A TV School

This is a rough draft. It is only a rough draft of a children's book that is currently written from too adult a perspective. The great thing about rough drafts is that this matters not a bit. This manuscript is really just a lark, a way to write without the stress of weightier work. Enjoy.

Philanthropia West unlocked the school doors and slid through sideways to avoid spilling her coffee, bumping her tote bag, or dropping the paper-mache Parthenon. She had been schlepping projects and books in and out of Sonrise Academy as soon as she was old enough to schlep instead of be schlepped. Philanthropia was the fourth generation of Wests to run the school and if she could just keep it together long enough her nephew would probably continue the tradition. The question was could she keep the school going? Her uncertainty about that point had brought her to the sanctuary of her office so early in the morning.
Looking at the school's finances she knew she was going to have to go to the West Trust for funds again, and she knew she risked the school's closure each time she drew the board of director's attention to the dwindling school in a very valuable building. It was a charitable trust, but the Wests hadn't become so wealthy by being foolishly sentimental. Phil knew it wasn't foolish to keep the school going. Good teaching gets in the walls and floors in the way that yeast inhabits a bakery. She might be the most inept headmistress in the school's history, but the school was still doing great things for children. All it really needed were more kids. Sonrise had a tremendous alumni group that was very supportive, but scattered. The checks came in, but the kids didn't. The student body was almost entirely alumni's children, but that only amounted to thirty kids.
Sonrise had a difficult time attracting newcomers because of its eccentric approach to education. The founding headmaster, Cornelius West, felt that as long as you had a faculty that loved learning and children it really didn't matter what degrees they held or didn't hold. He had turned out to be right, but it was hard to explain this to parents in this enlightened age. At least it was hard for Phil. She had always secretly doubted and it showed when she toured prospective parents. How could she explain thirty children in fourteen grades with a faculty of four teachers none of whom had a degree in education? They all held many other degrees; Phil herself had ten degrees from very notable institutions, but no one had gotten around to the study of education itself.
Dr. Frederick Spurgeon, professor of Latin and logic, was also fascinated by Egypt and archaeology. Miss Jane Spry, mistress of art and dance, had performed around the world and studied everything everywere, but seemed destined never to finish more than a bachelors. Miss Delia Straight taught mathematics and physical education. She had a doctorate in theoretical physics, but not a single class on kinesiology. Finally there was Mrs. Susan Sheer--literature. Parents were always worried about the lack of phonics and such, but they needn't have the inherent curiosity and the love of the teachers insured that everything and everyone was well taught. Phil herself loved to dive in with various series on history. The children had a marvelous time, and graduates had attended every Ivy League school as well as prestigious institutions abroad.
There was simply nothing for it. Phil had to find a new way to attract parents to Sonrise. She had hoped to skate along until Roger was finished with his studies. Roger was the first West to actually study education. Phil had had a hand in this. Roger was her favorite nephew and she had passed along her doubts to him certain he would find the solution. Roger was entirely engrossed and likely to be several more years acquiring his basic education having only two doctorates at the moment. Thirty students would not hold out as long as necessary. So here she was hoping to find the strength and inspiration to carry on in the potent combination of a Quaker silence and a strong cup of coffee.

This story continues here.