by Avi
Today in history: in 1746 on this date was the birth of Francisco José de Goya. In 1853 on this date Vincent van Gogh was born. In 1981, on this date, was the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan.
Please all rise and stand at respectful, silent attention for the playing of our national anthem.
Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light …
MISS NARWIN: Philip, is that you singing again?
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight …
MISS NARWIN: Philip! I am talking to you!
PHILIP MALLOY: I have the right to do it.
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air …
MISS NARWIN: The what?
PHILIP MALLOY: The right.
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there….
MISS NARWIN: I want you to stop it immediately. Your actions are thoroughly disrespectful.
PHILIP MALLOY: It’s you who’s being disrespectful!
Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave …
MISS NARWIN: Philip!
O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave?
PHILIP MALLOY: I was being patriotic. That’s all. It’s a free country. You have no right to stop me. I was just singing to myself.
MISS NARWIN: Philip Malloy, you will leave this room immediately! Report to the principal’s office.
PHILIP MALLOY: You can’t keep me from being patriotic.
MISS NARWIN: Leave!
PHILIP MALLOY: I’m going. I’m going.
8:42 A.M.
Conversation between Philip Malloy and Dr. Joseph Palleni, Assistant Principal, Harrison High
DR. PALLENI: Okay, Philip, you can come into the office. Go on, sit down. Didn’t I just see you yesterday?
PHILIP MALLOY: Yeah.
DR. PALLENI: Something with you and Miss Narwin?
PHILIP MALLOY: Yeah.
DR. PALLENI: What’s happened now?
PHILIP MALLOY: Nothing.
DR. PALLENI: Come on, Phil. Of course it’s something. It may be unimportant. Or important. But it’s something. Come on, look up at me. You can talk. Now, what’s happening? What’s going on?
PHILIP MALLOY: Miss Narwin …
DR. PALLENI: Go on.
PHILIP MALLOY: She won’t let me sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
DR. PALLENI: Isn’t this what we were talking about the last time?
PHILIP MALLOY: She’s against me being patriotic.
DR. PALLENI: I thought we agreed that when we have rules in schools, we stick with them. Didn’t we agree to that?
PHILIP MALLOY: How can she keep me from singing the national anthem?
DR. PALLENI: Philip …
PHILIP MALLOY: Get me out of her classes.
DR. PALLENI: Look, Philip, what do you want me to do? Change the rules just for you? Do you?
PHILIP MALLOY: No, but …
DR. PALLENI: I had a real fistfight out there. Todd Becker. Arnie Lieber? You know them?
PHILIP MALLOY: Sort of.
DR. PALLENI: Serious fight. Todd took a licking. Ugly. Now, you come in here … Look, I’ll be straight with you. This is your second time this week. Talk about rules, you’re talking suspension. What do you say, Phil, you get up, go back there, and apologize? To Miss Narwin. Say you’ll follow rules. Then, as far as I’m concerned, we forget it. Nothing on your record. What do you say?
PHILIP MALLOY: I was just singing….
DR. PALLENI: Did you hear me?
PHILIP MALLOY: She’s wrong. That’s all. She’s wrong. No way I’m apologizing.
DR. PALLENI: That’s all you have to say?
PHILIP MALLOY: It’s a free country.
DR. PALLENI: Nothing is free.
PHILIP MALLOY: Get me out of her classes.
DR. PALLENI: Phil, go sit out there for a while. Cool off. If you want to change your mind about this, tell Miss Mack out front you want to see me again. Otherwise—just so you understand—I check with Miss Narwin, and if she confirms what you said—that you were breaking rules—hey, I call your folks, they come get you—boom!—two-day suspension. Get it? Automatic.
PHILIP MALLOY: But she’s wrong.
DR. PALLENI: Philip, I’ll level with you. You’re the one who is wrong. You’re here to get an education. Rules are rules. Now clear out. I’ve got important business here. Go on. Speak to Miss Mack out there if you change your mind.
PHILIP MALLOY: I’m not going to change my mind. We don’t get along. Get me out of her classes.
DR. PALLENI: Philip, out!
9:30 A.M.
Conversation between Dr. Joseph Palleni and Margaret Narwin
DR. PALLENI: Excuse me, Miss Narwin, may I have a word with you?
MISS NARWIN: Class, just continue on with reading that scene. I’ll be right outside.
DR. PALLENI: Sorry to bother you, Peg. Look, it’s about this Phil Malloy.
MISS NARWIN: Something is certainly bothering that boy.
DR. PALLENI: Singing when you asked him not to.
MISS NARWIN: Quite provocative. Trying to create an incident.
DR. PALLENI: Any idea what it’s about?
MISS NARWIN: No.
DR. PALLENI: I offered to get him out of this business by coming back and apologizing, but he won’t. Two-day suspension.
MISS NARWIN: Maybe it would be better to switch him into another homeroom.
DR. PALLENI: That’s what he suggested. And out of your English class too.
MISS NARWIN: He’s been doing poorly there.
DR. PALLENI: Maybe that’s it.
MISS NARWIN: I think he’s lazy.
DR. PALLENI: Let’s start with a homeroom change.
MISS NARWIN: He seems to get on with Bernie Lunser.
DR. PALLENI: Good idea.
MISS NARWIN: Suspension might be counterproductive.
DR. PALLENI: I hear you. Won’t keep you. The parents might want to talk to you.
MISS NARWIN: I understand. I wish I could reach him. I just don’t seem to. Really, a nice boy.
DR. PALLENI: Yeah. Good kid. Maybe something going on at home. Or hormones. Have a girlfriend?
MISS NARWIN: Joe, I wouldn’t know.
DR. PALLENI: Okay, Peg. Sorry to bother you.
MISS NARWIN: Let me know if I can be of further help.
DR. PALLENI: Catch you later.
9:52 A.M.
Conversation between Philip Malloy and Dr. Joseph Palleni
DR. PALLENI: Now, Philip, I checked with Miss Narwin, and she is in agreement with you. You did break the rules. She also made a point of saying she was prepared to let bygones be bygones if you do as I suggested, apologize and promise not to do that again.
PHILIP MALLOY: No.
DR. PALLENI: Hey, come on, Phil, it’ll be a shame to put something down on your record. It’s a perfectly good one.
PHILIP MALLOY: No.
DR. PALLENI: Then, Phil, I’m prepared to call one of your parents to come get you and take you home. You’ll be out for the rest of the day and … I could make it Monday and Tuesday, but … How about just Monday? Give you a long weekend to think it out.
PHILIP MALLOY: I’m not going to change my mind.
DR. PALLENI: Okay, who do you want me to call? Your mother or your father?
PHILIP MALLOY: My father doesn’t like to be called at work.
DR. PALLENI: Too bad. Is your mother reachable? I can’t read a shrug.
PHILIP MALLOY: She works too.
DR. PALLENI: Where?
PHILIP MALLOY: At the phone company.
DR. PALLENI: I guess we can reach her. I’ll call her. Last chance, Phil.
PHILIP MALLOY: Can’t you just change—
DR. PALLENI: First things first. An apology.
PHILIP MALLOY: Cal
l her.
9:59 A.M.
Phone Conversation between Dr. Joseph Palleni and Mrs. Malloy
DR. PALLENI: Hello? Is this Mrs. Malloy? Phil’s mother?
MRS. MALLOY: Yes, it is.
DR. PALLENI: This is Dr. Palleni, assistant principal at Harrison High.
MRS. MALLOY: Is something the matter with Philip?
DR. PALLENI: Well, no, not exactly. He’s sitting right here in front of me. In perfect health. Mrs. Malloy, I’m afraid we’ve had a little incident here—rule-breaking.
MRS. MALLOY: What happened?
DR. PALLENI: And breaking a rule twice in one week after he’d been warned once.
MRS. MALLOY: What rule?
DR. PALLENI: In fact, Philip was offered—I just offered it—a chance to apologize to the teacher in question, but he won’t take it. So, I’m afraid—let me stress this is Phil’s decision, not mine—what we have here is a two-day suspension situation. I’m afraid you’ll have to come and take him home.
MRS. MALLOY: Now?
DR. PALLENI: Yes, now.
MRS. MALLOY: I’m at my job.
DR. PALLENI: I am sorry. You will have to come.
MRS. MALLOY: What rule did he break?
DR. PALLENI: We can talk about it when you get here. I’d rather we all—you, me, and Philip—talk about it together.
MRS. MALLOY: I have to get permission.
DR. PALLENI: I understand.
MRS. MALLOY: I’ll come over.
DR. PALLENI: Thank you.
10:04 A.M.
Conversation between Philip Malloy and Dr. Joseph Palleni
PHILIP MALLOY: She coming?
DR. PALLENI: Did you think she wouldn’t? Philip, you’re bringing a bunch of grief to yourself. And a bother to her. Now, last chance—apologize?
PHILIP MALLOY: No.
DR. PALLENI: Go wait out there until your mother comes.
10:05 A.M.
Phone Conversation between Philip Malloy’s Parents
MR. MALLOY: Susan, I wish you wouldn’t call me like this. It’s very tense around here today.
MRS. MALLOY: I had to speak to you. I just got a call from Phil’s school.
MR. MALLOY: Something the matter? What’s up?
MRS. MALLOY: They’re going to suspend him.
MR. MALLOY: Phil?
MRS. MALLOY: It was the principal. I have to go in and get him. He’s suspended.
MR. MALLOY: Why?
MRS. MALLOY: Some rule.
MR. MALLOY: What rule? Didn’t you ask?
MRS. MALLOY: They wouldn’t tell me.
MR. MALLOY: They can’t just …
MRS. MALLOY: I’m really upset.
MR. MALLOY: What it is, is they’re really after the kid.
MRS. MALLOY: I don’t know….
MR. MALLOY: I’m going to give them a piece of my mind.
MRS. MALLOY: Don’t you think we should—
MR. MALLOY: Susan, the kid has done nothing!
MRS. MALLOY: We can speak—
MR. MALLOY: Honey, I have to go. Something just came up.
10:10 A.M.
* * *
TO: PHILIP MALLOY
FROM: DR. JOSEPH PALLENI, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, HARRISON HIGH SCHOOL
RE: NEW HOMEROOM ASSIGNMENTS FOR SPRING TERM
Dear Philip ,
As we head into the Spring term, the faculty committee has made some changes in homeroom assignments. This will facilitate the movements of students, as well as allow for a greater degree of freedom in the planning of Spring term extracurricular schedules.
Your new homeroom teacher is: Mr. Lunser , in room: 304 . Effective Tuesday, April 3, 8 A.M.
Thank you for your cooperation.
DR. JOSEPH PALLENI
Assistant Principal
* * *
10:42 A.M.
Conversation among Philip Malloy, Mrs. Malloy, and Dr. Joseph Palleni
DR. PALLENI: Okay, this is what we’ve got here. Philip broke a rule. Twice. He and I talked it over earlier this week. I made it clear what would happen. We try to be flexible, but we still have rules. Everybody has to work together. Cooperation. If a student creates a disturbance in a classroom, that’s breaking a rule. An important rule. Students cannot break—cannot make a disturbance in a classroom. Straightforward rule infraction. Now, we offered Philip here a chance—he has a perfectly clean record—an opportunity to apologize to the teacher in question. I’ll offer it again. Will you do that, Phil, apologize, so we can just end all this?
PHILIP MALLOY: She really dislikes me.
DR. PALLENI: Who is that?
PHILIP MALLOY: Narwin.
MRS. MALLOY: Philip has been saying that—
DR. PALLENI: Look, Mrs. Malloy, I don’t want to get into that. Philip admits he broke a rule.
MRS. MALLOY: What rule?
DR. PALLENI: Disturbing a class.
PHILIP MALLOY: Singing the national anthem.
MRS. MALLOY: Is that the rule?
DR. PALLENI: Yes, disturbing the class.
MRS. MALLOY: I just can’t believe that—
DR. PALLENI: Excuse me. Philip, did you break the rule?
PHILIP MALLOY: It’s a dumb rule.
DR. PALLENI: See? He’s admitting it. Mrs. Malloy, it is my job—one of my jobs—to make sure the school—the kids, the staff, the teachers—works together in harmony. I’m sure we agree that we can’t have kids deciding which rules to follow and which rules not to follow. I really don’t wish to discuss it. Two-day suspension. For the rest of today. And Monday. Be back on Tuesday.
MRS. MALLOY: I just want to say I don’t think it’s right. I mean, singing the—
DR. PALLENI: Excuse me. Are you saying that kids should only follow the rules they want to?
MRS. MALLOY: No, but—
DR. PALLENI: Then we’re in agreement. Thank you for coming in. Philip, I hope you think about it.
11:02 A. M.
Conversation between Philip Malloy and His Mother on Their Way Home
MRS. MALLOY: Phil, what is this all about?
PHILIP MALLOY: I told you, that teacher …
MRS. MALLOY: You’ve never been suspended.
PHILIP MALLOY: It’s her.
MRS. MALLOY: But why?
PHILIP MALLOY: I don’t know.
MRS. MALLOY: They said you could apologize.
PHILIP MALLOY: Nothing to apologize about.
MRS. MALLOY: Your father is going to be very upset.
PHILIP MALLOY: Yeah, well, he told me I should stick up for myself. Said I shouldn’t let her push me around. That she was wrong and I was right. So I did.
MRS. MALLOY: When did he say that?
PHILIP MALLOY: Last night. Said I should do what was right.
MRS. MALLOY: Mr.—What’s his name?
PHILIP MALLOY: Palleni.
MRS. MALLOY: —said you were creating a disturbance.
PHILIP MALLOY: Bull. It’s all her fault.
MRS. MALLOY: Who?
PHILIP MALLOY: Narwin!
MRS. MALLOY: We’ll talk it out with your father when he gets home tonight.
PHILIP MALLOY: No way I’m going back to her class again.
MRS. MALLOY: Sometimes I think we should have sent you to Washington Academy.
PHILIP MALLOY: Geeky private school? No way.
MRS. MALLOY: We’ll talk. I just want you to know I’m very upset.
PHILIP MALLOY: Sorry.
11:15 A.M.
* * *
TO: MARGARET NARWIN
FROM: DR. JOSEPH PALLENI, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, HARRISON HIGH SCHOOL
RE: PHILIP MALLOY
Philip Malloy has been suspended for two days—effective today—for causing a disturbance in your homeroom class. I also transferred him back to Mr. Lunser for homeroom.
* * *
11:16 A.M.
* * *
TO: BERNARD LUNSER
FROM: DR. JOSEPH PALLENI, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, HARRISON HIGH SCH
OOL
RE: PHILIP MALLOY
Philip Malloy will be returning to you as his homeroom teacher effective April 3. He has been suspended for two days—effective today—for causing a disturbance in Miss Narwin’s class. While what is involved here is only a minor infraction, more acting out than anything else, there may be some personal problems with the boy (at home?), so I would appreciate hearing from you as to Philip’s behavior in your class. I should like to be helpful to him.
* * *
11:26 A.M.
* * *
TO: DR. GERTRUDE DOANE, PRINCIPAL
FROM: DR. JOSEPH PALLENI, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, HARRISON HIGH SCHOOL
RE: PHILIP MALLOY
Philip Malloy (ninth grade) has been suspended for two days—effective today—for causing a disturbance in Miss Narwin’s homeroom class. Because I feel that the problem may have arisen out of some obscure tension between teacher and student, I decided it was advisable to transfer the boy to Mr. Lunser’s homeroom.
Since I assume nothing more will come of this, I’m not aware of anything here that requires your further attention.
* * *
12:46 P.M.
Conversation between Margaret Narwin and Dr. Joseph Palleni
DR. PALLENI: Oh, Peg! I know you’re rushing off. Look, just want you to know I took care of the Malloy boy. Talked to his mother. She understands. Couple of days’ suspension. No big deal.
MISS NARWIN: Did you have to suspend him?
DR. PALLENI: The rule. Two infractions in one week. Anyway, I put a memo in your box. Also, switched him back to Bernie for homeroom. What about his English class?
MISS NARWIN: I don’t want to give up on him yet.
DR. PALLENI: Whatever you say.
MISS NARWIN: He’s really a nice boy. Thanks for taking care of it.
