Insist that the work in hand shall not be interrupted. If for one day
the teacher will persistently refuse to recognize questions spoken aloud
without permission, a long step will have been taken in the direction of
correcting the bad habit.
Allow two or three minutes between classes, if necessary, for answering
the questions of the division which has been studying.
Henry should be led to raise his hand if he needs help, and his
difficulty should be settled in turn—after Joe’s has been explained. The
bold pupil would lose some of his smartness if he were fully occupied
with work. Keeping the pupils constantly busy in the arithmetic class,
by dictating rapidly and putting a premium upon getting through quickly,
prevents discussions upon unessential parts of the work, such as whether
or not the same example had been given out before; the children do not
have time to consider the matter.