In making so great a change in school policy as that proposed by Mr.
Frank, first secure the undoubted backing of the school board. Make no
announcement until your course of action is fully arranged with them and
finally decided upon. If this can not be done early in the week, follow
the custom of the former principal for the first week in giving the half
holiday. This last arrangement has two advantages. (1) It gives the
teacher a longer time to secure the confidence of his pupils and (2) it
gives the chance of making the announcement before Friday afternoon
comes, so that it loses somewhat its element of shock, thereby lessening
the danger of a crisis.
Have a thoroughly worked out plan in mind of some pleasure which you can
offer as a substitute for the one you are taking away. Propose this just
before you make the announcement regarding Friday afternoon. If the
pupils’ minds are full of the thought of some pleasure ahead, there is
less room for the feeling of rebellion to creep in.
About Wednesday of the second week, ask the pupils to put away books
five or ten minutes before the usual time, as you have an important
announcement to make. When all are in a position of attention, say, with
the air of one who has a pleasant surprise to offer, “I’ve been
wondering if we couldn’t think up some jolly fun for Saturdays, for
those whose attendance has been perfect through the week. I understand
there are some very interesting remains of Indian settlements about
fifteen miles north of here. We’ve just been studying about the
inhabitants of the country in the period when the colonists came. It
would be a good time to visit those remains of their old homes. Most of
you have autos, or have friends who would lend you theirs. Suppose we
get up a high school party tomorrow. If we do, we’ll just make a day of
it—take our lunches along, roast our potatoes and make our coffee down
on the lake shore, and some of you might like to take your fish poles
along, or rifles, if you have them. Possibly we could bag a few prairie
chickens for tomorrow’s dinner. The school board met last Wednesday
evening and decided that we were to have school on Friday afternoons
after this, but I believe this trip would be more fun than having Friday
afternoon free. It leaves the girls out for this week, but next week
we’ll think up something that they will enjoy. Sam, I’ll appoint you,
and if you need any help you may choose one other boy, to see if we can
get autos enough. Each of us will bring lunch for one and we’ll serve it
all together.”
Get the minds of your pupils to working on the new plan immediately and
thus drain off into harmless constructive action the emotions that
otherwise would vent themselves in mischief or rebellion.
The particular form of pleasure here outlined is suggested by the
location of the incident narrated above, namely in the Middle West. But
each teacher would, of course, choose the plan best suited to his own
location and the likings and circumstances of his own school. Some
teachers, for example, might prefer to have movie entertainments for
Friday evening, correlating the pictures exhibited with the school
subjects studied. Or a social gathering on Friday evening might be more
appealing in some schools—something good to eat, a little music, a few
games and a good time all round. The papers the children have prepared
during the week might be exhibited on a long table for parents to
examine. The girls would take great pride in helping to serve
refreshments.