The Unteachables

While Parker is amazed to see Jake Terranova in their classroom, Mr. Kermit grimaces as if he “smells something really bad” (138). Jake explains that he, not Mr. Kermit, was responsible for the cheating scandal 27 years ago. Jake apologizes to Mr. Kermit and offers to help the class. Mr. Kermit starts to reject the offer, but Ms. Fountain cuts in, saying Jake could help in many different ways. Mr. Kermit agrees, with the stipulation that the curriculum has to allow for it. Mateo points out that they don’t have a curriculum, just worksheets, and this “costs him a puffy-tail” (142).

Mr. Kermit changes his teaching approach. The new layout of his classroom and the fact his students jumped into the river to save him makes him feel like he should put in some effort. As he spreads out his newspaper to finish the crossword before the kids arrive, he knocks the essay Kiana handed in a few weeks ago off the desk. He reads it, finding it an excellent piece of work. He grades the essay with an A+ and hands it back to Kiana, who asks if she gets a puffy tail. Confused that she would want one, Mr. Kermit puts a second tail beside Kiana’s name.

When other students ask why Kiana got a second tail, Mr. Kermit tells them about her essay. He issues a challenge: “if you want a puffy-tail, you have to work for it (146-47). Parker reminds Mr. Kermit that they can also get tails for being helpful, so the kids call out helpful things they’ve done lately, for which Mr. Kermit awards tail stickers.

Mr. Kermit submits a field trip request to the principal to take his class to Terranova Motors. The principal agrees. She warns Mr. Kermit about Dr. Thaddeus’s mission to fire Mr. Kermit before he retires. When Mr. Kermit sees that the cheating scandal still threatens to destroy his life, he realizes that Jake Terranova hasn’t come back to his classroom—rather, “he never left” (151).