In lines of recreation for the student the best results will be attained through the personal co-operation of the teacher. The true teacher can impart to his pupils few gifts so valuable as the gift of his own companionship. It is true of men and women, and how much more of youth and children, that only as we come in touch through sympathy can we understand them; and we need to understand in order most effectively to benefit. To strengthen the tie of sympathy between teacher and student there are few means that count so much as pleasant association together outside the schoolroom. In some schools the teacher is always with his pupils in their hours or recreation. He unites in their pursuits, accompanies them in their excursions, and seems to make himself one with them. Well would it be for our schools were this practice more generally followed. The sacrifice demanded of the teacher would be great, but he would reap a rich reward.

De studerende ville kunne opnå de bedste resultater af deres rekreation og fritidsbeskæftigelse gennem lærerens personlige medvirken. Den rigtige lærer kan kun skænke sine elever få gaver, der har så stor værdi som hans eget kammeratskab. Det gælder for både mænd og kinder, og hvor langt mere for de unge og børnene, at kun hvis vi kommer i kontakt med dem gennem venlighed, kan vi forstå dem; og evnen til at vise forståelse er en forudsætning for at kunne være til gavn. Der findes kun få ting, som har en sådan evne til at styrke venskabsforholdet mellem lærer og elever som et fornøjeligt samvær uden for skoleværelset. I nogle skoler er læreren altid sammen med eleverne i deres fritid. Han tager del i deres beskæftigelser, han ledsager dem på deres udflugter og synes at gøre sig til et med dem. Det ville være en lykke for vore skoler, hvis denne praksis blev mere almindeligt fulgt. Det ville være et stort offer at kræve af læreren, men han ville høste enig løn.