The following transcription is taken directly from a December 19th, 1977 televised edition of the roundtable discussion program “Report Card.” The guest panel includes local educators PAMELA HELMS, SCOTT THAYNE and JOSEPH HIGHBOTTOM. The venue is the Channel 13 studios in Boston, Massachusetts. The moderator is Ricky Roos.
{Music Fanfare; Canned Studio Applause}
RICKY ROOS: Hello and welcome to another installment of “Report Card”, Channel 13's weekly examination of the Boston education system. I'm Ricky Roos. Today's distinguished panel includes Joseph Highbottom, Engineering Professor at Boston Tech; Pamela Helms, Professor of Women's Studies at the University of Massachusetts; and Scott Thayne, Literature Professor at Boston Community College. Good afternoon to each of you.
PAMELA HELMS: Hi, Ricky. Nice to be here with you again.
JOSEPH HIGHBOTTOM: Hello, Ricky. I'm glad we all made it. Got some nasty weather going on out there, you know.
SCOTT THAYNE: Yeah. It would have been a real shame to miss this.
RICKY ROOS: Uh-huh. Right. Well, this week's topic we'll be zeroing in on discipline in college. As all of you know, last month a math teacher at Balefield University was fired after he allegedly punched a student who --
PAMELA HELMS: Disgraceful.
RICKY ROOS: Really, Pamela? I mean, uh, the student did threaten the teacher with a knife, right?
PAMELA HELMS: Allegedly, Ricky. And regardless, there can be no justification for physically striking a student. None whatsoever.
SCOTT THAYNE: And if this same student raped you, Pam, would you simply sing him a nice lullaby during the act? Count the flowered patterns on the wallpaper until the kid finished?
JOSEPH HIGHBOTTOM: Really, Scott. That's crossing the line.
RICKY ROOS: Mr. Thayne, I, uh-
SCOTT THAYNE: This whole business of educational deity is what causes these situations in the first place. It's this attitude that teachers are superior to the students; that we have everything to teach and they have everything to learn.
JOSEPH HIGHBOTTOM: I don't see any student professors, Scott. These kids want to learn or they wouldn't come to class. They need us as much as we need them. Higher education is a wonderful thing.
SCOTT THAYNE: I'm sorry, Joe - were you talking to me, or just working on your first draft for the tenure committee?
RICKY ROOS: Mr. Thayne, perhaps you could, uh --
PAMELA HELMS: So what are you suggesting, Scott? That the students should be given free reign to break up our classrooms? Disrupt our curriculum?
SCOTT THAYNE: Good heavens, Pam, I wouldn't want anything to interfere with your classroom discussions on penis envy and tampon placement.
RICKY ROOS: Really, Mr. Thayne, I must insist that -
PAMELA HELMS: Trying to sell more copies of your book, Scott? Not content with the prison sales you've gotten?
SCOTT THAYNE: We could discuss your book, Pam - but you don't have one.
JOSEPH HIGHBOTTOM: Truly, Scott, I don't see the point with any of this. Surely you can't possibly agree with what that teacher did, right?
SCOTT THAYNE: Wrong. As for the “point”, I think you're proving it nicely.
JOSEPH HIGHBOTTOM: Which is?
SCOTT THAYNE: That those who can't do, teach; and those who can't teach obviously get hired right here in Boston.
RICKY ROOS: So, Mr. Thayne, you'd punch a student that pulled a knife?
SCOTT THAYNE: For starters.
PAMELA HELMS: The man is insane, Ricky. Haven't you read that book of his? He doesn't represent decency or morality of any sort. Frankly, I'm insulted to be sitting here beside him.
SCOTT THAYNE: You know, Pam, I've never in my life felt pity for an inanimate object, but I honestly feel like weeping over the disgust your vibrator must go through-
RICKY ROOS: Alright, Mr. Thayne. That'll be quite enough. I must ask you to leave. When we return from break a discussion on campus dorms…
{Cross shouting among panel; Commercial fade-out}
COPYRIGHT 1977, “TELL ALL, INC.” USED WITH PERMISSION.
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