It is not difficult to make children see that the rights of others are
infringed by interruptions such as speaking aloud without permission.
Once this is understood, the teacher must stick to her refusal to
recognize such interruptions. When the children understand that they are
expected to keep silent, they form the habit of waiting for permission
before asking questions. Unless the teacher shows respect for the lesson
in hand—not allowing her attention to be distracted from it—she can not
expect the pupils to do so.
Some teachers are afraid to refuse to answer questions at the time they
arise in the child’s mind, fearing to bring the child to a standstill in
his work and that he will be idle unless his difficulty is settled. It
is a part of a child’s education to learn to be independent, to solve
his own difficulties. Too much dependence on “Teacher” unfits the pupil
for progress in his lessons or in anything else.