The school was always a leader when it came to new ideas.
The principal had read an article about a new method of categorising children. He called a meeting with the teachers and it was debated. He proposed that they create two separate areas within the school building. One was for those kids that were learning well and showing promise. The other was for those who were struggling. He suggested that the two areas be kept physically separate, with doors on either side of the school. The gifted children’s’ door would be white, while the other children’s would be black. All of this, he suggested, would need to take place without any consultation with the parents, as this would only slow things down.
The teachers deliberated on all aspects of the proposal for some time. Eventually, when everyone had expressed their personal views about the idea, the principal called for a vote. They all thought that it was a good idea and voted ‘yes’.
All of the discussed changes were put in place and the new system began to operate. As you can imagine, this caused a great deal of anger among the parents. The children themselves found this method of dividing them up unsettling and it inevitably brought about a lot of mischievous name-calling. The terms ‘smarty-pants’ and ‘dummies’ and a lot worse, were not uncommon. The only area within the school premises not subject to this version of apartheid was the playground.
It was there, on the third day, that things came to a head. Phones had been running hot throughout the local community and beyond. The parents and the relatives of those parents were very unhappy. Rivalry and protest were building from within the body of school children. A large angry crowd of adults were milling around in the playground when the bell sounded for morning break. The kids spilled out and the area was full. After a while, a chant started up with them calling on the principal to come out.
Otherwise…
The teachers deliberated on all aspects of the proposal for some time. Eventually, when everyone had expressed their personal views about the idea, the principal called for a vote. They all thought that it was a bad idea and voted ‘no’.