Аня из Авонлеи
IV. Different Opinions
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AnnegaveGilbertadisappointedglance.
“Ishallneverwhipachild,”sherepeatedfirmly.“Ifeelsureitisn’teitherrightornecessary.”
“Supposeaboysaucedyoubackwhenyoutoldhimtodosomething?”saidJane.
“I’dkeephiminafterschoolandtalkkindlyandfirmlytohim,”saidAnne.“Thereissomegoodineverypersonifyoucanfindit.Itisateacher’sdutytofindanddevelopit.ThatiswhatourSchoolManagementprofessoratQueen’stoldus,youknow.Doyousupposeyoucouldfindanygoodinachildbywhippinghim?It’sfarmoreimportanttoinfluencethechildrenarightthanitiseventoteachthemthethreeR’s,ProfessorRenniesays.”
“ButtheInspectorexaminestheminthethreeR’s,mindyou,andhewon’tgiveyouagoodreportiftheydon’tcomeuptohisstandard,”protestedJane.
“I’dratherhavemypupilslovemeandlookbacktomeinafteryearsasarealhelperthanbeontherollofhonor,”assertedAnnedecidedly.
“Wouldn’tyoupunishchildrenatall,whentheymisbehaved?”askedGilbert.
“Oh,yes,IsupposeIshallhaveto,althoughIknowI’llhatetodoit.Butyoucankeeptheminatrecessorstandthemonthefloororgivethemlinestowrite.”
“Isupposeyouwon’tpunishthegirlsbymakingthemsitwiththeboys?”saidJaneslyly.
GilbertandAnnelookedateachotherandsmiledratherfoolishly.Onceuponatime,AnnehadbeenmadetositwithGilbertforpunishmentandsadandbitterhadbeentheconsequencesthereof.
“Well,timewilltellwhichisthebestway,”saidJanephilosophicallyastheyparted.
