#211 BOOKWORM                          (Original air date:   12/11/97)
 

Written by:	Deborah Starr Seibel
Directed by:	Sandor Stern
Produced by:	Martha Williamson, Jon Andersen, E.F. Wallengren & R.J. Visciglia, Jr.

Guest Cast:

Joey Conroy	Trever O'Brien
Frank Conroy	David Andrews
Patricia Conroy	Elyssa Davalos
Bryce Caulfield	Michael Justin

 

Claire fills in as substitute teacher for an eighth grade English class. She pairs Dinah up with Joey Conroy, a popular student who has been scamming his teachers to cover up a learning disability. Joey is taken off guard when Claire asks him to take over for Dinah halfway into the presentation. When he fumbles his way through the note cards, it is painfully apparent that Joey cannot read. Claire tries to contact Joey's parents, but she discovers that they have rejected the school's efforts to intervene. Claire asks Joey to stay after class to ascertain the extent of his disability. When Frank Conroy (Joey's father), shows up, he asks her to stay out of their business. She tries to explain the importance of Joey getting the help he needs, but Frank isn't interested. The following day, Claire finds out that Joey's parents have pulled him from school. The school administrator is considering taking steps to counteract the Conroy's decision and report Joey for truancy. But Claire asks for a chance to intervene. She pays a visit to the Conroy's house and meets with Joey's mother, Patricia Conroy. Claire learns that Patricia is the one who has been reading to Joey -- masking his disability out of love, but inadvertently preventing him from getting the help he needs. Claire tries to convince Mrs. Conroy of Joey's potential, the importance of Joey remaining in school. But it soon becomes apparent that the decision has more to do with her husband's secret shame. He also has a learning disability and never learned to read. While working on a plumbing job with his dad, Joey tells his dad he wants to watch the meteor shower. Frank says he can't, tells him they've got a job to finish. Frank tells Joey that he plans for him to enter the family business. Joey tells his dad he doesn't want to be a plumber, that he wants to be a scientist -- an astronomer. Frank puts him down -- asking him why he wants to "take up space" in class. Joey takes offense, stands up to his dad and walks out on the job. Joey shows up at the location for the meteor shower. He explains to the Greenes that he hitchhiked. Claire can see how upset he is with his father and takes a walk with him. Claire convinces Joey that he's a bright student, fully capable of doing anything he sets his mind to -- and that with patience, she can teach him to read. Frank shows up looking for his son. Russell talks to him, explaining how sometimes we all need a little encouragement in areas even though we have trouble. By the time Claire returns with Joey, the road is paved for a reconciliation between Joey and his dad. Finally, Claire holds a private session teaching Joey and his father to read, one word at a time.