Nothing but the Truth

by Avi

  8:05 A.M.

  Transcript from the Jake Barlow Talk Show

  JAKE BARLOW: Okay. Okay. Here we go! All sorts of things we can talk about. Wanting—and waiting—to hear from you on WLRB, your talk radio with your loudmouthed host Jake Barlow ready to take you on. Ready. Willing. And able! All kinds of things going on. We can talk about that demonstration in Washington. I don’t know about that. I don’t know. Bunch of … Hey, what do you think about that point-shaving scandal over at that university in the Midwest? Come on, guys, is that an education or what? Then there’s the president, who’s said he would be an education president. But he’s got his work cut out for him. I’m telling you because here’s a bit of a story, bit of a story, that came in over the wires. Don’t know if you saw this. Let me read it to you. Now, listen up! This is America. I mean it! WLRB asking you—Jake Barlow asking you—what you think of this. Now, remember, I’m not making this up. None of it. I’m reading it!

  “KICKED OUT OF SCHOOL FOR PATRIOTISM.”

  Right. You heard me correct. “KICKED OUT OF SCHOOL FOR PATRIOTISM.” But you ain’t heard nothing yet. Listen to this!

  “Harrison, New Hampshire.”

  Where in the world is Harrison? In the United States? In America? Listen up, New Hampshire. All their auto plates read “Live free or die.” Well, something died, because this is what is going on there right now! Here it is. The whole story. Right in the morning news. I’m just quoting.

  “A tenth grader was suspended from his local school because he sang ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ during the school’s morning exercises. The boy, Philip Malloy, who wished to sing in the spirit of patriotism, was then forced to remain home alone, since both his parents work. English teacher Margaret Narwin, who brought about the suspension, maintains the boy was making a nuisance of himself.”

  Would you believe it? Would you believe it. Okay, this is WLRB, all-talk radio. Take a short break, then come right back to talk about whatever you want. Man, but I’m telling you: what’s happening to this country!

  Now this….

  8:07 A.M.

  Phone Conversation between Mrs. Gloria Harland, Chairman, Harrison School Board, and Dr. Albert Seymour, Superintendent of Schools

  MRS. HARLAND: Albert, this is Gloria Harland. Good morning.

  DR. SEYMOUR: Gloria! Good morning. Looks like spring is here.

  MRS. HARLAND: It is balmy, isn’t it? Albert, last night I attended a meeting of the Harrison Sunday Fellowship….

  DR. SEYMOUR: Oh, yes. Couldn’t make it.

  MRS. HARLAND: Well, Ted Griffen made a speech.

  DR. SEYMOUR: Ted Griffen?

  MRS. HARLAND: He’s running for the school board.

  DR. SEYMOUR: Oh, yes. Right. They’re doing a series of talks. Know him. Know him well. Bit hard and—

  MRS. HARLAND: Albert, part of Ted’s speech was an attack on the present board in regard to what he claims is the suspension of a student for singing the national anthem in one of the schools. High school, I think.

  DR. SEYMOUR: The what?

  MRS. HARLAND: Suspension for singing the national anthem. “The Star-Spangled Banner.” And—to my shock—I checked and sure enough, as he said, I saw something about it in the paper yesterday. The Sunday paper. What is this all about? We have the vote …

  DR. SEYMOUR: Oh, Lord, is he going to make a thing about this?

  MRS. HARLAND: What happened? It’s not true, is it?

  DR. SEYMOUR: Gloria, I can assure you nothing of the kind occurred. Nothing. But before I go off half-cocked, let me make some further inquiries and then get back to you.

  MRS. HARLAND: Soon.

  DR. SEYMOUR: Absolutely. Soon.

  MRS. HARLAND: Al, this is not what we need. Not with the budget vote so—

  DR. SEYMOUR: Exactly. I understand.

  8:10 A.M.

  Transcript from the Jake Barlow Talk Show

  JAKE BARLOW: Okay. Okay. Back again. And ready to take you on. We’ve got the scandal out at the U. The demonstration in D.C. The kid kicked out of school for being an American patriot. Anything you want. Here we go. First call. Hello?

  CALLER: Is this Jake?

  JAKE BARLOW: Jake Cruising-for-a-Bruising Barlow. Who’s this?

  CALLER: This is Steve.

  JAKE BARLOW: Steve! How you doing, big guy?

  STEVE: Great. Really like your show. You’re doing great.

  JAKE BARLOW: Don’t tell me! Tell the president of the station, Steve.

  STEVE: Yeah. Ha-ha! Right. Look—about that kid.

  JAKE BARLOW: The one kicked out of school for singing “The Star-Spangled Banner”?

  STEVE: Yeah. Hey, you know, that gripes me. Really does. Things may be different. But, come off it!

  JAKE BARLOW: Right! What are schools for, anyway?

  STEVE: People might call me a—a—

  JAKE BARLOW: Jerk?

  STEVE: Yeah, maybe. But like they used to say, America, love it or leave it. And that school—

  JAKE BARLOW: It was a teacher.

  STEVE: Yeah, teacher. She shouldn’t be allowed to teach. That’s my opinion.

  JAKE BARLOW: Right. I’m right with you there, Steve. I mean, there are the three R’s—reading, ’riting, and ’rithmetic—and the three P’s—prayer, patriotism, and parents. At least, that’s my notion of schooling.

  STEVE: Right. I’m right with you.

  JAKE BARLOW: Okay, Steve. Like what you said. Let’s see if we got any ultraliberals out there who’ll call in and try to defend this—I was about to say woman—person. Steve! Thanks for calling.

  STEVE: Yeah.

  JAKE BARLOW: Who’s next?

  8:30 A.M.

  Conversation between Dr. Albert Seymour and Dr. Gertrude Doane

  DR. SEYMOUR: Gert, Albert Seymour here. Look, I got a call from Gloria Harland about this boy who was suspended for singing.

  DR. DOANE: Al, I told you, that’s not why the boy was suspended.

  DR. SEYMOUR: Maybe yes. Maybe no. That’s not what’s at stake here. I’ve got this budget…. Now listen. She was at a meeting last night at which this guy, Ted Griffen—

  DR. DOANE: He’s running for the school board.

  DR. SEYMOUR: Exactly. And wouldn’t you know, he’s making speeches about the incident, claiming it’s school policy to keep kids from singing—

  DR. DOANE: Al, that’s absolutely untrue.

  DR. SEYMOUR: Gert, you know as well as I, it doesn’t matter if it’s true or not true. It’s what people are saying that’s important. Will be saying. Who’s involved in this thing?

  DR. DOANE: Joe Palleni, Peg Narwin, myself.

  DR. SEYMOUR: I want a report on my desk—a report I can read out. So make it short and to the point. Soon as you can.

  DR. DOANE: Al …

  DR. SEYMOUR: Gert, believe me. I’m sensitive to this sort of thing. Just do as I’ve requested.

  8:35 A.M.

  Transcript from the Jake Barlow Talk Show

  JAKE BARLOW: Okay. Who’s this?

  CALLER: My name is Liz.

  JAKE BARLOW: Liz baby! How you doing?

  LIZ: Just fine.

  JAKE BARLOW: Liz, what’s on your pretty mind this morning?

  LIZ: Jake, I’m a mother. I have three kids. All school-age. But if I had a teacher like that—

  JAKE BARLOW: Whoa! Back off. Like who?

  LIZ: The one who forbade that child to show his patriotism in school….

  JAKE BARLOW: Right.

  LIZ: I’d take my kids out of school.

  JAKE BARLOW: You would?

  LIZ: No question about it.

  JAKE BARLOW: What about the teacher?

  LIZ: Wouldn’t let my kids go back to that school unless she was removed.

  JAKE BARLOW: The teacher doesn’t have rights?

  LIZ: It’s a free country. But what I’m saying is that she has no right to do what she does. My husband was in the military. She’s taking away rights. Like the flag thing.


  JAKE BARLOW: Then you know.

  LIZ: I do.

  9:17 A.M.

  Conversation between Robert Duval, Reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and Dr. Gertrude Doane

  MR. DUVAL: Is this Miss Doane, principal of Harrison High School?

  DR. DOANE: Yes. Dr. Doane.

  MR. DUVAL: Thank you. Of course. Dr. Doane, my name is Robert Duval. I’m a reporter with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

  DR. DOANE: St. Louis?

  MR. DUVAL: That’s right. I’m calling from St. Louis, Missouri. I’m attempting to follow up on an AAP release that indicates your school suspended a student because he sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

  DR. DOANE: Did you say St. Louis?

  MR. DUVAL: Yes, ma’am. Took the story off the wire service. And we ran it. Now you see, we have a convention going on here, our state American Legion convention. Someone there noticed this item and called the paper to see if we had any more information about the situation.

  DR. DOANE: Are you serious?

  MR. DUVAL: Certainly am. Would you care to hear the story we ran?

  DR. DOANE: Ah … yes.

  MR. DUVAL: The headline reads “KICKED OUT OF SCHOOL FOR PATRIOTISM.”

  DR. DOANE: Good grief!

  MR. DUVAL: Yes, ma’am. Let me read you the rest. “Harrison, New Hampshire. A tenth grader was suspended from his local school because he sang ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ during the school’s morning exercises. The boy, Philip Malloy, who wished to sing in the spirit of patriotism, was then forced to remain home alone, since both his parents work. English teacher Margaret Narwin, who brought about the suspension, maintains the boy was making a nuisance of himself.” That’s it.

  DR. DOANE: My God…. Is that being sent out over the whole country?

  MR. DUVAL: Well, actually, has been sent out. And I thought to call and get your response. Would you like to comment, ma’am?

  DR. DOANE: Full of mistakes. For a start he’s a ninth grader…. Look, can I get back to you?

  MR. DUVAL: Aren’t you in a position to respond now?

  DR. DOANE: There has been some great mistake, and … None of this is true.

  MR. DUVAL: None of it? The boy was not suspended, then?

  DR. DOANE: Yes, suspended, but not for those reasons. Look, Mr. Duval, I have to sort this out.

  MR. DUVAL: When can I call back?

  DR. DOANE: Give me a few hours.

  MR. DUVAL: Yes, ma’am.

  9:32 A.M.

  Transcript from the Jake Barlow Talk Show

  JAKE BARLOW: Back again. Who’s on?

  CALLER: This is Roger.

  JAKE BARLOW: Roger Rabbit?

  ROGER: Not quite.

  JAKE BARLOW: How many kids do you have?

  ROGER: Ahhh … two.

  JAKE BARLOW: Get hopping, Roger, get hopping. Ha! Okay, Roger, what’s on your mind?

  ROGER: About all these calls you’re getting, the boy who was kicked out.

  JAKE BARLOW: Makes me sick. Sick!

  ROGER: Well, you’ve read the news story a few times, so I think I’ve understood it. And it just seems to me that that couldn’t be the whole story.

  JAKE BARLOW: What do you mean?

  ROGER: Well, the story is slanted from the point of view of the boy. It doesn’t really indicate what the teacher’s position is.

  JAKE BARLOW: Roger—let me get this right—you are defending this so-called teacher?

  ROGER: No, I didn’t say that. I’m not defending anyone. The story you read is just the boy’s, not the teacher’s. Why should we assume that the teacher is wrong?

  JAKE BARLOW: Come on. Give us a break. The kid was suspended, right?

  ROGER: So it would appear.

  JAKE BARLOW: Suspended for singing the national anthem, right?

  ROGER: That’s the story you read.

  JAKE BARLOW: Now, how could singing the national anthem—Oh, say, can you see … —ever … ever … ever be making a nuisance?

  ROGER: Well …

  JAKE BARLOW: Roger, what’s your point? Let me make a guess. You’re a teacher!

  ROGER: Actually, I’m a salesman.

  JAKE BARLOW: What do you sell?

  ROGER: That doesn’t make—

  JAKE BARLOW: Come on! Out with it! Admit it.

  ROGER: Well, books, but …

  JAKE BARLOW: Yeah, see, exactly. And here you are defending this creep of a teacher. What does the kid know other than his own, natural-born patriotism? And then this creep of a teacher comes along and squelches it. And this country has all these problems with morality, drugs, pornography. No way, José. Hey, Roger, you saying pornography is only a nuisance?

  ROGER: But—

  JAKE BARLOW: Good-bye! Always the one rotten apple. Hey, out there. Do you agree with this guy? Tell you what! Why don’t you out there—let’s start a crusade—I want you all—if you feel anything about all this—to write to the teacher. Hey, free country! Do you agree with what she did? Okay, tell her. If you disagree, tell her that. Let’s see, here’s her name, Margaret Narwin. Margaret Narwin. N–a–r–w–i–n. Harrison, New Hampshire. Let her know what you think. You agree with that guy? Just write her. Postcard. Brick. Hey, just kidding. Something. Okay! Now this….

  10:00 A.M.

  Conversation among Dr. Gertrude Doane, Margaret Narwin, and Dr. Joseph Palleni

  DR. DOANE: Peg, just tell me what happened.

  MISS NARWIN: I’ve told you twice now.

  DR. DOANE: I know you’re upset, Peg. But I have to get it down clearly. Anyway, we all need to tell the same story.

  DR. PALLENI: Amen. Gert’s trying to be helpful, Peg.

  MISS NARWIN: It’s terribly upsetting.

  DR. DOANE: Well, yes…. To all of us. Now, once more. Please.

  MISS NARWIN: Very well…. Philip Malloy—from the first day he entered my homeroom—last week—during the time the students are asked to stand in silence—

  DR. PALLENI: The rule is, “Respectful silence.” I looked it up. It’s in your memo about opening exercises. Isn’t in the student handbook. But I think it should be.

  DR. DOANE: Good point.

  MISS NARWIN: During the playing of the national anthem, he sang. Loudly. With no respect. Very loudly. To make a commotion. Obviously. The first time he did it, I asked him to stop, and he did. After a bit. The second two times, he didn’t. Refused. That’s when I sent him to Joe. Both times.

  DR. PALLENI: The boy admitted it, Gert. No bones about that.

  MISS NARWIN: Deliberately provocative.

  DR. DOANE: Do we know why? Peg?

  MISS NARWIN: I haven’t the slightest idea.

  DR. DOANE: Joe?

  DR. PALLENI: Nope. No problems before. Ever.

  DR. DOANE: Maybe I should talk to some students.

  DR. PALLENI: Witnesses.

  MISS NARWIN: I don’t know. I will say this, Gert, he’s always been restless in English class. Sort of a wise guy, I’d have to call him. Trying to cover up laziness with smart talk. I don’t know why. Sometimes that just happens. The chemistry. In his last exam for me he wrote a very foolish, really provocative answer. Mocking me.

  DR. DOANE: You?

  MISS NARWIN: Oh, yes. Absolutely. Mocking.

  DR. DOANE: Do you still have it?

  MISS NARWIN: I always return exams to students.

  DR. DOANE: Too bad. But there must be some reason—

  MISS NARWIN: I agree.

  DR. PALLENI: Home, Gert. Home. Ninety-nine point nine times out of a hundred, you get a thing like this, a kid acting out, believe me, it’s home. Acting out here for what’s happening there.

  DR. DOANE: But we don’t know that.

  DR. PALLENI: Hey, what’s the difference? They always blame the school. You know that.

  DR. DOANE: Well, as far as I’m concerned, this is strictly a discipline problem. That’s what I intend to tell people. Do we agree?

  DR. PALLENI: Well, the thing is, it’s the truth.

>   MISS NARWIN: I didn’t think it was wise to suspend him.

  DR. PALLENI: Two infractions in one week, Peg. Right? That’s the rule. You sent him out. To me. If we start bending the rules each time …

  MISS NARWIN: What could I have done?

  DR. PALLENI: Only trying to be supportive.

  MISS NARWIN: I know.

  DR. DOANE: It’ll blow over.

  DR. PALLENI: Sure thing.

  DR. DOANE: Joe, write up a draft of something—keep strictly to the facts—to give to Seymour. Do it immediately. I want to speak to some students.

  11:00 A.M.

  Written by Dr. Joseph Palleni

  * * *

  TO: SEYMOUR

  FROM: DOANE

  RE: SUSPENSION OF PHILIP MALLOY

  1. Each morning—during homeroom period—the national anthem is played over the high school announcement system.

  2. At such times students are asked: “Please all rise and stand at respectful, silent attention …”

  3. On March 28, March 29, and March 30, Philip Malloy caused a disturbance in his homeroom class (Margaret Narwin, teacher) by singing the national anthem in a loud, raucous, disrespectful manner.

  4. When asked by Miss Narwin—on the first occasion—to cease, Philip Malloy reluctantly did so. But on the second and third occasions, he refused and was sent to Assistant Principal Joe Palleni for discipline.

  5. Philip Malloy does not dispute the above facts.

  6. On the third occurrence, Philip Malloy was asked to promise not to show such a disrespectful attitude, and to apologize to the teacher and to his fellow classmates. He refused.

  7. Dr. Palleni, following his principal’s guidelines, therefore suspended Philip Malloy from class for two days in hopes that he would learn to show proper respect toward the national anthem, school, teacher, and fellow students.