all over the country from her sister in Florida, and she panics.  She receives several letters and telegrams condemning her actions.

Philip's schedule is changed to a different English teacher.  He tries to ask Narwin for more work to change his grade, but she asks him to leave.

Miss Narwin is asked to take the rest of the term off by the superintendent and Dr. Doane. 

Did Miss Narwin cause Phillip's suspension? That is the main question of this chapter. It all starts with Jennifer Stewart's story about the incident. The associated Wire service read her story and wrote it up, insinuating that the teacher was unpatriotic. Jake Barlow, a radio host, takes callers to discuss the news story. Almost all callers agree with Phillip's position. One caller says that the whole story was not told. Dr. Harland the chair person of the school board contacts Dr. Seymore who says they will talk later. A reporter from the St. Louis Dispatch called Dr. Harland to enquire about a possible civil liberties issue because it appears as though Phillip was not allowed to sing the national anthem. Seymore talks to the principal. Several of the officials talk with Miss Narwin. She exaggerates Phillip's actions to avoid scrutiny and keep her job. She says Phillip was very loud and rude. Dr. Doane interviews several students to try and arrive at an objective answer.Ken tells Dr. Doane that he didn't even know Philip was singing until later. However he believes that Phillip was singing because it was written in the newspaper. Cynthia said she heard him only hum. She also said he was disrespectful to the teacher. Allison says that Phillip did it to try and make the teacher mad. Dr. Doane forces the students to support Miss Narwin's story.

All of the letters received support Phillip's right to sing the anthem. The sister of Miss Narwin sees the news in her paper in Florida and feels bad that the story was not told accurately. She calls.

Dr. Doane tries to comfort Miss Narwin telling her the media will forget about it, everyone will forget about it and the attention will die down. She suggests that Miss Narwin take a day off from teaching.

Chapter 16 recounts the events of the day Philip returns to school in chronological order, through the use of memos, letters, and conversations. The Chapter opens with copies of condemnatory letters sent to Margaret Narwin. A conversation between the Superintendant and the Principal reveals that political considerations will influence whether the district will support Ms. Narwin. Philip Malloy gets a pep talk from his parents at breakfast, and tells his running partner that he is going to talk to Ms. Narwin to see if he can do extra work so he can raise his grade in English and try out for track.

Ms. Narwin is informed that Philip has been removed from her classes, and Philip meets friends before school who are angry at what he has done. Philip's new homeroom teacher makes his first day uncomfortable for him, and the Principal is confronted by a very aggressive reporter. Copies of letters Philip has received from supporters are shown.

The Superintendant talks with a candidate for the school board, insinuating that the district will not support Ms. Narwin. This exchange and a faculty lunchroom conversation reveal that Ms. Narwin is being sacrificed so that budget issues will not be adversely affected. Philip approaches Ms. Narwin about raising his grade, but she tells him he is no longer in her class and asks him to leave. Ms. Narwin is called in before the Principal and it is suggested that she take a sabbatical. Philip, after enduring more teasing at the hands of his schoolmates, goes home close to tears and resolves that he is never going back to the school. His diary entry indicates that he still blames all his problems on everyone else, refusing to take responsibility for his own actions. Ms. Narwin is contacted by a reporter, and agrees to give her side of the story (Chapter 16).