[Sidenote: Treating the Fidgets]
Pay no attention to John at the moment. Merely say to yourself, “Here is
a bit of disorder for which I have not yet given any lessons in control.
I must remedy my neglect in this respect.”
Next analyze John’s problem into its elements. For him to get his drink
of water it is necessary that (1) he turn in his seat, (2) get out of
the seat, (3) turn toward the hallway door, (4) walk across the floor,
(5) open the hall door, (6) drink, (7) close the door, etc.
With these steps of the problem in mind, say to the whole school, later
in the day, when the pupils are beginning to get tired and “fidgety”:
“Children, you have worked first rate this afternoon. Now let’s play a
little while. All take good positions, and I’ll tell you just what to
do. I’m going to ask you to turn in your seats just as if you were going
to get up, only this time nobody gets up. You are to do it without
hitting your elbows against the desk or dragging your feet or doing
anything that will make any unnecessary noise. Be all ready when I say
‘one!’” [After a pause.] “‘One!’ One boy missed! Try it again! Position!
‘One!’ One girl missed! Once more! Good! Everybody right this time! Now
I am going to ask you to rise without making any noise and without
touching the desk with your hands. Be ready when I say, ‘Two.’ That was
good. Now we’ll try both movements together. ‘One, two!’ Right. Be
seated. It is recess time now, and I will count for you. You may turn,
rise, and turn again in the same way you did a moment ago. I wonder how
many will remember to come back from recess just as quietly!” Do not
forget to approve the children for coming in more quietly than formerly.
On the following day drill in the same way on the art of sitting down
quietly, as if the pupils had just come in from recess. Repeat these
drills whenever they are needed, until the habit is firmly established
of moving about quietly and in orderly sequence. Drill in a similar way
on other little disorders of the room until each difficulty, one by one,
is overcome.