20 Questions
The main characters walked into the auditorium with a couple of fifth graders.
False
The fifth-grade staging area was located to the right of the stage.
False
Ms. Rubin was standing on the stage, waving the students in.
False
The students were supposed to sit in the order of their birthdays.
False
Summer was wearing a dark blue dress.
False
The Headmaster's Opening Remarks were given by Mr. Jansen.
True
Middle-School Choir performed 'Under Pressure' and 'Canon in D' during the graduation ceremony.
False
Mark Antoniak gave a commencement address to the sixth-grade students.
True
Mr. Tushman's speeches are notoriously short and to the point.
False
The awards presentation is a ceremony where the students are given medals for their athletic achievements.
False
The seating arrangement at the graduation ceremony was done in random order.
False
Mr. Tushman wrote only one commencement address for both the fifth- and sixth-grade graduation ceremony and the seventh- and eighth-grade ceremony.
False
Mr. Tushman has been teaching students of this age for over twenty years.
True
The students are graduating from high school.
False
The quote about kindness comes from Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie.
False
Mr. Tushman reads a passage from a book by Christopher Nolan.
True
The speaker wants the students to focus on their academic achievements.
False
Mr. Tushman is known for giving short speeches.
False
The passage mentions the students being kind to their teachers.
False
The speaker is addressing a group of college students.
False
Study Notes
The Graduation Ceremony
- The story takes place at the Beecher Prep Middle School graduation ceremony, where the protagonist, Auggie, and his friends are attending.
- The ceremony is held in a huge auditorium with big sparkly chandeliers and red velvet walls.
The Program
- The program includes:
- Headmaster's Opening Remarks by Dr. Harold Jansen
- Middle-School Director's Address by Mr. Lawrence Tushman
- "Light and Day" by the Middle-School Choir
- Fifth-Grade Student Commencement Address by Ximena Chin
- Pachelbel: "Canon in D" by the Middle-School Chamber Music Ensemble
- Sixth-Grade Student Commencement Address by Mark Antoniak
- "Under Pressure" by the Middle-School Choir
- Middle-School Dean's Address by Ms. Jennifer Rubin
- Awards Presentation
Mr. Tushman's Speech
- Mr. Tushman gives a speech, reading from his notes and using his reading glasses.
- He welcomes everyone, including parents, grandparents, teachers, and students.
- He talks about the students being at the cusp of childhood and adolescence, and how this moment is special.
- He emphasizes the importance of measuring growth not just by physical changes, but by how students have chosen to spend their time and whom they have touched.
- He quotes J.M. Barrie's book, "The Little White Bird", saying "Shall we make a new rule of life ... always to try to be a little kinder than is necessary?"
- He also quotes Christopher Nolan's book, "Under the Eye of the Clock", saying "It was at moments such as these that Joseph recognized the face of God in human form. It glimmered in their kindness to him, it glow in their keenness, it hinted in their caring, indeed it caressed in their gaze."
- Mr. Tushman stresses the importance of kindness and its impact on others.
Conclusion
- Mr. Tushman concludes his speech, emphasizing the value of kindness and encouraging the students to try to be a little kinder than necessary.
- He hopes that if everyone in the room makes kindness a rule, the world would be a better place.
The narrator and Jack enter the auditorium for a school event. Mrs. G directs students to their seating areas. The auditorium is large and decorated with chandeliers.
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