Reminders.
1. Do not fail to say “Good-morning, Miss ——” to your teacher, and “Good-afternoon Miss ——” when you leave her.
2. When you pass directly in front of your teacher, say “Excuse me.”
3. Never fail to say “Thank you” (not “Thanks”) for the smallest favor.
4. Do not continually raise the hand, and never shake it in school, to attract attention.
5. Never stand at your desk, or step forward raising your hand, and shaking it at your teacher.
6. When a school-mate is reading or answering a question, do not raise hands until he has finished.
7. Do not “fuss” with pencils, strings, pins, or anything else when you ought to give your whole attention to your lesson.
8. When your hands are not occupied with books or other things, as directed by a teacher, they should be clasped in your lap.
9. If you have a desk-mate, give him his full share of seat, desk, and shelf.
10. When you pass directly in front of your school-mates, say “Excuse me.”
11. Do not stare at strangers who enter the school-room.
12. Do not slide down in your seat nor lounge in a school-room.
13. When you stand to recite, stand erect, without leaning against the desk. Stand on both feet.
14. Do not swing the feet, nor scrape them on the floor, nor keep them in constant motion.
15. Always be provided with sponge or slate-cloth.
16. Hand a book right side up.
17. In handing a pointer, pencil, or pen, hand the blunt end.
18. Never call from the outside to a pupil in a school-room.
19. Do not call from the school-room to some one outside.
20. Do not look in at windows of a school-room.
21. Always rap before entering any school-room but your own, or any teacher’s office.
22. Do not chew gum in school.
23. Do not eat in school.
Note.—When these “reminders” are given to young pupils they should be in the form of short lessons, and the thought should be brought out by relating incidents and by questioning as in illustrative lessons.
[Chapter XIV.]
PERSONAL HABITS.
Note.—These directions, although exceedingly important, are not, in many cases, agreeable topics of conversation. Therefore, in giving them, teachers must use their good taste and discretion in deciding whether to give arbitrarily or not. When they are given without comment they should be impressed on the memory of the child by calling for frequent repetitions of items, and by patient and continued enforcement of directions, whenever the occasion presents itself. The connection between the direction and the spirit of kindness should be traced whenever it is possible to do so. Lessons on manners in school may be taken as a guide when it is thought best to enlarge upon any item. Whether or not a lesson be given to the younger children on the importance of attending to personal habits may be left to the discretion of a teacher.
LESSON 7.
Purpose.—To show the necessity of attention to personal habits.
Method.—An item read with or without comment.
The Lesson.
Although personal habits are not pleasant topics of conversation, it seems necessary to give them some consideration. Many young people indulge in certain practices that are disagreeable and impolite, perhaps not so much from lack of knowledge of what is proper as from thoughtlessness and from not appreciating the importance of giving these matters due attention. Young people should realize that these matters, although seemingly trifling, are sufficient to show whether they have been accustomed to polite society or not. There is nothing which tells more quickly. Minute attention to personal habits gives one an air of refinement and attractiveness which can be gained in no other way.