Suddenlya problem. Ferone has to leave the room. I escort him to the doorbut there is no hall proctor in sightand he is not supposed to go unescorted. What to do? His need is urgent. We stand in the doorway for a moment, testing each other with our eyes. The situation is fraught. This may be my chance to win his trust at last. I whisperin order not to disturb the othersmy permission for him to go alone. It is understood that he is honor-bound not to use the lavatory for any but legitimate purposes; not as a reference room, not to look up any answers that may be secreted on his person, not even for a quick smoke. He goes, and I return to my observation perch at the back of the room (so that the kids can't see whom I am watching: a tip from Admiral Ass!). A few minutes later, the Admiral himself appears in the doorway, white with rage, Ferone at his side. Clash of swords; two enemies face to face, on either side of Ferone; the showdownbut sotto-voce, for we have an audience.
McH: What is the meaning of this?
I: Of what?
McH: You let him out of the room unescorted?
I: He had to go
McH: Unescorted?
I: There was no hall proctor.
McH: You should have waited for one.
I: The situation did not warrant waiting.
McH: Do you realize his exam paper may be invalidated?
I: Why?
McH: He may have been looking up answers!
I: I don't think so. He told me he wouldn't.
McH: He told you?
I: Yes.
McH: And you believed him?
I: I believe him.
McH: Go back to your seat, young man. Miss Barrett, this is not the time and place to explain to you the gravity of your position. You had explicit instructions; you disobeyed them. You'll hear from me later. In the meantime, you will please put his paper aside when he is finished. The outcome of his examination will have a direct bearing on you. You understand that?
I: I think so.
McH: The second girl in the third roweyes on your paper!
Exit the Admiral.
Ferone and I look at each other. His face is impassive. Will he fail the exam to vindicate me? He is very bright; he has been an F student only because he chose to be.
Suddenly he has become a moral issue by which I stand or fall. The incident of the lavatory has brought into focus my values against McHabe'severything I believe in as opposed to all that is petty, regimented and rote in the school system; all that degrades the dignity of my profession, and consequently, of my pupils; my desire to teach well, as opposed to bureaucracy, trivia and waste.
Perhaps I am losing my sense of humor. It's easy to do that here. But I am still new enough to the system not to take its absurdities for granted. If only the McHabes didn't keep getting in the way, I think I could move a few mountains.
Now I have to mark, over the four-day Thanksgiving holiday, 201 papers. Each is in 5 parts. Each contains 2 compositions.
I shall keep you posted on further developments of the Barrett-Ferone-McHabe Lavatory Case. In the meantime, write me what the weather is like in the outside world.
Love,
Syl
P.S. Did you know that according to the tabulation of the National Council of Teachers of English, it takes six to ten minutes to grade a single composition, and that the city's teachers carry a pupil-load of 150 to 200 pupils per term?
S.
45. It Has Come to my Attention
OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPAL
CALVIN COOLIDGE HIGH SCHOOL
Copy to Mr. McHabe Dr. Bester
Dear Miss Barrett,
It has come to my attention that due to laxness on your part in proctoring the Midterm examinations one of our students is under suspicion of cheating. This can have a demoralizing and corrupting effect on the rest of our student body, who have always and at all times upheld our high standards of moral and ethical integrity.
MAXWELL E. CLARKE
PRINCIPAL
Dear Miss Barrett,
Please bring to my office the examination paper of Joseph Ferone as soon as you have marked it. I understand that he has been a failing student in English for the last two terms.
Samuel Bester
Chairman, Language Arts Dept.
INTRASCHOOL COMMUNICATION
FROM: 304
TO: 508
Dear Bea
I've just graded Ferone's paper: he got 89%.
Do you suppose Ill be court-martialed?
Syl
46. From the Suggestion Box
I have known teachers to go crazy from too much teaching but not you. How come? They should put you on a pedestle.
A Bashful Nobody
My suggestion is overthrow Mr. McHabe and you run the school togeather with Mr. Grayson. Then this would be a great place to be.
(In the Mid Terms the reason I flunked is because I didn't understand the questions.)
It serves them right (dishes in ruins) how we messed up the whole Cafeteria, and well do it again if they still treat us like jailbirds. This is the last warning I'm writting.
At first I thought to myself I'd never live through another English with a female teacher but, instead, well here I am and I owe it all to you.
Rusty
Too strick with the marks. I could use a 80.
A 55
I suggest 1. More teachers with spunk.
A. To stick up for us.
1. The way you stuck up for Joe F.
2. And fight with Mac Habe
3. CharacterExcellent & not afraid.
4. And beautiful blue eyes.
Teenager
I complaint all ready about my Midterm mark. What's the use of intergration if marks are still low?
Edward Williams Esq.
I never knew a teacher to really care but you do. Don't ever leave us. I wish I could have you till the end of school.
Carole Blanca
Still stink.
I like to get away from war books like "Shakespeer" to the "dance" in the gym but didn't get a chance to "dance" with you. Maybe we will "next time".
Chas. H. Robbing
You took off to much for sp. and gr. and punct. and vocab. on my Exam, when you were about my age you didn't want the same thing to happen to you.