Miss Henderson in the same school made better use of her opportunities.
[Sidenote: Vile Notes]
Mary Macknet, who was in first year high school, told Miss Henderson of
a scandalous note that had been dropped on the desk of a loud, forward
girl by a daring boy.
Miss Henderson said, “I’m too disturbed by what you say to go on with my
work. Let’s sit down and talk about it. How shocking that such an insult
should happen to a girl! I’m glad that you told me about it because now
we can plan how to act in regard to it.
“You say you have hardly ever spoken to the girl? Well, make no change
in your treatment of her. Some foolish girls will encourage her through
ignorance and sympathy. Do not follow their example. Refuse to discuss
the note episode with any of the girls. If any of them begin to talk to
you about it, say, ‘It’s too disgraceful even to talk about. Is the next
algebra lesson hard?’”