第93章 THE QUESTION OF DISCIPLINE(2)

I finally resorted to the plan of taking the young man away and letting the young ladies be without their guard.This has resulted most satisfactorily.The order has been much better,and while I cannot say that we are free from disorder,nothing like the state of things that before existed now obtains.The manager of the Settlement House overheard a gang of these very bad boys consulting on the street a few nights ago,something in this wise:'Come,boys,let's go to the library for some fun!'Another boy said,'Who's there?'The reply was,'Oh!only Miss Y----;don't let's bother her,'and the raid was not made.Of course we have done everything ordinary and extraordinary that we know about in the way of trying to interest the boys and having a large number of assistants to be among them and watch them,but nothing has succeeded so well as to put the girls alone in the place and let things take their course."The experience of another librarian also furnishes much food for thought.She writes:"I could almost say I am glad that others have trouble with that imp of darkness,the small boy.Much as Ilove him,there are times when extermination seems the only solution of the difficulty.However,our children's room is a paradise to what it was a year ago,and so I hope.The only thing is to know each boy as well as possible,something of his home and school,if he will tell you about them.The assistants make a point of getting acquainted when only a few children are in.This winter I wrote to the parents of several of the leaders,telling them I could not allow the children in the library unless the parents would agree to assist me with the discipline.This meant that about six boys have not come back to us.I was sorry,but after giving the lads a year's trial I decided there was no use in making others suffer for their misdeeds.A severe punishment is to forbid the boys a 'story hour.'They love this and will not miss an evening unless compelled to remain away.To give some of the worst boys a share in the responsibility of caring for the room often creates a feeling of ownership which is wholesome.Our devices are as numerous and unique as the boys themselves.Some of them would seem absurd to an outsider.The unexpected always happens;firmness,sympathy and ingenuity are the virtues required and occasionally the added dignity of a policeman,who makes himself quite conspicuous,once in a while."Another reply is a follows:"Miss C----has turned over your inquiry concerning unruly boys to me to answer.I protested that every boy that made a disturbance was to me a special problem--and very difficu