Bel Kaufman - Up The Down Staircase

Acetalyn in water plus what?

Potassium

Oxalic acid

Boyles Law

My Spelling Demons—

Write in note-book three times, neatly in ink:

alright

alright

alright.

Je me porte tres bien et vous?

Merci. Je aussi.

Note to myself—Rewrite letter to Barringer on new pink stationary, use best handwriting and put in his letter-box. I dare me!

Tues. Assembly postponed to Wed. Music program. Listen courteously. No stamping of feet for applause.

Quotation marks when talk to a person

No quotation marks when talk to a thing (indirect)

Bring money for Scholastic. (Get from WHO ?????????)

Carole—What did I miss yesterday? Alice

Dr. God E. Clarke gave a speech. Same thing. And Dr. Bastard observed us in English and we missed half of Physics because of Shelter Drill. You didn't miss a thing. Carole

Guest Speaker on Vocations for Young People:

Archeology

Diatetics

Forestry

Law

Medicine

Millinery

Refrigeration

Religious Work

Teaching

Dear Beloved . . . Last Sunday when I took the subway to your stop, little did you know

Note to myself: don't forget skirt & shoemaker

Put letter in P.B.'s Box tomorrow

and be absent!

Alice Blake Barringer—A.B.B.

(A.B.—same initials as before marriage!!!!)

Carole—Did you do Totalitarian Countries?

Alice

McHabe is a Dictator! Carole

He's a crud. A.

Pastorfield is a crud. She's crazy about you know who! C.

But he's only a kid in her class! A.

What the diff? She's desparate! C.

I thought Bob was Linda's boy-friend. A.

One of hers. She's crazy. C.

She's alright. A.

I think P.B. is crazy about S.B. C.

You're nuts! And stop writing in my book! A.

Dearest Beloved, My heart is throbbing with the loneliest

American Labor Party

Laissez-Faire Capitalism

2y

If X = — what does

4

Note to myself: Stop carrying it around and Do It!!!

Alice—What's the matter with you? Were you sick when you left the room? Carole

I had to go down to the Letter Box & get something back. Alice.

Did you? C. It was too late. A.

Oh my God, dear God, what did I do! He's got my letter now . . . My soul lies naked in his hands . . . I'll die . . . I'll just die. . . . . . . . . .

Answer the following questions at the end of the chapter

Dear Mr. Barringer,

Last Sunday I took the subway to

your stop having looked it up on your

Time Card…. I hope you don’t mind

the presumtion …. I walked back and

forth across the street from your house

back and forth …. And I thought I saw

cliché you and my heart was throbbing with

omit this love I bear for you ….

no caps I feel so deeply the Beauty and

cliché Truth of the poetry you read in class ….

I alone …. Especially such lines like

“ She has a lovely face, the Lady of

Shalot. ….”

I think of you all the time ….

word? at night, darkling, I pray to be worthy

not clear of you and all that you stand for ….

I believe we understand each other and

awkward no one else ….And if ever you need me

to die for you I will gladly do so ….

I hope you don’t think me

presumptious but I have to speak out

the truth …. the only truth ….

Sincerely yours,

Alice Blake

Alice—

Thank you for your note. Watch spelling and

punctuation; you tend to use a series of dots

to avoid it! Watch repetitions and clichés.

You might look up the spelling at the

Lady in Tennyson’s “Idylls of the King” –

P B

Dear Miss Barrett,

Thank you for everything ….. It’s not your fault ….. I wish you all the happiness and joy you ( der) deserve …. Some day they will all know ….. Be well and take care of yourself …..

I hope I didn’t inconveniance You.

Alice Blake

INTRASCHOOL COMMUNICATION

FROM: H. Pastorfield, Room 307

TO: S. Barrett, Room 304

Dear Sylvia,

Can you spare some chalk?

What's all the commotion outside?

Henrietta

INTRASCHOOL COMMUNICATION

FROM: Mary Lewis, Main Office

TO: S. Barrett, Room 304

Sylvia— How awful! How perfectly awful! We've never had anything like this since I've been here. Where is Paul? His time card is punched in, but no one can find him. How awful that it happened in his room!

Mary

(The office is Bedlam. Finch is in hysterics—never saw her like this before!)

INTRASCHOOL COMMUNICATION

FROM: Marcus Manheim, Room 306

TO: Sylvia Barrett, Room 304

Dear Miss Barrett,

They need me as a witness, although I didn't really see it—I was just passing by 309. If you're not teaching, can you cover my class for a few minutes while I sign the papers and forms? Thank you.

S. Manheim

FROM: JAMES J. MCHABE, ADM. ASST.

TO: ALL TEACHERS

ALL TEACHERS AND STUDENTS WILL PLEASE REMAIN IN THEIR ROOMS, DISREGARDING THE BELLS, UNTIL THE AMBULANCE ARRIVES.

JJ McH

Dear Miss Barrett,

Please send down Health Card for Alice Blake—Urgent!

Do you have any blank Accident Reports? I'm all out—Urgent!

Do you know where Mr. Barringer is?—Urgent!

Frances Egan

School Nurse

INTRASCHOOL COMMUNICATION

FROM: 508

TO: 304

Dear Syl—

It's ghastly, I know, but try to keep the kids busy.

Can you reach Paul? It seems she left a letter for him on his desk.

Bea

FROM: JAMES J. MCHABE, ADM. ASST.

TO: ALL TEACHERS

AN UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED. YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO DISCUSS IT WITH ANY POLICE OFFICERS IN THE BUILDING OR ANY OUTSIDERS. WE MUST NOT ALLOW THE PUBLIC IMAGE OF OUR SCHOOL TO BE DISTORTED UNDER STRESS.

JJ McH

Dear Miss Barrett,

Please initial the entry: "Jumped or fell" over the red line on the enclosed PRC for Blake, Alice.

You will note that her CC's for the last 4 terms indicate excellent adjustment:

Term 1: Nice & helpful

" 2: Leadership potential

" 3: Reliable—blackboard monitor

" 4: Lovely girl—polite

It's most atypical for a girl with her stable PPP to have done what she did, but there are factors beyond our control.

Ella Friedenberg

Guidance Counselor

Dear Miss Barrett,

Please fill out the enclosed Emergency Form:

CHECK ONE: PARENT OR GUARDIAN

REACHED

NOT REACHED

BY TELEPHONE

BY TELEGRAM

TO: PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF _____________

WE REGRET TO INFORM You THAT YOUR

SON ____________________________

DAUGHTER _______________________

INTRASCHOOL COMMUNICATION

FROM: 508

TO: 304

Dear Syl—

Anything I can do?

Bea

FROM: JAMES J. MCHABE, ADM. ASST.

TO: ALL TEACHERS

YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO OBSTRUCT ANY INFORMATION THE POLICE WISH TO HAVE, PROVIDED YOU WERE A DIRECT WITNESS TO THE OCCURRENCE, IN WHICH CASE YOU ARE TO REPORT TO THE OFFICE AT ONCE.