Nothing But The Truth

Jennifer Stewart runs her story on Philip with the headline “Suspended for Patriotism”(99). She misidentifies Philip as a tenth-grader and claims that Philip was allowed to sing the national anthem in every other class, since there is no rule against it. Ms. Narwin changed this rule, according to Stewart. Stewart closes the story by reminding the readers that voting on the new school budget and board is coming soon.

Superintendent Seymour is upset when he reads the story, so he calls Principal Doane to see if the story is true. Dr. Doane tells Seymour that Philip was suspended for “creating a disturbance,” not singing the anthem, and that Ms. Narwin is a good, experienced teacher (101). Dr. Doane doubts anyone believes the story is a big deal, but Dr. Seymour is worried because the story comes so close to the elections and vote on the school budget. He instructs Dr. Doane to refer all future questions about the matter to him. Ken Barchet has also read the story and urges Philip to read it as well. “‘It ain’t true. But it’s funny’”(102), he says and asks Philip if he want to work out later.

Philip’s parents also see the story. When they excitedly tell Philip about it, his glum reaction surprises them. Later that afternoon, Ms. Narwin calls her sister to tell her about the story. Although Ms. Narwin is upset about the obvious bias, her sister assures her that the situation is not a big deal and that the conflict will blow over. The day ends with Philip’s diary entry. He notes the publication of the story, blames Ms. Narwin for what happened, watches television, and reads more of The Outsiders. He wonders what it would be like without parents to whom he must answer.

The story about Philip supposedly being suspended for singing the national anthem gets picked up by a national news service, which brings it to the attention of Jake Barlow, a national talk show radio host with conservative leanings. That morning, Mrs. Harland, the current head of the school board, calls Superintendent Seymour. Ted Griffen gave a speech about Philip at a social event that she attended, so Mrs. Harland wants more information about the facts of the case. The superintendent promises he will get her more information and is horrified to learn that Griffen is repeating the story.

Later that morning, a guest calls into Barlow’s show to say that he believes Ms. Narwin should not be allowed to teach. Barlow agrees with the caller and adds that “there are the three R’s—reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmetic—and the three P’s—prayer, patriotism, and parents”(110) that should be taught in school.

Dr. Seymour again calls Principal Doane about the incident with Philip and requests that she write a report. When Dr. Doane explains again that Philip was not suspended for singing the national anthem, Seymour tells her, “‘[I]t doesn’t matter if it’s true or not true. It’s what people are saying that’s important’”(111). Liz, the mother of a school-age child and wife of a war veteran, calls in to tell Jake Barlow that Ms. Narwin should not be allowed to teach and that her decision is unpatriotic and tramples on her rights.

Still later that morning, Robert Duval, a reporter from St. Louis newspaper, calls to ask Dr. Doane for an interview on the story. She is upset when she discovers that the story has been picked up by a news service and that it has several inaccuracies. She agrees to call the reporter back once she has the chance to investigate further. Meanwhile, Roger, another caller, tells Barlow that the story he read in the newspaper seems to be slanted because it leaves out the teacher’s perspective. Barlow talks over the caller and cuts him off; Barlow also encourages his listeners to write Ms. Narwin by postcard or even a brick. (He quickly says the latter suggestion was a joke, however.)

At ten that morning, Ms. Narwin, the principal, and the assistant principal meet to discuss the situation. Ms. Narwin insists that events unfolded just as she said, and Dr. Palleni backs her up and suggests that Philip’s problems originate at home. Dr. Doane concludes that the suspension was merited and decides to follow up with students who witnessed the confrontations between Philip and Ms. Narwin.

Dr. Doane sends a memo recounting this version of events to Dr. Seymour. This report mentions that Philip regularly misbehaved in Ms. Narwin’s class and that the issue was one of respect. Fifteen minutes later, Dr. Doane interviews Ken Barchet, who confirms that Philip was singing but tells the principal he wasn’t paying close attention. Ken calls Philip at home to tell him about the interview with the principal.

Dr. Doane next interviews Cynthia Gambia, another student who was in class with Ms. Narwin and Philip. Cynthia tells Dr. Doane that Philip was actually humming, although she is not completely certain, since she wasn’t paying attention. What she does know is that Philip was rude and that Ms. Narwin is known to be “fair”(125). That afternoon, Ted Griffen gives another speech in which he uses the newspaper version of the story to support the argument that the schools lack patriotism.

Dr. Doane conducts a third interview, this time with Allison Doresett. Allison tells her that Philip dislikes Ms. Narwin and, as a result, was usually inattentive in class and frequently rude to the teacher. She closes the interview by telling Dr. Doane that she likes Ms. Narwin. Dr. Doane summarizes her findings in a report to the superintendent. According to the report, “Philip Malloy’s acts were indicative of some personal animosity he feels toward the homeroom teacher, Ms. Narwin. His rudeness was also on display in the English classes he had with her. His grade there indicates inferior work”(128). Dr. Seymour sends his own report to Mrs. Harland, one that reiterates Dr. Doane’s report and that implies even more strongly that there is some problem in the Malloy home. Meanwhile, Ms. Narwin receives a letter condemning her, and Philip receives a telegram of support.

That evening, the Malloys talk about how pleased they are that Philip is receiving such support. When the Malloys tell Philip that Ted Griffen is spreading the story and how proud they are of him for standing up for his beliefs, Philip replies that he is worried about what the other students will say when he returns. The Malloys tell Phillip the students are likely to side with him. Philip expresses uncertainty when Mr. Malloy assures him that he has the support of many people. Later that night during another speech, Ted Griffen re-tells the story and expresses shock and disappointment that the town is now known nationally for Philip’s suspension for singing the national anthem.

Ms. Narwin’s sister calls her that night to report that a version of the story has appeared in a Florida newspaper. Ms. Narwin claims the story is false. Ms. Narwin then calls Dr. Doane to tell her about the story spreading. Ms. Narwin is even more upset when the principal says that the school is receiving mail and telegrams, many of which are negative. Ms. Narwin is even more upset when the principal suggests that it might be best if Ms. Narwin were to skip work the next day.

In his diary that night, Philip writes about how confused he is about all the positive letters he has received. He is glad to be back in Mr. Lunser’s homeroom and wonders if he can convince Ms. Narwin to give him extra work that will pull up his grade up to the minimum to run track. He is beginning to feel nervous.