Theoracism

On the table, Todd Thomason laid out his plan.

“Now, what you told me, Myson, is true. I know you wouldn’t lie. That form I signed off on was all about teachers fighting a Board wishing to control you kids and force you to accept as truth some theory that goes against education.”

“That’s right, Dad,” Myson said.

“Who’s that girl you go to school with?”

“There are quite a few, Dad,” Myson retorted.

“I know, I know. I’m talking about the one who signed off on the digital sheet, too,” Thomason said.

“Gadot. Gadot Tinkerton,” Myson said.

“Yes, I know Ophelia and Garfield. We can be a part of this as well. The kids, teachers, and parents have to all be a part of this. If we are to safeguard your learning, it’s important,” Todd said as he tapped the names of Gadot’s parents in his smartphone.

The father and son looked at the paper, and then they both figured they had begun something from which there would be no going back.

“Dad, I think the triangle may be something serious. It would be an obvious choice to just take me out of school. I’m saying you could stop paying my tuition, but we would just be one case. Plus, we risk expulsion. Gadot’s parents could do the same. This is so much bigger.”

“I hear you, son. That’s why I’m with your teachers who have shown it’s important for you students to be the central point of this mess. That’s right. We have to have everyone who knows be part of this. The horror stories like you overhearing some other teachers calling themselves ‘crits’ just makes me think. I have to be tactful in this whole situation,” Thomason said. His face looked stern and his fists turned on the table. He turned to Myson.

“I think we should organize, get everyone together, and become a force to be reckoned with, Dad. We can be a united front against this evil,” Myson said.

Thomason placed his hands gently on either side of his son’s head, looked him in the eye and said, “I’m going to investigate how and when the Board started this, because it didn’t start when you were in the first grade, when I first brought you to that school,” he said. There was a knock at the door. The father stood like a centurion guarding Myson.

“Wait here,” Thomason said. He ventured to the door with caution, and a pistol. He opened the door, and Gadot, Ophelia and Garfield Tinkerton stood in front of him. Garfield held a bottle of wine.

“Sorry we didn’t let you know earlier,” Garfield said.

“Come in, come in,” Thomason let his guests in and looked around his suburban neighborhood. He closed the door behind him and locked it.

“We were just talking about you all,” Thomason said. “Did you know our two little scholars were learning this garbage at school?” he asked.

“Gadot had mentioned it somewhat, and that’s why we signed off on the permission slip. She said she was meeting with her teachers to discuss a project off campus,” Ophelia said.

“We just figured they were getting extra lessons,” Garfield said.

Gadot and Myson smiled.

“We did get some extra lessons, in a way. We learned we’re being taught mind-destroying ideas,” Gadot said.

“This must be stopped,” Thomason said.

“That’s why we’re here,” Ophelia said. She took out a stylus and listed all of the teachers, students and parents within the plan against the Board on a tablet. She included herself, her husband, Gadot and the Thomasons.

“Now, we’re only going to be able to hide this from the Board members for a little while; there are eyes and ears everywhere. It's essential we keep this as quiet as possible. If we’re found out, or if we are too vocal too soon, the whole operation collapses. Let’s get a hold of those teachers,” Ophelia said.