Instances of the operation of mob psychology in schools are comparatively rare, but they occasionally occur in industrial communities, where the walk-out method of gaining ends is kept prominently before pupils. Such an occurrence took place in the oil district of a Middle West state, where the social conditions are poor and the schools are not yet well organized. Mr. Frank, a new principal, found that his predecessor had gained and kept a certain degree of popularity by making concessions to his pupils and patrons which had greatly lowered the scholastic and other standards of the school. Mr. Frank resolved to sacrifice personal popularity if necessary to the efficiency of his school, and among the reforms adopted was that of doing away with a Friday afternoon holiday which had been allowed to all pupils who had had perfect attendance and punctuality all week. This weekly half-holiday, which reduced the working hours of the school one-tenth, Mr. Frank considered a bad thing. He said nothing about his plans to his pupils, but his rather rigid views on other matters led them to suspect that he might return to the old plan of five full days’ work; hence, they came to him frequently during the first week to ask if the Friday half-holiday would be continued. “Wait and see,” he would reply; “I’ve not decided yet.” “You’d better,” replied one group of high school boys. “We’ve had it for three years, and if you want us to work for you and like you, just keep it up.” This attitude of the boys settled the matter for Mr. Frank, who called the board together and announced his position. They agreed that the giving of the holiday so frequently was a bad thing, and told him that they would “stand back of him if he could make it go,” which meant that they themselves were waiting to see what he would do with a bad situation. The board members were tradesmen who were afraid of offending the families of the school pupils by initiating such a reform themselves, but were willing to stand by someone else who would do so. The grade teachers sympathized with his desire to bring up the standard of the school, and promised to do as he directed. There was no trouble in the grades when the discontinuance was announced. In the high school, anticipating a general epidemic of truancy if he announced his revolutionary policy before the noon recess, Mr. Frank told his fifty-five pupils to come back at one o’clock, as he had a matter of general interest to explain to them. Thinking that some new scheme not effectively different from the old one might be forthcoming the fifty-five gathered as they were told. Mr. Frank noted, as the bell rang, that they had left on their coats and carried their caps in their hands.