Such a conversation will have many good effects.  It will make the boys expect to be watched, without causing them to feel that their characters have suffered.  It will stimulate them to greater exertion to avoid all misconduct, and it will prepare the way for separating them afterward without awakening feelings of resentment, if the experiment of their sitting together should fail.

Another case would be managed, perhaps, in a little different way, where the tendency to play was more decided.  After speaking to the individuals mildly two or three times, you see them again at play.  You ask them to wait that day after school and come to your desk.

They have, then, the rest of the day to think occasionally of the difficulty they have brought themselves into, and the anxiety and suspense which they will naturally feel will give you every advantage for speaking to them with effect; and if you should be engaged a few minutes with some other business after school, so that they should have to stand a little while in silent expectation, waiting for their turn, it would contribute to the permanence of the effect.

“Well, boys,” at length you say, with a serious but frank tone of voice, “I saw you playing in a disorderly manner to-day, and, in the first place, I wish you to tell me honestly all about it.  I am not going to punish you, but I wish you to be open and honest about it.  What were you doing?”

The boys hesitate.

“George, what did you have in your hand?”

“A piece of paper.”

“And what were you doing with it?”

George.  William was trying to take it away from me.

“Was there any thing on it?”

“Yes, sir.”

“What?”

George looks down, a little confused.

William.  George had been drawing some pictures on it.

“I see each of you is ready to tell of the other’s fault, but it would be much more honorable if each was open in acknowledging his own.  Have I ever had to speak to you before for playing together in school?”

“Yes, sir, I believe you have,” says one, looking down.

“More than once?”

“Yes, sir.”

“More than twice?”

“I do not recollect exactly; I believe you have.”

“Well, now, what do you think I ought to do next?”

The boys have nothing to say.

“Do you prefer sitting together, or are you willing to have me separate you?”

“We should rather sit together, sir, if you are willing,” says George.

“I have no objection to your sitting together, if you could only resist the temptation to play.  I want all the boys in the school to have pleasant seats.”

There is a pause, the teacher hesitating what to do.

“Suppose, now, I were to make one more experiment, and let you try to be good boys in your present seat, would you really try?”

“Yes, sir,” “Yes, sir, we will,” are the replies.