Daryl, Thomas, come on,
it's time to go inside.
Let's go.
Oh, Tobias.
Mom, can Andy come over
after school?
Well, I think you should ask
Andrew's father.
Okay. Can he, Reverend?
I'm sure that'll be fine.
But I will have to ask his mother.
I'll let you know at lunchtime.
Thanks.
Morning, Reverend, Debra.
Morning, Alice. Morning, Bai.
How are you feeling, Alice?
Don't ask.
How's little Bai getting along?
Well, slowly but surely.
He isn't talking yet,
but he's joining in a little more.
Any luck finding a new teacher?
No, not yet,
but I have another interview
a little later this morning.
I think you should look
for two new teachers.
Alice looks ready any minute.
- She does seem very pregnant.
- Yeah, very.
When the other classes heard
what the seniors were gonna do,
they didn't wanna be outdone.
- So you know what they did?
- They did the same thing.
They did the same thing--
- What, have you heard this already?
- No, just a lucky guess.
Well, the juniors, the sophomores
and the freshmen,
they got together,
they staked out their area of the beach
and they spent the whole weekend
to clean the whole place up.
- All on their own?
- Yeah.
Weren't being paid.
Nobody told them to.
They just wanted everybody to know
how they felt about their community.
Now, you know how I've complained
about the kids of today-
What, you? Complain?
Come on, make fun.
I'm just telling you that the kids
of today have got a little more--
- What?
- I said the kids of today have got litt--
Can you believe that guy?
Got blood running out of my ear.
Hey, buddy,
how about turning down the noise?
It ain't loud, fuzzball.
It ain't loud? It's shaking your truck.
It ain't shaking my truck.
This is shaking my truck.
What were you saying
about the kids of today?
Never mind what I said.
Impressive.
Very impressive credentials,
both of you.
Thank you, Reverend.
You know, it's very rare
to get male teachers in a preschool.
I think it's a good idea
for the children.
Oh, does that mean
we're employed?
You are indeed.
And, Jonathan,
having you bring Mark along
was a real godsend.
I couldn't have put it better myself.
Let me call our head teacher,
Debra Stone.
She'll show you around.
Yellow.
Green.
Yellow.
Green. Yellow.
We think this school is very special.
We're very proud of what we do here.
Parents from all over the city
bring their kids here.
Red. Yellow.
And from what the Reverend told me
about you two,
I have a feeling
you're gonna fit in pretty well.
- We hope so.
- Oh, believe me, you'll love this place.
We feel that the most important thing
in human cultural behaviour
is the way we bring our children up.
Both for the children and for us.
My daughter, the artist.
This is a picture of our car.
Not a bad-looking car.
Actually, it's a pretty good likeness.
You've got a pretty good ethnic mix
here, don't you?
Well, we don't have every race,
creed or colour covered
but just about.
That's one of the most beautiful things
about this school,
is watching them interact,
learn from each other.
It's a shame the whole world
can't get along
like the children in this room.
And bless this food to our use
and ourselves to thy loving
and faithful service, amen.
- Amen.
- Amen.
Oh, did I tell you?
Ronald Kester called me today.
No. What did he want?
Well, he just wanted to
stop by tomorrow and see me.
- What about?
- He didn't say.
I bet it has something to do
with his recent election
to the Church council.
Who's Ronald?
Ronald Kester?
He was a classmate of mine
at the seminary.
He's another Reverend?
You know, I certainly think it's strange,
hearing from Kester after...
How long has it been? Eight years?
It's more like nine.
But we were never all that close so--
Well, thank goodness for that.
He was always a little too oily
for my taste.
No, I wouldn't say that, Peg.
Well, you have to admit
that he was always more interested
in becoming a power in the Church
than he was in being a minister.
And he's accomplished that.
So regardless of your feelings
about him,
remember, he's my boss.
He's your boss?
I thought God was.
You're up.
You go down there. You go.
Go on, go on, go on.
Next, next. One at a time.
No pushing, no pushing.
Now we're gonna put you up there.
I think you like that.
We'll try you going this way.
Go on, go on, go on. Next one.
Next. Next. One. Next.
Next. All right, go.
All right,
what are you doing up here?
You mustn't be up here. Go on.
Go on, go on, go on.
You're next.
Put your head down under there.
Come on, hurry, hurry.
- Excuse me.
- Yeah?
- What can I do for you?
- I'm looking for Reverend Bennett.
Oh, Toby? I think I saw him
over at the office earlier.
Thank you.
Are you one of the parents?
No, I'm one of the teachers.
All right, take it easy.
You having a good time?
You have a good time
or I'll bite your nose off.
All right, here we go.
Come in.
Tobias.
How good to see you
after all these years.
Ronald.
How can two old friends like us
allow so much time to go by
between visits?
- Well, it has been a while.
- Yes.
But now that I'm on the Council,
we'll rectify that.
Oh, come on, come on.
Let's sit down.
Make ourselves comfortable.
Well, now,
let's get right down to business.
Are your teachers Christian?
Well, I...
I never thought about it.
Most of them are, I guess. Why?
Most?
Not all of them. I mean...
Let's see...
I think three of them are Jewish.
Mrs. Azhari is Persian.
Persian? You mean an Iranian?
I believe her parents
were originally from Tehran, yes.
She's a Muslim.
Now what is this all about?
The Council has voted
on some changes, Tobias.
Well, what kind of changes?
We want all our teachers
to be Christian.
You...
Well, most of them are.
They belong to the congregation.
As for the others,
it's never been a problem.
It is now, Tobias.
Why, I can't see why. I'm--
This is a nursery school
or a preschool.
Whatever you wanna call it.
I mean, I don't see--
This is a church school.
A Christian church school
that ought to teach Christian ideals.
But our school has always
been separated from the church.
Come on, Ronald, you can't expect-
It's not just me.
This decision was made
by the entire Council.
And as pastor of this church,
you are bound by that decision.
Your teachers will be Christian.
Those who are not
can either embrace Christianity
or look for another job.
All right, now wait. Wait a minute.
I mean,
you cannot possibly expect me
to ask people to change their faith
for a job.
Then don't.
Just replace them.
And from now on,
religion will be taught in the school.
They sure are quiet
when they're painting.
Well, they love it.
It gives them a chance
to use their imaginations.
Did you find the Rev all right?
Why, yes, thank you.
You said
that you're a teacher here.
- What's your name?
- Mark Gordon.
Mark. A good Christian name.
Mark wrote the second book
of the New Testament.
Well, I was named after Mark Twain.
He wrote Huckleberry Finn.
I'm Jonathan Smith.
I'm another one of the teachers.
Ronald Kester. I'm with
the National Council of Churches.
The children seem
very well-behaved.
Oh, yeah.
They're a good bunch of kids.
Very nice.
And what's your name, son?
Jason.
Well, Jason,
tell us about your painting.
I'm painting a picture of God.
Well, you can't do that, Jason.
Why not?
Because no one knows
what God looks like.
When I'm finished, they will.
And who are you painting?
Same as Jason. I'm painting God.
Genesis : :
So God created man
in his own image.
In the image of God,
created he him.
I don't think
I'm gonna get along with that guy.
Jonathan, want a soda?
No, thanks. I'm fine.
Oh, what a day I've had.
I must have broken up
You know, it always amazes me
how children can be so angry
with each other in the morning
and by the end of the day,
they are the best of friends.
They seem to know how unimportant
their differences are.
We can all learn from them.
You all right, Tobias?
Oh, yes, fine, fine. I was just...
Just thinking.
All right, a couple more sips, I gotta go.
I have a house visit today.
A house visit. What's that?
I try and visit the parents
of all the new students
in their home environment.
Helps me get a better handle on them
when they're here.
Sounds like a good idea.
Yeah, it is.
Tell him. He came up with it.
Well, I'm out of here.
Tobias, are you sure you're okay?
Couldn't be better.
If you say so.
See you guys tomorrow.
- Take care.
- Good night.
That's quite a teacher you got there.
Debra?
She's one in a million.
Yeah, it must be a great feeling
for a parent to know
they've got a teacher like Debra
watching their child.
I'd hate to lose her.
She's not thinking of leaving, is she?
No, no, no. She-
No, she loves it here.
Well, I'm on my way.
I'll see if Mark
got all the paint off him.
Good night, Tobias.
Good night, Jonathan.
Are you coming to bed?
Soon.
Oh, honey.
What am I gonna do?
I'm not sure there's anything
you can do, Tobias.
But there has to be.
I mean, the Council will ruin everything
we've worked so hard to achieve.
Do you--?
Do you realise
the reputation this school has?
How it's brought people together
in the community?
Yes, I do.
And I know how you feel about Debra
and all the others.
But these are the new rules.
But they're wrong.
The rules are wrong.
And somehow, I...
I've got to convince them
to believe me.
Look out. Here comes the sandman.
Ready?
Mom, look it. Are you looking?
I'm looking.
Look out, honey, here they come.
Mom, I could do it a thousand times
and not get tired.
You have to admit,
my daughter gets an A for enthusiasm.
Oh, that's right.
I wish she could pass some along
to Bai over there.
Yeah. He's getting to you, isn't he?
Yeah.
Just can't figure him. He never talks.
He ever say anything to you?
No, no.
His mother says he's very shy.
He's quite bright, though.
He learns very quickly.
He's good with puzzles.
But then sometimes,
he just sits there quietly all by himself
and doesn't do anything.
Yeah, I notice the other kids
leave him alone during that time.
Yeah, they must sense something.
You like him, don't you?
I mean, look at him.
How can you resist that?
Excuse me.
That daughter of yours
is quite an athlete.
Yeah?
Well, she doesn't get it from me.
By the way, have you seen Tobias?
I think he had a meeting downtown.
He didn't, by any chance,
tell you what was bothering him,
did he?
What makes you think
something's bothering him?
Tobias is probably
the world's worst poker player.
Besides, I've known him too long.
And I'll bet it has something to do
with that stuffed shirt
that was around here yesterday.
Gazing down on all us poor mortals.
You don't mind saying
the way you feel, do you?
When it concerns people I care about,
yeah, I guess I do.
Well, will you look at that.
That is the first time
I have ever seen Bai laugh.
Yeah, maybe he likes playing
with older kids.
I thought we had this
all settled yesterday.
But if I could only help you see
what good the school accomplishes.
I am aware of what this school does.
But this is a church-sponsored school
and as such, it should teach religion.
And it's your job
to see that it's done.
But you're ordering me
to turn a good school on its head.
A school that has served
a vital community function
for a long, long time.
We are merely telling you
to add to the curriculum.
Oh, Toby, Toby.
Why are you anguishing so over this?
You've been given an order.
You are expected to carry it out.
I'm not sure I can do that
in all good conscience.
I would hate to see you throw away
what is shaping up to be
a very promising career as a pastor
over something like this.
We will assist you in finding teachers
to replace the ones you lose.
- Yes-
- This meeting is over, Tobias.
How did it go?
Well, he put it in no uncertain terms.
Either I do it or I'm fired.
Then you'll have to do it.
It's not that easy.
- Yes, it is.
- Peg--
Listen to me, Tobias.
What will happen
if you defy the Council?
Kester will appoint someone else
in my place.
Someone who will do it
Kester's way.
And you'll lose this church.
Everything you've worked for
all these years.
You built this up from
a small, bored group of churchgoers
to a vigorous, active congregation.
And along the way,
gained a great deal of respect
in the religious community.
You can't just throw that away.
And I can't throw this school away.
Well, I'll put it
up to the congregation.
If enough people complain,
the Council will have to listen.
If you make this an issue,
you know the Church
will end up taking sides.
Something like this
could wreck the congregation.
I know you don't want that
to happen.
The Reverend Kester has said
that the order
is to be carried out immediately.
So there it is.
I am really very sorry about this.
I tried my best to do something
to stop it
but the Council had already decided.
Do they honestly believe
that I'm gonna give up my beliefs
to save my job?
I didn't even want to bring that up.
I just--I felt obligated to do so.
Well, I feel obligated to tell you
that it's an insult.
Let's try to talk about this calmly.
Calmly?
I have just been told
that if I wanna teach at this school,
I have to deny the faith
that all the generations of my family
have believed in for all its history.
There is no calm here.
It's an outrage.
You must understand.
No job in the world is worth that.
I do understand.
You do understand,
but you're allowing it to happen.
No, I am not letting this happen.
There's just nothing that I can do
to stop it.
There must be some way.
Is this legal?
I'm afraid so, Fariba.
The Supreme Court has held
that religious institutions
are allowed to require
conforming values in their teachers.
And to hell with what it does
to the children.
And to the school.
And what it does to everyone here.
We were like a family
and now this family is being destroyed
in the name of religion.
You know, losing my job
isn't the difficult part about all this.
I'm a good teacher
and I'll find another job.
The difficult part
is explaining to my daughter
why she can't go to school
with the rest of her friends.
I must leave too.
I'm sorry, Tobias.
I understand.
I have to tell you something.
Teaching here has probably been
the most rewarding job I've ever had.
And being a Christian,
this thing doesn't affect me on paper.
But I find it so against the principles
I've been taught as a Christian:
Love for and toleration of others
and their beliefs.
That I cannot, in good conscience,
obey that edict.
- Sorry, Reverend.
- Wait, Don.
How about it? Don't we all
feel the same way Don does?
Debra was right when she said
we were all a family.
And families should stick together.
I say we should all walk.
Well, so much for this assignment.
Gonna miss teaching here.
I was starting to get through
to little Bai.
Well, it makes you feel any better,
you're still gonna be teaching.
What are you talking about?
We're not quitting.
Now wait a minute,
I'm not working under Kester's rules.
I mean, whose side are we on,
anyway?
The children's side and Tobias'.
We have to stay.
Believe me, I'm right on this one.
How come nobody's talking?
Eat your dinner, Andrew.
- But--
- Please.
Your father has a lot on his mind.
Can Ruth come over tomorrow
after school?
No, not tomorrow.
Oh, please.
We wanted to make a surprise
for her mom for Teacher's Day.
I told you no.
Now that's the end of it.
You finish your dinner, honey, okay?
I know how hard this is for you.
But it will all pass.
You'll see.
It'll be forgotten in no time.
Not by me.
You've had tough times before.
I know, but I've always had the Lord
to talk to, to give me strength.
And you still do.
Talk to him.
I can't.
I am too ashamed.
Hi, John, Eric. How are you?
I'm very- Really very grateful
you and Mark chose to stay.
Someone had to be here
to take care of the children.
That may not be very hard.
What I mean is,
between last night and this morning,
we've had quite a few calls
from parents
withdrawing their children.
Well, I guess it's time for Mark
to ring the bell.
I know you're disappointed in me.
But I really had no choice
but to do it this way.
You sure of that?
Yes.
I mean, in addition to the school,
I've got a congregation.
That's my responsibility also,
a duty to them.
Why doesn't he ring the bell?
So you're gonna lay this off
on the congregation?
I'm not sure I understand.
What are you gonna tell
the children?
- The children?
- Yeah, the children.
You're gonna have to explain
to them
why some of their friends
can't come to their school anymore.
A school that you built up
to teach them just the opposite.
I don't envy you that task, Reverend.
- Tobias, we got a problem.
- What's the matter?
- The bell won't ring.
- You mean it's broken.
No, no, no, it's not broken.
Everything works fine.
You just can't get a sound out of it.
The bell won't ring.
Good morning, children.
I wanted to take a few minutes
to explain a change that's been made
in our school.
I put you all in the same room
because some of our students
aren't with us this morning.
The teachers are gone too.
Yes, yes, I'm afraid that's true.
But we have some other teachers
coming in to replace them very soon.
But we like our teachers.
Well, I know you do. I like them too.
Then why can't they still be here?
I saw Ruth at the ice-cream place.
She said her mother couldn't be here
because she's a Jew.
Is Ruth going to hell?
No.
I mean, what would make you think
such a thing?
Because she isn't a Christian.
Well, but that's no reason
to go to he--
There.
See, Ruth is one of God's creatures
and he loves all of us.
- Does he love Ruth's mother?
- Yes.
And Mrs. Greene and Mrs. Azhari
- and Mrs. Levine?
- Yes.
Then why won't he
let them be teachers?
Well, see, it isn't God
that won't let them.
Wait a minute,
let me see if I can explain this.
You see,
there are certain rules and laws
that we all have to live by.
And we must be obedient
to those laws.
Like we don't go over
the speed limit.
Well, we shouldn't.
Well, we all stop at red lights, right?
Well, then this Church
also has certain laws
and we must obey them too.
The same way we obey God's laws.
Well, you remember
when God gave
the Ten Commandments to Moses?
Ruth says Moses was a Jew.
- Like her.
- That's right.
God gave those laws
to the children of Israel.
But when God did that,
he was really giving those laws
to all mankind.
Everybody has the same laws?
Well, the important ones, yes.
In one form or another, yes.
If we all have the same laws,
then how come some of my friends
can't come to school now?
Because of Jesus.
They don't believe in Jesus.
Is that right?
Well, in a way, yes.
You see, we are a Christian Church
and we have very strong beliefs
based on our Bible.
In John, Chapter , Verse ,
Jesus says:
I am the way, the truth and the life.
No man cometh unto the Father
but by me.
Why didn't they come to us?
Why didn't who come?
Moses or Jesus.
If we're all God's children,
why did they just come to one place?
Why didn't Jesus come
to where I live?
- Well, he couldn't, Bai.
- Why?
If God can do anything,
if he wanted us
to all believe in Jesus,
why didn't he send him to all of us?
Maybe it wasn't so important to him
that we all believe the same.
Maybe it was just important to him
that we obeyed his commandments.
You said everybody
has the same laws pretty much.
Yeah, that's gotta be it.
Otherwise, God would've waited
till Jesus could be on TV
so everybody could know.
I'd bet the more we learned
about each other's religions,
the more we'd realise
how much the same we are.
But I suppose it's too late
for that now.
Good evening, Tobias.
Jonathan.
I didn't realise anybody--
What are you doing here?
I could ask you the same thing.
Oh, I just needed a place to think.
Well, you couldn't come
to a better spot.
Would you like me
to leave you alone?
No, no, no.
I'd like you to stay, please.
Do you wanna sit down?
Thank you.
This...
May seem a little strange, but--
But you need somebody to talk to.
A stranger. Someone
who's not in the congregation.
Yes.
But how did you know?
Because I know
how difficult it is sometimes,
being the leader of a flock.
And they wanna come to you
with their problems.
- Not the other way around.
- Oh, Jonathan, I--
I just feel so lost.
I've thought so long
and so hard about this and I--
I know. I'm sure I know
what needs to be done.
It's just...
I don't know. If...
If I were alone,
maybe it would be different, you know.
Stand up to Kester.
But I'm not alone.
I have a wife and a child and...
Peg loves this church
as much as I do.
We have such a-
Such a wonderful life.
Why did this have to happen?
Maybe you're being tested.
If I am, I'm failing, Jonathan.
Then ask for help.
No one can find
the real answers alone.
If I were you, I'd talk to the boss.
Oh, Kester. I've tried.
I'm not talking about Kester.
I thought your boss was God.
But that's what my son,
Andrew, said.
I know.
I'll leave you now, Tobias.
Talk to him.
God bless you.
Yes.
God bless you too, Jonathan.
It still won't ring. I can't figure it.
Everything works fine
but it won't make a sound.
Well, we'll have someone come out
and take another look.
I have to go in now.
- Morning, Tobias.
- Good morning.
I'm looking forward
to your sermon today.
So am I.
If you'll excuse me.
For the children of this world
are, in their generation,
wiser than the children of light.
These words from the th chapter
of Luke, Verse ,
are the inspiration for my words
to you this morning.
I was notified this week
that the National Council
has ordered our preschool
to teach religion.
And that our faculty must be made up
only of those of the Christian faith.
I informed the faculty
of the Council's edict
and, as most of you know,
the majority of teachers left.
Either for religious reasons
or out of principle.
I thought, it's not my fault.
It was, after all, an order.
But still-- Still, I wondered:
Was the teaching of religion
a proper role for a preschool teacher?
Would it not begin to cross over
and conflict with our classes
in Sunday school?
I worried that it might be
a provocation for discord
in the congregation.
And so I could not bring myself
to accept this new plan
even though I knew
I would be replaced
if I did not follow the edict.
I anguished long and hard,
trying to find a way to reconcile
the requirements of the Council
and what I felt was my obligation
to the congregation.
And my own conscience.
Finally, I turned to prayer.
And the answer came,
night before last,
as I knelt in this very church.
An enlightened poet once wrote:
An angel paused on its outward flight,
With a seed of love
and truth and light,
And cried.
O where should this seed be sown
That it may be fruitful
when 'tis grown?
Our saviour heard and said,
as he smiled,
Place it far in the heart of a child.
You see, a group of students
from our preschool
helped bring me
the answer to my dilemma.
By pointing out to me
in their own special way,
why religion should be taught
in our school.
I will bow to the will of the Council.
Religion will be taught.
But not just Christianity,
Judaism, Islam, Buddhism,
Hinduism and more.
They should be taught
as part of the learning process
that each child goes through.
They shall be taught so as to increase
the children's understanding
of their brothers and sisters
throughout the world.
And they shall be taught by our
more-than-competent staff of teachers
if I can convince them
to return to work.
I know, I know, I know.
This may not be acceptable
to the Council.
But a Church is made up of people,
not of committees.
We had a school
that brought children together in love,
in understanding.
And we all know
that the only chance for peace
among the people of the world
is for them to come together.
And know and appreciate
the beliefs of all men.
But this is not for me to decide.
Finally...
Finally, it's up to you.
Because this is your church.
This is your school.
I will leave you now to decide.
God bless us all.
I'm sorry.
Don't be.
After listening to you just now,
I realise you were right.
You were right.
Well, I guess we'll just have to start
all over again.
We've done that before.
And now we have Andrew
to help us.
And the boss.
The boss.
The congregation has decided.
Yeah, it was pretty well unanimous.
That didn't take long.
You should have seen the look
on Kester's face
when they voted
in favour of your school plan.
What?
Well, what are you doing out here?
You've got a congregation in there.