That afternoon she worked alone with the child for fifteen minutes, patiently helping her, sentence by sentence, to comprehend what she was reading without pronouncing the words aloud. This was only the beginning of a series of special lessons in how to study. When Rosa had gained some headway, Miss Sieger held her up as an example to an occasional delinquent. “Rosa has learned how to study, now can’t you?” CASE 116 (SEVENTH GRADE) In Miss Algernon’s seventh grade room there were three pupils who insisted on studying aloud. [Sidenote: Studying Aloud] “I should think that by the time you reached the seventh grade, John Leavitt, you would know how to study. Only babies in the second and third grades have to study aloud. I don’t know what our schools are coming to when they allow pupils to be promoted to the seventh grade who have never learned how to study. I can not see that there is much use of your being here. “Suppose you go down into Miss Kreisler’s room this morning and learn how to study. Her little third grade pupils know more about studying than you do.” At the same time, Miss Kreisler was telling her children, “Miss Algernon is going to send three of her seventh grade pupils down here this morning, because they have been disturbing her whole room by studying aloud. I want you to show them that you can study silently.” She had no more than finished her statement, when three children, John, and Farry Lawrence and Ellery Comstock, came into the room with all the assurance that such a conspicuous position could give them. “You may take those three vacant seats,” said Miss Kreisler, as she mustered all the self-control she had to keep from laughing. The situation was so incongruous. The little children caught the spirit and a general giggle rose in the room. It did not take Miss Kreisler many minutes to see the futility of such a corrective measure. She sent word to Miss Algernon: “The plan didn’t work. You’ll have to try something better.” CONSTRUCTIVE TREATMENT Give a sample lesson of the situation as it would be if everyone in the room studied aloud. “Let’s try it. Take your geographies. Don’t be afraid. Read aloud, everyone. “That will do. “How did it seem? Do you think we can afford to study that way? We couldn’t get much done, could we? “All right; let us remember to have consideration for others in the room when we are studying. “I think that list of questions on the board will help you in preparing your geography lesson for today. You will find the answers on pages fourteen to seventeen.” COMMENTS It did not help the children who had never learned how to study, to be held up in ridicule before a third grade room, nor to be cited as the product of a poor school system. Miss Algernon gave the children the impression they were the ones at fault and, what was even less excusable, that there was little hope for them in school. This would hardly inspire them with courage for greater effort.