The Action News Team was in Principal Ramirez's office. Principal Ramirez, with a regretful face, said to the students, "Action News Team, I'm so sorry for implementing the Astrid Method on all of you. I didn't know about the Astrid-"
All of a sudden, Superintendent Chen and Lincoln's parents walked into the office with stern looks on their faces. "Excuse me, Principal Ramirez?" She said.
Principal Ramirez was surprised to see Superintendent Chen. She looked at her and said, "Superintendent Chen? Oh, no. I'm in trouble, aren't I?"
"Yeah. I just got a call from Lincoln's parents that you froze the school because you thought it would improve student performances. Now they want to sue the school." Chen explained.
"WHAT?!" Principal Ramirez gasped.
"To be honest, I think we all should've seen this coming." Lincoln said.
Rusty walked up to Lincoln's parents with a microphone and asked them, "Mr. and Mrs. Loud, how much money are you suing the school for?"
"We are wanting to sue for $5,000." Rita proclaimed.
"$5,000?! Are you insane?" Lincoln asked.
"You're right. Suing the school for that much money isn't a good idea." Rita said. "We're suing the school for $5,001!"
"Yeah!" Lynn Sr. agreed.
"Seriously?!" Principal Ramirez protested.
"I know she is a bit much, but she's not a bad principal. I mean, she helped me get over my fear of public speaking." Stella said as Principal Ramirez smiled.
Soon, the students of the Action News Team and their parents all gathered in the courtroom.
"All rise, court is now in session. The honorable judge Susie will be presiding." the bailiff said.
"Be seated." Susie said as the students and their parents sit down. "Rita, you got a problem with the Astrid Method?"
Rita began the opening statement. "Yes, your honor. Lincoln was completely unprepared when a blizzard hit him right in the face. Principal Ramirez implemented some pretty bad changes to the school after taking advice from Astrid Bjorklundson, a Swedish leading education specialist. These changes include temperatures made really cold, school starting at 6:00 AM for yoga, the lunch menu consisting of nothing but raw salted fish, and eating said fish during gym class. She is putting her students at risk."
"Principal Ramirez, how do you plead?" Asked the judge.
Principal Ramirez looked at Judge Susie and stated, "Not guilty, your honor. Superintendent Chen is overreacting to the Astrid Method."
"Yes, but clearly, you're not looking at it the right way." Lincoln explained. "Me and the Action News Team prepared a 10,000-slide slide show on why the Astrid Method wasn't working, but you didn't want to see it."
"Your honor, allow me to present Exhibit A." said Superintendent Chen as she pulled out a diagram. "The Astrid Method leads to cold temperatures. Cold temperatures lead to frostbite. Frostbite leads to students getting frozen. Students getting frozen leads to child endangerment."
"Objection!" Principal Ramirez yelled.
"Overruled." Judge Susie responded. "Superintendent Chen has a fair point. Superintendent Chen, please continue."
Superintendent Chen continued her statement, "These cold temperatures also covered the floor in ice. With the floor blanketed in ice, the students could slip and get seriously hurt."
"Do you WANT your students to get hurt?" Lincoln asked.
"No." Principal Ramirez shook her head.
"I didn't think so!" Chen said.
Principal Ramirez took out papers and said, "Look, the Astrid Method guarantees student performance improvement. And so I thought, 'A few changes will improve the student performances. What's the worst that could happen?'"
"It's not about what COULD happen. It's about what DID happen! Your honor, Exhibit B." Superintendent Chen said as she held out a picture of Andrew frozen in ice. "Andrew was frozen solid when Lincoln arrived at school."
"The Astrid Method is a new example of putting children in danger." Rita proclaimed.
Principal Ramirez reasoned, "Superintendent Chen, I don't think you're seeing the bigger picture here."
Superintendent Chen yelled, "I AM, and it's ruining your students' lives!"
"You don't know that! The Astrid Method-"
Judge Susie banged her gavel. "ORDER! Would the plaintiff like to call the first witness?"
"Yes, your honor." Superintendent Chen said. "I call Andrew to the stand."
All of the students gasp as Andrew walked to the stand. He sat down and said, "I wasn't ready for these changes! I was literally frozen for a whole day! I could've died! I hope you get arrested!"
"Hey, don't talk to her that way!" Lincoln protested.
"No! She deserves it for freezing me!" Andrew ranted. "She didn't even bother to thaw me out! IT WAS LIKE A GIANT FREEZER IN THERE!"
Judge Susie banged her gavel. "ORDER! Anything you want to add before I reach my final verdict?"
"Yes, your honor." Ramirez said. "The Astrid Method has improved student performances in over 50 countries worldwide and THEY didn't complain."
Lynn Sr. turned towards Principal Ramirez and said, "Well, Astrid didn't take frostbite into account when she created the Astrid Method, and neither did you when you implemented it. You set the temperatures to freezing cold! What were you thinking?!"
"How was I supposed to know about the frostbite and child endangerment?!" Ramirez angrily asked.
"We tried to explain it in our slide show!" Lincoln yelled. "But did you wanna listen? No!"
"Well, if that's the case, I find the defendant guilty." Judge Susie announced her decision.
"YES!" Lynn Sr. exclaimed.
"WHAT?!" Principal Ramirez gasped. "But I was just trying to help improve the students' performances! I thought-"
"Well, you thought wrong." Susie cut her off. "The Astrid Method is supposed to help the students, not put them in danger. You clearly aren't thinking for yourself. You are only putting the students' lives at risk, and $5,001 from your wages will be given to Lincoln's family, and you are banned from continuing the Astrid Method."
"All right. I suppose that's fair." Principal Ramirez said.
"Case dismissed!" Judge Susie said as she banged her gavel.
Back at Royal Woods Middle School, Lincoln, Rita, Lynn Sr., Principal Ramirez, and Superintendent Chen are in Principal Ramirez's office.
"Well, Principal Ramirez, I hope you learned your lesson." Superintendent Chen said.
"I did, Superintendent Chen. I promise I won't continue the Astrid Method." Principal Ramirez sighed.
Superintendent Chen replied, "Good. Because if you do, I'm calling the cops."
"Deal." Principal Ramirez said as she shook Superintendent Chen's hand.
Stella walked into the office holding the microphone, with Liam right behind her, holding a camera. She approached Rita and Lynn Sr. and asked, "Mr. and Mrs. Loud, how do you feel about the ruling?"
"Well, I think that Judge Susie was wise and we got a fair compensation." Rita said into the mic.
"Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Loud." Stella then turned the mic over to Principal Ramirez and asked, "And Principal Ramirez, how do you feel about the verdict?"
"Well, I can't say I'm happy about losing $5,001. But the law is the law, and the school will no longer use the Astrid Method to risk frostbite." Principal Ramirez responded.
"Thanks." Stella said. "This has been an Action News Team special report."