The Unteachables

On the same day that Kiana started at Greenwich middle, Mr. Kermit comes to school knowing that at age 55, he has only one school year left before he qualifies for early retirement and can finally be free of the classroom. That morning, the principal and superintendent tell Kermit he’s being moved to room 117 to teach the Self-Contained Special Eighth-Grade Class. The Superintendent hints that Kermit could quit if he doesn’t want the assignment, and Kermit realizes the Unteachables are a ploy to force him to resign and thus forgo his pension—the Superintendent “doesn’t want the school district on the hook supporting me forever” (15).

Kermit accepts the assignment, figuring these kids can’t be worse than others he’s dealt with. In room 117, he finds the kids toasting marshmallows over a trash can fire. Kermit pours his coffee over the fire to put it out and announces he’s the class’s new teacher, consoling himself that it’s “only ten months until June” (20).

A few days later, Parker outlines his typical weekday morning—dropping vegetables off at the farmer’s market, driving his grandmother Grams to the senior center, and then heading to school. While he enjoys farming and likes taking care of his grandmother even though she can’t remember his name, Parker dislikes school because he feels like he’s “bad at everything that’s considered important” there (25). Specifically, he struggles with reading because the letters rearrange themselves into things that don’t make sense.

Parker is late to school. He rushes into room 117, where he slips and falls because someone spread butter on the floor. The kids laugh, but Mr. Kermit ignores the commotion. Kiana helps Parker off the slick floor and to his desk. When Mr. Kermit gives Parker the day’s worksheet, Parker struggles to read the questions. Kiana notices and tells Parker he can only get help if he tells someone he’s struggling. However, Parker realizes that if he waits for Mr. Kermit, “I’m going to be older than he is before I get” his help (29).