Supt. Kennelworth suffered the inconvenience of moving from an old
building into the new one near the middle of a school year.
[Sidenote: Bags for Paper]
In the final plans for the proper use of the new plant, it had been
agreed that each pupil must bring with him a small waste-paper bag to be
attached to each desk. There were no very definite rules as to its size,
but the warning was given that it must not be too large for the
convenience of all concerned.
The matter was brought up only once, each teacher making the
announcement in his own room according to the superintendent’s
instructions.
Wallace Jackson made his announcement for the fifth and sixth grades as
follows: “Each one of you is to bring a small, neatly made waste-paper
bag, barely large enough to hold what you think is the waste paper that
gathers at your desk every day. Are there any questions about this?” A
hand went up and the question was asked, “Who is going to empty these
bags?”
“Well,” said Mr. Jackson, “you will empty them yourselves. Just before
the close of school each day the wastebasket will be passed; your bags
will be laid down upon your desk, and in just a very few minutes every
bag will be emptied and placed in your desk. Any more questions?”
Another hand and another question, “How are we going to decide who will
carry the basket?”
This was answered by the statement: “I shall appoint some pupil to this
task every day. The method of selection will be announced to you later.
The only matter I want now to tell you about is the making of the bags.
Further details will be given to you when we actually begin our work
next Thursday in the new building.” Owing to the fact that some success
in keeping a neat room had been attained already in the old building,
Mr. Jackson’s announcement was received without surprise or anxiety.
(10) _Imitation of wrong social standard._ There is an imitation of mere
precedent which is a sort of social instinct, that can best be handled
socially. This is because the responsibility can be fixed on no one
individual, and as all the members of the group are equally guilty, all
should share in the needed lesson.