Vanessa Lee Chester

Vanessa Lee Chester Quotes

Fairness in Leadership Opportunities

Miss Elson: [to the class; pauses and sees Harriet's hand raised] Good morning. Today we're... Yes, Harriet?

Harriet: Miss Elson, I've been thinking a lot, and you know how class president automatically gets to be editor of the sixth grade newspaper?

Miss Elson: Yes.

Harriet: Well... I think... I think it's too much for one person and it's not fair to everybody because everybody deserves a chance, and we should change it.

Marion: [shouting loudly] OBJECTION!

Miss Elson: [as Harriet sits back down in her seat] This isn't a courtroom, Marion. I like that idea, Harriet. Let's see what the class thinks.

Marion: [gets up from her desk] Miss Elson, I think I speak for everybody when I say this is... this is a really, really, stupid idea!

Miss Elson: That is one opinion. But let's take a vote. Marion is now editor of The Guidepost, would anyone like to nominate another candidate?

Miss Elson: Well... I guess if no one has anything to say...

Boy with Purple Socks: [gets up from his desk and finally speaks in front of the entire class, much to everybody's surprise] I have something to say: I think that Harriet is a very good writer, and if we only listen to one person's opinion, we may never get anywhere new. But Harriet might have something very original, and I'd like to read what she has to write.

Miss Elson: Is there a second?

Sport: [raises his hand] I second it.

Janie Gibbs: [raises her hand] I third it.

Miss Elson: Okay, then. Harriet Welsch is now a candidate for editor. Who votes for Harriet?

Miss Elson: And that... is that.

Harriet: [whispers] Yes!