The Last Holiday Concert

Hart Evans is one of the most popular kids in 6^th grade.

At school, he's well-behaved so the teachers like him. He's Mr Cool with the students, always chosen first for teams even thought he's not the best player. At home, he's kind of a mad scientist. He likes to tinker and build and do experiments.

But one day in class while Mr Meinert is discussing the upcoming Holiday Concert with his students, Hart succumbs to the urge to launch a rubber-band and it stings his chorus teacher on the neck. Hart is marched straight down to the principal's office, of course. He doesn't know that Mr Meinert has just been informed of the termination of his position as music teacher at the middle school, effective at the end of the term.

The principal is incredulous at first – Hart is usually so well-behaved – so he quizzes Hart about his intentions. Hart claims he didn't mean to hit the teacher, he was aiming for the lights. So Mr Richards, the principal, gives him only two days detention.

The next week, class is interrupted by an early snow.

The students leave their seats to gaze at the white flakes falling down. They chatter and clamor to their neighbors and ignore their teacher completely. So Mr Meinert sits down and picks up a book to wait them out. When they finally come to attention, he begins writing on the board; “Holiday Concert – 30 minutes.” Then he abdicates all responsibility and charges the students with organizing the concert themselves. “Have a nice concert,” he tells them.

Confusion reigns for a while.

Then the students decide to vote for a chorus director, and Hart is chosen. After several class periods of total chaos, Hart finally directs the students to plan the concert; they nominate Christmas selections and vote on their favorites. They volunteer for musical numbers or special talents. Slowly the concert takes shape but they have only thirty minutes for the chorus so Hart has to talk people out of impractical suggestions and irrelevant talents. They choose a unifying theme, PEACE ON EARTH, and build around it.

The concert on December 22 is a resounding success and we live the whole thing through the students' eyes.

Hart and Mr Meinert, who have had an uneasy peace up to now, are reconciled just before Mr Meinert leaves for good, carrying the box he emptied his desk into.

My students would not enjoy this book as they have no frame of reference for how classes are organized in the public school system, but yours may. The students written about are 6^th graders (12 years old) but the level of writing is, strangely, well below that.

This chorus teacher's thought process, which the author irritatingly switches to on occasion, reads like a trucculent child, like a churlish middle schooler himself and not an adult. He says things to himself such as “I'm such a loser!”He should be an example of fortitude and resilience to his students and, instead, he shirks his responsibility for weeks at a time! He complete ineptitude results in a student having to pick up the responsibility and bring it to fruition. I sure hope this is not how many classes are run in the public schools!

The final Holiday Concert, which the students have worked together to organize themselves, is a warm and endearing celebration of the season. Most everyone's ideas, a few even ridiculous, have been worked into the program in a clever way that showcases everyone's talents and interests. It's an affecting scene, a wish for peace on earth.

But it's too little, too late.

CONTENT CONSIDERATIONS

The students use phrases like “Shut up!” and chant the word “Id-i-ot!” back and forth to each other.

Several major world religions are discussed and attempts are made to diversify the concert. The students end by singing “We Wish You a Happy Holidays.”