Joe needs to explain, but this is new territory and it’s way out in the stratosphere. He starts to speak, fumbling his way through, hoping he doesn’t add to this disaster, trying instead to clean it up. “It was and still is my intention for my students to personally understand how easy it is to normalize hate, to misplace blame, to use marginalized people as scapegoats for anything and everything. The Final Solution allowed almost the entire civilized world to turn their backs on the Jewish people.”

“And that’s your justification?” Logan takes a water bottle, uncaps it, and drinks half of it down.

“I was wrong.”

“You were wrong.” Cade shakes his head in disgust like it’s too little too late. Cade’s right.

“I was wrong on many different levels and I’d like to explain.” Mr. Bartley pauses because he needs a moment to collect his thoughts. Mary squeezes his knee, being his rock, as always.

“At first, I was offended that you questioned the validity of my assignment. That’s on me. I was focused on my perspective and I was frustrated that you didn’t understand. Then you went to Principal McNeil, infuriating me even more. I’m ashamed I wasn’t open to any criticism.”

Logan straightens in her seat. “You didn’t say one word, and even worse, you ignored us.”

“I was told by administration not to speak to you or to the press.”

Cade and Logan have no response to that.

“My treatment toward you was way out of line. I did ignore you. I was defensive and angry. I had to work through it. I’m not proud of it, and I am sorry. It’s not an excuse; it’s fact.”

Cade sits with his hands clasped together. He’s angry, and Mr. Bartley deserves it. Logan’s expression seems to give Joe more benefit of the doubt.

“I’ve come to the realization that my biggest mistake was creating the assignment and believing I had valid reasons. Recreating the Wannsee Conference was my way of not justifying the Nazis’ actions, but my way of enlightening my students on a very personal level. In the history of world governments, the Wannsee Conference was a pivotal point of no return. There have been many other despicable moments, but the Final Solution…” His voice trails off. “I could argue that it was the coldest, most heartless, most brutal, most callous, most despicable debate in the history of humankind. My goal was to have my students come to that conclusion. I was absolutely clear that I didn’t want anyone to sympathize with the Nazi perspective. Over and over again, I said their actions were abhorrent. That seemed obvious to me. But I was wrong.”

Spencer Davis, Jesse Elton, and Reg Ashford come to mind.

“Now you realize some students used this assignment to justify their prejudice and hate?” Cade asks.

Joe rubs his temple. “Yes.”

“I’m still struggling to understand how you came up with this assignment in the first place. Where did the idea come from?” Logan asks.

“I had been watching the movie Conspiracy. With the actors around the table discussing the Final Solution, I thought recreating that event would be a powerful, creative, and interesting way to learn that history. I was fascinated by the Nazis’ debate, how that one meeting changed history.”

“But it was never a real debate,” Logan says. “The sole purpose of the Wannsee Conference was to create a systematic way of annihilating the Jewish people.”

“I made a mistake.”

“Then cancel the debate,” Cade says.

“Cancel the debate,” Logan echoes. “It’s not enough that the assignment will never be given again.”

“I understand, but I’m asking you to trust me. I altered my lesson right after you first spoke with Principal McNeil. He approved the changes. And because of everything that’s transpired since, I’ve made more alterations. When I spoke with the commissioner of education, he, too, was satisfied that this will bring a positive resolution. I know you two weren’t going to attend the debate, but I’d like you to come to class. Give me a chance to make this right.”

Once again, Cade and Logan share a look. Logan’s expression gives Joe hope. It says he’s earned her trust in the past and has a good chance to earn it back. Unfortunately, Cade appears skeptical.

“What are your concerns, Cade?”

“I get that you’re going to try to fix this—”

Joe cuts him off. “I will fix this. I have a lesson planned for the debate, and it will put an end to this.”

Cade’s knee bounces. His eyes flicker to the folder. “Logan and I—” His composure cracks. His hands shake against the table. Guilt washes over Joe as he watches Cade struggle to bring his emotions in check. Mary, visibly shaken, opens a water bottle and slides it across the table to Cade. He picks it up, takes a sip, then another. After several deep breaths, he sets the bottle down. “Why should we trust you?”

“Because I care. Not only about what has transpired, but because I recognize how my actions have negatively impacted you, our school, and our community. At the very least, I want to have the opportunity to express this to the class. I promise, I will give my absolute best.”