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Episode three begins with
Steven Harper coming to school and immediately facing a volley of
problems. The feeling of being overwhelmed when he walks in the door
sets the tone for the whole episode.
Harper begins dealing with issues from episode
two. There is a board meeting scheduled for this evening and the
escalating problems are making Harper crazy.
Anthony Ward and the Soccer Cheats
 As Guber is lecturing a class
he sees a student hanging upside down outside the window of the
room. As he opens the window he finds it to be Anthony Ward.
Anthony is interrogated by Harper and Guber but refuses to tell them who
is torturing him as he fears that they can do nothing to stop it and
telling will only cause him even more problems. Harper suspends Anthony because he feels he is in danger and
without the names of the assailants the principal can't protect him.
Anthony is obviously upset but won't give in. Harper questions
Sheryl Holt about the Anthony Ward incident assuming that with Holt's
knowledge of goings on in the school she would know who's doing it.
She agrees to tell him if he promises a favor in return in the future,
(we'll see where that goes). According to Holt the soccer team, led
by Tim Whitmore, made plans to hack into Civics teacher Mr. Hart's
computer and download the answers to the tests. Anthony found out
about it and hacked into the system himself in order to change all the answers so
the jocks would
fail. Sheryl requests to remain anonymous so the principal and V.P.
question the whole team, including Whitmore, and they admit to cheating
and torturing Anthony. Harper suspends those involved in the hacking
for a week and cancels the rest of the soccer season.
Guber encourages Harper to hold off on the decision to suspend the season
in order to lessen the situations being dealt with at the board meeting,
but his friend is rock solid about his decision and won't budge.
The Coach's Football Dilemma
 Coach Riley is approached by a
member of his football team who claims another one of the players is gay and
that the
team is refusing to shower with him. Perplexed by the decision he
needs to make, Coach talks with Harper about how to handle things. If he forces
the team to shower together he may be faced with a sexual harassment
suit. If he doesn't let the accused player shower with the others,
he could face a discrimination suit. Harry later finds Joel Rivers,
another athlete, beating up Bobby Renfroe, (the accused), in the
hallway. When Coach Riley meets with Bobby to ask him about the allegationsm,
the young man refutes the claims vehemently. He is adamant about being
straight, and states that he is trying to get a scholarship
to Boston College, a Jesuit school, and doesn't want any rumors to spread because they may kill his
chances of getting accepted. Sheryl Holt overhears the conversation and Coach
sees her eavesdropping. He talks to Sheryl and asks her to keep it
quiet for Bobby's sake. Lipschultz takes it upon himself to gather
the football team and speak to them about the situation. He promotes
tolerance and encourages them to, "Welcome the gay linebacker
into your shower." Coach hears about the little speech and
reprimands Harvey telling him to, "Stay away from my team!"
Harry's "Dungeon" Frustration
Harry is frustrated with
teaching as no students in his "Dungeon" class will do any
work. He lectures them on doing something with their lives and tells
them to leave their books with him when they go because they're obviously
not going to use them. He speaks with one of his
students, Jamaal, in
an attempt to find out what sparks his interest. He wants to know
how to get through to the class. While talking with Harry, Jamaal says that most of his
thoughts are occupied with death. Harry then offers to see about getting him a job at a local
morgue and takes him there for a visit.
Culmination of the Poole Kiss
 Harry finally decides to tell
Harper about his Dana Poole kiss, (perhaps in a self-destructive move due
to his frustration with the "Dungeon"). He also admits to
being blackmailed by her and changing grades for a student because of
it. Harper and Guber are shocked. Guber is doubly shocked when
Harper doesn't immediately fire him. The rest of the staff is just
as surprised when they find out. Guber questions Poole about the
incident. She confirms it was only a one-time kiss and nothing
more. In an attempt to squelch the situation and lessen Harper's
problems at the board meeting that night, he agrees to keep the incident
quiet if Poole visits the counselor, Mr. Lick, aka Big Boy, (played by
Heavy D). Poole reluctantly agrees.
Cannibalism at Winslow High
Lauren is accused of teaching
cannibalism in her American History class. Guber approaches her on
the topic, and Lauren is not impressed with Guber's strenuous objection
to the subject matter. She claims it was simply a subtopic
discussion of native Americans. She was not teaching cannibalism.
The Big Board Meeting
 At the board meeting tension is
everywhere. Superintendent Shinn backs Harper on the soccer
cancellation; however, she reprimands him for other severe decisions and
many non-decisions made by the principal. Shinn is in the middle of
a tirade when she mentions Marla's depression and medication issue. Marla
then stands up and gives her a little what for
despite several staff
member trying to hold her back. She tells board and all in
attendance, (the place is packed with parents as well), about the
struggles that teachers face. She tells off the Super and claims
that she has lost touch with what really happens in the classrooms every
day. After she returns to her seat, calling the Super some unpleasant
things under her breath as she goes along, Shinn points to the irate
teacher as a prime example of what's wrong with schools today; no respect and lack of good role models,
and cites the principal as
the biggest offender. Harper then responds with a well spoken speech
about how hard the teachers work and how dedicated they are. He finishes with, "If you want to fire me, go
ahead and do it! But leave them alone". Guber rises and backs Harper saying if he goes I
go. The rest of the staff follows suit showing their support.
Another bullet dodged for BOSTON PUBLIC!
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