The Ninth Grade Rebellion

The email arrives on Saturday morning, which is strategic. Saturday morning is when ninth-graders are asleep, and parents have had their first cup of coffee, and the school's official account can send out a message that sits in inboxes until Monday without anybody being in the building to answer questions about it. I am not asleep, though. I am sitting on the floor of my bedroom with Simone on FaceTime propped up against a shoebox and my mother's hand-me-down laptop open on my lap, and we are, in point of fact, reading Article Six of the bylaws again, because Simone has a hunch. My phone buzzes. The school account. Subject line: *Important clarification re: recent Student Representative Council action.* I read it aloud. *Dear Parents and Students: A motion was recently passed by the Student Representative Council purporting to amend the campus policy on personal electronic devices. The administration wishes to clarify that while student leadership provides an important advisory function, all final decisions regarding classroom conduct, discipline, and instructional environment remain the responsibility of the campus administration. Current phone policy remains in effect. We appreciate the energy and engagement of our student leaders and look forward to continued collaboration. — Mr. Gerald Boyer, Vice-Principal.* Simone says, "He did not." "He did." "That is — Greta,