Dead Poets Society

names,” Nolan shouted.
    Feeling faint, Charlie hoarsely replied, “It’s only me, Mr. Nolan. I swear. I made it up.”
    “If I find that there are others, Mr. Dalton, they will be expelled, and you will remain enrolled. Do you understand? Now stand up.”
    Charlie obeyed. His face was blood-red as he fought back tears of pain and humiliation.
    “Welton can forgive, Mr. Dalton, provided you have the courage to admit your mistakes. You will make your apology to the entire school. ”
    Charlie stumbled out of Nolan’s office and headed slowly back to the junior dorm. The boys were milling around in their rooms, walking in and out of the hallway, waiting for their friend to return. When they saw Charlie coming, they all dashed into their rooms and pretended to be studying.
    Charlie walked down the hallway, moving slowly, trying not to show his pain. As he neared his room, Neil, Todd, Knox, Pitts, and Meeks approached him.
    “What happened?” Neil asked. “Are you all right? Were you kicked out?”
    “No,” Charlie said, not looking at anyone.
    “What happened?” Neil asked again.
    “I’m supposed to turn everybody in, apologize to the school, and all will be forgiven,” Charlie said. He opened the door and walked into his room.
    “What are you going to do?” Neil asked. “Charlie?”
    “Damn it, Neil, the name is Nuwanda,” Charlie said, as he gave the boys a loaded look and slammed his door shut.
    The boys looked at each other. Smiles of admiration broke out in the group. Charlie had not been broken.
    Later that afternoon, Nolan walked into one of the Welton classroom buildings and headed down the corridor to Mr. Keating’s room. He stopped at the door, knocked, and entered the classroom. Mr. Keating and Mr. McAllister were talking when he walked in.
    “Mr. Keating, may I have a word with you?” Nolan said, interrupting the two teachers.
    “Excuse me,” McAllister said as he scurried out of the room.
    Nolan paused and looked around. “This was my first classroom, John, did you know that?” Nolan said, as he walked slowly around the room. “My first desk,” he said nostalgically.
    “I didn’t know you taught,” Keating replied.
    “English. Way before your time. It was hard giving it up, I’ll tell you.” He paused, then looked straight at Keating. “I’m hearing rumors, John, of some unorthodox teaching methods in your classroom. I’m not saying they have anything to do with the Dalton boy’s outburst, but I don’t think I have to warn you that boys his age are very impressionable.”
    “Your reprimand made quite an impression, I’m sure,” Keating said.
    Nolan’s eyebrows raised for an instant. He let the comment pass. “What was going on in the courtyard the other day?” he asked.
    “Courtyard?” Keating repeated.
    “Boys marching. Clapping in unison...”
    “Oh that. That was an exercise to prove a point. About the evils of conformity. I... ”
    “John, the curriculum here is set. It’s proven. It works. If you question it, what’s to prevent them from doing the same?”
    “I always thought education was learning to think for yourself,” Keating said.
    Nolan laughed. “At these boys’ ages? Not on your life! Tradition, John! Discipline.” He patted Keating on the shoulder patronizingly. “Prepare them for college, and the rest will take care of itself.”
    Mr. Nolan smiled and left. Keating stood silent, staring out the window. After a moment, McAllister stuck his head in the door. He had obviously been listening.
    “I wouldn’t worry about the boys being too conformist if I were you, John,” he said.
    “Why is that?”
    “Well, you yourself graduated from these hallowed halls, did you not?”
    “Yes.”
    “So, if you want to raise a confirmed atheist,” McAllister observed, “give him a rigid religious upbringing. Works every time.”
    Keating stared at McAllister, then suddenly let out a laugh. McAllister smiled, turned, and disappeared down the hall.
    Later that night, Keating walked over to the junior-class dorm. The boys were just hurrying out to club meetings and activities. He approached Charlie, who was walking out the door with a group of friends.
    “Mr. Keating!” Charlie said, looking surprised.
    “That was a ridiculous stunt, Mr. Dalton,” Keating said harshly.
    “You’re siding with Mr. Nolan?” Charlie said in disbelief. “What about Carpe Diem and sucking all the marrow out of life and all that?”
    “Sucking out the marrow