How Green Becomes Wood

"Of course. Only too happy to," Mr. Dawson assured him, sitting down. He took just a moment to neatly stack the papers he'd been working on off to the side and out of the way. "Now, I am guessing that Xander called you about what he and I talked about a short while ago."
 
"Of course. After we spoke on the phone, I took the liberty of putting this together." He opened a drawer on the side of his desk and pulled out three small folders. He turned one folder around to face Dark. "Now, these are a selection of his homeworks and tests from the year before last. Not all of them, obviously, and I would have printed out a copy of his full scores, but the printer is acting up. Again." He made a sour face. "I can show you those on the computer if you desire. These ones," he opened the folder and fanned out the papers so Dark could see, "show his average grades. Primarily in the forties and fifties range with his his lowest score being zero multiple times and his highest a sixty-two. He turned in incomplete work with depressing regularity or did not turn any homework in at all. The fact that he passed at all is a miracle."

He left that folder where Dark could reach it if he wanted to and turned around the second folder. "Here are his scores from last year. A significant improvement, and I am very proud of his pogress! Here, he averaged scores in the seventies with his highest three scores reaching a low eighty. Even so, there are still occassions where he turned in incomplete work, but on a much smaller scale and with less regularity."

The final folder turned around. "The beginning of this year shows grades that match last years', mostly hovering around low- to mid-seventies, but with no incomplete work. A steady improvement. Then, out of the blue, perfect score. Another perfect score. And another. His lowest test score in the last three tests was a ninety-six percent."

Mr. Dawson sat back to give Dark space to look over the papers. "I know that as a parent, you do not want to consider the possibility of cheating, but as a teacher, I think you understand where I'm coming from when I say that sudden turn around is suspicious considering this student's history. And it's not just my class. The history teach also noted a significant up-tick in the quality of his work, and so have others. Not all of them have been as dramatic as in my class, but it is still significant.

"Meanwhile, his brother's scores have taken a dip. He still turns in decent quality work, and he is easily passing all of his classes, but his late work is becoming more of a problem, and I have noticed he is consistently doing work in one class that is due in the next. Normally, that isn't something that I'd have even taken much notice of, but considering how he used to preform much better and never turn in anything late, and his brother's sudden improvement, I cannot help but wonder if there is a connection. There might not be one, but, again, somewhat suspicious as a teacher who has had them multiple years."
 
Dark took the folders from Jace and flipped silently through them while he listened to the other man speak. Before he responded at all, he wanted to have as much information as he could because one thing he would not do is speak before he was properly informed.

"I do understand how it looks suspicious," Dark agreed, although he still did not believe Xander had been cheating with how much he knew the teen studied. Then, folder still in his hand, his unyielding eyes flicked up to Mr. Dawson, "Alec is struggling again?"
 
"Yes, a bit, though not as badly as before," Mr. Dawson assured him. "If Alec and Xander's cases are not connected, then for Alec, I would guess it is down to a time management issue. He knows the subjects, he is passing, but he does not apply himself with the same diligence and even enthusiasm as he has in times past. If their cases are connected... I would guess, unhappily, that he has already spent himself working on Xander's work and does not have the mental energy for his own. For that, I only have speculation and strange grades."
 
Dark clenched his jaw slightly, looking over the papers, "No, they are not connected. If you can be certain of anything, you can be certain of that. And I will be sure his issues do not worsen." He looked down at the papers again, inhaled, and then took out his own notepad to take a quick note before tucking it away in the inside pocket of his suit jacket once more, "Would you be able to share the schedule of assignments with me? I would like to be able to help him with his scheduling if possible and it would be easier if I was certain I had the complete list. I will provide you my personal email since the one you have for me is no longer accessible." He shut the folder of Xander's work and set it back down on the desk, "Regarding what we came here for: near the beginning of the year, Xander and I had a considerable conversation about school. He had been content with just passing," he indicated to the easy 70s scores, "and I had challenged him to see what he could do if he tried to do his best, rather than simply aiming to pass. I have personally watched him do his assignments. Not all of them, mind you, but," He opened one of the folders and spent some time flipping through it, "This one I recall watching him work on. Regarding history, he has come to me with questions more than once. Although I do understand how it may look suspicious, I do not believe he had been cheating."
 
Mr. Dawson opened another drawer to take out a pad and a pen to write down the schedule for Dark, but he paused when Dark assured him that all of Xander's work was due to hard work and a challenge, nothing more. He turned to look at Dark directly. "You are absolutely certain he was able to accomplish this," he tapped the folder of high scores, "with just some encouragement and applying himself? As certain as you can humanly be?" He was serious in his question, studying Dark as he waited for the answer.
 
"I am." Dark answered, not looking away, "I do not know if you know this about him, but he runs his own buisness from home, he does leatherworking and makes his own patterns. Much of that work requires approximating curves from straight lines and altering patterns to fit different sizes, which are not always linear, and he primarily reuses leather so he needs to figure out how to make the most use out of scraps. He does a significant amount of math in his spare time, even if he himself does not recognize it. If he is able to make the work I have seen him create because he set his mind to it, I have no doubt he is able to utilize those same math skills on a test."
 
Mr. Dawson's eyebrows winged upward. "I had not known about that," he said slowly. "In that case, and with what I have seen here, in light of this new evidence, I think you should take some serious consideration in placing him in advanced classes, especially in the mathematics realm. He could really go far with these skills." He paused long enough to write out the schedule for Alec, labled it as such, and handed it to Dark.
 
"As soon as the school opens that option up, I will suggest it to him," Dark replied, taking Alec's schedule from him and tucking it away in his inside pocket as well, "It was never a possibility when his grades were how they used to be, and before he agreed it was worth seeing what his capabilities were..." He shrugged, gesturing towards the folder of his earlier work, "Would that student have agreed to take advantage mathematics?"
 
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"Very true," Mr. Dawson agreed. "Thank you for coming in and clearing up this misunderstanding. I had no idea he had these capabilities, never saw even a glimmer of them, but I am glad to have been proven wrong. He's got a brilliant future ahead of him if he keeps this up. As for Alec, I'm sure he'll turn around. He's a good student, just highly distractable."
 
"Thank you for being willing to believe him," Dark replied, shaking Mr. Dawson's hand as they both stood. Then he paused, looking down at the other man for a few moments before asking, "Would you tell him that? Not necessarily now, but I think it would be good of him to hear it from someone else."
 
Mr. Dawson looked a little surprised at Dark's statement. The general teacher training did not encourage admitting mistakes despite the fact that most knew that to be outdated and even damaging. He hesitated a moment and then nodded. "Shall I walk you out?" he suggested.
 
"If you would like," Dark replied simply, walking out of the room. During the meeting, Art had scurried off to fetch Rose and Hetty, so the three of them were just coming back around the corner when it ended. The very first thing Dark did was look at Xander and give him a simple nod and said, "It is okay."
 
Xander returned the nod, his shoulders relaxing a little.

Mr. Dawson walked up to Xander. "I apologize for getting the wrong end of the stick, Xander. Your father explained how he's personally watched you do some of the work and how you've been putting in a lot of effort to make these changes. Your hard work is taking the accedemic side of things by storm. Keep it up."

"Uh," Xander said, staring at Mr. Dawson in shock. He glanced between him and Dark. The math teacher didn't look like he was under duress to say that. "Thank you," he said cautiously.

Mr. Dawson gave a curt nod. "Alright. See you in our next class." He turned and walked back into his classroom.

"That was nice of him," Alec said, pleased if a little surprised.
 
"I am glad to have that settled." Dark said, adjusting his sleeves casually, "Alec, we may need to speak more because he said a bit about your assignments, but we can wait until we are home."
 
Alec frowned. "What he said about me?" He grunted in confusion and added lightly as a joke, "Tattle tale." He had no idea what Mr. Dawson might have been saying about him. He then indicated down the hall. "Your friends want to ambush you."
 
"Yes, they do." Dark replied, glancing idly down the hall. "I will see you at home, alright? I suspect you will be able to leave here before I will." In a way, that statement was nostalgic.
 
"Okay. Thanks, Ba, for coming," Xander said. He'd never doubted Dark would come, but it was something he could never take for granted.

Alec stepped forward and gave him a hug. "Love you! See you at home! Well, eventually. I have work today."

"And I need to get going to get to the stable on time," Xander said with a glance at his phone for the time.

The pair hurried off to get to their respective duties.
 
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