I found this to be a good story (although I've only read one of Bester's novels, it wasn't this story).  I thought about J. Hemp's criticism above and almost agreed with it until I thought about the thought process of the professor/principal after reading it.  As he followed up just to meet the boy he found more and more strange things that, put together, made it more real as well as more strange.  I think I understand the thought process that got him to where he was, so it was good for me on that point as well.