Theoracism

Myson met up with Gadot outside of Alino’s in Wilmington, Delaware.

“You got the Tackler message…good,” he said to her. They still had their backpacks.

“Did you send out enough?” Gadot looked around.

“I didn’t send out other messages. They just want the two of us,” Myson said, shrugging.

“Had they wanted more kids, they sadly would have been disappointed. The kids in our classes seem to be subjects of the Board. I think they don’t want to spark a flame.”

“That’s all I want to do. After you…” Myson held the door of the pizzeria open for Gadot.

“I ate before I came here,” Gadot said. “I just want to get going with the discussion,” she said.

“I had a meal, too. I’m not looking for a bite to eat, just a meeting of the minds.”

“Precisely.”

Cathy, Kaur, and Bucknell all sat at a long wooden table. They had sodas and a pizza ready for the two students.

The students all stood up when Myson and Gadot arrived. Bucknell first came to Gadot.

“I have to apologize to you.”

“It’s nothing. We all know the Board has programmed you all. With all of us being here we’re deprogramming,” Gadot said.

Bucknell got off of his knee and just smiled. He then addressed the two other teachers and the two students.

“What we need to do first is to see to it that these students have a voice. This place, away from the school building. Ladies first, Gadot Tinkerton, you have the floor.” She took off her bag and walked to the front of the table.

“I want this to stop. If we have to get our parents to boycott Cooney Academy, then that is what we must do. What we’re being taught is an insult to you, the teachers, and for us as well. What we can do is to direct attention to the fact that history is itself, and language can only be itself. What we are being taught is not that. With an urgency to teach that you all show, it seems like the Board wants to limit you. We wish to refresh the page.” The teachers and Myson applauded.

Cathy motioned towards the young man. “Myson, any words?”

He stood up. “Yes. The root of all of this is the fact most of the other kids don’t care about getting the ‘just’ grade, or learning about the reality of America and the world. You all are tasked with the solemn responsibility to impart knowledge and wisdom to us. That needs to continue, not be stifled by some disgruntled, faceless, statist organization that hands down lesson plans from on high. We’ve got to reverse the system, and build a way forward from the inside.”

More applause. The noise blended with birthday parties going on around the restaurant. Kaur spoke next.

“I’m just overjoyed you two have found it in yourselves to speak out against ugliness. There should be no debating facts. We know, but some of your other teachers, our colleagues, and your fellow students are comfy. You’re both in danger just meeting with us.” Myson and Gadot looked at each other.

“Don’t worry. We’ll defend you to the end.”

Cathy rose up next. “I hated having to give you that grade, Myson. What we can do to combat moments like that is to continue down this road where we can petition the Board. The boycott idea has a hint of substance attached to it. They can’t touch our income or our pensions. I could manage and I’m sure that Nidal and Harold—we’ll go by first names here by the way—would not count it as a sacrifice to allow our pay to drop to achieve our own selfish values of providing the right education.”

Everyone applauded.