Lean on Me Page #5

You are going to lead

our resurrection

by defying

the expectation

that all of us

are doomed to failure.

My motto is simple.

If you do not succeed in life,

i don't want you

to blame your parents.

I don't want you

to blame the white man.

I want you

to blame yourselves.

The responsibility

is yours!

In two weeks,

we have a practice exam

and the minimum basic

skills test on april 13th.

That's 110 school days

from now,

but it's not just about

those test scores.

If you do not have

these basic skills,

you will find yourselves

locked out,

locked out

of that american dream

that you see

advertised on tv,

that they tell you

is so easy to get.

You are here

for one reason,

one reason only-

to learn

to work

for what you want.

The alternative is

to waste your time

and to fall

into the trap

of crime, drugs,

and death.

Does everyone

understand that?

Do all of you

understand me?

Then welcome to the new

eastside high.

Mr. Clark

don't play.

What happened this

morning is an outrage.

My boy's no criminal.

Those children

belong in school,

not back out

on the street.

You're a fascist,

clark!

Our kids don't

deserve this!

Some of them

are smart.

They're just

discouraged

about their chances

out there,

what kind of jobs

they got waitin'.

Now what kind of

chance do they have?

He insulted the black

football coach.

The man's gone crazy.

He's declared war

on his own people.

Remember,

miss barrett,

mr. Clark

was nice enough

to come to this

emergency meeting

after a very

trying day.

I think we owe him

a chance to respond.

They say

one bad apple

spoils the bunch.

Man:
My son

ain't no bad apple!

Well, what about 300?

Rotten to the core.

Now, you're right,

mrs. Barrett.

This is a war.

It's a war to save

2,700 other students,

most of whom don't have

the basic skills

to pass the state exam.

Now, if you want

to help us, fine.

Sit down with your kids

and make them study.

Go get your families

off welfare.

How dare you talk

about welfare!

Give our children

some pride.

Let them get their

priorities straight.

When dr. Napier

came to me

offering this job,

i saw the lightning flash.

All right!

I heard the thunder roll!

Give it to 'em!

I felt breakers crashing,

swamping my soul.

We are not in church,

mr. Clark!

I fell down

on my knees...

and i cried,

"my god...

why has thou

forsaken me?"

Tell 'em

about it.

And the lord said,

"joe, you're no damn good."

No, no. I mean this...

more than you realize.

"You're no earthly

good at all

"unless you take

this opportunity

and do whatever

you have to."

And he didn't say,

"joe, be polite."

Do whatever you have to

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