In most cases fights among children of the lower grades have very little
basis in reason. There is a tradition that makes fighting seem a good
thing, but there is not sufficient steadiness of nerve and purpose to
provoke much genuine fighting. Consequently the teacher does well not to
dignify these encounters either in her own opinion or in her talk with
boys. Allusions to fights may be passed over lightly in conversation,
even though a serious purpose to eliminate them is necessary.
Furthermore, it is easy to substitute some scheme that is only remotely
related to fighting as commonly understood. One can draw off this
combative impulse into some parallel activity with the greatest of ease.