To Sir with Love

Braithwaite watches the students take part in the biannual Yearly Report of the Student’s Council. His class works very hard in preparation and on the day of the report, the students arrive “smartly dressed and polished” (136), led by Miss Joseph and Denham. Florian’s opening remarks make Braithwaite realize how much Florian identifies with the school and its students’ successes.

The reports begin with the youngest classes, working their way up to Braithwaite’s students. The reports become more detailed the older the students are: “Throughout all the reports, the emphasis was on what they understood rather than on what they were expected to learn” (137). Denham announces the students, making sure to add Miss in front of the female students’ names, which makes Braithwaite proud because he believes the respect will trickle down throughout the school. Miss Joseph talks about “the brotherhood of mankind” (138); Potter speaks to weights, measures, and mathematical relationships; Sapiano instructs on crop pests. Miss Pegg and Jackson speak on countries’ natural resources and human relationships, Fernman instructs on physiology using the skeleton, Miss Dare reports on disease prevention. Miss Dodd reports on the history of England’s Reformation. Denham criticizes gym class.

After, they call Miss Phillips, Weston, and Mrs.