Melissa Jeffers, Lisa Graham, Tristan Griggs

Mrs. Bastian
Philosophy
9 January 2017
Allegory of a School

Narrator: Superintendent Shaner tucked his sleeves and straightened his tie, huffing angrily as a
bitter cold wind threw open the sides of his suit-coat. Ice crystals gusted into his face, and he
swatted them away with a harsh grunt. Though Stoney Creek High School loomed large in front
of him, he was in no hurry to get inside.

Shaner (Clutching at his coat, enraged): Who schedules an emergency meeting on a Saturday?

Narrator: Soon enough though, he came to the buildings wide glass doors, pushing his way in
and shaking the cold from his shoulders. Dr. Skedel, the schools principal, waited just inside the
doorway, smiling, but obviously anxious.

Skedel (In a light, joking tone): Couldnt have picked a better day to meet up, huh?

Shaner (Eyeing her angrily and shaking out his sleeves): Nope. Perfect way to start the weekend.

Narrator: The Superintendent took off his gloves and hat quickly, hoping to display his
impatience with the situation at every opportunity afforded to him. After all, what was so
important that he should have to sacrifice a perfectly good Saturday afternoon for it? He threw
his coat over his arm and waited, seething.

Skedel (No longer smiling): Look Robert, I know its inconvenient timing and all, but I wouldnt
have asked you here if it wasnt important. (She begins to turn) This doesnt have to take forever
if youll just hear me out.

Narrator: Silently, the two made their way to Dr. Skedels office, Superintendent Shaner entering
first, and making a point of sitting down heavily behind the desk. Dr. Skedel opened her mouth a
bit, as if to protest, but soon thought better of it and took the small cushioned chair opposite him.
The chair students usually sat in. The Superintendent set his things down slowly. He smoothed
his tie, and sat back. He grimaced.

Shaner (Throwing his hands in the air, exasperated): So what are we here for, Cathy?
Skedel (shifting uncomfortably): Well at heart, I guess it would be considered an attendance
issue.

Shaner: Attendance!? Its flu season, for God sakes! You expect me to control the health of
every friggin kid in the county?

Skedel: No, no, thats not what I meant. Its i-its something else caused this. Since January,
almost half of our student population hasnt been showing up ever since the senior visit
incident.

Narrator: At this, Superintendent Shaner sat up a bit. He noted Dr. Skedels serious eyes. She
was truly concerned. He leaned forward apprehensively, nodding at her to continue.

Skedel (Sighing): I guess it all started with a student. Anita Ketterer. Remember her? You
gave a speech about her and a couple of the other excellence noms at graduation.

Shaner (Thinking): Yeah wasnt she kind of a miracle case? 4.0 and going to Harvard, or
something?

Skedel: Yeah, that was her really something to be proud of. She always had the best attitude.
Cant remember her ever missing a day of school. She came back for senior visits, and well,
she just had a lot to say. Things no one wouldve expected.

Shaner: Like what?

Dr. Skedel (folding her hands in her lap): I saw the whole thing.

Narrator: Dr. Skedel settled into her story with ease, staring straight ahead as she recounted the
fateful days events. It had been a beautiful morning at Stoney Creek High, and the staff were all
in a tizzy, hastily preparing to open the doors to last years graduates. Senior visits were always a
great time. Old students came back to visit their teachers, say hi to friends, and impart some
knowledge on the underclassmen of post-high school life. Usually they said things like enjoy
this while you have it, or remember to have some fun, youll miss this someday. Usually, they
said feel-good things. Cliche things. Normal things. This time though, something had felt
different from the start. Something felt off. Dark. And, as she walked through the cafeteria that
afternoon, peering around at all the fresh-faced college students talking excitedly with their
groups of underclassmen friends, Dr. Skedel found out just why that was. In a corner, by the
leftmost staircase, Anita Ketterer was speaking with a few friends, the expression on her face
like she was telling a secret. The kids around her looked worried, confused frightened. Just as
Dr. Skedel moved to see what was going on, something even stranger happened Anita got
louder. Much, much louder. Her voice began to grow in strength, not stopping until it echoed off
the cafeteria walls, freezing everyone within hearing distance. She spoke passionately, almost
angrily, evidently having a message that needed to be delivered without delay.

Anita (gesturing furiously): I just feel like all of you deserve to know that absolutely nothing you
learn here will be applied in real life. Nothing! Youre being stressed out, screamed at, and
tortured over things that literally dont matter anywhere but within these walls. Its not true that
your GPA determines your future, and its not true that book smarts ensure youll have a great
life. I went to Harvard, but Im still freaking drowning in reality. No one tells you about the
things that actually matter! No one ever tells you how to pay a bill, or how to manage your
credit, or how to maintain a healthy relationship!(She points to Dr. Skedel) The administration
does nothing for you but paint this false reality that knowing x+y=z will keep you fed, warm,
and sheltered! But its crap! Its all crap! And how are you to know it? All you ever see are the
popular brainy kids that keep that false reality alive. The kids that make it seem real. The kids
like me. You see us, and we seem so certain of what weve been told that you cant help but
believe it too but its wrong! Its all wrong! Im telling you, you dont need any of this! It
doesnt change anything!

Narrator: There was a long silence. All of the air had been sucked out of the room. No one ate,
no one laughed, and no one moved. The children, especially, seemed trapped in contemplative
silence. Until a single sneering voice broke the trance.

Boy #1: Right, because high school has nothing to do with college, and college has nothing to do
with getting a good job and making money. Youre a nut-job.

Narrator: Suddenly, another voice chimed in, equally as disgusted.

Boy #2: We learn stuff here that carries over into the careers we want! Just because youre
confused as hell doesnt mean we will be!

Girl #1: Yeah!

Narrator: It wasnt long before the cafeteria had erupted into a sea of conflicting voices. All of
them either argued or just joined in the heckling directed at Anita. Dr. Skedel sighed deeply,
completely taken aback. The place was a madhouse. Scariest of all, though, were the quiet
kids the ones with blank faces and slack-jaws. They were confused, scared, and strangely
dejected. They very obviously believed what they had just been told and they had no idea what
to do with it. Only, they did know. The quiet kids were the one that had stopped coming to
school. They had taken the words of one of their own to heart, and decided to go their own ways
in the world. To be unique or something like it, at least. Finished with her tale, Dr. Skedel sat
up straight and eyed the Superintendent carefully. He sat silent with his hands clasped in front of
him.

Skedel (With a small huff): So it isnt any ordinary thing keeping these kids out of school.
Theyre just not coming. And theres no way for us to inspire them to come back not after a
Harvard student told them its not worth it.

Narrator: Superintendent Shaner chuckled to himself a bit and shook his head. He leaned back,
put his hands on his stomach, and gave a small smirk.

Shaner: We dont have to inspire anyone. We just have to wait until the police get involved. Its
not legal to just stop coming to school, Catherine. Theyll realize theyre chained here until
graduation or dropout soon enough.

Skedel (Shocked): But d-dont you think it would be better if they came back of their own
accord? If they wanted to? That has to be more effective.

Shaner: Doesnt matter what they want. They come here, learn what they need to learn, and go.
Whether they use it or not, its getting learned. If they want to delay that process and make it
painful, then whatever. Its not our problem.

Narrator: On that note, the Superintendent stood to go, grabbing his coat off the chair and
beginning to stride out the office door. Dr. Skedel put up a hand, stopping him at the threshold.

Skedel: But, Sir I really dont think its that easy. These kids that have stopped coming, they
were all the smartest in their classes. For those kids specifically to stop coming must mean they
were deeply affected by what happened. Theyre like like freed prisoners. Theyll never come
back easily, and even if they do, they wont see school the same. They wont see education the
same. Itll just be a waste of time to them.

Shaner (leaning forward with a scowl): As long as theyre in their cells, Im a happy prison
guard.

Narrator: And with that, Superintendent Shaner left Dr. Skedel standing alone, speechless and
full of sudden doubt.