In Miss Algernon’s seventh grade room there were three pupils who
insisted on studying aloud.
[Sidenote: Studying Aloud]
“I should think that by the time you reached the seventh grade, John
Leavitt, you would know how to study. Only babies in the second and
third grades have to study aloud. I don’t know what our schools are
coming to when they allow pupils to be promoted to the seventh grade who
have never learned how to study. I can not see that there is much use of
your being here.
“Suppose you go down into Miss Kreisler’s room this morning and learn
how to study. Her little third grade pupils know more about studying
than you do.”
At the same time, Miss Kreisler was telling her children, “Miss Algernon
is going to send three of her seventh grade pupils down here this
morning, because they have been disturbing her whole room by studying
aloud. I want you to show them that you can study silently.”
She had no more than finished her statement, when three children, John,
and Farry Lawrence and Ellery Comstock, came into the room with all the
assurance that such a conspicuous position could give them.
“You may take those three vacant seats,” said Miss Kreisler, as she
mustered all the self-control she had to keep from laughing. The
situation was so incongruous.
The little children caught the spirit and a general giggle rose in the
room.
It did not take Miss Kreisler many minutes to see the futility of such a
corrective measure. She sent word to Miss Algernon: “The plan didn’t
work. You’ll have to try something better.”