Quotes

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[singing] Fair Eastside,<br>By thy sign, we'll stand, and always, praise thy name.<br>(Praise Thy Name, Praise Thy Naaaaaame)<br>To heaven, yea<br>Lend our hearts, and hands, to help increase thy fame.<br>Ooh Lord, thee honor, yea<br>Of all Eastside High, cross forth our loyalty<br>Loyalty, loyalty.

Dialogue

Joe Clark: You think you can run this school? If you could, then I wouldn't be here, would I? No one talks in my meetings. NO ONE! You just take out your pencils and write. I want the names of every hoodlum, drug dealer, drug user, and miscreant who's done nothing but take this place apart on my desk by noon today. Reverend Slappy...You are now my chief custodian, Reverend Slappy. You will scour this building clean. Graffiti goes up, it's off the next day. Is that clear? ...Detention students can help you. Let them scrub this place for awhile; let them discover what a fine living people like yourself make doing this. And tear down those cages in the cafeteria! If we treat our students like animals, that's exactly how they'll behave...! This is my new Dean of Security, Mr. William Wright. He will be my Avenging Angel, as you teachers reclaim the halls. This is an institution of learning, ladies and gentlemen. If you can't control it, HOW CAN YOU TEACH?! Discipline is not the enemy of en

Dialogue

Joe Clark: Now, let me tell you something: The trouble with being a teenager is you don't know nothin'. The problem with teenagers is you think you're smarter than people who've already been down the road you're traveling. You know what I'm tryin' to say to you, boy? DO YOU?! Thomas Sams: Yes, sir. Joe Clark: Did you tell your father I threw you out of school? [Sams shakes his head without making eye contact; Clark picks Sam's head up, yells] Is that a no? SAY SOMETHING, DAMN IT! Thomas Sams: [sobs] I didn't, sir. Joe Clark: Why not? No guts, huh? Afraid of what he's gonna say to you, aren't ya? Thomas Sams: My father doesn't live with us anymore, sir. Joe Clark: Oh, is that what you're doing now? Go around feeling sorry for yourself, boy? Huh? Go on. Get outta here! You're wasting my time! Thomas Sams: [crying] Please, sir. I have to get back in school somewhere. I can't just go home and tell my mom I got thrown out. Joe Clark: Now why should I let you back into my school, Sams? Thoma

Dialogue

Dr. Frank Napier: You know, all your shit comes down on my head. Joe Clark: Aw, Frank, look-- Dr. Frank Napier: No, you let me talk. It's like you're a big bird with radar, and I'm tired of getting hit! Joe Clark: Is this my fault? Dr. Frank Napier: This is nothing! I've got union lawyers threatening me, and there's talk of a walkout! Joe Clark: Well let 'em! They're not teaching anything down there anyway! Dr. Frank Napier: Then it's your job to do something about it! Joe Clark: Not one of them has a personal stake in that school, Frank, not one! Dr. Frank Napier: The Fire Chief was just here; he says it's illegal to bar those doors. Mrs. Barrett is organizing a parents' group to try to get you removed, since you insulted them at that meeting the other night when you suggested that they "get off welfare"! Joe Clark: Oh, I didn't mean that... Dr. Frank Napier: Cause the fact is quite a few of them need it. Joe Clark: I wasn't talking to all of them, Frank. Now look, you came and recrui

Dialogue

Mrs. Elliott: I would love to chat, Mr. Clark, but we have a concert next week in New York and I want these students to be prepared for it. Joe Clark: You want what!? Mrs. Elliott: To be prepared. That's what rehearsal is for, isn't it? Joe Clark: What concert, Mrs. Elliott? Mrs. Elliott: The one at Lincoln Center. We give it every year. Joe Clark: Until now. Your concert is cancelled. Mrs. Elliott: What? Joe Clark: CANCELLED! You do know what cancelled means, don't you? Over! Finished! Terminated! Mrs. Elliott: I can't tell Lincoln Center that! These young people have worked too hard for too long! Joe Clark: Also for not telling me! Mrs. Elliott: I filed a form in your office! Didn't you see it? Joe Clark: AND for blatant insubordination! You've openly challenged my judgement, my competence, my intelligence! Mrs. Elliott: I don't want to get into this! You barged in on me to pick a fight, not the other way around! You're a despicable bully, and I have nothing more to say to you! Joe C

Dialogue

Mr. Darnell: Mr. Clark, just what was that all about? Joe Clark: I distinctly said, "No one moves during the singing of the school song". Now, if you can't understand that, find yourself another place to work! Mr. Darnell: I was picking up a piece of paper! Joe Clark: You're contradicting me in front of my students. Mr. Darnell: They're my students, too! Joe Clark: They are my students, Mr. Darnell! Mr. Darnell: Just what are you trying to prove? I'm working my ass off of you, took the demotion and I'm doin' my job! You're just getting your rocks off for treating me like trash! Joe Clark: No, sir. That's what you were picking up. Mr. Darnell: [slamming the folders onto Clark's desk] Goddamn it! You give me the goddamn respect you would damn well want yourself, or I will kick your black ass! Joe Clark: You are suspended, sir, as of right now! Get out!

Dialogue

Joe Clark: Let's see what you got in here. Thomas Sams: You don't want to go in there, Mr. Clark, it stinks!

Dialogue

Dr. Frank Napier: Don, the man has a legitimate problem. How's he supposed to keep drug dealers out of his school if their buddies can just push open the exit doors and let 'em walk on in? Mr. Rosenberg: He's got a point, sir. Mayor Don Bottman: Rosenberg, this doesn't concern you.

Dialogue

Mayor Don Bottman: What do you want? Leonna Barrett: Clark! Mayor Don Bottman: Just like that, huh? Head on a platter. Leonna Barrett: You think I got an attitude. Well, let me tell you what I think. I know why you like Clark. He's a guard dog. He does your dirty work, keeps the black folk in their place...that's fine with me. But you've got to get re-elected. I've got enough folks lined up with me to give you a DAMN hard time, and I will get more. I will organize. I will beat the streets. Mayor Don Bottman: Unless I do what? Leonna Barrett: Appoint me to the school board so we can vote Clark out. Otherwise, we'll just have to vote you out. Mayor Don Bottman: Vote me out? You know, it's always good to see citizens avail themselves of the democratic process. Leonna Barrett: My job's gonna be easy. You're none too popular these days, are ya?

Dialogue

Joe Clark: Don't talk to me about saving those kids. The mayor wants to save his budget. And you wanna save face! Dr. Frank Napier: Well, so what? You want the truth? Joe Clark: Yeah, Frank. Let's have some truth. Dr. Frank Napier: The truth is that for all your talking, all your 'Crazy Joe' routine, what have you ever done? Nothing. You're nothing but an insignificant man. It's like you were never born. Your life hasn't made one bit of difference, and neither has mine. Wanna take that to the grave?

Dialogue

Thomas Sams: Hey, Mr. Clark, what did they get you for? Ms. Levias: What's the charge? What's this all about? Leona Barrett: It's about someone finally standing up to this man instead of taking his orders like a waitress. Ms. Levias: How dare you speak about people like that? Who do you think you are? Joe Clark: Mrs. Barrett, if you think you can - Leonna Barrett: SHUT UP! You're finished! [holds up the tape recorder] The school board's gonna hear this at 7:00, and we're gonna vote your black ass out. Thomas Sams: [calling after Barrett] Yo, witch! Vote on THIS! [bites his thumb at her] Joe Clark: Sams, that won't help me. [turning back to Joan] Ms. Levias, you're acting principal now. I expect you to perform as I would.

Dialogue

Ms. Levias: Mr. Clark. Mr. Clark: Yes, Ms. Levias? Ms. Levias: May I talk to you for a minute, please? Mr. Clark: What do you want? Ms. Levias: I want you to transfer me. Mr. Clark: To where? Ms. Levias: Out of here! Mr. Clark: You know, this doesn't surprise me one bit, Ms. Levias. I've sensed resistance in you since our very first meeting. Ms. Levias: You're an egomanical windbag. Mr. Clark: Who are you talking to?! Ms. Levias: I'm talking to you! You like to whip people who can't fight back! I thought I could take it because I had a father in the same kind of pain that makes you such a bastard, but I was wrong! Life is much too short! I will not endure you any longer! Mr. Clark: You will not endure me?! Ms. Levias: The only reason I haven't walked out, and half the staff along with me, is because those children need us here. Mr. Clark: Oh, the children need you? Ms. Levias: You're so busy talking discipline, you forget to educate! Mr. Clark: Is that so? Then what the hell do you thi