of anybody he
always said, ‘Excuse me,’ and he always made everyone feel happy because
he was so kind. That is the kind of a person _I_ like, and I believe
that is the reason he was liked so well. I visited a school once in
which all the pupils were just as polite as could be, and the teacher
seemed to be proud because the pupils showed such good manners. I tell
you, I am going to watch from now on to see how many boys and girls in
my room are polite. It is certainly fine to do a kindness for someone. I
like the boy or girl who does it.”
The next day, smile again and say, “I’m even prouder than I was
yesterday morning. I saw several kind acts yesterday by my pupils. I
tell you, I appreciate it very much.”