4.2

The history of SDC was as simple and straight-forward as it was complicated and messy. And it began, truly, over eight years ago.

Imhohep Thorne studied math at college. He was good. But he was no prodigy. And he had no delusions about being one. The most discerning quality of his was his uncoloured view of reality, even of himself. And so, he was clear about his future. After college, the best course was for him to teach. He'd gotten his masters, and had no intention of doing a PhD. That straight away struck off the possibility of teaching at a college. High school was the next best option. And teenagers were easier, as far as he was concerned.

Also, Imhohep's uncle, Datagne Thorne was a director at Swoy's First Academy, with a seat on the board. Swoy's First Academy was, as the name suggested, the very first school started in the city. The name was tacky, but no one ever considered changing it. And that in itself was a testament to how good and popular the school was and how high its standards were. Imhohep expressed his interest to his uncle. His uncle arranged for an interview and got everything done so Imhohep would teach math at the school.

That was when the seeds were planted.

Next, about a year into his teaching at the school, was another milestone in Imhohep's career. He had had it with a particularly troublesome student. And he'd gotten the student to leave the school. For a while he felt troubled. His intention was only to get the boy to improve. He never intended for the boy to leave. But then he noticed that good did come off of that. Students seemed particularly afraid of him. They were quieter in class, more disciplined in general while he was around. The atmosphere of the school was improving, getting closer to his view of what an institution of learning should be like. And so, he was happy.

This change was observed by others as well, teachers and the board. And so, a year later, during the meeting of the board with the teachers, the directors made the proposal. Imhohep Thorne was to head a committee that would be tasked with maintaining and improving the overall discipline in the school.

The proposal was approved after winning the vote. And the SDC came to be. It was a few more months, before it took shape, before Imhohep structured it and invited like-minded teachers to the committee.

And from the moment the Student Discipling Committee, the SDC, was inaugurated, the environment of the school rapidly changed, rapidly 'improved'.

*

It was the middle of the day. Students were in their classes. Teachers were teaching, or prepping in the teacher's offices for the next classes. And the school was generally quiet. Like a still lake.

Then, a rock fell into the lake. And the ripples spread all the way to the ends of the lake.

A student, probably someone particularly brave or probably someone emboldened by the air of rebellion stinking up the school, anonymously shared a post that was climbing popularity charts on public networks on the school's bulletin. Many other students, brave enough to check their phones quietly and discreetly, read the post and shared it, on the bulletin as well as with their neighbours in class. And so, wasn't long before everyone knew.

The post mentioned the relationship between the teacher heading the SDC and a director on the school's board. Director Thorne was Mr Thorne's uncle.

That by itself was no secret in the school. But one the replies certainly was.

Replying to the post, a netizen, fake name obviously, had shared Mr Thorne's interview transcript. It was a photograph, that showed the comments written by hand by the interviewers on the panel. The comments mentioned that Mr Thorne was less than impressive by the school's standards. How then did Mr Thorne get the job? Wasn't that obvious? If so, how many others could have gotten the jobs the same way? And if so, was Swoy's First Academy truly deserving of its position, let alone teaching other schools?

Most importantly, could a man who couldn't get the primary job by himself be trusted to create and head a committee such as the SDC and claim it is truly for the benefit of the students?

That was shocking enough for the wide web. In the school, it was as good as dousing the flickering torches of rebellion with petrol. Sure enough, the flames of rebellion erupted.

And yet, it wasn't enough.

*

Datagne Thorne had a job. A real job. He was a president in Vitrens, a large corporation whose majority stakeholder was the Thorne family. He was on the board of Swoy's First Academy only because he was an alumni and because the seat was inherited from his uncle. He didn't particularly interfere with the school operations or decisions. That was the respect he had for the school he studied at, the school he loved. He truly believed the school was the best in the city. And nothing that tarnished the reputation was acceptable.

And so, he was quite surprised by the discussions on the wide web. Especially since most of it was negative. Yet, he kept his quiet, because he was convinced the school would handle it. He was sure his nephew and the SDC that the nephew started would survive the storm.

And then, he received the phone call.

"Darty, you see what's being said?"

"Nat, what are you talking about?"

Nate Hitchins was Dartagne oldest friend. The two were friends from when they were in diapers. They went to school together. Then to college. And then, they joined their family companies together. They married best friends. And so, their families were best friends. What more could be said?

"Stop what you're doing Darty," Nate said. "Go online now!"

Because they were so close, Nate knew how much Dartagne cared for the school. And for that very reason, Nate knew none of what was being said about Dartagne was true. Dartagne would have maybe put in a word for his nephew. But would never get his nephew in if the interview panel said Imhohep wasn't good enough. And he certainly wouldn't give Imhohep's plans, the SDC, a push. Nate knew that because he was aware of Dartagne's disapproval of the SDC. The only reason Dartagne didn't speak about it was because he wanted to be true to his word and not interfere with the decisions of the school, and because he didn't want to think that he knew better than the principal and the teachers who were at the school everyday.

Nate knew Dartagne wouldn't like what was being said. And Nate wanted to be the one to let Dartagne know, so his friend wouldn't be caught by surprise by anyone, especially someone with malicious intent.

"What is this," Dartagne fumed.

Nate sighed, hearing clearly the frustration over the phone.

"You cannot stay silent Darty. Call your PR teams. Get your voice out, before it gets worse. Before its too late."

"Yes. Nat, thanks."

"No need," Nate said, with a chuckle. "I'm coming over. Let's get this sorted out."

"Okay."

After ending the call, just as his friend suggested, Dartagne called the PR team to his office. And not long after the team of five, Nate arrive as well. And they got started.

*

"You're not attending today either?" Haven asked.

The three of them were enjoying a snack. Haven was eating. Gwen and Petra were watching. But all three were very happy. In the seven years he was away, a lot of Haven's habits had changed. He ate tiny portions at every meal, and he had five to seven meals a day. His breakfast was a third of Petra's, and hers was already the smallest at home. Her excuse was that she grew fat easily and had to watch her diet. She needed to be beautiful if she wanted to marry well. And what could anyone say to that.

Haven was haven the pre-lunch snack.

"Nah," Petra said uncaringly.

"Don't look at me," Gwen said, throwing up her arms. "I've given up. I just have to love you all no matter what. That's what makes me a really good mother."

"You're just lazy," Petra said.

She earned a sharp rap on her head, with those knuckles of Gwen's that were undoubtedly made of steel. But she had received so many of them that she didn't even blink.

"Behave," Gwen said.

Petra snorted.

"You're not a genius, are you?" Haven asked. "Like one of those who don't need to go to class but have to, and so grab every opportunity to not go."

Petra staring with her mouth hanging open was a sight that proved the opposite.

"Right," Haven said, with a shake of his head.

"Of course," Gwen said, adding late, "not."

Petra laughed before the other two, and that made the whole thing much less funny. That didn't stop them. They could laugh for much, much less.

And then, Haven's phone rang.

"Message," Petra said, leaning over to peep. "Who?"

Haven shrugged and turned the phone so it was easier for her. And Gwen too.

It was Ember. And it was a short message.

"Come in."

"I have to go," Haven said.

Gwen nodded.

"I'm coming," Petra said.

He didn't refuse. Gwen said nothing.

*

[Haven]: I'm here.

[Wale]: Exactly as expected. Just quicker.

[Haven]: We know what that means.

[Wale]: Dartagne is clean.

[Haven]: That settles it. Romos it is.

[Wale]: Initiate third assault?

[Haven]: Where's Ember?

[Wale]: She's been weird.

[Ember]: Don't you dare.

[Haven]: Didn't say it.

[Ember]: Someone brought up your dismissal. Or Mr Thorne claiming it.

[Ember]: Don't block it.

[Ember]: Something very interesting shaping up.

[Haven]: The academy?

[Ember]: The academy.

[Haven]: What exactly are you all plotting?

[Wale]: Who?

[Ember]: Petra! How are you sweetheart?

[Ember]: I'm coming to see you. Soon.

[Haven]: When? Tell me, so I'll plan college.

[Ember]: Come on sweetheart. You're home now. You care very little about college.

[Haven]: You're right, Ember.

[Ember]: As always.

[Wale]: As if!

[Haven]: As always.

[Ember]: We'll have to rush Romos. Rebellion might beat us.

[Haven]: Initiate third assault.

*

"Are you sure?" Nate asked.

It was the question that the PR team had too.

Dartagne's first course of action was to gather information. Three from the team were tasked with that. The other two were to act as Nate's and Dartagne's assistants. The two of them would be making calls. The assistants were to take notes without missing a thing.

Nate and Dartagne called the other directors, Romulo Ingaard, the current principal after Onass retired, and teachers they were close to. They got the transcript of the panel that interviewed Imhohep. Dartagne spoke with the interviewers who told him that they did give Imhohep extra points because of his relationship with a director on the board. They insisted that no one from the board ever directed them to do so.

And they also learned of Imhohep's other actions. Even to Nate, who was much more liberal than most, they were too much. Dartagne was incensed. By the actions. By the person who committed them. And by his closeness to that person. And so, he wanted to make his stand very clear.

Dartagne Thorne released a statement publicly, not as the president of Vitrens, but as a director on the board of Swoy's First Academy.

"I apologize sincerely for adding to the confusion. I want to take this opportunity only to explain my silence and my stand that I have never wavered on. I am proud of my school. And I am proud to be on the board. I have always believed that my responsibility is to provide input when asked for it and provide support all the time. That is exactly why I have never participated in the school activities outside of board meetings. I confess that I was aware of none of what is being discussed. And that is my only mistake. I apologize for that."

He then shared a copy of the interview transcript, and confirmed the suspicions that Imhohep Thorne was responsible for the firing of a well loved and respected teacher.

Nate shared the post, adding a comment.

"We apologize. We should have done better."

*

The public networks were on fire. Director Thorne's statement cleared the air. Mr Thorne wasn't borrowing his uncle's name but stealing it. Made him so much more hateful.

Just then, a thread from the First Academy's bulletin was shared on the wide web.

It started with an anonymous post.

"Hadn't Mr Thorne gotten a student dismissed? A popular student too. And wasn't it after that that he grew so obnoxious?"

The replies were all in affirmation of that. Until a different opinion was expressed.

"The truth is slightly different. Mr Thorne did raise a complaint with the principal. The student's parents were called too. The student was suspended for two days. Not expelled. It was the student himself who transferred to a different school. Probably because he didn't want to study under such a teacher? And Mr Thorne lied when claiming that he was responsible for the student's expulsion. And it was this lie that led to the SDC."

After that, the situation was pretty much unsalvageable. And it was clear that the rebellion had already begun.