Wayside School is Falling Down

Content Warning: This section of the guide refers to the source text’s use of outdated and offensive terms for unhoused people and the Romani culture, replicated in direct quotes only. In addition, as an older text, Wayside School Is Falling Down makes occasional references to mild gender-based aggressions that are no longer considered acceptable.

A delivery truck pulls up to Wayside school carrying a delivery for Mrs. Jewls. Louis, the yard teacher, is outside cleaning up stray pencils and papers that are littering the play yard. Because he thinks that the children do not like to be interrupted during their studies, he tells the driver that he is Mrs. Jewls so that the driver will not interrupt class. Louis struggles up to the 30th floor, carrying the heavy package. Through the door, he can hear Mrs. Jewls teaching a lesson about gravity. All the children volunteer to be the one to open the door for Louis, because they love to be interrupted during class. While Lewis complains about how heavy the package is, Mrs. Jewls holds a spelling bee to see which child will be allowed to open the door. Once Louis is finally inside, Mrs. Jewls makes him hold the package while she climbs onto a chair to open it.