To Sir with Love

Braithwaite announces the field trip to the students, who are excited. Jackson is excited that Blanchard will accompany them, although Dare seems jealous. On the day of the trip, Braithwaite is surprised that his students are impeccably and attractively dressed. They wait for Jackson, who must take his family’s wash to the laundry.

They board public transit, and the students chatter excitedly. Two elderly, well-dressed women stare at Braithwaite and his students, “muttering darkly something about ‘shameless young girls and these black men’” (91). Dare comes to Braithwaite’s rescue and scolds the women, who shrink away in embarrassment.

At the museum, Blanchard and Braithwaite move throughout the groups of children. Braithwaite is surprised at how engaged they are, taking notes and asking intense questions. Braithwaite and Blanchard sit with some students for tea, and Braithwaite is struck by Dare’s beauty. The students behave impeccably, speaking in whispers until they board the train home and return to their laughing selves.

Once back at school, Blanchard tells Braithwaite that the experience was much better than she could have possibly hoped, and that the students seem very grown up. Braithwaite confesses that their maturity is due to the problems many of them should face. Blanchard tells Braithwaite that Dare has a crush on him, and when Braithwaite doesn’t respond, she tells him not to treat them like children, because any woman would find Braithwaite “overpowering” (94).