Ms. Discussion Meltdown is a white, middle-aged female, and the majority of her students are also white. Four of the twenty-nine freshman students are Asian American and one is Latino. Student A is a white male who is a high achieving student and athlete. Student B is an Asian American female student who is active in the student council and also a high achieving student. Student C is a white male student who performs at an average level in the classroom. Students are arranged in pods, with four students grouped together and facing one another at each pod. The rooms walls are plastered with students work, evidencing a collaborative and active classroom of students.

Students in Ms. Discussion Meltdown's Classroom are discussing the ways in which Kino, the protagonist of Steinbeck's The Pearl, encounters injustice in the novella. Following is a snippet of discussion regarding the doctors treatment of Kino, in particular.

Student A: I don't really see what the big deal is; the doctor is simply conforming to the norms of the city. The city people dont want to spend their resources on the poor, rural folk.

Student B: Hey! That's super racist! How could you say that? What doctor wouldn't want to help the poor? That's what doctors do--help others.

Student C: That's not what he (Student A) was saying at all, Student B. He was simply voicing what was probably a common perception at the time. You need to reread the section.

Student B: Whatever. (This student shuts down, as evidenced in her folding her arms across her chest, sighing, and slumping back in her desk).

Student A: No, i'ts not whatever. I'm totally not racist. And how dare you call me one. (The student takes a deep breath). I'm just saying what the doctor was doing wasn't wrong. The doctor's behavior was a reflection of the upper-middle class in the city.

Student B: (Student B sits back up and gestures with flying hands and wide eyes at Student A). Wasn't wrong?! Whatever, it doesn't make it right. You're not right.

(Other students are beginning to perk up in their desks, glancing at one another or looking down as the tension builds in the room).

Student A: What isn't right is you calling me a racist. You are way out of line. If anyone is racist, it's--ugh, nevermind. I'm just engaging in the text, like we're supposed to do, right, Ms. Discussion Meltdown?

(All eyes that weren't yet looking at Ms. Discussion Meltdown are now fixed on her. Silence).

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Ms. Discussion Meltdown is a white, middle-aged female, and the majority of her students are also white. Four of the twenty-nine freshman students are Asian American and one is Latino. Student A is a white male who is a high achieving student and athlete. Student B is an Asian American female student who is active in the student council and also a high achieving student. Student C is a white male student who performs at an average level in the classroom. Students are arranged in pods, with four students grouped together and facing one another at each pod. The rooms walls are plastered with students work, evidencing a collaborative and active classroom of students.

Students in Ms. Discussion Meltdown's Classroom are discussing the ways in which Kino, the protagonist of Steinbeck's The Pearl, encounters injustice in the novella. Following is a snippet of discussion regarding the doctors treatment of Kino, in particular.

Student A: I dont really see what the big deal is; the doctor is simply conforming to the norms of the city. The city people dont want to spend their resources on the poor, rural folk.

Student B: Hey! Thats super racist! How could you say that? What doctor wouldnt want to help the poor? Thats what doctors dohelp others.

Student C: Thats not what he (Student A) was saying at all, Student B. He was simply voicing what was probably a common perception at the time. You need to reread the section.

Student B: Whatever (This student shuts down, as evidenced in her folding her arms across her chest, sighing, and slumping back in her desk).

Student A: No, its not whatever. Im totally not racist. And how dare you call me one. (The student takes a deep breath). Im just saying what the doctor was doing wasnt wrong. The doctors behavior was a reflection of the upper-middle class in the city.

Student B: (Student B sits back up and gestures with flying hands and wide eyes at Student A). Wasnt wrong?! Whateverit doesnt make it right. Youre not right.

(Other students are beginning to perk up in their desks, glancing at one another or looking down as the tension builds in the room).

Student A: What isnt right is you calling me a racist. You are way out of line. If anyone is racist, it's--ugh, nevermind. Im just engaging in the text, like were supposed to do, right, Ms. Discussion Meltdown?

(All eyes that werent yet looking at Ms. Discussion Meltdown are now fixed on her. Silence).

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