The
Scholarship Jacket
1 The small Texas school that I attended carried out a tradition every
year during the eighth grade graduation—a beautiful gold and green jacket, the
school colors, was awarded to the class valedictorian. The scholarship jacket
had a big gold S on the left front side and the winner's name was written in
gold letters on the pocket.
2 My oldest sister, Rosie, had won the jacket a few years ago and I
fully expected to win it as well. I was fourteen and in the eighth grade. I had
been a straight A student since the first grade, and for the last year, I had
looked forward to owning that jacket. My father was a farm labourer who didn't
earn enough money to feed eight children, so when I was six, I was sent to live
with my grandparents. All the children in our family couldn't participate in
sports in school because there were registration fees, uniform costs and trips
out of town—so there would never be a school sports jacket for us. This one,
the scholarship jacket, was our only chance.
3 It was now May and we only had a few weeks of school left. One
afternoon, I was absentmindedly wandering from my history class to the gym when
I remembered my PE shorts were still in a bag under my desk. I had to walk all
the way back and get them.
4 I was almost back at my classroom's door when I heard angry voices. I
stopped. I didn't mean to eavesdrop—I just hesitated, not knowing what to do. I
recognised the voices—Mr Schmidt, my history teacher, and Mr Boone, my maths
teacher. They seemed to be arguing about me. "I refuse to do it! I don't
care who her father is—her grades don't even begin to compare to
Martha's!". That was Mr Schmidt and he sounded very angry. Mr Boone's
voice sounded calm and quiet.
5 "Look, Joann's father is not only on the Board—he owns the only
store in town. We could say it was a close tie and...".
6 The pounding in my ears drowned out the rest of the words. I heard
only a word here and there. "... Martha is Mexican... resign... won't do
it...". Mr Schmidt came rushing out. Luckily for me, he went the opposite
way toward the auditorium, so he didn't see me.
7 Shaking, I waited a few minutes and then went in and grabbed my bag
and fled from the room.
8 The next day when the principal called me into his office, I knew what
it would be about. He looked uncomfortable and unhappy. I looked him straight
in the eye. He looked away and fidgeted with the papers on his desk.
9 "Martha," he said, "There's been a change in policy
this year regarding the scholarship jacket. As you know, it has always been
free". He cleared his throat and continued. "This year, the Board has
decided to charge fifteen dollars—which still won't cover the complete cost of
the jacket". I stared at him in shock and a small sound of dismay escaped
by throat. I hadn't expected this. He still avoided looking in my eyes.
10 "So, if you are unable to pay the fifteen dollars for the
jacket, it will be given to the next one in line".
11 Standing with all the dignity I could muster, I said, "I'll
speak to my grandfather about it, sir, and let you know tomorrow".
12 I cried on the walk home from the bus stop. By the time I got home,
my eyes were red and puffy.
13 "Where's Grandpa?" I asked Grandma, looking down at the
floor so she wouldn't ask me why I'd been crying. She was sewing a quilt and
didn't look up.
14 "I think he's outside, working in the bean field".
15 I went outside and looked out at the fields. There he was, I could
see him walking between the rows, his body bent over the little plants, hoe in
hand. I walked slowly out to him, trying to think of how I could best ask him
for the money. I knew I had to be honest with Grandpa—it was my only chance. He
saw me and looked up. He waited for me to speak.
16 I clasped my hands behind my back so he wouldn't see them shaking.
"Grandpa, I have a big favor to ask you," I said in Spanish, the only
language he knew. He still waited silently.
17 I tried again, "Grandpa, this year the principal said the
scholarship jacket is not going to be free. It's going to cost fifteen dollars
and I have to take the money tomorrow, otherwise it'll be given to someone
else". The last words came out in a rush. Grandpa straightened up tiredly
and leaned his chin on the hoe handle. He asked quietly, "What does a
scholarship jacket mean?".
18 I answered, "It means you've earned it by having the highest
grades for eight years and that's why they're giving it to you". I
realised the significance of my words as I spoke.
19 "Then if you pay for it, Martha, it's not a scholarship jacket,
is it? Tell your principal I will not pay the fifteen dollars".
20 It was a very sad and withdrawn girl who dragged herself into the
principal's office the next day. This time, he did look me in the eyes.
21 "What did your grandfather say?".
22 I sat very straight in my chair. "He said to tell you he won't
pay the fifteen dollars".
23 The principal was silent for a while. "Why?" he finally
asked. "Your grandfather has the money. Doesn't he own a small bean
farm?".
24 I looked at him, forcing my eyes to stay dry. "He said if I had
to pay for it, then it wouldn't be a scholarship jacket," I said and stood
up to leave. I was almost to the door when he stopped me.
25 "Martha—wait".
26 I turned and looked at him, waiting.
27 He sighed loudly at me, biting his lip, as if thinking. "Okay,
yes... okay. We'll make an exception in your case. I'll tell the Board—you'll
get your jacket".
28 I could hardly believe it. My voice shook as I spoke. "Oh, thank
you sir!". Suddenly, I felt great. I wanted to yell, jump, run—do
something. I ran out so I could cry in the hall where there was no one to see
me.
29 I cried on the walk home again, but this time it was because I was so
happy. I couldn't wait to tell Grandpa and ran straight to the field. I called
out, "Grandpa, the principal said he's making an exception for me. I'm
getting the jacket after all! That's after I told him what you said".
30 Grandpa didn't say anything—he just gave me a pat on the shoulder and
a smile. He said quietly, "Better go see if your grandmother needs any
help with supper".
31 I gave him a big grin. He didn't fool me. I skipped and ran back to
the house whistling a silly tune.
Of course. Here are
the questions and exercises based on the story "The Scholarship
Jacket," with all source citations removed.
Multiple
Choice Questions
1.
What was the
scholarship jacket awarded for?
a) Being a straight-A student
b) Having the highest grades for eight years
c) Being the class valedictorian
d) Both b and c
2.
Why couldn't
Martha's family afford a sports jacket for her?
a) They were a large family and her father was a
farm labourer.
b) They did not earn enough money for
registration fees and other costs.
c) They did not care about sports.
d) Both a and b
3.
What did Martha
overhear Mr. Boone and Mr. Schmidt arguing about?
a) The quality of a student's project
b) A change in school policy
c) Giving the scholarship jacket to Joann
instead of Martha
d) How to raise money for the school
4.
Why did the principal
avoid looking Martha in the eye?
a) He was nervous and uncomfortable.
b) He was ashamed of his decision.
c) He was angry with her.
d) He was trying to think of the right words.
5.
What was the
significance of the grandfather's statement, "if you pay for it, it's not
a scholarship jacket"?
a) It meant they were too poor to afford the
jacket.
b) It emphasized that a scholarship is earned
through merit, not bought.
c) It showed he was angry at the school.
d) It meant he didn't value the jacket.
Fill in
the Blanks
1.
The scholarship
jacket had a big gold ____ on the left
front side and the winner's name was written in gold letters on the ______.
2.
Martha's father was
a farm _______ who didn't earn enough
money to feed eight children.
3.
Mr. Boone's voice
sounded _____ and quiet.
4.
Martha's grandfather
was walking between the rows, his body bent over the little plants, ______in hand.
5.
The principal said,
"We'll make an ________ in your
case. I'll tell the Board—you'll get your jacket".
Answer
the Following Questions
1.
What was the
school's tradition regarding the scholarship jacket?
2.
What did Martha's
grandfather do for a living?
3.
How did the
principal's attitude change from the first time he spoke to Martha to the
second?
4.
Why did Martha cry
on the way home after her first conversation with the principal?
5.
What did Martha
learn from her grandfather's actions and words?
Choose
the Similar Word Meanings
Choose a
word from the passage that has a similar meaning to the word provided.
1.
agitated
2.
listen
secretly
3.
calm
behavior
4.
unimportant
5.
quiet
Fill in
the Blanks with Prepositions
1.
"I was sent to
live ____ my grandparents".
2.
"He fidgeted
____ the papers on his desk".
3.
"I cried ____
the walk home from the bus stop".
4.
"He was
outside, working ____ the bean field".
5.
"He gave me a
pat ____ the shoulder and a smile".
Question
for Students
Imagine
you are Martha. Rewrite the story's ending from the moment you leave the
principal's office after he agrees to give you the jacket. Describe your
feelings and thoughts, and how you would tell your grandfather the good news.
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