Once Paul realised he was basically on his own in the classroom, he started modifying the teaching program to make the curriculum more relevant to his students, without compromising their chances of performing well on the standard tests. In fact, by the end of that first year his students had become the standard setters, and some of the older teachers had started wondering what he was doing to get such results. They were too proud to ask him directly, of course, but that didn’t stop them from quizzing his students. Paul was happy to share his ideas and his passion for teaching. Mostly, he only got to share them with Josie, who was enjoying a more collaborative experience in the feminine environment at St Catherine’s, where the wise women were not intimidated by the enthusiasm of the young.
