Evening star., 1937-03-10
A Rasping
Voice Is
A Strain
Period of Silence Will
Refresh Pupils and
Teacher.
BY ANGELO PATRI,
pLEASE change Miriam to Miss

"pLEASE change Miriam to Miss
Grace's class"
why should We do that? You know
it Is not wise to change children's
classes unless there is a grave reason
for it. A new teacher, new classmates
mean loss Of time in getting adjusted
again. We would rather not do that"
1T would give Miriam q better
lunch hour, and the doctor says she
needs her lunch earlier"
I'VE can arrange that without
changing tho class. Just = slight
change in program will gave the child
the earlier lunch hour"
But she would rather 60 to Miss
Grace's room She could be happier
there. And she has friends in that
class too"
What is the matter, really? What
would the child get in one class that
she has not in the other? The same
lunch hour, the same playtime, friends
in both classes-is there any other
reason?"
Il don't like to say anything about
the teacher. You know how some
teachers are. They get even with q
child who says anything"
III the thing you want to say IS
important to the child you would
better say 1t. Otherwise we will not
change her class. Changing q childs
teacher means loss to the child
usually. We can't run that risk
unless there Is grave reason"
IT I must say it, Miss Rose makes
Miriam nervous because she hollers
all day"
"Hollers?"
"Yes, you know what mean. Such
a loud vioce. and so sharp 1t gives
Miriam q headache every day"
We cannot choose our voices. Some
Of us must be crows while others are
privileged to be larks, but even q
crow can cav softly and in harmony
with the subdued sounds that come
through the evening shadows to soothe
the WEAKNESS of the plodding plowman.
The harshest voice can be trained to
acceptable expression.
The teachers voice is among his
chief assets. It is his best and most
used appeal to his pupils. If it is
q well-trained, clear, pleasant voice,
easy to listen to, he has a great ad-
vantage from the start over the teach
er whose voice Is harsh, unframed
and unsympathetic. Every teacher
must learn to use his voice. Must Is
tho right word here. No teacher has
the right to 1nf1ict suffering on sensi-
tive nerves by the use Of rasping,
harsh, irritating tones.
Even the loveliest voice can become
torture II it is used INCREASINGLY.
Listening is one of the severest strains
one can place upon the nervous sys-
tenn. It wearies children very soon
under the best conditions. Under the
worst it Is torture
Teachers ought to practice keeping
silence. It Is restful to them and to
the children. One period a day ought
to be conducted in silence as far as
possible, the teacher using gestures, in
frequently, as possible, writing the
few simple directions that may be
necessary or stating them briefly at
the start Of the period. Such a time
Of quiet will refresh pupils and
teachers and give them new 1est
for the remainder Of the day.
Mr.. Patri has prepared q leaflet
entitled, Changing Habits" in which
he tells parents how to overcome
child's unpleasant habits. Send for
1t, addressing your request to Mr..
Angelo Patr!, Child Psychology De-
partment of this paper. Inclose q
self-addressed, stamped (3-cent) en-
velope.
Copyright, 1879