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?”
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."
