John’s teacher did not analyze the situation sufficiently to discover
the relation between John’s attitude toward school and the home attitude
toward John and toward his individual interests. The mother was wrong,
of course, in feeling that peace and quiet and the accomplishment of a
certain amount of work was of more importance than intelligent
understanding of John’s childish impulses, interests and instincts; but
John’s teacher made exactly the same mistake in feeling that by
accomplishing a certain amount of work, “keeping up to grade,” her
responsibility was discharged. Both parent and teacher failed to apply
the principle of initiative in coöperation. Both tried to suppress
John’s individualistic instincts rather than to utilize them for his
advancement.