{"id":3729,"date":"2025-09-18T14:23:36","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T10:23:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/synergy.ge\/?p=3729"},"modified":"2025-09-18T14:52:02","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T10:52:02","slug":"4-the-rotten-apple","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/synergy.ge\/en\/4-the-rotten-apple\/","title":{"rendered":"#4 The Rotten Apple"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"3729\" class=\"elementor elementor-3729 elementor-3710\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b0f2151 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b0f2151\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a870e1f\" data-id=\"a870e1f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-46ec5d8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"46ec5d8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.14.0 - 26-06-2023 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Rotten Apple<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a5e9008 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a5e9008\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-966125f\" data-id=\"966125f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f425574 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f425574\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.14.0 - 26-06-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/synergy.ge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/4-1.jpeg\" title=\"4-1\" alt=\"4-1\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-10d72d6\" data-id=\"10d72d6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-96d5e09 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"96d5e09\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.14.0 - 26-06-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They opened the classroom door twenty minutes late. Giorgi let Eka go in first. She flashed an awkward smile at the faces turned toward them and walked inside with bent posture and slow steps. Giorgi followed right behind and stepped forward, hand already extended.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cCrazy traffic, I\u2019m so sorry! Hope we didn\u2019t keep you waiting too long.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNot at all\u2026 we\u2019ve just gathered ourselves, actually, only a little while ago.\u201d The tall, well-built man, who Eka assumed must be the school principal, shook Giorgi\u2019s hand firmly with a wide smile. Then he sat down and gestured toward the two empty desks directly opposite him.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The desks were spread apart and arranged in a circle. About ten to fifteen people sat around; everyone could see each other\u2019s faces. Eka and Giorgi slid into the chairs, awkwardly tucking their legs beneath the desks. Eka set her cup of coffee in front of her, popped off the lid, and lifted her hand toward her mouth to stifle a yawn.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-512febd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"512febd\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f46bb9d\" data-id=\"f46bb9d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-104506c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"104506c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI wouldn\u2019t trouble you on a Saturday morning like this,\u201d the principal said, twirling a red pen in both hands, \u201cbut we didn\u2019t want to make a decision without you.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Giorgi nodded, as in &#8220;no problem at all&#8221;, and leaned back against the little chair\u2019s backrest.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eka opened her notebook and let her gaze circle the room. She didn\u2019t know any of these people. A year ago, when the school had asked the consultants for help in improving teaching quality, she hadn\u2019t yet been part of the team. Still, she had carefully read through nearly all the documents the earlier consultants had produced after working meetings and discussions.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-933ea0d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"933ea0d\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2a5e053\" data-id=\"2a5e053\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f89a4d5 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f89a4d5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most important among them was a policy, dozens of points long, designed to improve teaching and learning quality. Its central idea was that students should grow fond of learning, cultivate curiosity, and gain motivation to study. Every clause, in one way or another, carried that spirit in its subtext.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One section, which Eka had written down in her notebook, stood out in particular: teacher selection\u2014what kind of human values a teacher should possess, their ability to nurture a healthy relationships with students, tolerance toward them, and the capacity to make them interested, engage them in the learning process.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Still, she wasn\u2019t fully convinced that such idealistic principles were truly practiced. Seeing this special school with her own eyes was the only way to know.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-947d4cf\" data-id=\"947d4cf\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c0c09af elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c0c09af\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/synergy.ge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/4-2.jpeg\" title=\"4-2\" alt=\"4-2\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7324a24 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7324a24\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-138d751\" data-id=\"138d751\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c8e5db5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c8e5db5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSo, here\u2019s the situation,\u201d the principal began. \u201cOne of our students, during a biology test, was punished by the teacher for making noise. She said he wouldn\u2019t settle down, kept disturbing everyone, kept asking questions\u2026 as it goes. He wanted to cheat, apparently. The kid\u2019s always restless, always messing around, with everyone. So, the teacher pulled his desk out, right in the middle of the test, and made him sit up front, apart from the rest. And on top of that, she told the whole class out loud that if Sandro kept this up, he\u2019d never achieve anything in life. Said no one would want to be friends with him either, if all he did was being a freeloader\u2026\u201d The principal raised his eyebrows as he finished, as if to say: that\u2019s how it is.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not a great start.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe class went quiet, no one said anything\u2026 He\u2019s a thirteen-year-old boy. His mother says he came home humiliated, wouldn\u2019t speak a word\u2026 and now she\u2019s demanding we do something about this teacher. A warning, maybe dismissal. The boy himself says he won\u2019t come back to school until something\u2019s done.\u201d The principal shrugged heavily and put down his pen. \u201cSo tell me\u2014what do we do with this kid\u2019s motivation?\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAnd what does the teacher say? How does she explain herself?\u201d Giorgi asked, raising his voice slightly to cut through the low murmurs spreading around the circle.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The principal tapped the table lightly with his hand and frowned. The whispering stopped instantly.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe teacher, believe it or not, doesn\u2019t think she did anything wrong. Says Sandro always disrupts class, never listens. Keeps everyone else from learning. So she had to do something to shut him up. Well, she shut him up all right\u2014the boy\u2019s practically shut himself out of school now.\u201d The principal chuckled.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Giorgi rubbed his chin thoughtfully.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cTornike, did you speak with the teacher?\u201d He turned to the young man sitting at the principal\u2019s right.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tornike immediately straightened.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYes\u2026 Yes, of course,\u201d he cleared his throat, speaking with caution. \u201cI think this act clearly contradicts the policy we drafted last year. No question about it. She stripped the boy of his motivation to learn. That\u2019s the result. And all our methods, our approach, the curriculum itself\u2014they\u2019re oriented toward one thing: making children love learning. According to policy, the subject departments meet weekly to discuss challenges, try new approaches. I personally oversee those meetings, and everyone\u2019s involved. Ms. Nana could have brought up Sandro\u2019s case there, and we would have solved it together. Maybe through a model lesson, or something. But telling a student, you\u2019ll never achieve anything\u2014that can follow him his whole life\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eka\u2019s only thought was: why isn\u2019t this teacher present at the very meeting where her case was being discussed?<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHm\u2026\u201d Giorgi turned deliberately left. \u201cAnd what does the department head think?\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The woman he addressed had both hands wrapped around her phone, eyes fixed on the screen. She suddenly lifted her head, slid off her glasses, and set the phone down. Eka saw no trace of agitation on her face; her pale eyes looked almost petrified.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019ve already stated my position and I\u2019ll repeat it: I don\u2019t support blaming the teacher. Nana is a very strong teacher, a true professional, a university professor\u2026 She knows how to do her job excellently. That boy has problems with other teachers too, and no one has managed to restrain him. He constantly breaks rules, disrupts others. Why should a kid like that be justified\u2014one who\u2019s no good himself and won\u2019t let others learn either? A rotten apple, exactly!\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A murmur of alarm rose from three sides of the circle. Only the side aligned with the department head remained silent.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNo one here is defending only the child here!\u201d cried the woman sitting to the principal\u2019s left. Her jet-black hair was pulled tightly back, her long black nails and flashing eyes seemed ready for battle. \u201cWe\u2019ve spoken to Nana many times, given her guidance. Tornike himself has explained over and over how she should deal with students, how to manage the class. But some people think they\u2019re the smartest ones in the room, that no one can teach them anything.\u201d Her face twisted with scorn. \u201cAnd as for Sandro\u2014he was my student in primary. Mischievous, yes, but what he needs is a tailored approach. Rotten he is not!\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWell, you can tell whose student he was\u2026 indeed,\u201d the department head muttered with a smile, slipping her glasses back on and reclaiming her phone.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cExcuse me?!\u201d The black-haired woman flared up even more. The principal gently placed a hand on her shoulder and shook his head.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Three seats down from the department head, a younger woman cautiously leaned forward to address the room:<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cMany parents adore Ms. Nana. I know for a fact that several enrolled their kids here just because of her, so that later they\u2019d get into medicine school\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eka\u2019s eyes widened. She shook her head faintly and took a sip of coffee. She remembered her own classmate, the chemistry teacher always gave her top marks, though the girl hadn\u2019t even known the symbol for hydrogen.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhat\u2019s the boy\u2019s academic record like?\u201d Giorgi asked, once the murmurs calmed a little.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The principal looked to Tornike for the answer.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHe\u2019s the best in math. Strong in English too. Almost all subjects, his grades are high&#8221;, Tornike cleared his throat, &#8220;except biology&#8230;\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A smile flickered across Giorgi\u2019s face as he nodded. Then he glanced at the principal. Eka instinctively followed. The principal, serious-faced, was staring at the sheet of paper resting on the notebook before him.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAs I recall,\u201d Giorgi lifted his brows, speaking carefully, \u201cthe policy clearly lists the grounds for a teacher&#8217;s potential dismissal. Teachers whose students consistently underperform, and who make no effort to improve outcomes. Teachers who can\u2019t manage their classes, or who mistreat their students\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The department head gave a mocking smile.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cExcuse me, but this school existed long before that policy. With all respect, outsiders can\u2019t dictate who should be dismissed.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eka instantly caught the glances of teachers sitting along that woman\u2019s side\u2014eyes fixed on the department head as though she were their savior, their leader. She turned to Giorgi, tense, waiting for his response.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Giorgi cleared his throat, cracked his knuckles.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cMs. Inga, perhaps you weren\u2019t present at the working meetings, but I missed none of them. I remember well\u2014every teacher and manager involved voiced their opinions openly. It took many sessions and many revisions to finalize that document. If this policy holds no weight, then we must admit we wasted everyone\u2019s time.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The department head shook her head in disdain, returned to her phone, unwilling to argue further.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The principal lifted his eyes with a conflicted look, picked up the sheet of paper, and turned to Giorgi.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThere\u2019s another thing\u2026 The policy also says that we don\u2019t expel a child for poor academic performance. But if his behavior disrupts the class, if it prevents others from learning\u2026\u201d He spoke as if reciting the words directly from the page.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eka remembered this part as well. Now the policy no longer leaned toward the child either.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Giorgi nodded, as if he understood, and after a pause, spoke:<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThat\u2019s a very important clause. But the policy also says that each case must be examined individually. If we expel a child simply because he misbehaves or struggles with focus, then half the school would be gone. More than half, maybe. You agreed back then that awakening the desire to learn was the school\u2019s priority\u2014and that means it must also be the teacher\u2019s. For mischievous or difficult students, there are psychologists, behavioral strategies, countless methods to address it. Perhaps the teacher spoke without thinking. Or maybe she did mean it, maybe she thought it would silence him. The fact remains\u2014it didn\u2019t help the kid. That, I think, should be decisive.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The principal frowned, nodded slowly.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cLet\u2019s vote.\u201d he said, looking around at his colleagues.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They voted. Only half the room sided with the teacher. The other half refrained from a firm stance.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The final word lay with the principal.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cBy the way\u2026\u201d the department head peered over her glasses at him. \u201cNana\u2019s been here since the days of Mr. Davit. From the very first day, from the school\u2019s founding. Until now, there was never such a problem.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Several people glanced with regret at the portrait hanging above the blackboard: a full-faced man with a kind smile gazed happily out, his features nearly identical to the principal\u2019s, only older, silver-haired.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The principal rolled his eyes at Giorgi, then smiled. He straightened in his chair, spreading his shoulders\u2014towering over everyone else.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI believe the most important thing is making children love learning. Creating a healthy environment. Students should be glad to come here! This isn\u2019t just philosophy, it\u2019s our school\u2019s principle\u2014the very principle Davit built into it!\u201d He gestured toward the portrait. \u201cA teacher must first be a human being, and then a professional. The teacher must manage a class in such a way that students don\u2019t lose their desire to come to school. If we encourage manipulative punishments and humiliations, teachers will never learn to manage a class properly, nor to handle difficult children. And then we\u2019ll be failing the students and their futures altogether. So this must not happen again. Not under any circumstances!\u201d He set the paper firmly on the table and pressed his hand down upon it.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An uproar broke out. Voices rose again, more heated than before.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The department head sat back with arms crossed, leaning into her chair, her eyes hidden behind her glasses.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eka gulped down the last of her cold coffee.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the principal\u2019s left, the black-haired woman wore the satisfied smile of victory.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This wasn\u2019t going to end here.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>To discipline a mischievous student, a teacher devised a method that left the child unwilling to return to school. At the school board meeting, half defend the teacher while others take the child\u2019s side \u2014 leaving the principal caught in the middle. It takes a consultant\u2019s reminder of the policy document and of education\u2019s true priorities to guide the school forward.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3712,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3729","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/synergy.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3729","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/synergy.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/synergy.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/synergy.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/synergy.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3729"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/synergy.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3729\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3740,"href":"https:\/\/synergy.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3729\/revisions\/3740"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/synergy.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3712"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/synergy.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3729"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/synergy.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3729"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/synergy.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3729"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}