The Leader of the Lower School

ss M

r corruptions, and hot debates have their places here as well as in the wider world of politics, and many an amateur "Home Rule Bill" is defeated or carried according to the circumstances of the case. At Briarcroft Hall there had hitherto existed a pure oligarchy, or government of the few. The Sixth Form had jealously kept the reins in their own hands, and, while granting a

oft code, and deeming reform necessary, set to work to preach a crusade. She expounded her views

ls going and airing their woes to the Sixth. They're not likely to listen. If we could show them that the

e," said Hetty. "I was speaking t

ing to begin?"

rly and squarely," said Gipsy. "Explain what we want, and draw up a pr

morrow afternoon in the play-room. It's no use letting the grass grow under our feet. Have you a pencil and

he Junior Play-room on Wednesday at 2 p.m. prompt. Business: To consi

: GIPSY L

e must pin one up on the notice board of each Junior classroom,

etty. "Gipsy, you're

cock', then I guess it will do," sai

offer any criticisms on existing institutions, all were anxious to hear what she had to say on so absorbing a topic. At 2 p.m. on the Wednesday, therefore, the play-room was crowded. Juniors of all sorts and conditions were there, from the tall girls of the Upper Fourth to giggling members of the Third, and small fry

ack, and little ones in front: those First Form kids can sit on the floor. Don't stand

an", and was anxious to do the thing in style. S

mer amongst us, I'm sure we all realize that by her wide experience of American and Colonial schools she is particularly fitted to speak to us on the subject in hand. She has had the opportunity of studying the working o

impressed. The little girls in the front row were staring round-eyed and open-mouthed with admiration. Gipsy rose sl

ds of the Sixth. There are five separate Guilds in this school-the Needlework, the Photographic, the Dramatic, the Musical, and the Athletic. I made enquiries about all of them, and I find that though the Juniors contribute the bulk of the subscriptions, they haven't the least voice in the arrangements. Now, in the countries I've lived in, such a state of affairs would be denounced as tyranny pure and simple. I reckon a school ought to be a democracy, and every member who

stated the case very clearly. It was what the Juniors had all f

on!" they c

r an example let us take the Dramatic Guild. At a shilling a year a head, the subscriptions of the Upper School amount to ￡1, 2s., and those of the Lower School to ￡3, 11s. I asked how last year's funds were spent, and found the whole went in hiring Pompadour wigs and oth

ked a choru

few, I call it misappropriation of a trust. In America and in the Colonies our watchword was always 'Liberty'; and we took care that all got their rights. Are

enthusiasm. She looked a convincing little figure as she stood there, urging the rights of her schoolfellows, and har

SCHOOL FIN

o combine and stand together? Those who a

ories of Wat Tyler, Hampden, Oliver Cromwell, the Seven Bishops, and other famous champions of the commonweal fresh in their minds from their history books, the girls were ready to

's r

n kept dow

it was monstr

will have t

t our rig

ody thought o

e matter with her neighbour. Even the First Form children had followed the arguments, and we

do it. It seems to me that we ought to have something very definite to work upon. What I propose is that a picked few of us go as delegates to the Sixth, and ask for something that has always been refused before. If, as I expect, they say 'No', then we shall have a just ground

chorus, but the old tradition of awe for the Sixth still oppressed the Ju

d a voice fro

stened with closest attention and wholehearted agreement, and was prepared to embrace the cause with the zeal sh

ent of our grievances, and what we want reformed, and present it at the General Meeting. If that'

e then?" shouted one

deserve our support in any respect. Instead of voting to elect them as officers, we'll wit

rom the hard regime of the Seniors and form a system of self-governing societies among the Juni

s to subscribe to societies of which we don't approve. We'll insist on a referendum of the whole school, and

ye!" arose f

l sp

r the Juni

umping up agitatedly from her chair, and nearly falling ov

r, H

p, hip,

ine things it carried conviction to its hearers. In the midst of a babel of voices the big bell rang for

ared Meg Gordon. "Gipsy Latimer's a trump!

ht of such a thing befor

g stood the Sixth for years

e Helm. "Gipsy's quite a new girl, and it's rather cheek of her to try

Why didn't you sug

'Connor. "I agree with the thing in principle

run the whole show,"

little jealousies, and spoil the whole affair. What does it matter if Gipsy's new? Everybody

just?" sneered Maude. "The way she

f by sticking pins in other people; and I can tell you, if you're going to set up in opposition to Gipsy, you