Ghost of Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen Page B

handcuffs. “Come down now or you’ll be arrested!” he shouted.
    Surprised, the boy came down. He flashed a peace sign and grinned as he was led from the gym to prove he wasn’t afraid. Cole guessed he was probably wetting his pants.
    “Okay,” Ms. Kennedy said, “who else would like to leave at this time?”
    An uneasy hush fell over the gym. The principal continued. “This week, we had a suicide, an assault on a student, and major vandalism.” Ms. Kennedy stopped and pointed at a girl who was grabbing another student’s hair. An officer stepped in and led the girl away.
    “What you just witnessed was assault,” said the principal. “And that girl will be charged. If you shoved, kicked, or slapped a stranger downtown, you would be guilty of assault. The law does not change just because you are in a school.
    “I don’t want to hear anyone say ‘I only teased someone a little bit.’ If you stab somebody a little or a lot, either way, you’ve stabbed him.” She let the words sink in and then continued. “The biggest lie ever told to you is that sticks and stones may break your bones but words will never harm you. This week, words killed one of your classmates.
    “Words can be weapons, and beginning today, no student will speak to or touch any other student in a way that demeans, threatens, hurts, or causes even the slightest fear or intimidation. If you do, you’re guilty of assault. As of today, this school has zero tolerance. And zero
means
zero!”
    “Hey, Hitler, what happened to free speech?” yelled a student from the middle of the bleachers.
    As he was led away, the principal held up her hand. “Let’s talk about free speech. The Constitution of America, contrary to your belief, does not permit hate speech. Free speech is the freedom of
responsible
speech.”
    Cole looked across the bleachers. Most kids were listening, but a few continued to yawn, talk, or harass others.
    The principal studied the students. “You are probably wondering about the police officers. They are here to remind each of you that no one is above the law. Each day, if your behavior improves, there will be fewer officers. My hope is that your maturity and responsibility will allow them to leave soon.
    “Also, as of now, this school has a dress code—the guidelines are now posted in the halls. Using gestures, colors, or symbols to intimidate others will no longer be allowed. Tomorrow, no student will be permitted in the school if he or she is not following those rules.
    “Students, an education is money in your pockets. You let somebody rob you of that, you are letting them steal money from you. Now, unless there are questions, the gym will be dismissed one section at a time beginning on the east side. There will be no standing until your section is called. Anyone who shouts will be detained.”
    The principal removed her glasses in thought, and then stepped back to the microphone. “Students,” she said, “hiring more police officers or passing more rules isn’t a solution for what happened here. I challenge each of you to ask yourself what you personally might have done to contribute to this week’s senseless tragedies. How could you have helped prevent them? Each of us carries blame, including me. Nothing will ever change unless
we
change.”
    All of this was too little, too late, Cole thought as he left the gym. Nobody would look in a mirror. Nothing would change. What had the teachers done
before
all this stuff happened? What had
anybody
done?

Chapter 10
    C OLE WASN’T ABLE to talk with Peter during the day, but after school he caught up to his friend and gave him a big hug. “Who hurt you?” he asked.
    Peter shook his head. “It doesn’t m-m-matter.”
    “You and I need to have a talk,” Cole said.
    Peter shrugged as they headed away from the school grounds. For several long minutes neither of them spoke. Peter kept his head down and finally he muttered, “I did like you did. Every time I was picked