Jennifer Stewart, a reporter for the local newspaper, calls Superintendent Seymour the next morning to ask if there is a district rule against students singing the national anthem. Seymour denies that such a rule exists and gives Stewart permission to quote him. Stewart next calls Principal Doane to confirm that Philip has been suspended. Dr. Doane eventually tells her that student information and discipline are private matters that she cannot discuss with the reporter. When the reporter pushes back by pointing out that she already has the story from Philip, Dr. Doane responds by telling her that she is not sure of the full facts of the situation and that discipline is handled by the assistant principal in any case.

That morning, Philip also gets the memo from Dr. Palleni informing him that he has been moved back to Mr. Lunser’s homeroom class. He is disappointed that he still has Ms. Narwin for English, however, but he tells his mother that the assistant principal probably forgot to add that information to the letter.

The reporter also calls Dr. Palleni to confirm that Philip was suspended for singing the national anthem and that Dr. Palleni (not Dr.