Life and Production: S2 E3: Under Freedom

Prided

The task of waking up Preston and getting Symphony ready for school never bothered Trevor Lesane. Preston, first of all, employed his alarm clock on his smartwatch. And Symphony always dressed herself and straightened up her room before departing. While their schools never enforced a dress code, both siblings prided themselves on their smart attire. Ever the ones for punctuality, Symphony and Preston exited their home at the precise time every morning: 6:45 AM. Lesane called up the Z Set and made certain that his children buckled up despite there being no law requiring such actions. He programmed the coordinates for Whitney Middle School and the trio embarked on the weekday expedition in education. The Z Set eased up to the entrance.

Quick Fashion

“See you later, Dad,” Preston said waving. “Enjoy your day at school, Symphony.” The big brother broke free from the confines of the automobile and set forth to mind his studies. In class, Preston remained attentive, focused, and driven. He envisioned his days in high school and then college. In addition to their studies, Preston made his mark as a jazz trumpeter and mathlete. Symphony organized a business club and held meetings as the CEO of Symphony Sweets, a chocolate chip cookie consortium. While school lessons remained the top priority, the siblings passed their classes with all A’s. Their diligence did not break up their social lives, however. Both brother and younger sister had ties to a bevy of friends. But they never got lost in the herd. Identity issues never bothered these two. They knew how to navigate the times treacherous landscapes of middle school and elementary. On this day in early November, Preston would face down an exam which allowed no notes or aids of any kind. Once the instructor had passed out the electronic tablets to fill in the answers, a hand shot up in quick fashion.

Tabulated

The instructor, Mr. Wetherson prepared the exams.

“Mr. Wetherson, can we use our smartphones?”

“No, Trent. No use of devices save the special encrypted tablets that I have issued you,” Mr. Wetherson said.

“Hey, Pres!” Trent Barrish whispered in a quiet shout.

No, Trent. I already know what you want and the answer is no,” Preston said.

“Oh, really? If I don’t pass this class, I’ll flunk out and have to go to Duplessis.”

Duplessis Study Home was a private school like Whitney and Ashley Learning Center, but it was run by ill-formed charities and featured subpar facilities and an apathetic staff.

“Guess you’ve got to start packing because you’re not getting an answer from me.” Preston shifted in his chair. The monitors from the students who tuned in around the globe (with an instructor to watch over them) lined the walls of the classroom. At the end of the test session, the teacher then tabulated all of the results in real time and posted them on the Internet. Trent passed the exam without having to cheat his way through school. He beamed.

“Hey, Lesane,” he said, “guess I didn’t need your help on this one.”

“Yes, but don’t ever feel that someone has to help you. Start thinking, man.”

Preston gathered his tablets and left the room.

Symphony had turned in her short report on the patterns of whale migration. Her teacher had evaluated her piece and congratulated Symphony on her deft understanding of the subject matter. Mrs. Cynquisha Welsh applied strict standards in her classroom but always showed a sincere interest in her students’ work. Symphony stood out in this regard. Her comprehension of fractions and decimals became manifest because Mrs. Welsh dedicated her life to instructing bright young scholars.

Demonstrate

Though they learned at different levels, Preston and Symphony engaged in education that accentuated thought as the main focus with emotion as a response to situations. While Symphony studied the names and shapes of the planets in the solar system, Preston measured the distance between them, why the Earth is the only habitable planet, and the fundamentals of why these celestial bodies orbited the sun. The schools received funds from donors as well as advertising revenue. Privatization meant that shaping the thinking patterns of children would be the highest value. And it was tied to the profit motive. Though some teachers saw modest fortunes during their career compared to business executives, some managed to reap significant financial benefits. But the spirit carried them. It demanded of them that in order to experience the pleasure of teaching, they would have to ask themselves key questions: Did the student apply him or herself to the fullest capacity? Did the student know and demonstrate that they knew the history of ancient Greek architecture?

What separated these institutions of education from other schools also was the fact even students who struggled could contact the instructors online and discuss ideas and problem solving strategies, twenty four hours a day. Because of the frequent donation drives, no student was bereft of school supplies. With no state sponsored standardized tests these private entities flourished. Under freedom, they propelled forward with that knowledge that all children could be taught. This liberty enabled administrators, staff, and students to enter new phases of understanding. For their unyielding devotion to the case of reasoning with the world, the professionals of schools like Whitney and Ashley continued the endeavor for achieving brilliance. These bastions of comprehension brought about an intellectual revolution with the Great Transition. In the years since it was instituted, students graduated at rates unprecedented in American education. In the First State, the students received excellent learning under the guidance of teachers who were in it not only for a dollar, but to one day enlighten the next inventor, the next sculptor, the next philosopher.

Symphony looked down at her smartwatch and counted to the second when the bell would peal. As it made its music, she stood and exited the classroom. She made her way out of the school and found the Goulding waiting with her father and brother in the vehicle.

“Did you have as good a day as your brother?” Lesane asked.

“Yes, Daddy,” Symphony said.

“That’s good,” Lesane said. He then turned to the microphone in the control panel.

“Z Set, take us home.”