After riding a crowded and smelly bus, Mr. Braithwaite
arrives at Greenslade Secondary School where he knocks on the door of the Headmaster,
Mr. Florian, who greets him warmly, "...we've been expecting you. Do sit down." Mr.
Florian, then, suggests that he take a good look around the school as things are "done
differently" at this school. When Braithwaite descends the stairs to a narrow hallway,
he is nearly knocked down by a tall red-headed girl who rushes out the door of a
classroom. As Mr. Braithwaite looks inside the room, one of the students declares that
Mr. Hackman is not there, and asks if he is the new
teacher.
From here, Mr. Braithwaite heads to the staff
room, where he is greeted by the sarcastic remark, "Ah, another lamb to the slaughter,"
pronounced by a rather slovenly and hairy young man. Asked what has happened to Mr.
Hackman and who will take his class, the young man says that Braithwaite will be given
it; after this frightening news, he leaves. Then, a tall blond woman, Mrs. Grace
Dale-Evans, the Domestic Science teacher, enters. She speaks to Braithwaite asking him
about herself as she tidies up the room. Since the room is stale from smoked
cigarettes, Braithwaite opens two of the windows, noticing the view out these windows is
rather dismal as a high brick wall separates a churchyard from the
school.
Soon, Braithwaite goes down the stairs and passes
through a doorway to the courtyard, but it is strewn with leaves and debris. Although
the day is bright, the courtyard is dim as are Braithwaite's hopes. Then, a handbell
is rung and the lunchbreak begins as Braithwaite hurries back to the staff room where
teachers enter. He is introduced to Miss Josy Dawes, Miss Euphemia Phillips, Mr. Theo
Weston, the hairy teacher, Miss Vivian Clintridge, the art teacher, and Miss Gillian
Blanchard. who is also new. While talking with the faculty, Mr. Braithwaite learns that
there is no corporeal punishment, nor much of any other kind, at the
school.
At the end of the lunch break, the students file
into an area by the church where they dance to swing music, the midday dance session.
When the tall red-haired girl invites him to dance, Braithwaite is rather disconcerted,
while at the same time he is excited at the prospect of teaching such near adult
students as he returns to Mr. Florian's office. There, he tells Mr. Florian he will
"have a shot at it" and accepts the position. As Mr. Florian begins to explain the
socio-economic status of the students, Braithwaite is less inclined to feel sympathy for
them, yet he cannot keep from being impressed by Florian's deep concern for the
students. He explains,
"As things are we cannot expect of them high
academic effort, but we can take steps to ensure that their limited abilities are
exploited to the full....We encourage them to speak up for themselves, no matter what
the circumstances or the occasion....As teachers, we can help greatly if we become
sufficiently important to them...or even outweigh the
evil"
As he shakes the hand
of Mr. Braithwaite, Mr. Florian tells him they are wonderful children when he gets to
know them. Then, Braithwaite returns to the staff room where Mrs. Drew talks with him.
On the way home, Braithwaite rejoices at being employed. He vows to learn to cope as he
has not entered the teaching field out of any sense of vocation.
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