The illustration given above was sent to the president of the
International Academy of Discipline with the following comment, which
was intended to justify the method employed:
The correction came in a friendly way, but its form enlisted the whole
school (for children love rhymes and will repeat them in and out of
season) in the corrective process. The need for well-prepared lessons
had not been an incentive strong enough to induce Mildred to overcome
her instinctive curiosity, but the ridicule of her schoolmates gave
enough additional incentive to stir her will to action.
In spite of the fact that the method is supposed to have been effective
in dealing with “Mildred Trott,” we can not believe that the method is
good enough to recommend. On the contrary, we believe that, in most
instances, any such attempt on the part of the teacher to bring ridicule
to bear on one pupil is sure to rouse resentment. Hostility between
pupil and teacher is likely to cause more trouble to the teacher and be
more harmful to the pupil than the habit of listening to others recite.
If the teacher finds it necessary to speak to the child at all about the
habit of listening to others recite, after she has already made the
attempt to interest the child in his own work, she should take the
matter up with the child, individually. An effective way to apply the
principle of initiative in coöperation is to approach the child with a
smile on your face, when he is alone, and in the same breath that you
speak of his habit of listening to others, mention the fact that you
used to have trouble, too, keeping your mind concentrated. Do not say
this unless it is true. But it is true of most of us, and to tell this
to the child gets results in most cases. Suggest that he try to
concentrate daily. Approve him now and then upon his progress.
In dealing with curiosity, the general truth that ideals clearly defined
help immensely in gaining control of natural tendencies, holds. Fine and
high ideals of the rights of others, of what is appropriate and just,
must constantly be kept before young people to help them in directing
and mastering their instincts.