talk, entirely foreign to the business of the school. I tried this
plan very thoroughly, with high ideas of the dependence which might be
placed upon conscience and a sense of duty, if these principles are
properly brought out to action in an effort to sustain the system. I was
told by distinguished teachers, that it would not be found to answer.
But predictions of failure in such cases only prompt to greater
exertions, and I persevered. But I was forced at last to give up the
point, and adopt another plan. My pupils would make resolutions enough;
they understood their duty well enough. They were allowed to leave their
seats and whisper to their companions, whenever, in _their honest
judgment, it was necessary for the prosecution of their studies_. I knew
that it sometimes would be necessary, and I was desirous to adopt this
plan to save myself the constant interruption of hearing and replying to
requests. But it would not do. Whenever, from time to time, I called
them to account, I found that a large majority, according to their own
confession, were in the habit of holding daily and deliberate
communication with each other, on subjects entirely foreign to the
business of the school. A more experienced teacher would have predicted
this result; but I had very high ideas of the power of cultivated
conscience; and in fact, still have. But then, like most other persons
who become possessed of a good idea, I could not be satisfied without
carrying it to an extreme.

Still it is necessary to give pupils, sometimes, the opportunity to
whisper and leave seats. Cases occur where this is unavoidable. It
cannot therefore be forbidden altogether. How then, you will ask, can
the teacher regulate this practice, so as to prevent the evils which
will otherwise flow from it, without being continually interrupted by
the request for permission?

By a very simple method. _Appropriate particular times at which all this
business is to be done, and forbid it altogether_ at every other time.
It is well on other accounts to give the pupils of a school a little
respite, at least every hour; and if this is done, an intermission of
study for two minutes each time, will be sufficient. During this time,
_general_ permission should be given to speak or to leave seats,
provided they do nothing at such a time to disturb the studies of
others. This has been my plan for two or three years, and no arrangement
which I have ever made, has operated for so l