Contents
A Simple Thing
Overview
During the graduation ceremony, Mr. Tushman delivers a heartfelt address about growth and the moral power of kindness. He quotes J. M. Barrie and Christopher Nolan to argue for being “kinder than necessary.” The message lands warmly with students and parents, framing the class’s transition and the novel’s core theme.
Summary
August and the Beecher Prep community gather in a large auditorium for the fifth- and sixth-grade graduation. After Headmaster Jansen’s introduction, Mr. Tushman welcomes faculty, families, guests, and especially the students, emphasizing this transitional moment between childhood and what comes next.
Mr. Tushman reflects on growth beyond grades or height, defining success by how students spent their time and whom they touched. He quotes J. M. Barrie’s line about being “kinder than is necessary,” highlighting kindness as a choice and a true measure of character, not something quantifiable.
He then reads from Christopher Nolan’s Under the Eye of the Clock, where small gestures reveal “the face of God” through kindness. Mr. Tushman underlines how simple acts—a word of encouragement, friendship, a smile—can have profound impact, especially for those facing challenges.
Concluding, Mr. Tushman asks students to make it a rule to act a little kinder than necessary wherever possible. He lightens the tone with a humorous nod to “politically correct” beliefs, earning laughter and applause, and leaves the class with a clear ethical compass as they move forward.
Who Appears
- Mr. TushmanHead of school; delivers the graduation address centered on choosing to be kinder than necessary.
- August PullmanNarrator present in the audience, observing Mr. Tushman’s speech and the crowd’s response.
- Headmaster JansenIntroduces Mr. Tushman at the graduation ceremony.