Mr. Winthrop

Mr. Winthrop is one of Lucy Cunningham-Schultz's teachers and expects his students to think seriously about difficult assignments. He selects Lucy's report for publication in a district newspaper, then tells her to write about evolution even though she believes God created the world. Lucy is warned that refusing may damage her grade. After a troubled weekend, she returns ready to accept failure rather than write against her convictions. Winthrop surprises her by inviting her to approach the topic from a Christian perspective instead. Firm and challenging, he does not simply hand Lucy an easy answer. His assignment forces her to decide what she believes, while his final response leaves room for her to express that belief honestly.