Scare Quotes

Paper planes ascended. The board had created a new formula. It was something so spectacular that the news had to remain tight like a sealed plastic bag.

“We’re the first in the technological realm to invest a trillion dollars over ten years. This will be free of all government control, coercion, and intervention on the Federal, State, and Local levels,” CEO Maquasia Demeter announced.

She waved a hand in the air and the screen showed the company’s plans.

“We will make complete privatization of all schools within a decade. We can put the word ‘free’ in scare quotes. It will mean that we can have donors and a subscription based model. If people can pay for a year of television, they ought to be able to offer for their child’s education.”

“Everybody says education,” Senior Vice President Bannon O’Grady replied.

“It’s going to be a paid subscription?” another Senior Vice President Klara Champion asked.

“Of course. Like I said, people pay to have streaming music every month. They’ll be more than willing to pay for the schooling.”

The room fell silent. Each member of the board looked at one another.

“Remember, we’re going to be based in Wilmington, Delaware. Instead of just having a mailbox here, we’re going to remain headquartered here with the name Libro Libertad. Literally, Free Books.”

More silence. Then, COO Jerrod Sieto pointed out the rest of the model. He made the figures spin in the air like a ballerina and with as much poise and control.

“We’ll be extending this plan for the next few decades. The billions of dollars will be funneled in from our permanent battery life phones. Our technology, our patents, our very existence will be predicated on the sense that we will offer the schools for free.”

Maquasia stepped in again. “Yes, we’ll pay teachers and staff seven to nine figure salaries. The janitors will be millionaires.”

A few people chuckled but Maquasia stayed resolute. “I wish to see the amount of people take over the roles of custodians and earn more than a decent wage based on their efforts. While they may be on the lower end of the spectrum, they are worthy and needed and vital. Now, our teachers and administrators will of course be the main focus. In relation to their performance, they will be scrutinized the most.”

The visual spun like a twister. There seemed to be a whirlwind of facts and figures available to the board. They watched in amazement an actual video of real teachers and principals and other staff members rolling around in low production vehicles and living in spacious houses and condos.

When the visual had disappeared. Maquasia said, “This is the now, the next, and the new. The crisis in this country over the educational system will not be solved today. That’s why we stretched out for at least a decade to establish ourselves.”

“I don’t like it,” CFO Renton McDaniels said. “I know I’ve had my misgivings about this whole set up in private, well more private than this. I don’t think the feds will be too pleased to know a ‘big tech’ corporation will be affecting the minds of the youth. No, we won’t have advertisers, but we will have Communist and Socialist teachers. We will have children who will want to study Wiccan. While a do agree that this will be a noble quest, the backlash will far outweigh any of our best intentions,” McDaniels mentioned.

Maquasia spoke again. “We have come to an impasse. While I respect your judgment and role in this company I disagree with what you have to say. This company has gone through peaks and troughs, highs and lows. This plan is a high and I stand by it.” The room held solemnity like a prayer.