Read Online Clair De Lune by Jetta Carleton - Free Book Online

performances brought in from outside. Many activities of that sort.”
    â€œDid you go to that last one?” Mae Dell whispered to Allen. “It was so good !”
    â€œAnd it is my feeling that the college is not doing enough to cooperate in those particular interests that are so manifest among the townspeople. Now, I don’t say the humanities don’t serve a purpose. But I do say there are more practical applications to which they might be addressed—and immediately, sooner than might be done under the present administration. For example, an active flourishing dramatics department would be of great benefit, I believe, to both community and student body. That’s one of the first things I feel should be done as soon as—”
    â€œWell, I don’t know,” said the sociology teacher, and everyone shifted back around, “I don’t know much about playacting. But a good football team would sure do a lot to serve my needs—like bringin’ in some money so they could raise my salary!”
    There was a chorus of agreement.
    â€œA healthy athletic program could do more to stimulate support than just about anything else at the moment.” Mr. Pickering said. “I wish Coach were present—I sent him a notice. But I’m sure he supports us in this movement.”
    Ansel said, “I don’t see that athletics and dramatics should be mutually exclusive.”
    Pickering ignored him. “So what we need is a reorientation toward practical education, so these kids can walk out of here better equipped to hold down jobs.” There was a significant pause to let that sink in. “And we all know we will never get that out of Frawley.” Another significant pause. “Is there any further discussion?” His tone of voice said there had better not be. “If not—”
    But Dr. Ansel rose again. He had some more things to say, and Pickering said more because Ansel had and the other men got a word in here and there. Mae Dell spoke up bravely on the subject of art in the schools.
    â€œNow, I think it’s important. Naturally I would, since I teach it and I enjoy it. And if I may say so, I think the students find it enjoyable too. I think it means a lot. Of course, that’s just my opinion. I know they’re not any of them going to go out and get a job with it, but—” She smiled, lifted one shoulder, cocked her head, and sat down.
    â€œAnyone else want to say anything?” Pickering gave them three seconds. “We have a prepared statement here to present to the school board. It says about what we’ve been saying here, how the faculty feels about the direction of the college and the reasons that we don’t think the dean is heading us down the right path. I’ve got carbons here, so you can read it. I’ll pass them around so you can all have a look. Miss Ingersoll, would you…? Thank you. It says about all we’ve been saying today. And I’d like to get it into the hands of the board before their next meeting. That will be week after next.”
    Verna handed the copies around.
    â€œI don’t want you to expect a miracle,” Pickering said. “Souder’s going to go to bat for his man, and he swings a heavy club. We all know that. But there’s some on the board don’t care much for his dictatorial ways either. And one of these times… It may take a year or two before the old man can be eased out. And it may not be very pleasant for us till he is. But we wanted to get the process rolling....
    â€œThere’s just one other thing I want to say.” He waited for the doodlers to stop doodling and for everyone to look up. “And that is that all of us have to sign this statement. Unless all of us sign it, none of us can. It’s got to be the whole staff. Four or five of us sign it, they’ll fire us. But they can’t fire the whole bunch, not without a whole lot of