Chapter Fourteen
March Coup
1
The consequences of my anger and resultant indifference to
my Father were made apparent by events in March. I am perhaps fantasizing when I think that
anything I would have done would have made a difference. But had I been more alert and caring, maybe I
wouldn't feel as bad about it as I do now.
World Humanities with Mrs. Forsyth was an enjoyable class,
even with all the distractions of where we were. Some didn't feel it important that we
discussed so much about a world that may not even exist anymore, but I enjoyed
it. We began by focusing on Greek
culture, and their many contributions to society. We read Antigone by Sophocles, studied Greek
architecture and explored Athenian democracy.
Some math and geometry concepts were discussed, but my eyes glazed over
in that part. Then we moved on to Roman
culture, and were just starting to discuss Julius Caesar and his brutal
betrayal, as written by Shakespeare. 'Et
tu, Brutus?'
The first meeting of the Council was brutal. My father was refusing to ratify the list of
names for the student security staff, as even though Mr. Tate was asked to
bring in a more balanced list, he had submitted it virtually unchanged from
February. He asked Mr. Bruchow to work
with the new Vice-Principal, Mr. Charles Stein, in selecting an alternative
list, and that he would hen blend the two lists together. This did not go over well at all, but my
father overruled a vote adopting the list Mr. Tate prepared, claiming that is
was a decision that required his executive approval.
How long he would have that authority was questionable, as
the committee to look at rules and bylaw changes for the council wanted to chip
at my Dad's veto authority by having an over-rule provision by a two-thirds
vote by the Council, including students, faculty and administrative staff. It would set up the students and
faculty/staff as almost a bicameral legislature, with each having to have
majority votes to ratify actions, and then my father could choose to approve or
veto. Artie, who was part of the
committee, endorsed some of the ideas but not all of them. It also had a mechanism to remove the
Principal from power, kind of an impeachment process. I didn't know what to think. In the abstract, it all seemed democratic
enough.
My father, though, angered some by not immediately bringing
the new rules to a vote. He said he
would have to study them, and then give his input.
The committee looking at marriages did get their proposal
approved. My father just added that the
couple interested in getting married needed to have a minimum of three
counseling sessions, with a guidance counselor, and that a small committee
composed of an administrator, faculty and student representative review the
marriage application and process and unanimously approve it. With these modifications, this proposal was
passed and authorized by my father.
The next meeting was scheduled in another week, at which
time the student security staff would be finalized, and my father would give
his recommendations on the bylaw changes.
Artie was disturbed by the whole tone that seemed to be
carried by many at the meeting. There
seemed to be subtle blame directed at my father for some of the mishaps that
occurred, including the tunnel collapse, the rash of suicides that followed, the
students that just disappeared, those that died in accidents, anything and
everything they could think of. No one
blamed him for what I blamed him for; the fact that Lisa's murderer walked
free.
Artie wanted to talk more about it, but I stopped listening. Let my father deal with his own stuff. It was none of my concern.
I was naive.
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