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We are told the rules to follow in the morning announcements, which included when the SSB was being played (silent, respectful, attention). We meet Philip and learn he likes to run but doesn’t like to work hard in school, especially English class.
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We are told the rules to follow in the morning announcements, which included when the SSB was being played (silent, respectful, attention). We meet Philip and learn he likes to run but doesn’t like to work hard in school, especially English class. We meet Miss Narwin, an English teacher for 21 years who loves to teach and wants to learn new ways to reach her students. We meet Mr. Lunser, a teacher who seems to not really care if everyone follows all the rules. Philip gets his homeroom changed to Miss Narwin’s class for the spring term. Allison Doresett, a girl who likes Philip, gets a call from him to try to impress her. Philip does not read the book, Call of the Wild, or participate in English class, does poorly on the final and fails English for the fall term. Miss Narwin applies for a grant (free $) to take a class to help learn new methods of teaching so she can reach the students of today. We find out that Dr. Doane is a former student of Miss Narwin. School Superintendent Albert Seymour sends a memo reminding people of the importance of passing the school budget.
Miss Narwin does not get the grant money because there was none left to give; the last money went to the band teacher because Seymour values more “bread and circuses” than academics. Coach Jamison talks to Philip about his grade and that he can’t try out for the track team. Coach Jamison suggests Philip talk to Miss Narwin to see if he can do extra work or something to help his grade. Philip blames Miss Narwin for all his troubles and not being on the team. Even after talking to Coach Jamison, Philip doesn’t change his behavior in class; he looks for a way to continue to annoy Miss Narwin. Philip’s parents see his grades, talk to him about them, but never question the school or teacher about their concerns. Philip tells his dad he decided not to try out for the track team. We see that the relationship with Philip and his dad is based on track and he and his parents don’t seem to be able to connect with each other.
Philip’s dad can’t understand why Philip wouldn’t try out for the team after all the practicing and new shoes, but doesn’t question Philip any further or go talk to the coach. Miss Narwin writes to her sister about her frustration with not getting the grant and how the superintendent only cares about appearances and not education. Philip makes a plan to use “Malloy Magic” to get out of Narwin’s homeroom and English class. Philip acts up in homeroom class by singing/humming the SBB in a disrespectful way. Miss Narwin asks Philip to stop singing and gives him one warning. Miss Narwin talks with Mr. Benison about what is the rule during the SSB. Todd asks Philip about the track team and Allison asks about the jokes in English and Philip is rude to both of them. Miss Narwin talks to Mr. Lunser about the SBB rules and he beats around the bush and never gives her a direct answer. Philip’s parents continue to try and talk with him at the dinner table but are easily distracted, even when he tries to tell them he got yelled at for singing the SBB.
Philip’s parents say they will support him at school no matter what, he is right and to stand up for his rights (without ever going to get the other side of the story) and blame the teacher Philip acts up again in homeroom class and Miss Narwin sends him to Dr. Palleni’s office. Philip asks Dr. Palleni to change his homeroom and English class Dr. Palleni says to act right as he has serious issues to worry about and he’ll talk with Miss Narwin to see what the problem is Mr. Malloy screws up at his job and gets yelled at by his boss. Dr. Doane tells Miss Narwin she is their best English teacher and her students score higher on standardized tests. Dr. Doane tells Miss Narwin she is a “master” teacher and doesn’t need to take a class. Philip’s parents try to talk about his dad’s problems at work, but they can’t even talk about that with each other.
Philip tells his parents he got sent to the office for singing the SBB in Narwin’s homeroom and he got in trouble. The parents blame the teacher for kicking out Philip and tell Philip they’ll stand behind him no matter what. Dr. Palleni talks with Miss Narwin about what is happening in her class with Philip. Miss Narwin does not want Philip suspended, feels it will be counterproductive. Philip gets sent out a second time to Dr. Palleni’s office. Philip tells Dr. Palleni he was being patriotic, Palleni says he was disrupting the class and not following rules. Dr. Palleni asks Philip to apologize and he’ll forget the whole thing. If not, 2 days suspension.
Dr. Palleni and Miss Narwin agree to a homeroom change but to wait on the English class. Dr. Palleni gives Phil one last chance to apologize – he doesn’t – calls his mom to come in. Mrs. Malloy doesn’t really understand the rule Phil broke, calls her husband. Mrs. Malloy comes in for Philip, talks to Palleni, is confused, thinks the rule is that you can’t sing the SSB, not that he was disrupting the class with rude behavior. Dr. Palleni sends a memo to Philip telling him is homeroom is changed. Philip’s mom talks with him on the way home, suggests private school; they’ll talk with dad. Dr. Palleni sends different memos to everyone involved, outlining the situation and the reasons for the punishment.
