[Sidenote: Snatching Pencils]
Miss Donaldson, a first grade teacher in Davenport, was one day
conducting a nature study lesson, in which the children were dramatizing
the care of the parent birds for the little ones. Five children had
cuddled into the corner to represent the little birds in the nest and
two others were industriously bringing food to put into their open
mouths, when one of the boys who was supposed to be watching the
performance, snatched a pencil out of the hands of his nearest neighbor,
Charles Drew. Charles, with fists upraised, was just about to administer
summary punishment upon the offender, when the teacher glanced up, and
immediately taking in the situation said,
“Oh, boys! The little birds are going to fly away in just a minute, and
you won’t see where they go to.”
Instantly the attention of both boys was riveted on the little birds.
Suggestion had averted a catastrophe.