In Real Terms

The digital signature meant that he could purchase his own private school. With this momentous occasion, he drank whiskey and water and vaped some liquid cocaine in all its legal splendor. Such a potion was of course non-habit forming and otherwise safe. He called on the visual phone his COO.

“Hey, Simon. Call Daniella.”

She appeared, floating in front of his home desk, pert and ready for the news.

“I did it. I signed up for the school.”

“Already?”

“Yes.”

“I thought we were going to talk about this. It is a huge undertaking.”

“The fact is the government is totally out of the realm of education. It plays no role in the development of the minds of young human beings. And older human beings, too. I plan to build elementary, middle, highschools and a university right here in Delaware.”

“This is going to cut into our budget. We’re already bleeding money—”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ve already taken a pay cut. As long as we can train young minds in the private sector where even the poorest student can attend classes, I’ll go back to being a millionaire.”

“Well, we don’t want to lose our billions,” Daniella contended.

“If that’s what it takes,” Paul Brandt retorted.

“Isn’t that a sacrifice?”

“Not at all. We’re gaining tremendous value at the cost of a few hundred million dollars,” Brandt explained.

“You know I want to see private schools prevail over the government option. I do more so than anyone in our company. But we’re a car company dipping into waters that may shock our system.”

“That’s good. We need that shock or—”

“Or the minds of the young will not flourish,” Brandt declared.

“Exactly.”

“That’s why I studied up and took classes and got a private license to educate. Or at least I am licensed to hire other educators schooled in the ways of shaping such young minds.”

Daniella sighed. “I just wish you would’ve told me and—”

“And then what? Hear how we should go before the board and address it there? How we should only consider the idea of education for the wealthy or the poor when we should include anyone that is teachable regardless of their socioeconomic background,” Brandt fired back.

“I hear you talking,” Daniella replied.

“Then listen. I am committed to bringing the best teachers to deliver the goods for my own selfish pleasure. It will be a wondrous day when I can say that federal, state, and local government have failed miserably and the private option has produced a nation of learners prepared for the world.”

“If we go forward with this plan, we’re still going to end up with the obstacles of ensuring that the instructors are motivated and not just receiving deposits while the students complete busy work. We’ve gotta be certain that everyone on board will be an excellent administrator, principal, president on down to the janitorial staff. Each individual must be geared towards aiding these minds in the ways of a full epistemology,” Daniella pointed out.

“That’s true. I want each person to be dedicated not to the hollyballo of gender bathrooms and what dress code is proper. I want educators, especially, to create a space for each child to not feel special but important. To have self esteem based on achievement not a few words or a star on a C-grade paper. Athletics should follow scholastics. There will be no participation awards at our schools. We will foster an environment that will designate winners and those who have to work smarter.”

“With you saying that, I think I’m on board, Paul,” Daniella relented.

“It’s only right.”