[Sidenote: Ignore Remarks]
Miss Moffit, recently at the Endwood rural school, had the art of
drawing out her pupils’ confidence on a variety of topics. They
discussed school work, flower gardens, dress-making, electrical devices,
corn contests, and a wide range of topics. This freedom of intercourse
spurred the tattlers also into action. Hilliard came up at frequent
intervals with numerous, personal incidents, until he learned how to
control his tongue.
“Some of the boys are taking home chalk in their pockets.” At another
time, “Sallie’s eating in school time,” or “Minnie didn’t get her
problems.”
Miss Moffit sensed the drift of Hilliard’s mind. She decided to become
absolutely impervious to Hilliard’s tales. She took the lead in
conversations when he approached; she switched from one topic to another
so rapidly that he had no opportunity to make much of his fund of
anecdotes. She gratified his impulse to talk, by asking him questions on
themes in which he was interested.
Tattling to the teacher lost its charm for Miss Moffit’s pupils.