The Truth Comes Out

    I was so misrible after school today. All of my classmates hate me. My dad tried to talk to me after I got home but I just wanted to be alone. Things are horrible. It’s so unfair. The people at my school think that Narwin is great. I can’t believe that Coach Jamison won’t let me on the team either. The next morning I told my parents that there was no way that I was going to school again but they made me. Even Ken was surprised that I was going to school again when we saw each other on the way to the bus. He told me big news, too. Allison and Todd wanted to start a petition against me to say that what I did to Narwin was wrong! And they even want me to admit the fact that ‘I’m wrong’! Even worse, Coach Jamison came up with the idea for the petition! I thought that he was on my side and that I could trust him but he’s been against me the whole time! I was so shocked. Then Ken said we should start a petition and make Narwin admit that she was wrong we could sing together. That really made me outraged. At that point I turned around, leaving Ken, and didn’t go to school. I called my mom and told her that I wasn’t going back and that I was home. Everything is totally ruined for me.

     I had no chance at surviving at that school for three more years, so, I transfered to another school. I just couldn't take it any more at Harrison High so I switched to Washington Academy.  I had a talk with the principal at Washington Academy and he said that I was ‘famous’ and that I would really like it here.  He said that I would make new friends quickly. There isn’t a track team but Mr. Brookover (the principal) assured me that with me attending here that one would probably start up. On my first day, in homeroom, my new teacher, Miss Rooney, told me that every morning they usually begin by singing the national anthem. She asked me if I wanted to lead, and I just started crying, because truthfully, I don’t even know the words.

pp:195-end

I Hate School

I hate going to school. Everyone is giving me a hard time. Even Mr. Lunser! During home room he interrupted the morning announcements to ask if I wanted to sing. That's so embarrassing! And everyone in the halls was throwing digs at me. I just want everyone to back off. I've been so many telegrams from people I don't know. And I honestly don't even care about them. They're all saying the same thing; Narwin should be fired and I should be proud. When I can tell neither are happening.
I asked Ms.Narwin for some extra credit to get my grade up and she totally just like ignored me and shooed me out of her room. But apparently I switched out of her English class, which I guess is a good thing. But now I'm never gonna get my grade up! Why does everyone have to be so irritating.

Pages 180-195

Back to School

 
     Today was a really wierd. I got a ton of telegrams from people that I don't know and from places I've never heard of. My parents are pretty happy that I stood up for myself and that there are other people on my side of this but I still wasn’t happy. I'm going back to school tomorrow. I'm glad to be in Mr. Lunser's homeroom again. I guess things will pretty much be back to normal for the most part. I'm still going to have Miss Narwin for english but I guess that's okay. I can ask for extra work to bring my grade up so I can be on the track team. I'm a little nervous...
     During breakfast my parents said that I had nothing to be worried about, but I still wasn't so sure. I was more worried about what the other students and my friends would say rather than Narwin. Anyways, down on the way to the school bus, I met up with Ken Barchet. He told me that I should still try out for track. I forgot that I hadn't told anyone why I actually wasn't allowed to be on the team yet. I finally told him that I wasn't allowed to participate in track becuase of my English grade. Then, Ken said that Narwin probably won't let me  do extra work either becuase of what has happened but I'm still going to keep my hopes up.
     One of the first people to talk to me this morning when I got to school was Allison. I was pretty happy to see her until I found out she was really mad at me. All she wanted to do was to tell me that she thought what I did to Miss Narwin was really mean. She said that all of the kids think that she's one of the best teahcers and that she’s fair. I was infuriated. I don't want any of my other friends to turn against me like Allison did.      

pp:165-180

People Please..

Apparently Dr. Doane is actually calling kids from my class to talk about what happened. She should already know what happened I mean it's in the papers and on the news and everywhere. And plus! I got a letter in the mail from the Society For The Preservation Of Free Speech saying stuff like how they "applaud me for my freedom of speech" and to call them for "active support". I also heard Ms. Narwin and Dr. Doane got something too, but it wasn't like mine.
My parents are pretty excited so many people are on my side and that I'm famous. I'm just nervous to go back. I feel like I'm going to be some kind of outcast. And my parents want me to actually sing again during homeroom! I don't even know what to do anymore.


Pages 150-165

Making Headlines

     My suspension has spread across the country. "Kicked out of School for Patriotism" was the headlines of news articles  and the topic on talk shows. On the Jake Barlow talk show, mostly everyone is saying how Narwin is a terrible teacher and how she was the one who made the wrong choice to suspend me, which I totally agree with. One lady from the talk show even said that she would take her kids out of school  and that she wouldn't let them go back until the teacher was removed. People are saying how Narwin had no right to do what she did, and I'm happy that some people are siding with me instead of Narwin. Now she know's what it's like to have people telling her that she's wrong and not me.
     I guess that the teachers and the principals are getting worried about the whole suspension thing too. Ken Barchet called me and told me that Dr. Doane asked him a few questions about the incident. He told me that he didn't really tell her anything and that he didn't get why they were making a huge fuss over it. But, I guess that's the way the school acts when voting for a new school budget and a new school board this spring. 

pp:135-150

News

          So apparently, I'm in the news? Ken told me I'm in the newspaper because of the whole suspension thing. Jeez, why can't people just drop it. I know I got suspended I don't have to keep being reminded of it, it's hard enough taking it in. All because I wanted to speak my mind.

          And dad? Just had to tell Ms. Stewart about everything and now it's gone public. Everyone keeps telling me about and at first I thought they were just kidding but then my parents called me down and addressed me about it so it must be true. I wonder if Ms. Narwin saw it yet. She'll probably freak out. Well I guess she kinda deserves it. Everyone can see how horrible she is to me. I just wish everyone would get off my back, though. Maybe the news will go down.

Pages 120-135

In the Paper

      I got a letter in the mail today saying that I was moved back to Mr. Lunser's homeroom. Sadly, I didn't get changed out of Narwin's English class. Other than that, I delivered the paper today. Boring. I've also been thinking about how I could get myself back onto the track team. I'm actually thinking about what Coach said and asking for extra work but I still don't know.
     On Sunday, April 1st, there was an article about me in the paper in the community section. It was written by Ms. Stewart, the news reporter who interviewed me. It said, "...tenth grader Philip Malloy of Harrison High School was suspended  for singing 'The Star Spangled Banner'...Every time Philip lifted his voice to sing she threw him out of the class, insisting a disturbance was being created...What will young Malloy- who has his own delivery route for the Manchester Record-do during his suspension from school? Philip, who still hopes to make the school track team this spring, said, 'Try to keep up with my work, and work out with classmates after school.'" It's crazy that this is even in the paper. I'm starting to think that this is geting a out of hand.

pp:105-120