by Todie West
“And can you tell from your classroom if his class seems different since his departure?”
“He had those kids in line. He was really bonding with them. He said he had two students who need extra help in reading and was working with them until they could get the extra help. After he left, it has sounded like total chaos.”
“How so?”
“Well, the first substitute lasted about an hour. She couldn’t handle it so the principal, Ms. Mason came in and they rebelled against the lack of routine that they were becoming used to. And they were learning so much with Mr. Webster. Now it’s just, well, like I said, chaos.”
“Anything else?”
“I heard her bad-mouthing Mr. Webster.”
“In front of his students?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“And what did she say?”
“That his little experiment was stupid and it was insane the way he had arranged the desks.”
“She said the words stupid and insane?”
“Absolutely.”
“Do you know anything about Mr. Webster’s new curriculum program?”
“Yes.”
“And can you explain it to us?”
Trish went through the different elements of this curriculum as best she understood it and added, “It’s a great program; it works very well. He has his kids in line and they are learning.”
“Interesting. Is there anything else you’d like to add?”
“Not that I can think of.”
“Thank you, Ms. Taylor.”
None of the Board members had any questions for Ms. Taylor. A couple of them looked like caged pit bulls waiting for the red meat.
Michael took the stand next. He very carefully and thoughtfully repeated the story he told to Ms. Grant a week ago.
“And there’s one thing I’d like to add. Ms. Mason miss-spoke a few minutes ago when she stated that she had warned me numerous times. I received one warning and the second time she fired me. I meant no one any harm. Sure, I had a choice to erase the messages and ignore them, but when the students asked me about the first one, I went along and used it as a teachable moment.”
“Do you regret that decision?” asked Ms. Grant.
“Partly I do, because I wouldn’t be here. But it got the kids doing research and really thinking on their own. Isn’t that what we want? For them to be able to think on their own? I never preached any of this. I never put in my two cents worth. I never shared with them what I thought any of these quotes meant. I left it all up to them. And let me tell you, even I was being educated on some of this. I never knew that on the tail of the Mayflower was written the inscription God with us, which was one of the quotes written on the blackboard. And I spent the night at the school because I wanted to know who was writing this stuff. I lied to Ms. Mason, because I knew she’d think I was crazy. For that I apologize.”
“So you do not believe you’re crazy?”
“No, I do not.”
“Thank you, Michael. I have no further questions.”
Mr. Jackson approached Michael. “Do you believe in God?”
Michael was irritated by this question and turned it back on Mr. Jackson. “Do you?”
“Touché…. Do you have any idea who wrote these things on the board?”
“I have no clue.”
“And if the District allows you to go back into the classroom and something like this happens again, what will you do?”
Michael hesitated. “Erase it, I guess.”
“You guess.”
“Well….”
“So you don’t regret your actions?”
While Michael had questioned his career choice just a few weeks prior, he realized how satisfying it was to see his students begin to grasp what he was teaching them. He answered Mr. Jackson’s question in a confident manner, “If we’re being totally honest here, I really don’t think I did anything wrong. So maybe I would have done it the same way. I didn’t write the quotes, but I used them as a teachable moment. I got my kids to think and I am very proud of that, and I’m proud of my kids.”
Mouths dropped, including Ms. Grant’s.
Ruby raised her voice in protest, “You see what I have to deal with? The disrespectful, smart-mouthed, punk attitude. This man is not fit to teach at my school!”
An uproar ensued with everyone talking at once. Mr. Jackson slammed his gavel down several times. “Order. Please. Everyone calm down.”
Mr. Jackson intervened. “Ms. Mason, you are totally out of order. Your remarks were uncalled for. It is not for you to decide whether or not Mr. Webster is fit to teach at your school, and by the way, it is not your school, it is the community’s school, and we will make any judgments necessary. And our judgments tonight will be based exclusively on whether or not what Mr. Webster has done in regards to teaching about the Bible and God warrants his removal as a sixth grade teacher at Drake Valley Elementary School. Period. Now sit down and be quiet.”
Michael covered up his sheepish smile with his hand.
“Now. Can we proceed? I understand there are a couple of parents here tonight who would like to say a few words.”
Ms. Mason didn’t even try to hide her disgust.
A very tall, professional looking woman approached the microphone. “My name is Alice Morgan, my son Jonathan is in Mr. Webster’s class. I have been a little disturbed lately by the scripture lessons he has been bringing home every night. I actually had an appointment to meet with Ms. Mason the end of the week regarding my concerns, but I see she has been on top of the situation and I applaud her for that. If Mr. Webster is returned to the classroom, I certainly hope he has learned his lesson and will cease from trying to play church in his little make believe world. If he just returns to traditional teaching, perhaps we could talk about doing a fund raiser to buy more computers for the classroom, and get away from strange experiments. My child is not a guinea pig. He is there to learn, not to play house, or church, or whatever.”
“Hello, my name is Maria Hurtado Garcia and my son is Marco, in Mr. Webster’s class. He given all his teachers trouble and I’m sorry for that. He a good boy, having hard time reading. Mr. Webster, he help Marco. I see Marco do homework this year for first time. I can’t help him, I not too good with English. Since Mr. Webster not there, Marco falling behind. Please let him back. He a good teacher. Thank you.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Garcia. Next. Come on up. Tell us your name and say whatever you want to say.”
“My name is Joseph Whiting and my daughter is Christy. This is the first year Christy has taken such an interest in her school work. Whatever Mr. Webster is doing, he has my permission to keep on doing it. Do you know my daughter is only 11 and can balance a checkbook? I know adults who can’t do that. I can see why he did what he did, and I don’t see anything wrong with the way he did it, regardless of who wrote the quotes. He did the right thing and I have no problem with it.”
“Next. Come on up to the microphone.”
“My name is Liz Franklin. My son is Nicholas. He has dyslexia. I want to personally thank Mr. Webster for his patience and encouragement. Nicholas loves school. He always hated it because of his disability, and Mr. Webster is the first one to recognize his problem and helped him to see he is a smart boy, that he just has this little problem that can be fixed. Before he was fired, Mr. Webster was in the process of getting Nicholas some special help. When we found out that Mr. Webster was gone, my husband and I both went to Ms. Mason and pleaded with her to get Nicholas some help. She told us that Mr. Webster was not qualified to make a diagnosis or to even suggest someone to help. She said it was up to us to seek out testing and treatment. I am appalled at her attitude and I am disgusted by her outburst tonight. What I would say to her is, perhaps the problem is not with Mr. Webster, but with you.”
The entire room cheered, except for a select few.
Mr. Jackson slammed his gavel. “Quiet, please… Now is there a
nyone else? Yes, Sir. Come on up.”
Michael turned to see Roy the janitor walking down the aisle. “Oh, no. He’s the one who found me sleeping,” Michael whispered to Ms. Grant.
“Shhh, let’s see what he says before we react.”
“My name is Roy Garrett. I am the janitor at Drake Valley Elementary School. I have only known Mr. Webster since he started teaching this fall. No one knows this, but I, too, have a child in Mr. Webster’s class.”
Michael looked puzzled.
“You see, my daughter doesn’t know who I am, and I’d like to keep it that way.”
Michael couldn’t begin to guess who his daughter might be. The girl could be one of the ones being raised by a single mom, or one of the ones who had a stepdad and didn’t know her real dad.
“I knew Michael’s mother.”
Michael sat up in his chair, curious about what Roy would say next.
“She was my school bus driver for many years. I am a few years older than Michael so he probably doesn’t remember me.”
“Sir, what does this have to do with this case?”
“I’m getting to that.” Roy cleared his throat. “This is really hard. Anyway, Mrs. Webster knew we were very poor and she saw where we lived. I was the last one on her route. I always sat behind her and read to her and she helped me understand what I was reading, helped me more than most of the teachers I had.”
“Where is this going?”
“Hear me out, please. She was one of the kindest, most giving people I have ever met in my life. She would leave bags of groceries on our front porch and then scurrying away before anyone could see her, but I saw her do it, several times. I was too embarrassed to say anything to her, but my family and I were very grateful. There were times when, had it not been for those groceries, we would have had nothing to eat. Anyway, when I heard on the local radio station that morning that Michael’s mother had died, I was devastated, because I never took the time to thank her for all she did for me and for my family.”
“That’s wonderful. But what does this all have to do with Michael.”
“A lot. I’m coming to that. Mrs. Webster led me to the Lord.”
“What do you mean?” asked one of the Board members.
“She introduced me to Jesus Christ.”
The same member rolled her eyes, as did some of the audience members. “Then I got into the wrong crowd of boys, had some trouble with the law, never graduated, drank too much, did some drugs, but it was Mrs. Webster’s words that haunted me back to sobriety. I even started going to church. I’m just a janitor, but I’m a really good janitor, because of people like Mrs. Webster.”
“Mr. Garrett, that’s all wonderful, but …”
“I was the one who wrote the quotes on the board.”
Members of the audience gasped and the room was abuzz with excitement.
“Quiet, please,” Mr. Jackson slammed the gavel again.
“It was you?” Michael was relieved but confused.
“Is that all you have to say, Sir? asked Mr. Jackson.
“No. I have plenty more.”
“Continue, Mr. Garrett. But please try and stay on the subject.”
“I can’t imagine anyone not wanting their children to be taught the truth, but I know that’s not happening in school today. I am not in a position to teach my daughter anything. What credibility do I have? With the way the curriculum was going, when would I get another chance to speak these truths to my daughter without her knowing who I am? I’d been racking my brain, trying to figure out a way to get someone to teach this stuff to my daughter, and I took this as an open door, figuring it would at least spark some healthy discussion. Since my daughter’s teacher was Mrs. Webster’s son, I knew there was a good chance he’d do something constructive with it. He’s a very resourceful teacher. I’ve watched him from the hall. I never thought it would get anybody into trouble. I was just thinking about my daughter. I hear things, and I see things. What goes on in the hallways and outside the doors of the school is a reflection of how far we have digressed since we told God he was no longer welcome here. To bring God back into the classroom is our only hope of saving our young people from what awaits them in the world. I’ve been there. I’ve seen it. I’ve lived it and it’s not pretty.”
Mr. Jackson cleared his throat.
“Just let me finish. This is really important.” Roy continued. “I knew if I just wrote down Bible scripture, then there would be trouble. So here is where the quotes came from. I have them listed.” Roy read from his prepared material. “First, The Bible is the rock upon which our republic rests. This is a quote from Andrew Jackson, the seventh President of the United States, which is significant because in the Great Hall of the Jefferson Building in the Library of Congress the Bible is on display. Next, a quote from Christopher Columbus, which is the caption for the painting in the Rotunda of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. of the Landing of Columbus, which states the Gospel must still be preached to so many lands. Also in the Rotunda, the painting called Department of the Pilgrims from Holland, on which the quote God With Us is written on the ship’s sail. Next, In God We Trust, which is on our money and many other places throughout our government. What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God. Could anyone argue with that? Does anyone think we might be better off if we adhered to such a command?”
Roy did not give anyone time to respond. He continued, “This, by the way, is an inscription on a statue of Moses and the Apostle Paul in the Main Reading Room, also in the Library of Congress, in Washington, D.C. And, of course, the Lincoln Memorial where, written on the wall of the north chamber is Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, which clearly shows a knowledge of the scriptures. Included there are the words The Almighty has His own purposes. Engraved on the front facade of Union Station are the words the truth shall set you free. And I truly believe that Mr. Webster will be free, no matter what this Board decides, because he told the truth. How is it wrong to teach these things, especially when they are written all over the walls and monuments of our government, declaring the Christian principles upon which our nation was founded? And the last quote was from George Washington, It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible. This was one of the first quotes I learned about our forefathers, and to think that the things they said many years ago are now being erased from our history books is appalling. Our children’s textbooks are what should be on trial here, not this good teacher. He has done absolutely nothing wrong.”
Chatter ensued among the attendees.
“Quiet, please. Is that all, Mr. Garrett?” Mr. Jackson took a deep breath.
“Yes, Sir.” Roy mouthed an “I’m sorry” as he passed Michael.
Michael felt like he had just heard a sermon. He wasn’t sure if all this information would help or hurt him. Time would tell.
Mr. Jackson asked if anyone else had a comment before the meeting was closed.
“Yes, I have one question for the good janitor,” one of the Board members replied. “What did you think Mr. Webster would do with the information you were writing on the blackboard? What made you think it would help to teach these things to your daughter?”
“I wasn’t sure what he would do. I was taking a chance that it would open up the discussion about how this country was founded on godly principles. It was a chance I had to take. Either he would teach them the truth, or ignore it. Kids are curious creatures and their inquisitive minds are like sponges. My bet was on the truth, at least that was my hope. I just want Mr. Webster to know I meant him no harm. I was just thinking about my daughter, and all the other kids, too, for that matter. And I notice you all said the Pledge of Allegiance to open your meeting, including the phrase in God. If you truly trust God, then why is He no longer welcome in the classroom?”
There was a long silence in the crowd, as if everyone was absorbing all that they had just heard.
Then Mr. Jackson announced, “Due to the lateness of the hour, we are going to close the hearing at this point and the Board will reconvene in Executive Session tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. This means the meeting will not be open to the public and we will notify the affected parties as soon as we have made our decision. Thank you all for your time and you will be hearing from us.”
What’s to discuss, Michael thought, as he stood up and thanked his witnesses.
“I need to find Roy.”
“I think he’s gone already,” Ms. Grant scanned the room.
“Are you sure? I wanted to thank him. I know he probably feels like he let me down, but his testimony may, well hopefully, be what it takes to sway the Board in my favor.”
Ms. Grant shook Michael’s hand. “Good luck to you, Mr. Webster. I will let you know as soon as I hear anything.”
“Thanks for everything.”
“It’s going to be okay, I just know it.” Brad gave his friend a hug.
“Thanks, you guys.”
“Not a problem. You’d have done the same thing for either of us,” Jason replied.
“And thank you, too, Trish.” He kept his distance and shook her hand, not wanting her to read anything else into it.
“I’ll be praying for you.”
“Thanks.”
The stream of well wishers was encouraging. Michael would rather have them deciding his fate, and not the very liberal bureaucracy. He was convinced that all politicians were alike, even at this level. He thought if they were smart, with the positive support Michael received that night, they would not let their big heads get in the way of realizing these are the very people who put them in office and they had the power to take them out at the next election. And then there was the little matter of truth. There was no way that anyone in that room, including the Board members, thought for a second that Michael was making any of this up, especially after Roy’s testimony.
Michael searched through the building, but Roy was nowhere to be found. He then returned home to his empty house, well, empty except for Tabby, who met him at the door as had become his pattern. Michael sat down on the sofa and filled Tabby in on what had transpired. The two friends fell asleep in front of the sports news channel.
