Emails To Mr. Feeny, From A Concerned Parent
Does this school exist to educate three kids, or can the other 1,200 students at John Adams High get a little attention too?
To: gfeeny@johnadamshs.edu
From: debphilmarshwood@aol.com
Subject: Amanda concern
Hi Mr. Feeny,
Hope you’re well! I wanted to quickly check in re. Amanda. She made a couple comments to me and Phil about feeling somewhat…overlooked in your class, describing herself as “basically a side character.” She seems to have this idea that a few favorites receive the lion’s share of your attention. I’m not sure if this is true, but would appreciate a quick chat, just to clear up what I’m sure is nothing more than a misunderstanding.
Warmly,
Deb
To: gfeeny@johnadamshs.edu
From: debphilmarshwood@aol.com
Subject: favored pupils follow-up
Good Morning Mr. Feeny,
Happy Friday! You must be quite busy, which explains why you haven’t gotten back to me yet — but I did want to mention something else that we learned from Amanda this morning.
She says that a few individuals in your class — Cory Matthews, Shawn Hunter, and Topanga (sp?) Lawrence — are referred to as “The Chosen Three” by the other kids. Apparently, the students feel that you take a special interest in this trio at the expense of the others, even to the point of modifying the content of your lessons to mirror their personal lives. For example, Amanda says that last Friday, you were finishing up a unit on the American Revolution — there was supposed to be a test that day, she claims — but because Cory and Shawn were having some sort of disagreement, you lectured on loyalty and friendship for 55 minutes, and hastily tied it into a story about the Founding Fathers, which Amanda suspects you made up.
I’m a little embarrassed to relay such a pointed accusation, especially to an educator as well-regarded as you, but it does feel worth mentioning, for the sake of resolving this perceived issue ASAP. Please let me know when we can talk.
Thanks,
Deb
To: gfeeny@johnadamshs.edu
From: debphilmarshwood@aol.com
Subject: classroom fairness?
Hello Mr. Feeny,
I have yet to hear from you. I suppose it’s because you’re unable to discuss specific students with me. Fine, point well made. Still, I must add to my previous messages with some findings about the sizable divide that exists in your class:
• Over the past week (just 4 school days, because of the holiday), Abby and a friend kept a tally of how often you called on Cory, Shawn, and Topanga versus everyone else. The final count? Those three: 67 times; the rest of the class: zero.
• According to Amanda, you often call on those individuals when they don’t raise their hands, and even sometimes when they’re asleep, in Mr. Hunter’s case.
• She says there used to be another student you would include — Stuart Minkus — but he disappeared under mysterious circumstances and was never spoken of again.
• I’ve learned that The Chosen Three (I use the term for brevity) comprise the middle column of desks in your classroom. Apparently it’s “known” that those are *their* seats, which is odd considering the rest of the kids have unassigned seating.
To be clear, Amanda’s impression isn’t that you’re unkind to her or the others, but rather, that you’re completely indifferent to them. She says that her work gets graded only about a quarter of the time. And somehow, after nearly an entire semester, she’s learned more about Shawn’s colorful but absent father and Cory and Topanga’s romantic ups-and-downs than she has about early American history. And she’s not even friends with them.
In light of these revelations, I would like to spend a day observing your class. If I don’t hear from you by tomorrow afternoon, I’ll be forced to take this up with the principal. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.
Sincerely,
Deb Marshwood
To: gfeeny@johnadamshs.edu
From: debphilmarshwood@aol.com
Subject: PRINCIPAL Feeny?
Mr. Feeny,
Imagine my surprise to discover that YOU are the principal at John Adams High, in addition to being an English teacher and a History teacher. I would encourage Amanda to seek out the guidance counselor, but I’m guessing she would find you in that office as well.
I don’t know what’s happening at this school, but I intend to find out.
Debora Marshwood
To: gfeeny@johnadamshs.edu
From: debphilmarshwood@aol.com
Subject: TEACHERS LIVING NEAR/WITH STUDENTS
Mr. Feeny,
I am way past “concerned.” I am disturbed. I’ve been informed that you live next door to Cory Matthews. The same source told me that Shawn Hunter lives WITH Mr. Turner, the mulletted English teacher. What’s next, Topanga vacationing with Janitor Bud?
I can only guess at the bizarre logistics behind the living situations detailed above. Regardless, it’s clear that the intertwining lives of a select few students and their teachers is the central story in this school. So as a parent of one of “The Others,” as Amanda and her peers have taken to calling themselves, how can I help my child secure a role as a player in this saga that has apparently been building for several years? It seems to be the only way a student can be seen and valued under your tutelage.
From what I gather, Cory Matthews, Shawn Hunter, and Topanga Lawrence are getting an excellent education. Good for them. But I’m heartbroken for the rest of the students at John Adams High School who have been permanently relegated to the background.
Debora Anne Marshwood
P.S. It’s an open secret that you plan to follow The Chosen Three to college in two years. Perhaps then we can get a more equitable educator in charge.
To: debphilmarshwood@aol.com
From: gfeeny@johnadamshs.edu
Subject: teachers living near/with students
Mrs. Marshwood,
I assure you, I consider all my students equally. I regret that I can’t respond with a longer message, but I’m late for a private tutoring session with Eric Matthews, Cory’s zany older brother.
All my best,
George Feeny
