Robert Barr

In the Midst of Alarms Robert Barr

Book Excerpt: ...rt month. I had some theories on the education of our youth which did not seem to chime in with the prejudices the school trustees had already formed on the subject."The professor was at once all attention. Touch a man on his business, and he generally responds by being interested."And what were your theories?" he asked."Well, I thought a teacher should look after the physical as well as the mental welfare of his pupils. It did not seem to me that his duty to those under his charge ended with mere book learning.""I quite agree with you," said the professor cordially."Thanks. Well, the trustees didn't. I joined the boys at their games, hoping my example would have an influence on their conduct on the playground as well as in the schoolroom. We got up a rattling good cricket club. You may not remember that I stood rather better in cricket at the academy than I did in mathematics or grammar. By handicapping me with several poor players, and having the best players among the boys in opposition...