Flora’s Guide to a Second Chance at Love and Life

Megan picked up the folder and gave it a quick once-over. Her eyes skimmed over the name, gender, and photo, and she seemed fairly composed at first. But then she hit the part where it said Tyler had dropped out in 8th grade and hadn't been back to school since, and her expression shifted dramatically.

She looked at Mr. Garcia, completely flabbergasted. "Mr. Garcia, are you seriously suggesting this student should be in my class?"

"Yes," Mr. Garcia nodded, reading her mind. "Tyler had to leave school due to some tough situations. Now that he's joining your class, I trust you'll be able to help him catch up."

Megan was practically reeling, "Mr. Garcia, he's been out of school since 8th grade, and now he's jumping into my 11th-grade class? That's a three-year gap! How's he supposed to keep up? He won't understand a thing I teach. How can I possibly guide him?"

Tyler stood quietly on the side, his head slightly bowed. "Even though I haven't been in school these past three years, I've been studying on my own. -"

He was about to assure her that he could manage and wouldn't hold back the class, but Megan cut him off sharply, "You what? You think three years of self-study means you can keep up with my class? If you were really up to it, why did you drop out in 8th grade?"

Megan was fuming, and it showed in her voice. With the year-end assessments around the corner, her class wasn't exactly top-tier, and they weren't raking in any big bonuses either. Adding Tyler into the mix felt like a disaster waiting to happen!noveldrama

"Ms. Lee!" Mr. Garcia scolded, his tone disapproving.

He thought Megan's attitude was way out of line, not what you'd expect from a teacher.

"Mr. Garcia, my class might not be the elite one, but it's not for someone stuck at an 8th-grade level, is it?" Megan retorted, feeling like Mr. Garcia's decision was a slap in the face. Bringing a student like him into my class, how will my students see me? What about the other teachers?"

"He can attend Westbrook High School, sure, but does he have to be in my class? Can't he just join a regular or lower-level class? I, Megan, don't teach students at that level."

"Ms. Lee, aren't you being a bit harsh?" Keaton walked in, catching the tail end of her rant, and couldn't help but chime in. "So what if he's struggling? Every student deserves a fair shot. You shouldn't talk to students that way."

Keaton was known for his easygoing nature, and he always opted to teach the struggling Class 19. Even though he'd been around for a while, the newer teachers didn't really give him much credit.

"Mr. Keaton, it's easy for you to say when it's not your responsibility. You can sit back and throw around comments." Megan sneered, "Why don't you take him then? You love taking on these struggling students, right? One more won't hurt."

Keaton didn't take kindly to that. His face darkened "If that's what it takes, I will. Ms. Lee, I have to point out that some students might not excel academically, but they shine in other areas. We shouldn't judge them solely by their grades or tabel them as failures. 'Teaching according to their abilities and 'educating without discrimination' are fundamental principles in our teaching guides."

Megan shrugged off his words, her focus still on Mr. Garcia, waiting for a resolution.