THE EVALUATION OF THE VICIOUS SMILES SCHOOL - Chapter 41

SAM

I was looking forward to the four evaluators' comments, and Dr. Joe didn't let me down. I asked him. “Well, do you think our SMILES school is a training center for vicious behavior?"

He smiled and said, "No, and I think I'm the one who got an education today, and, Sam, are you teaching free thinking?"

"No, we are nurturing free thinking. We are convinced that all humans are born with an open, or free mind, and that the centuries-old method of teaching so-called 'facts' is not education but indoctrination. When I was in college, I saw a textbook that had what I thought was a cartoon in the introduction depicting a boy with the top of his head open like a can lid, and 'facts' being poured into his head. I laughed and read a bit of the text.

The cartoon was supposed to represent the challenge of education - pouring 'facts' into the heads of our students. I was shocked," Everyone was smiling except Dr. Phyllis Langdon, who continued wearing her usual frown.

Dr. Davis wanted to know where the students learned 'facts', and I said, "Everywhere. But definitely not by memorizing lists of words, dates, or stories, but by reading, watching documentaries, participating in class discussions and debates, and writing stories, and by keeping their eyes and ears open. I don't believe there has been a better time in history for a student to learn. Oh, and they have an entire library in their hands called a smartphone."

Dr. Jack Dillon added this: "I just returned from an educational trip to Finland. I was with a small delegation of educators. We wanted to know how they managed to have a 90% - plus graduation rate from high school, and nearly all went on to college or trade school. Now, I would say their philosophy matches that of Dr. Sam Collins. We visited several schools, and several were K – 12 and all had friendly staff like Two Thousand Smiles.”

"And what are these free-thinking students doing after graduation, may I ask?" Dr. Langdon asked Jack.  Before he could answer, she added, "I understand that all the Scandinavian countries have generous welfare systems."

"Interestingly enough, they have fewer incarcerated men and women per capita than we do here in the U.S.,” Jack responded. I am anxious to visit Two Thousand Smiles school." He turned toward me. "Sam, what is the best day to schedule a visit?"

"Any weekday. Just let me know you are coming so I can ask everyone on our staff to smile." 

Everyone but Dr. Langdon smiled and/or chuckled. I wanted to explain further why we treated our students the way we do. "We are convinced that our culture or society nurtures fear, anger, and even cruelty, and school does its part in this nurturing with its impersonal and often strict way of over-controlling the way it treats the students."

Dr. Langdon looked aghast at me as she asked, "Well, how in the world do you control your students"

"We do not want to control them; we want to EDUCATE them. That is, we want to help them know themselves and their fellow students, and educate literally means to lead – not control. Did you think they were out of control when they welcomed us back into the room this morning?

"Well, they were not being obedient. They were not instructed to do what they did."

"We do not want them to be obedient; we want them to be creative and joyful. I hope you understand what I'm going to say. There is a documentary titled 'Ordinary Men' that depicts a group of ordinary middle-aged German men who were drafted into the German army during World War II. Being too old to fight on the front lines, they were ordered to line up the Jewish prisoners - men, women, and children - and have them dig a long trench and then line up with their backs to the trench. Then these middle-aged soldiers were to shoot them so they would fall into the trench. If it was a mother with an infant, they were instructed to have her hold the baby over her heart so they could kill them both with one bullet. Then the film showed the soldiers at a beer-drinking party, laughing and enjoying themselves."

I saw the shocked look on all their faces, and added, "I had always thought that the soldiers had been forced to do such things, but the prosecuting attorney stated that they were instructed to do it, not ordered or be executed, and they could refuse and do some other kind of menial work. Only about twelve out of thousands opted out. This is an example of obedience."

Jack Dillon said, "The Finns had and have far fewer murders and violence of all kinds than either Germany or the U.S... I believe respect and cooperation are far better preparations for life and for a society than obedience and conformity. Tell me, Dr. Collins, how are the Smiles graduates doing now? How  many are in prison?"

I chuckled at the last question as did all the rest except Dr. Langdon. I responded, "I have witnessed 12 graduation classes, and that is over two hundred students, and I'm one of five staff members who keep track of our alumni. They are a very cooperative bunch, and many visit our campus regularly. And none are in jail or prison. Like Finland, over 90% go to college or trade schools. Now, I'm wondering how many of the graduates of Bayshore High School go to college or trade school. Do any of you know?” All three Bayshore staff members shook their heads. I asked, “Do you know how many high schoolers help out with younger students, or even know any of them?”

The principal, Teri Osman, responded, “Only older siblings and their friends. There is no formal program connecting kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high schools. Do you three Smiles staff members really believe integrating all the grades is an asset to your students?”

I jumped in, “That is like asking if living a full life is an asset. I would really like to know how many Bayshore students graduate and go on to college. Would you have someone there  let me know?” Teri Osman said that she would do that.

Dr. Davis said, “Let’s get back to our task of evaluating our 5^th graders. I have completely changed my mind about this bunch. I now see them as a very lively and resilient group. I would have liked to attend the School of Two Thousand Smiles. And I believe we should inform Mr. Deep Pockets that there is nothing to worry about from this quarter.”

Dr. Dillon asked, "What is the fellow worried about? I was left out of most of the information before this morning."

I answered, "We learned this morning that a very rich fellow whose fifteen-year-old-son was sent to the hospital by my twelve-year-old student, who objected to him molesting his friend, a girl, and started to hit him.  He cannot believe that his son is such a weakling and keeps trying to find some way the twelve-year-old has been trained to be an abnormally vicious fighter."

"Why didn't he simply go to court?”

"No attorney would take his case after seeing the video of the incident. I asked the school secretary to send the copy over to me in case we needed it." I looked around the group and said, "I can show it to you if you would like. It is only three minutes long."

Dr. Shirley Samper responded, "We all have gone to a lot of trouble putting on whatever we want to call it, uh, contest, and I'd like to see it." Those who had not seen it before were all riveted by the scene, and Dr. Dillon asked, "How badly was the boy hurt?" Dr. Dillon asked why they didn't go to court.

"Dislocated shoulders and elbows. I have another video that shows our later meeting with him, his parents, and their attorney. Do you want to see it? Everyone wanted to see it, also.

After seeing the video of Steve Norse, the father, knocking his son off his chair and their attorney quitting, Dr. Davis said, "So, why in the world doesn't that dad just accept the fact that his son is just an inept bully?" Several muttered comments like, "That's a good question."

Dr. Phyllus Langdon muttered, "And how did you punish him for hurting the fellow so severely?"

"He came into my office and was very fearful that he would be expelled because he had been in our school for only about 10 weeks, and he said, 'I know I went too far. I saw my stepdad's face on that guy and I, well, just lost it." He begged not to be expelled. I told him that he was carrying around a great deal of anger toward his dad, and that six weeks of counseling might help him with lightening that load. He saw the counselor for eight weeks."

"And that was all?" Dr. Langdon asked astonishingly, "No detention? Or extra homework?"

I worked to control my outrage and said, "Dr. Langdon, we are here to educate. That is, to nurture the best in our students, so they can become their best selves; not mold them into our image of what a good young person should be."

"You say that one of the boys that is with you today is here"

I asked her which one she thinks it is, and she said, "Well, I would guess that boy named Joe that accosted Dr. Joe Davis earlier today"

I wanted to jump up and yell, "Lady, you are a f__king racist!" But I didn't. I just said, "No, it is the helpful young man with the southern accent. I do hope you understand and believe that our students truly enjoy our school and being with one another. Our biggest problem is getting the kids to stay home when they are sick."

Dr. Jack Dillon looked at his watch and said, "I am on a tight schedule today – it's my teenage daughter's birthday party, so, I'd like to say that I believe all twenty of these students are a pleasure to be around and will be assets in our society and that the spirit and free thinking encouraged in the Ten Thousand Smiles school will help them to become leaders who know themselves and desire to create a better world. Whoever writes up a report on our day, please put a positive spin on it."

DEVELOPING PROJECTS TO HELP THE WORLD - Chapter Forty

DANNY

I was glad I was asked to help with the groups, and I worked to put myself in the same group as Veronica in the Bayshore group. She is as pretty as Ella and Evie, and I can kind of flirt - I think that's what they call it- and I finally think I know what flirting is - with her today and never see her again. Veronica, as a spokesperson from Bayshore, asked, "Anyone have any ideas?"

Ella offered this: "My grandmother died and was at her home before she died and was enrolled in Hospice. And when I saw the Hospice group of very kind people who give care and comfort to the dying. I was thinking, why can't we create a group like that for new mothers and their babies?"

Arthur, a Bayshore fellow, added, "And we could help with that. My mom said that way back in what they called the Great Depression, there were thousands of abandoned babies, and they were being cared for by different welfare people, but many babies died, and they didn't know why. They heard about Mexico City and that they had just as many abandoned babies, but not nearly as many were dying. So, they sent some folks down to Mexico to see what they were doing. The delegates came back and said that 'we', the folks in New York, had cleaner and nicer facilities, but in Mexico they had women come in all day and night to hold and cuddle the babies. The American caregivers began to have women come in and just hold the babies, and the number who died went way down.

I like that, and we can form a group like Hospice, and we'd get some adults to help us and maybe even help form a men's group to help us." I stood up and shouted, "Hey, you all (I'm sure it came out in my usual ya'ahl) - we just came up with about four great projects = we can form small groups to visit Mothers with babies and young children like hospice does for the dying, and for groups to get senior men to help us and other folks. I hope this is helpful."

Veronica said, "Danny, you're hopeless." But she smiled when she said it, and she went on to say, "I think we could do it, and look and sound like the children; they will think we're cute, but I think we can find a few elderly men who will take us seriously. I heard my dad say that his Rotary club didn't do much to help others. I'll start with him. Then we need to learn for ourselves how to talk like people who think and not act like whiny brats. Maybe we need to form study groups for that too."

I patted my forehead like I was trying to pry loose some good thoughts and said, "Hey, you Smiles people, we go to school with hospice kind of people; all our teachers are like Sam and Patria, so they can help us form groups and guide them into being kind and thoughtful and all the positive stuff."

Ella said, " Danny, the word is 'qualities', not 'stuff'." I nodded and grinned, and Ella went on: "Veronica, you live several miles from here, so maybe you could form a small group of fifth graders and elderly men there, and we'll start both here. And I can start with both of my grandpas who live near our school. And I know there are a lot of lonely people. My mom says that it is true for far too many people in our society, and she hasn't done anything about it. I'll have to approach this with her in a very gentle way – she's very wary of anyone, including me, who sounds bossy or like a smart aleck."

Chris said, "It will be fairly easy for us here because we all go to the same school and I'm sure all staff members at Smiles will be for and with us. I think that our entire staff is like the folks at Hospice – kind, understanding, and respectful."

"You're kidding, right?" Said Judy, a loquacious girl from Bayshore. I noticed that the elderly woman evaluator nodded solemnly, and Judy went on. "I'm going to be interested in what our teachers and principal have to say about all this – if they will tell us." Dr. Langdon's smile went away.

Joe Johnson looked stunned as he asked, "You mean you're afraid to ask?"

Judy glared at him and said, "I once heard a teacher say that one of her profs in grad school said, 'Don't smile till Christmas.' And she said she was sure he meant it, and that teacher of ours swallowed a bit of that. Hey, that could be another project: create a group and help them to be like your Smiles school."

Arthur responded, "And get ourselves kicked out of school. Here's a better project: We need to refine a lesson that we can teach everyone, and it is that punishment is not a positive way to correct behavior. Instruction and encouragement are much better." 

Joe Jackson, added, "You Bayshore guys sure make me appreciate our school. Now, I think we are being called to join everybody."

One of the adults told us to give everyone a report on the projects we have come up with. Ella and Veronica took turns announcing the projects we had come up with. Veronica went first; "We propose that first, we need to form a group to learn and practice talking like thinking and sensing persons and not whiny and dumb kids."

Ella followed, "We all thought that all teachers needed to treat students the same way Hospice workers treat the dying and their families, and we could form teams to do that when we learned that ourselves."

Veronica: "We could also form small teams to visit ailing seniors in hospitals and nursing homes."

Ella: "We want to educate everyone, especially those who care for or teach children, that punishment results in fear and anger and should be replaced with respect, encouragement, and guidance. Yeah, I know, we sound like we want to change the world, because we do!" 

Dr. Shirley Sampler clapped and almost shouted, "That is wonderful. Thank all of you!" Our Dr. Sam, Dr. Patria, and our principal, Sarah Bosch, also clapped. Dr. Samper turned to her three co-evaluators and asked, "Is this a good time for us to get together with the four of us, or should we include the principals and teachers?

Dr. Joe Davis responded, "I would like to meet with all the evaluators first, then just us four."

The old doctor looked somewhat relaxed and almost smiled. I would have liked to be a fly on the wall of their room.

ELLA URGES SMILES KIDS TO BEHAVE COURAGEOUSLY - Chapter Thirty Nine

ELLA

We all looked like a bunch of lost puppies, and I didn't like it, so I said, "I don't think the adults have any idea about what to do, so let's do what the old grumpy Doc told us to do – Behave. – That's what he told us to do. I would like to behave this way: Let's take our name signs and line up in two rows, facing each other in a sort of honor guard fashion in front of the door they will be coming through. And when they come through the door, we give them a cheer. What do you think? Are you with me?”

Joe Jackson almost yelled, "Hell yeah! And how about this for a cheer, Hey, hey, Ho, Ho, We're ready to go, Where to, We don't know! Come on gang – including you Bayshordians!”

Veronica of Bayshore shouted, "I'm in! Come on guys, pick up your name and let's line up any place near the door – follow Ella and Chris." She picked up her card and stood across from Joe Jackson. I saw Joe wink at her and was surprised that Veronica winked back. She waved her Bayshore bunch to join her and to line up in no particular order, facing each other near the door.  Her fellow spokesman, Bob, was the last one, just as Joe Jackson began his Hey, hey, cheer.

The adults entered – led by our Sam Collins, who smiled and began clapping and was followed by Petria Oreala and Sarah Busch, who also smiled and began clapping. Drs. Davis, Phyllis Langdon and Jack Dippon followed our three. They looked puzzled and alarmed. Davis, the leader, gasped and said, "I told you to behave. What is THIS?”

Veronica, bless her heart as my grandma would say, "Dr. Davis, you told us to behave, and so this is the way we decided to behave. Is that not what you ordered?”

Davis sputtered, "And who came up with this outrageous behavior?”

Joe said, "I did," and, turning away so Davis couldn't see, waved us to follow him, and, one after another, nine Smiles and seven Bayshore students said, "I did.”

Dr. Shirley Sampler chuckled and clapped and said, "Well, I'm delighted with all of you. You have definitely behaved in what I think is a delightful way. She turned to grumpy Davis and added, “Well, Dr. Joe, I think we have a partial answer to how we need to proceed from here on – we need to include all these guys.”

Dr. Joe looked questioningly at Sampler and asked, "In what way exactly?" I thought he sounded angry. "This bunch, all 20 of them, seem to be incorrigible rebels and brats, it seems to me.”

Dr. Sampler replied, "And that, Dr. Davis, is why I said you were out of touch with school children. I see them as being creative. I think we had a narcissistic nitwit for president because too many people were not thinking critically. So now, let's ask them how we should evaluate them. Make them part of the process." I was flattered that she looked right at me and smiled. "I bet that both you, Ella, and you, Veronica, have already come up with a better plan, haven't you?”

This was an opening I was looking for, and I said, "I have. We should divide ourselves into three or four groups, and then each of our Smiles groups will join a Bayshore group to plan a creative action we could take. We can show you how we think by cooperating and creating better than competing.”

Dr. Phyllis Langdon angrily asked, 'And where did you learn this, young lady?”

"From being in school and learning and doing it.”

For the first time, Dr. Jack Dillon entered the discussion, "I have not said anything earlier because I was a late addition to the evaluation team and needed to learn about what this was all about. Now I know enough to agree with this thoughtful young lady. Now, who has an idea of how we should divide up the groups?”

I was glad that Danny volunteered and said, "How about two groups of three and two groups of two from each school, with each group having both boys and girls. So, we will have each group join with a similar group from the other school. So, we'll have four working groups with five members each. What do you all think of that?”

Lenny Pence from Bayshore shared this: "I like the idea, and one of the three groups could have two girls and one boy, and another would have two boys and one girl, so the four combined group of five would be even.”

Veronica added, "And the four spokespersons can choose who could make up each group – with their consent. of course.. As Danny would say, 'You'll be okay with that?'" Danny chuckled and nodded.

Dr. Shirley Samper clapped and said, "Dr. Davis, I think we are already learning about how this group acts, plans, and thinks. Don't you?" Grumpy Davis just frowned, seemingly unable to understand what Samper was talking about.  She then turned to me and asked, "And who chooses  the topics that will be discussed?" 

Chris responded, "Each group decides. This is what this is all about, is it not? How we act, plan, and think.”

Samper nodded, and Dr. Dillon said, "That is what I have come to understand. So I recommend that you begin." He looked at the other three evaluators and the principals, and all nodded, except for Davis and Langdon, who looked lost.

The four of us asked Danny to set up the four groups, which he did in five minutes, and we chose a leader for each group – a girl for the groups with three girls and a boy for the group with four boys. I shouted, "Okay, you all, choose your project that will help us change the world."