Assignment "Wu and Jimenez"

1. Wu's Conflict: Compassion vs. Security (although her ideas of what Security is will change as the story progresses.)
2. Jimenez: Conflict is also Compassion (remnants of identification with children having problems which will haunt him from time to time) vs. Security (which he sees as having Power.)
3. Initial Conflict between Wu and Jimenez in teachers lounge (where copy machine is - poor school) when Wu offers to tutor some of Jimenez's students who are having trouble with English.
4. Jimenez: No, not doing them any favor by coddling them. They need to learn while they are young enough for it to be easy. He did it. He 'puts her in her place' with references to developmental theory he assumes she will not understand. Other teachers present will be divided in reaction. One confused Sub (out of state credential, Subbing while fulfilling CA requirements) may become a viewpoint character.
5. 1/4 point: Because Wu tries to intervene on her own she violates some school rules. She loses her job.
6. Because Jimenez considers inferiors who oppose him in any way as threats he watches Wu and catches her in an infraction. Because he is 'willing to admit he was wrong in supporting her when there was controversy over keeping her and letting Hispanic aides go' he makes an impression on a teacher who is involved with the Council for Better Schools and is invited to join the Council. The meetings conflict with the class he is taking to meet Continuing Education Requirements. Because he believes in the 'It's not what you know, it's who you know' philosophy, and because he sees an opportunity to gain supporters to make him the first Hispanic on the School Board, he chooses the Council over the class despite some doubts about Council aims.
7. Because Wu realizes she made a mistake in trying to 'go it alone' she persuades her family to support her in the 'back room' school.
8. Because Jimenez feels he has to prove he is always 'vigilant' he watches Wu and finds out about the 'back room school'. He is outraged and rallies the Council members to oppose it.
9. ½ way point: Because Building code violations and Education code violations, that Jimenez and the Council publicize, force closing of the 'back room school the family wavers in their support. Because they feel that the store itself is threatened they suggest that Wu should go live with cousins in another town.
10. Because Jimenez exposes the 'threat' he is praised for his vigilance and an 'Important Person' actually suggests he run for the School Board.
11. Because Wu feels that running away will just make matters worse for everyone she fights doubts and concludes that recruiting the family was not enough. She must gain support from teachers and the Hispanic community and find a suitable site. She manages, barely, to convince the family. She remembers passing the closed Parochial School and proposes that they seek to take it over for a private school site.
12. 3/4 point: Because Jimenez has been concentrating on the Council and his Campaign he is behind in his CEU class. Because he believes his 'Powerful friend' will protect him he chooses to drop the class and focus on opposing Wu as his main campaign issue.
13. Because Wu struggles to find a way to help the helpless even when it costs her dearly, her dream begins to touch the compassion in others who would have liked to do something but never knew what to do, and her group grows.
14. Because they are disgusted by Jimenez's personal attacks, many of his supporters abandon him. Some even join Wu. The opposition is completely defeated.
15. End: The lease on the vacant Parochial School is granted and the disparate groups bring out traditional costumes for a celebration (combine Hmong festival, Quinceanera, folk dancing, and barbeque) on Their new school grounds.

Morphing

Traditional Science fiction if on colony planet and groups are first ship (had hard time and easily subjugated by) second ship (better supplied) who were firmly established when third ship (hastily evacuated) arrives. Language or cultural adjustments the problem.

Romance if one of Jimenez's supporters is young teacher who ???

Horror: Jimenez wins.

For Western Wu would have to be an Anglo easterner who wanted to let Native Americans attend school.

Mystery - Jimenez is murdered and Wu is suspected because of her obvious motive. But it would have to start at mid-point or later.

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Copyright © 1999 Margaret I. Carr.

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