CHAPTER ELEVEN
As the next day came and kids filed into the Elementary assembly hall, Skinner took a peek at the gathering body of students from behind the podium curtain. He turned back around to greet Bart, who had both feet up on a table, leaning back in a chair cracking his knuckles.
"It's never wise to play this kind of game Simpson" said Skinner, his tone of voice echoing frustration.
"Don't mind the way I play Seymour, just go with it" said Bart.
"You know how much is riding on Rodd and Todd's maths program is already" said Skinner, "They can't afford to lose this"
"You set this in motion, trying to please Charmers one way, but deep down you're more than willing to see them lose. Because if they do, and we go back to the old system, then the negative numbers will mean the students get held back every year, which means the same teachers with the same experiences get to hold on to their jobs a bit longer, seeing as it'd be pointless to fit in fresh tutors with the changing face of class" Bart argued.
"We've repeated this cycle a good number of times now, it was only a matter of time before someone slipped out of our Matrix" said Skinner with a sigh.
"Plus, it'll convince Charmers there's still some sway in the old programme if it generates results this one time, making your existing system seem even less obsolete...doesn't matter if it gives you less satisfactory events in future, it's the quintessential story of John Henry's hammer"
Skinner smiled, "You could always surprise her with a little bit of history"
"Any other reason you don't want her system to win? You mad she chose Ned in the end over you?"
"If anything, I guess that I want what she designed to keep in her family to stay that way, Flanders always tries to make everything of his have a celebrity stature about them, it happened with his first wife too...he puts far too much stock in making them into martyrs" Skinner confessed.
"So it's agreed then?" Bart said, exchanging his hand
Skinner reached out and shook it.
"You'll get your new computer Bart, but only if your sister earns it and the reputation of the old system back" Skinner revealed.
"And in return, I'll go into self-hypnosis sessions with Grounds-keeper Willy and gradually drill the awareness of the slipback agenda out of my mind" Bart replied
"They're ready to begin Seymour" said Ms. Hoover as she peeked through the curtain.
"Make your way to your seat Simpson...and be warned, when the fireworks begin, you stand well back from the blue maths paper" Skinner joked.
"Try not to retire when you light it" Bart replied.