Diana wants your help

"Thank-you Mr. Hawkfeather." Ms. Naylor takes a minute to straighten her suit jacket and skirt as Tamara leaves the office.

"I hope you don't mind me throwing you into the deep end like that, but you got me thinking when Miss Longmire came in the first time, and seeing her come back less than an hour later made the decision clear. After last year, things have been tough." " Her face hardens slightly but before you can ask about what happened the look of pain is tucked away and she hands you the Code of Conduct that had been sitting on the table.

"We still send this code out to the students and their parents every year." She tells you with a sad shake of her head. "One of the first things I did when I accepted this position was to form a committee to review the policies and rewrite them in a way that makes sense. You know how committees can be, or do you?" She pauses in mid-thought, "Do they have committees in the military?" Your almost reflexive look of distaste is enough to express your opinion on the subject and she returns to the topic at hand.

"I've decided to reinstate the rules as they are written, Mr. Hawkfeather." Diana tells you slowly as she watches you for any indication of how you feel, "but I'm afraid I can't do this alone."

"Why not?" Perhaps you are too used to the corps, but 'following the book' is the only way you know that really works. It is when officers start making up their own rules and using selective enforcement that the problems really start. Why can't the leader of this school apply the rules as they are written.

"Three reasons, Kyle." She says your name tentatively like she's trying a new food, "While some teachers here would back me up, a good number would be aghast." She holds up a second finger, "The research on corporal punishment is pretty consistent in finding that, in the long run, spanking does more harm than good, but most of all it is the parents that would raise bloody Hell if I decide to go back to a policy from twenty years ago." Diana sits back on the desk and folds her arms across her chest in frustration. "They all want the other students kept under control, but if it is their little princess who is getting her ass paddled, there'll be certified letters, lawyers filing briefs and calls to the board. Frankly, I'm sick of their shit, but I can't just change course for no reason or that will raise even more speculation."

"What do you need me to do?" You ask as the intent of the conversation start to become clear.

"What I'd like" Diana stresses the word, "is for you to officially propose this change so I have a reason to reevaluate my position." She looks at you carefully. "It's a rotten thing to do, and I'm fine with you refusing, especially after the welcome you got here at the Pink Rose. I just don't see any other way to make this acceptable to all the parties."

"I'm not sure I understand." You tell her, as your mind tries to come to grips with what she is saying. "You want me to propose a change in policy, that really isn't a change at all, so you can do what you've already decide to do?"

"It sounds stupid when you lay it out like that, but yes, that sums it up." She pushes off the desk and starts pacing in the small outer office, "The solution I came up with has frankly been a disaster, but many of the more idealistic teachers here approve of it, others hate it and will be delighted to see a more old-school approach. With your military background, a strict discipline approach will seem natural to the parents, and if I am skeptical and only partially go along with your recommendation some of teachers who would normally fight this tooth and nail will be more willing to give it a go."

"And if the parents revolt, I'll make a convenient fall-guy to take the blame?" You ask and Diana blushes again as she lowers her head.

"You're right Mr. Hawkfeather, I'm sorry." She apologizes, "I should never have even brought this up."