ROLE REVERSAL IN THE CLASSROOM

Abstract

Three incidents describe the thinking and acting of children which had direct bearing upon the decision to consider doing this study.

The first happened about a year before the study began. The choirmaster stopped by the classroom to make an announcement. Since most of the children in this room were in the choir, and since the chapel performance that morning had been wanting in acceptable behavior, the choirmaster was requested to explain to the choir members again their roles when they were vested participants in worship. He ended his talk to them by saying, "When you are vested and helping with a worship service you are no longer your- selves but working servants of the Lord." The teacher was facing the children and could see their faces. One little boy sitting close to the front of the room, a nervous little fellow who seemed to have emotional problems, had an expression of relief and happiness on his face