when she was little."
Dr. Austin suddenly noticed June. He bowed his head and said, "Madam."
Ma gestured sadly toward June, as if she were a dent in the side of a new car. "June used to be a genius, too. Least we thought she was. Her and that Charley Peters she married. They was both real smart. They knew everything about everything."
"Charley worked at Technon," Pa added. "Like me. He had a real good job there."
"Then he ran out on June and the baby."
June began to shrivel in the doorway, but Ma kept talking. "That's when she broke down and all. And became an invalid. That's when she moved back in with us."
Dr. Austin turned away, clearly hoping to change the subject. His gaze fell upon Kate. He looked at her quizzically, then he said, "I'm sorry. We don't usually include other children in the personal assessments."
Kate turned both open palms toward him. "No problem."
But then, to Kate's surprise, June spoke. "She's supposed to be here, too. She got a letter."
Dr. Austin looked over at his wife. She explained, "The girl lives in the same duplex as George Melvil."
Dr. Austin nodded. "Well, we do have some cases such as yours. And they have worked out very well. You will be exposed to the finest teaching methods in the United States. That can't help but change you for the better, can it?"
Ma said, "Her father ran off. He was that Charley Peters I was telling you about. Last we heard he was over in Korea or someplace."
Dr. Austin looked at June. She stammered, "He-he is employed by the American Schools Abroad Program. In Asia."
Dr. Austin raised his eyebrows. "Ah, yes. I am aware of it. A fine program."
Ma cackled. "I guess they'll let anybody teach them kids over there."
"On the contrary, madam. They have very high standards. We can learn much from the Asian continent. Their students outperform American students with depressing regularity, particularly in math and science. They don't outperform Whittaker students, though." He gestured to his wife, who selected a book from the bookcase and held it up. "Ten years ago, I implemented a revolutionary plan for education, explained in my groundbreaking book
TBC: Test-Based Curriculum.
You shall hear more about it later in our interview."
Cornelia set the book back down.
Dr. Austin walked toward the door. "For now, let us take a quick tour of the top floor. Would you like that, George Melvil?"
George mumbled, "Yes, sir."
Dr. Austin's eyes flicked over to Kate. "And of course you, too, miss."
9. A Short Tour, with a Long Lecture
As on the floors beneath it, a black iron railing lined the inside perimeter of the eighth floor, protecting pedestrians from an eight-story plunge to the marble lobby. Dr. Austin led his small group along that railing and down the hallway, stopping at a pair of tall oak doors bearing brass plaques. Dr. Austin paused to read the first: "Cornell Whittaker Number One, 1851–1942." He added, "The man was a genius, a great inventor. Are you interested in inventing, George?"
George gulped. "Yes, sir, I am. In fact, I have invented a flying machine."
"Excellent! Then you must enter our science fair."
Kate clenched both fists as George said, "Yes, sir, I would like that."
Dr. Austin said, "Excellent," again. Then he read the next plaque: "Cornell Whittaker Number Two, 1901–1998." This time, he didn't add anything.
They turned right and continued around the railing, passing a long wall without doors. Dr. Austin asked, "Do either of you have questions?"
Kate did, and she spoke up. "Yes. I was wondering: How does your school district map work? Why doesn't it have a normal shape, like every other district?"
Dr. Austin laughed heartily. "Because it is not like any other district! The County Commission, in its wisdom, has given us the permission—nay, the mandate—to draft talented students from any part of King's County we like."
Kate glanced at George and asked, "What if they don't want to come?"
Dr. Austin laughed again. "What student
Dr. Austin suddenly noticed June. He bowed his head and said, "Madam."
Ma gestured sadly toward June, as if she were a dent in the side of a new car. "June used to be a genius, too. Least we thought she was. Her and that Charley Peters she married. They was both real smart. They knew everything about everything."
"Charley worked at Technon," Pa added. "Like me. He had a real good job there."
"Then he ran out on June and the baby."
June began to shrivel in the doorway, but Ma kept talking. "That's when she broke down and all. And became an invalid. That's when she moved back in with us."
Dr. Austin turned away, clearly hoping to change the subject. His gaze fell upon Kate. He looked at her quizzically, then he said, "I'm sorry. We don't usually include other children in the personal assessments."
Kate turned both open palms toward him. "No problem."
But then, to Kate's surprise, June spoke. "She's supposed to be here, too. She got a letter."
Dr. Austin looked over at his wife. She explained, "The girl lives in the same duplex as George Melvil."
Dr. Austin nodded. "Well, we do have some cases such as yours. And they have worked out very well. You will be exposed to the finest teaching methods in the United States. That can't help but change you for the better, can it?"
Ma said, "Her father ran off. He was that Charley Peters I was telling you about. Last we heard he was over in Korea or someplace."
Dr. Austin looked at June. She stammered, "He-he is employed by the American Schools Abroad Program. In Asia."
Dr. Austin raised his eyebrows. "Ah, yes. I am aware of it. A fine program."
Ma cackled. "I guess they'll let anybody teach them kids over there."
"On the contrary, madam. They have very high standards. We can learn much from the Asian continent. Their students outperform American students with depressing regularity, particularly in math and science. They don't outperform Whittaker students, though." He gestured to his wife, who selected a book from the bookcase and held it up. "Ten years ago, I implemented a revolutionary plan for education, explained in my groundbreaking book
TBC: Test-Based Curriculum.
You shall hear more about it later in our interview."
Cornelia set the book back down.
Dr. Austin walked toward the door. "For now, let us take a quick tour of the top floor. Would you like that, George Melvil?"
George mumbled, "Yes, sir."
Dr. Austin's eyes flicked over to Kate. "And of course you, too, miss."
9. A Short Tour, with a Long Lecture
As on the floors beneath it, a black iron railing lined the inside perimeter of the eighth floor, protecting pedestrians from an eight-story plunge to the marble lobby. Dr. Austin led his small group along that railing and down the hallway, stopping at a pair of tall oak doors bearing brass plaques. Dr. Austin paused to read the first: "Cornell Whittaker Number One, 1851–1942." He added, "The man was a genius, a great inventor. Are you interested in inventing, George?"
George gulped. "Yes, sir, I am. In fact, I have invented a flying machine."
"Excellent! Then you must enter our science fair."
Kate clenched both fists as George said, "Yes, sir, I would like that."
Dr. Austin said, "Excellent," again. Then he read the next plaque: "Cornell Whittaker Number Two, 1901–1998." This time, he didn't add anything.
They turned right and continued around the railing, passing a long wall without doors. Dr. Austin asked, "Do either of you have questions?"
Kate did, and she spoke up. "Yes. I was wondering: How does your school district map work? Why doesn't it have a normal shape, like every other district?"
Dr. Austin laughed heartily. "Because it is not like any other district! The County Commission, in its wisdom, has given us the permission—nay, the mandate—to draft talented students from any part of King's County we like."
Kate glanced at George and asked, "What if they don't want to come?"
Dr. Austin laughed again. "What student
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