Media & Politics
Whose homeroom is Philip originally in?
Mr. Lunser
Identify the speaker and significance: "It's what sports is all about--a rule is a rule--to get along you have to play along."
Coach Jamison - he's advising Philip to be respectful to Miss Narwin and to follow the rules in her classroom so that he can improve his grade and try out for the track team.
What reason does Miss Narwin give for kicking Phil out of her homeroom?
She says he was causing a disturbance and being disrespectful.
What reporter originally interviewed and published a story about Philip?
Jennifer Stewart
Find a passage from the text that suggests that Philip deliberately tried getting kicked out of Miss Narwin's class.
"Can't stand even looking at her. I have to find a way to get transferred out" (31). "I mean I shouldn't be in her class. Could you get me switched out?" (24) "I've got her for English too. I'm going to get transferred out of both" (33).
How does Miss Narwin feel about Philip's punishment?
She disagrees with it--she doesn't think he should be suspended at all and even says so to Dr. Palleni.
Who does Mr. Malloy bring Philip's story to and why?
Ted Griffen because he's running for a seat on the Board of Education so he can use Philip's controversy to gain popularity.
What is the name of the only caller to call in and defend Miss Narwin on the radio talk show?
Roger
Identify the speaker and explain the significance: "You have to stick up for yourself that's all there is to it. Phil do what you think is right. We'll stand behind you."
Mr. Malloy - he's actually encouraging his son to be disrespectful and to do what he wants inside Miss Narwin's classroom regardless of her rules.
What decision does Miss Narwin make at the end of the novel and why?
She decides to resign from her position because the superintendent basically forced her out and made her feel unwelcome.
How do we know that Philip ends up regretting his decision to broadcast his conflict with Miss Narwin to the newspaper?
When he finds out that he still can't try out for track, he approaches Miss Narwin to see if he can make some work up. He gets very upset/embarrassed when his classmates tease him about all of the attention he's getting. He would rather transfer schools than continue going to Harrison.
Which district administrator turns on Miss Narwin at the end of the story and why?
Superintendant Dr. Seymour because he wants to distance himself from the conflict so that the budget passes and his own interests are protected.
Which two students wish to start a petition at the end of the novel in support of Miss Narwin?
Allison Doresett and Todd Becker
Identify the speaker and explain the significance: "What do you say Phil, you get up, go back there, and apologize? To Miss Narwin...Then, as far as I'm concerned, we forget it. Nothing on your record."
Dr. Palleni --he's giving Phil a chance at avoiding his two-day suspension but Philip doesn't take it.
Provide 2 pieces of evidence that Miss Narwin actually liked Philip at the beginning of the story.
She tries to get him out of suspension. She gives him a decent grade on his Winter Exam in spite of his silly responses. She tells her sister that he is a nice boy.
Provide 3 specific examples of Philip bending the truth or omitting things from his story to make himself look better.
1. He says that none of the other kids like Miss Narwin. 2. He says that Miss Narwin won't let him make up any work and that she kicked him out of her English class. 3. He says that Mr. Lunser used to let him sing in his homeroom. 4. He says that Miss Narwin has it out for him and purposely targets him. 5. He says that he got suspended for singing the national anthem. 6. He says that he was singing out of patriotism.
Describe at least 3 inaccuracies printed in the original article concerning Philip and Miss Narwin's conflict.
Philip is not a tenth grader. Philip did not sing The Star Spangled Banner in his other homeroom. Miss Narwin did not change the rules to get Phil in trouble. It isn't "natural" for Philip to be singing the national anthem. Phil did not really get suspended for singing The Star Spangled Banner.
Identify the speaker and explain the significance: "What I suspect here--we've got--a personal problem...Ted, it's not the boy. It's the teacher."
Dr. Seymour--he's throwing Miss Narwin under the bus and siding with Phil because he wants to look good in the eyes of the voters who will be coming out to vote on the school budget very soon.
Who does Miss Narwin write all of her letters to? (full name)
Anita Wigham, her sister
Name two examples of irony in the last chapter when Phil arrives at his new school that first morning.
1. They don't have a track team. This is ironic because all of Phil's actions were motivated by his desire to make the track team. 2. Philip says he doesn't know the words to The Star Spangled Banner when asked to lead his new homeroom in singing it. This is ironic because his entire story was based around the idea that he was this patriotic kid who just wanted to sing the national anthem to show his love for his country. It turns out that he doesn't even know the words, which means the story he told his parents, Ted Griffen, and Jennifer Stewart was a complete lie.