Elmer was startled by Miss Scott’s sudden pouncing upon him and then,
after having all eyes turned upon him, was either too embarrassed or too
offended to reply. The more she urged the more embarrassed he became.
Miss Scott not only startled Elmer into silence by her method, but
prolonged it into stubbornness by her untactfulness. If a child seems to
be unusually self-conscious he may need special gentleness.