Read All About It! by Rachel Wise Page B

football
     practice, but it didn’t usually run late. Meanwhile, I wished I’d had a
     chance to get a snack between study hall and visiting the final day of soccer tryouts
     for my story on that. I was starving.
    The room filled quickly. I didn’t realize this was going to be
     such a hot event! About twenty people asked if someone was sitting in the seat next to
     me and after I’d said yes enough times, I started getting a little annoyed with
     Michael. If he didn’t come, I would look like a liar.
    Finally at 6:01, Mrs. Jones, the parent head of the PTA, called the
     meeting to order. She and Mr. Pfeifferand the dean of students and
     the assistant principal were all sitting at a table up on the stage. They did a bunch of
     meeting-ish stuff, like making announcements, and then Mrs. Jones said they would
     welcome any commentary on the curriculum changes so far. I didn’t want to lead
     with my questions so I sat back and bided my time, taking notes.
    The first person to stand was a sixth-grade parent. She read from a
     prepared statement that said American education is about learning the basics in common
     with everyone else in the country. To take a new approach was un-American. A bunch of
     people clapped. Mr. Pfeiffer listened thoughtfully, but he didn’t say
     anything.
    Next Mrs. Perry stood up. Jeff was at the event taking photos for the Voice and I looked at him to see if he was happy or
     embarrassed that his mom was talking. It looked like he was pretending he didn’t
     know her, but he did snap her photo.
    â€œOur children spend enough time on the Internet,” she said
     angrily. “We are not paying huge school taxes to have our children sit on
     computers all day. They can do that at home!”Mrs. Perry sat
     down in a huff.
    A bunch of people clapped and now Jeff’s face was red. Looks like
     Mrs. Perry is a little sick of Jeff’s Buddybook obsession.
    Just then there was a little activity at the end of my row and I turned
     to see Michael sidling in, apologizing. A smile bloomed on my face and I tried to force
     it away. This was business after all and he was late.
    â€œHey,” he whispered.
    â€œHey,” I whispered back, trying to collect myself now that
     he was sitting so close I could feel the warmth radiating off his arms. He had obviously
     come straight from football practice, since his hair was wet and he smelled all soapy.
     All of my annoyance melted away.
    â€œDid I miss anything?” he asked.
    â€œOnly Perry’s mom freaking out about Buddybook in the
     classrooms,” I whispered.
    â€œSeriously?” he said, turning to face me.
    â€œNah.” I shook my head and smiled, and he swatted my knee
     with a flyer he had in his hand.
    â€œYou should’ve been there yesterday whenAndy Ryan threatened to beat the tar out of Perry if he didn’t take down his
     photo,” whispered Michael.
    Some lady shushed us, and Michael turned to listen to the meeting.
    Mr. Pfeiffer was still answering Mrs. Perry, saying that schools need to
     educate kids how to sift through all the junk out there, and part of that is using the
     Internet, and that our school is educating kids for the future, not just the present.
     “Though computers will in no way replace books or teachers at Cherry Valley Middle
     School,” he added. I wrote that down as a quote.
    Mrs. Perry looked skeptical but didn’t say anything more.
    Meanwhile, my stomach knew it was my usual dinnertime. I only hoped it
     wouldn’t growl audibly, with Michael sitting right next to me. Holy embarrassing! Stomach Ruckus Drives Away Hottie, Girl Dies of
     Embarrassment.
    An eighth grader’s father stood up to ask how the school was
     planning on handling reading levels now that even science and math would incorporatereading. “With some kids very proficient, and others at a
     more remedial level, how will you handle such a reading-driven