Miss Joseph and Denham:
Miss Joseph and Denham are both businesslike and efficient while allocating tasks and fitting in the programme. They are important officials for the function and sit on the stage confidently beside Mr. Florian. Both address the audience with confidence.
However, Denham is blunt, critical and argumentative while discussing the P.T. exercises that everyone has to do in school. He argues with Miss Phillips, but when Miss Phillips pleasantly and coolly puts him in his place, he graciously accepts defeat. He is also courteous in his dealing with the ladies.
Miss Phillips, whom everyone had thought to be frilly and brainless, proved while answering Denham’s questions that she was the best informed of the three teachers on the stage.
She intervened skil fully when the other two teachers were at a loss, without embarrassing them. She spoke coolly, honestly and with authority.
When Denham is blunt, critical and argumentative while discussing the P.T. exercises that everyone has to do in school, she tells Denham that the whole timetable in the school was meant to help the students in the world after they left school, and doing what one was told in spite of not liking it, is part of the training. She gives her views confidently and puts Denham in his place very coolly. Denham accepts his defeat courteously.
Fernman and Miss Dare:
Fernman is clear, precise and dramatic. He keeps the audience spell-bound by his speech. Miss Dare and Fernman discuss the subject of physiology, with Fernman stealing the show by exhibiting a model of a human skeleton and stressing the class conclusion that “basically all people were the same.” Miss Dare speaks about the problems which all humanity has to face in terms of sickness and disease, and of the advantages gained by interchange of knowledge, advice and assistance.
Her contribution was something of an anticlimax after Fernman’s performance, and she seemed to realise it, but continued with her speech. Fernman was also adroit while questioning the teachers.
The narrator, a teacher, is sensitive, and upset about racism, which has affected him directly. He initially had a very difficult time with the students who were disrespectful, ill-mannered and mischievous. However, he didn’t lose his patience and continued implementing his novel ideas and techniques. This helped him to bring a significant change in his students’ lives. He is very anxious about the students and later proud of their confidence, understanding and behaviour.
The Head of the school, Mr. Florian, addressed the school on the day of the half-yearly report of the Students’ Council. He spoke about the aims and policy of the school and of the important contribution each child could make. He gave praise wherever necessary, but insisted that there was yet a great deal to be done. His remarks showed that he identified himself with the school and everyone in it. At the end he expressed his pride in all the children and his deep appreciation of their efforts.
