."

While these numbers are thus reading, the teacher looks at the boys, and
can easily see whether any are not reading their own answers, but only
following the rest. If they have been trained to speak exactly together,
his ear will also at once detect any erroneous answer, which any one may
give. He takes down the figures given by the majority, on his own slate,
and reads them aloud.

"This is the answer obtained by the majority: it is, undoubtedly right.
Those, who have different answers may sit."

These directions, if understood and obeyed, would divide the class
evidently into two portions. Those standing, have their work done, and
done correctly, and those sitting, have some excuse or error to be
examined. A new lesson may now be assigned, and the first portion may be
dismissed; which, in a well regulated school, will be two-thirds of the
class. Their slates may be slightly examined, as they pass by the
teacher, on their way to their seats, to see that all is fair; but it
will be safe to take it for granted, that a result, in which a majority
agree, will be right. Truth is consistent with itself, but error, in
such a case, never is. This, the teacher can, at any time, show, by
comparing the answers that are wrong; they will always be found, not
only to differ from the correct result, but to contradict each other.

The teacher may now, if be pleases, after the majority of the class have
gone, hear the reasons of those who were unprepared, and look for the
errors of those whose work was incorrect; but it is better to spend as
little time as possible, in such a way. If a scholar is not prepared, it
is not of much consequence, whether it is because he forgot his book,
or mistook the lesson; or if it is ascertained that his answer is
incorrect, it is, ordinarily, a mere waste of time, to search for the
particular error.

"I have looked over my work, sir," says the boy, perhaps, "and I cannot
find where it is wrong." He means by it, that he does not believe that
it is wrong.

"It is no matter if you cannot," would be the proper reply, "since it
certainly is wrong; you have made a mistake in adding, somewhere, but it
is not worth while for me to spend two or three minutes apiece with all
of you, to ascertain where. Try to be careful next time."

The cases of those who are unprepared at a recitation, ought, by no
means, to be passed by, unnoticed, although it would be unwise to spend
much time in examining each, i