The principal of a school should see to it that each teacher and each
subject has a fair share of the attention of the students. In this case,
the principal should say to Miss Kingsley, “I notice that a number of
our boys are falling behind with their mathematics, and Miss Bulwer
tells me that Howard Grimes failed in Latin last month—something never
heard of before. I have been looking for the cause, and I find that most
of those who are failing are spending more time on their English than is
fair. You are stimulating them by a personal appeal to put time on
English which really belongs to other studies. So I am asking you to
discontinue your private conferences for the present; and, moreover, it
is not dignified for you to accept attentions from the boys as though
they were your own age; it will lead to criticism which will hurt your
work and your influence.”
Private talks to the boys and girls about their work, following this
restriction of the English teacher’s demands, may help to bring results.
The other teachers should be encouraged to make their work as appealing
as possible, and to show a personal interest in the bringing up of
grades in the neglected studies. Most important of all, wholesome social
conditions may be stimulated by a series of parties among the high
school students, in which normal relations amongst themselves are
encouraged. Such regulations for study as are needed to keep the boys
from too much contact with Miss Kingsley are to be adopted, without
making their object obvious to the pupils.