Theoracism

The Wilmington, Delaware courtroom was empty save for Gadot, Myson, Vala, and all their lawyers. Moore’s recommendation, Torrance Skilling, was with Gadot’s family lawyer, Trent Gull. Vala had representation from Cooney’s lawyers, including Maxwell Garvey, Tina Soisson, and Nella Dern. The two students may have been outnumbered, but the firepower from their two attorneys would suffice.

The room buzzed in anticipation of hearing the two sides square off across the educational divide. All of the litigants seemed poised and prim. The competing legal teams were eerily cool, calm, and collected. If they felt on edge, they didn’t let on to the others there present. When the judge had finally entered from her chambers, the people in the gallery rose as suddenly as if a bell just sounded.

“Should we get going here?” Judge Marilyn Cobb asked.

“Yes, your Honor,” Tina answered. “We are going up agsinst an institution that has been around for nearly one hun—”

“I’m aware of the age of the Cooney Academy. Let’s cut to the chase, shall we Mr. Skilling?”

“Yes, your Honor. We have a case against Cooney Academy whose adminstrstive board have gone against school policy.”

“And that policy is?” Judge Marilyn asked.

The fraudulent schemes that the school has inflicted has impacted these children gravely and gratuitously.”

“We don’t need to bust out the purple vocabulary, huh?” Judge Marilyn questioned.

“Absolutely, your Honor,” Skilling nearly whispered, sitting down.

“Tell me something good, Soisson,” the judge sighed.

“Cooney Academy has provided these students with an excellent education. The theory has enlightened them and awakened them to know the truth about themselves.”

Judge Marilyn sighed. “Counsel please approach the bench.”

All of the attorneys filed like ants to meet in front of the judge. Gadot and Myson got a good look at Vala. She scowled. The judge cleared her throat.

Judge Marilyn folded her hand and asked, “why are we here? This is a private school, the teachers can teach whatever they want and the students have the right to express themselves and exercise their rights to use the courts, given that this case concerns fraud. The way in which we can find a balance in all of this is to send out digital messages to all of the parents and teachers clearly outling the theory. Does everyone understand?”

“Yes, your Honor,” all of the lawyers said in unison. Skilling and Gull returned to the two students. Myson kept his voice low. “What happened? What’d she say?”

“You’re both going to graduate from Cooney and still have to get taught CRT.”

“But we have only a few months, plus AP tests,” Gadot reasoned.

“Yes, and you will always have the crits. Just don’t let them get to you,” Gull said.

“Cooney will keep its curriculum and the students will be free to choose.” The judge banged her gavel and everybody else arose once more.

Vala flashed a quick grin and returned to her scowl as she exited the courtroom.

Gadot looked at Myson after their lawyers had moved out of the courtroom.

“This is a win right?” Gadot asked.

“It doesn’t feel like it but it’s the best we can do for now,” Myson answered.

“Well, what is that?” she queried. They walked out of the courthouse and faced each other on the steps.

“We’re definitely going to have to hold onto our minds. They can tell the teachers what to teach. What we can do is turn the other students against CRT and have it dissolved from the lesson plans.”

“That’s going to be a task. You and I are virtually the only students who have knowledge of its harm.”

“We’re going to reverse the damage.”

The two left the court with a feeling of a half-win in their stomachs.