Oops, sorry Speds, did I ruin your- Hey, get it back! You’re practicing for the SATs? Is this a joke? You’re in the slow class. SATs are for those of us who actually can get into college. What is going on? Oh, hi sir.

Jackie boy here had a little accident. I was just helping him out. You know, gotta help these special kids.

Alright, time for class. Go! Uh, excuse me sir, what page are we at? Page 21. Uh, is this gonna be on the SATs? Son, before you even think about the SATs, you should focus on getting your grades up.

You failed last semester, remember? I hope you all enjoyed your time off. Open your textbooks. Page 21.

Come on, who here can tell me what a polynomial function is? No one? A rational function? Logarithmic? Any kind of function will do. Well, I see no one remembers what I taught them from over the holidays. Best that explains why you’re in this class.

Page 21 is a reading exercise, if you care. If not, go back to chatting. Hey, Jack, what’s a polynomial function? You think you mean a polynomial function? Yeah, whatever that is…

Mr. Gardner? Please, wait. I don’t have time for this. My skills are wasted here.

I need to work in a classroom where I can make a real difference. Phil, do you even remember what you told me eight years ago when I hired you? You said, and I quote, every student has potential. Every student.

And it’s our job to bring it out of them. You asked me to teach that class because that’s where you thought you could make a real difference. Well, I guess you were wrong.

If you’ve got your heart set on this transfer, I’ll put in your request. But these things tend to take some time, so until then, you’re just going to have to stay put. Thank you, sir.

Jack, could I speak to you outside for a moment? Jack, how would you feel about tutoring? Yeah, the SATs are around the corner, and this classroom isn’t exactly the best environment to thrive in. Yeah, I’d love that. All right, we can meet Sundays, say 9 a.m. Yeah, all right, cool.

I’m sorry, Mr. Emerson. I know I’m late. Jack, I don’t think this is going to work.

I’m missing Sunday breakfast with my family to be here to help you. If you’re not going to be serious about it… I am, I am. Please, sir.

I promise this won’t happen again. I really need your help. Fine.

Take a seat. Hey, give me that. What? That can’t be right….

You’re dumb as a mule. No, Carl. You’re dumb as a mule.

Jack here is not. Hey, you can’t talk to me like that. You’re a teacher.

Then go make a complaint to Principal Gardner. Go on. Mr. Emerson, wait.

I can explain. It’s my mom. Go home, Jack.

We’re done here. No, please, let me explain. No, Jack.

It’s obvious you don’t care about your future, so why should I? You should have disappointed me like all the other students. Sir, please. I’m really trying to do better.

You wanted to see me, sir? Anderson, come in here. Here. Your transfer’s been approved.

Everything’s okay. You just need to sign and you can be on your way. Thank you, sir.

I… Yeah, yeah. Just get this over with so you can get out of here. I’m sure you’re excited to teach some normal students instead of these problem children.

Would you mind if I take this home to read? Really? Yeah, whatever. Thank you, sir. Jack? What are you doing out here? I’m just waiting for the bus…

My mom’s in the hospital, so I’m spending the night with her. Let me give you a hand with that. So I’m in this.

I think it’s a polynomial, but I’ve been trying to solve that all day. I’ve been leering it for the last… I can see. Interesting.

Good morning, everyone. Now, as you all know, SATs are just around the corner. Yes, Brian? Then why should we care? We’re already failing your class.

You’re right. Today, I want to try something new. I want you all to think of a starting point.

Think of something that you struggle with, a lesson you didn’t understand. Then I will walk around the classroom and I will sit with each and every one of you so we can tackle it together. When I chose to teach this class, it’s because I knew every single student had the potential to be great.

But it’s my job to help you realize it. And to that, I have failed. I used to think that was your fault.

That you guys didn’t even want to succeed in school. But, someone showed me I was wrong. Now, who wants to start? Guys, the results are in! They posted the SAT scores!