Disciplinary Action/Disciplinary Office/First Week/Headmaster/Sex-ed

Propose a reform to the sex-ed curriculum

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You were quite worried as you entered the office, after all your previous interactions with the headmaster had shown that you weren’t his favorite guy in the world, and now you needed to ask him to modify a program that apparently he’s managed to implement after overcoming several problems.

But so far he’s accepted your authority on several issues, and shown that he’s willing to stick to his word even if it affects his own family and status, so perhaps this wouldn’t be so bad.

You relaxed a little when you saw he wasn’t bent over his desk with a pile of papers on the side, but actually was reclining in his chair, drinking from an elegant cup.

“Gardner!” he growled, but at the same time pointed to a seat in front of him with his cup, “don’t tell me you already need my help for some trifle issue,” he said, but this time it almost felt like he was joking.

“Actually,” you started, sitting down, “I wanted to make a proposal to amend this year’s Human Sexuality and Reproductive Health course,” the headmaster’s eyes closed a little, giving him a dangerous look, but otherwise he said nothing and took another drink, “I already talked with Ms. Carmichael, and it seems she’s been feeling a bit stressed over it, so I thought a few changes might help both her and the students.”

“What does it have to do with you, Gardner?” asked the headmaster, his face unchanged.

“Well, since the guidelines provide using public exposure as a middle-level punishment, I thought we could kill two birds with one stone, the punished student would suffer a great deal of shame, not only being exposed, but actually showcased in front of his peers, and the rest of the students would get a first hand taste of the consequences that misbehaving might bring,” you said, trying to remember everything you had thought of when planning this meeting, “and having live models would improve the students comprehension of the topic, because, to be frank, the current course is lacking on several fronts,” only that last made the headmaster frown his face. He put down the empty cup on an equally elegant cupholder.

“So you want to replace Ms. Carmichael during the sex-ed classes?” he asked, his tone once more very hard, “because she’s not doing a good job?”

“Not at all!” you immediately said, and were glad when the headmaster’s gaze allowed you to continue, “I have very little knowledge of the actual academic details of the class, so Ms. Carmichael would continue teaching the material and planning what and when to teach every section,” you assured, “I would only be there to assist on the demonstrations when they are part of a punishment,” you swallowed and tried to regain your composure, “the main problem Ms. Carmichael has faced to teach a excellent sex-ed class is parent opposition to the subject, but if it’s part of a punishment, they would have to accept it, according to the new rules, right?”

You were glad when the headmaster’s brow went up at your last argument, apparently he hadn’t consider that, “You might be on to something, Gardner,” he admitted, his hands playing on the table as he considered your words, “there are some parents that would like to see me gone,” he said, almost talking to himself, “and they’ve been using sex-ed as a rally point to recruit more votes, but at the same time those same parents were eager to accept the new punishments, so I can use this to make them lose footing…” his eyes finally returned to you, “I’m leaning towards granting your request,” he informed you with a small smile, “but don’t think I can’t see right through you,” he said leaning over his desk, his eyes fixed on yours, “I know what’s really on your head, Gardner,” you felt a shiver run down your spine at the tone of his voice, but it was over almost instantly, and the severe but just headmaster was once more sitting in front of you, “I’ll allow you to assist Ms. Carmichael during the year, at her request, but you better not use this as an opportunity to overstep your boundaries, Ok?”

You nodded, a lump in your throat making it difficult to speak, “Don’t worry, Mr. Granville, everything else aside, I’m honestly interested in the development of the children,” you assured in what you hopped was a confident tone.

The headmaster ignored your response and instead spoke to the intercom, “Ms. Varano? Please schedule a meeting with Mr. Gardner, Ms. Carmichael and yourself, so that Ms. Carmichael can coordinate some updates to her course. I’ve given Mr. Garner permission to assist her, at her request,” while talking to the secretary, a flip of his hand told you the meeting was over, so you quickly got up and went back to your office.

Besides being sweaty and almost trembling from the stress of the meeting, you were smiling as you got out. Even if the headmaster had given Ms. Carmichael all the authority, your previous meeting with her suggested she wouldn’t oppose any of your suggestions, and if you played your cards right, the children would receive a sexual education that would stick with them their whole lives.

• Smiling, you return to your office.