- The high school junior class is being plagued by the antics of Jim, the class show-off. At first amused by his cutting up, the class is getting increasngly frustrated, as Jim is starting to give them a bad name with such behavior as cracking jokes during a play rehearsal, tripping a kid at a party and deliberately falling off a chair. One night, thought, Jim goes over the line: he sneaks into school and hangs a banner saying, "Yay, Juniors!" across the entrance. Outraged by such shocking behavior, local parents bombard the principal, demanding to know what kind of school he is running where such brazen acts of rebellion are allowed.—frankfob2@yahoo.com
- The bell rings in a high school classroom, and soon junior Kay Reynolds is alone. She addresses the viewer, asking for help with a "terrible fix" confronting her class. We see her story in flashback, starting a month ago.... History teacher Miss Baldwin is announcing the assigned reading on which there will be a quiz, when she catches Jim Brewster preparing to shoot a rubber band at another student. He pretends not to know what she's talking about. He creates a disturbance on another occasion when he leans way back in his chair and it slips. "This school is getting to be pretty dangerous," he jokes. Miss Baldwin is angry, but Jim again claims innocence.
At the junior class play, Jim is up for a part (in what is apparently a fictitious play). When two other students are reading a love scene, Jim mimes a parody. When it's his turn to read the same scene, Jim makes a monkey face, and from then on the others have the giggles. Mrs. Jackson, who volunteers her own time to direct the play, has had enough and cancels that session. Jim's antics are starting to wear thin on the students who'd like to get anything accomplished. At a party at Martha Harvey's house, Jim prods his friend Frank into trying to balance a glass on his forehead, then trips him. Mrs. Harvey is dismayed at the breaking of her "best glass."
It seems that the entire junior class is already getting a bad reputation thanks to Jim and his pals, first among the teachers, and now among the parents. One night, we see Jim and his little gang engaged in some activity, but it's too dark to make out what they're doing. The next morning, there's a large "Yea Juniors" sign hanging two stories up on the front of the school. Most students think it's an eyesore. Mr. Scott, the principal, shakes his head in disgust, and we're told that he's "fit to be tied." A few juniors are amused, but most see it as a badge of dishonor. They resent having their reputation in hands of Jim and a few followers.
Principal Scott calls a meeting of the junior class officers and some of the faculty. He says he's getting citizen complaints about the sign, which is embarrassing the school, and himself personally. He asks the students if they know who is the ringleader of the pranksters, and they admit that they do, but are reluctant to name names. Mr. Scott says it's up to the class to do something, but they wonder what they can do. The teachers present ask: Do you ever complain to the show-offs, or do you encourage them by thinking they're cute? Have you ever tried anything like ignoring them? Why do you suppose these people show off? Don't they have enough to do?
Mr. Scott says the juniors should come up with their own suggestions, then they can all meet again later. Just before a meeting of the class officers with a faculty committee, Kay again addresses the viewer: If you were in our shoes, what would you do about the show-offs. What do you think?
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