In making so great a change in school policy as that proposed by Mr. Frank, first secure the undoubted backing of the school board. Make no announcement until your course of action is fully arranged with them and finally decided upon. If this can not be done early in the week, follow the custom of the former principal for the first week in giving the half holiday. This last arrangement has two advantages. (1) It gives the teacher a longer time to secure the confidence of his pupils and (2) it gives the chance of making the announcement before Friday afternoon comes, so that it loses somewhat its element of shock, thereby lessening the danger of a crisis. Have a thoroughly worked out plan in mind of some pleasure which you can offer as a substitute for the one you are taking away. Propose this just before you make the announcement regarding Friday afternoon. If the pupils’ minds are full of the thought of some pleasure ahead, there is less room for the feeling of rebellion to creep in. About Wednesday of the second week, ask the pupils to put away books five or ten minutes before the usual time, as you have an important announcement to make. When all are in a position of attention, say, with the air of one who has a pleasant surprise to offer, “I’ve been wondering if we couldn’t think up some jolly fun for Saturdays, for those whose attendance has been perfect through the week. I understand there are some very interesting remains of Indian settlements about fifteen miles north of here. We’ve just been studying about the inhabitants of the country in the period when the colonists came. It would be a good time to visit those remains of their old homes. Most of you have autos, or have friends who would lend you theirs. Suppose we get up a high school party tomorrow. If we do, we’ll just make a day of it—take our lunches along, roast our potatoes and make our coffee down on the lake shore, and some of you might like to take your fish poles along, or rifles, if you have them. Possibly we could bag a few prairie chickens for tomorrow’s dinner. The school board met last Wednesday evening and decided that we were to have school on Friday afternoons after this, but I believe this trip would be more fun than having Friday afternoon free. It leaves the girls out for this week, but next week we’ll think up something that they will enjoy. Sam, I’ll appoint you, and if you need any help you may choose one other boy, to see if we can get autos enough. Each of us will bring lunch for one and we’ll serve it all together.” Get the minds of your pupils to working on the new plan immediately and thus drain off into harmless constructive action the emotions that otherwise would vent themselves in mischief or rebellion.