A Dominie in Doubt

A former schoolmaster, once proud of his self‑published treatise on teaching, finds himself at a modest dinner hosted by a fellow head‑master. The conversation drifts from war and rising prices to the very “Log” he authored, prompting an uneasy self‑assessment. Surrounded by other dominies and their wives, he is drawn into a gentle sparring match about the value of his own ideas.

He argues that a writer can never truly judge his own work, claiming it becomes obsolete the moment it is printed. The dialogue reveals his growing awareness that his earlier views ignored the psychology of children, and he confesses past missteps—like dismissing practical subjects from the curriculum. With wit and modesty, the exchange highlights the tension between tradition and evolving educational thought, inviting listeners to contemplate how quickly “truth” in teaching can shift.