1 Summary

Mr. M., a history and social studies teacher who teaches Current Events at Winwood High, explains that all he has ever wanted to do was teach. Yet, he explains, it is difficult to get kids interested in Current Events because they care more about sports, sex, and high school politics such as the Glen Ridge rape case where high school jocks used a baseball bat to sexually assault a retarded girl. Most students defend the jocks and only one student, Paul Warren, disagrees and says the jocks are scum.

Paul Warren is the sort of kid that Mr. M is trying to reach. Paul has woken up to the world around him because of the Current Events class and Mr. M., not only to realize people are dying, but this his own father is having an affair. Paul is a nice kid, a varsity fullback...