Notice the following editorial which appeared in the Boston Latin School Register shortly after a change was made whereby the pupils instead of the teachers moved from room to room for their various recitations:—­

The new system of having the classes move about from room to room to their recitations has been in use for nearly a month, and there has been sufficient opportunity for testing its practicability and its advantages.  There is no doubt that the new system alters the old form of recesses, shortening the two regular ones, but giving three minutes between recitations as a compensation for this loss.  Although theoretically we have more recess time than formerly, in the practical working out of the system we find that the three minutes between recitations is occupied in gathering up one’s books, and reaching the next recitation room; besides this, that there is often some confusion in reaching the various classrooms, and that there are many little inconveniences which would not occur were we sitting at our own desks.  On the other hand, as an offset to these disadvantages, there is the advantage of a change of position, and a respite from close attention, with a breathing spell in which to get the mind as well as the books ready for another lesson.  The masters have in every recitation their own maps and reference books, with which they can often make their instruction much more forceful and interesting.  Besides that, they have entire control of their own blackboards, and can leave work there without fear of its being erased to make room for that of some other master.  The confusion will doubtless be lessened as time goes on and we become more used to the system.  Even the first disadvantage is more or less offset by the fact that the short three-minute periods, although they cannot be used like ordinary recesses, yet serve to give us breathing space between recitations and to lessen the strain of continuous application; so that, on the whole, the advantages seem to counterbalance the disadvantages.

EXERCISES

What advantages and disadvantages can you think of for each of the following propositions?  State them orally.

1.  All telephone and telegraph wires in cities should be put under ground.

2.  The speed of bicycles and automobiles should be limited to eight miles
   per hour.

3.  High school football teams should not play match games on regular
   school days.

4.  High school pupils should not attend evening parties excepting on
   Fridays and Saturdays.

5.  Monday would be a better day than Saturday for a school holiday.

6.  The school session should be lengthened.

+Theme XL.+—­Write two paragraphs, one of which shall give the advantages and the other the disadvantages that would arise from the adoption of any one of the following:

1.  This school should have a longer recess.