In this case the teacher was a good one and a good disciplinarian, but
one minor weakness in her fabric of control had undermined all the rest
of her good work.
Work, no matter how earnest it may be, can not be constantly interrupted
without suffering the consequences. The inspiration is gone and interest
flags.
The fullest and best work of which children are capable can never be
finished on time if it is accomplished under the stress of interruptions
and distracted attention. A steady noise, even a clatter or roar, does
not disturb a worker after he becomes accustomed to it. It is the
occasional outburst, the sudden breaking in upon a silence, that
confuses the mind.