Everybody Loves Raymond

Really?

What did he say?

He said it's time to get off the phone.

Oh, he's so funny.

Come on, sweetie. I need your help.

In a minute. He's really cute.

Not "in a minute." Now.

All right. Look, I gotta go. My mom's freaking out again.

See you.

Could you set the table, please?

Jeez. What's your problem?

My problem? What is my problem?

You wanna know what my problem is?

You and I need to have a little talk.

Hey, crinkle-cuts!

- Daddy! - Hey! Aww...

Let me take that for you.

Sure. What a nice girl.

Could we go for two nice girls?

I asked you to set the table.

Oh, boy.

Ah, what's that I smell? My favorite... lemon chicken.

Hey. Hold it.

- What've you got there? - It's personal.

Can I see it, please?

Well, Deb, if it's personal, then...

do what your mother says.

Oh, it's from the school.

What is that... your midterm grades?

- I have to go to the bathroom. - Stop.

English..."A."

History..."B."

Phys Ed..."B." These are very good.

These are kind of like my grades,

except for the "A"s and "B"s.

Science..."B," math...

"F"?

"F"?

You're getting an "F" in math?

Why do you always just look at the negative?

Excuse me, who do you think you're talking to?

- I got good grades too. - We're not talking about them.

Hey, why don't we drop the high and the low...

and then sink our teeth into some sweet...

lemon chicken?

Ally, what's going on with math?

Nothing.

- I hate Mr. Putnam. - Why do you hate him?

- I just do, okay? He's so mean. - Oh, come on.

He is mean! Take his side, why don't you?

I am not taking anyone's side,

but I have to say I'm not real thrilled with your attitude.

It's just a midterm, okay?

It's one stupid grade, and I'm gonna pass.

God, why do you always have to overreact?!

She's not completely wrong.

Hello, you must be the Barones.

Have a seat.

Oh, hi, Mr. Putnam.

We were just commenting

on how neat and well-organized your room looks.

Thank you.

I assume you want to talk about Ally's math grade.

Yes. Thank you for meeting with us. L... well, we...

I hope you're not here to try and convince me to change the grade.

I can't change grades.

No no. It's not that.

All my decisions are final.

Uh, l... I understand.

We would like to discuss, uh,

what she could do to improve.

What she could do to improve.

Well, like I tell the other 30 kids I have

times five classes a day, times five days a week...

"Please pay attention."

Wow. So many kids.

I have trouble with just the one.

And I don't have to tell you

that math isn't the most popular subject with the kids.

I always hated it.

Ray.

No. Believe me, I understand.

They're always asking me, you know,

"When am I gonna need this?"

I don't know, but could you need it just right now,

just to get me through the day?

Uh, would... would you like a throat lozenge?

Mr. Putnam, we're really gonna crack down on her homework.

It's not just homework.

You can't do the homework if you don't pay attention.

You see, the thing about math is...

numbers are constant. They're clear.

They're... logical.

They're organized.

13-year-olds are... not.

Believe me, I understand.

Thank you. I'm sure Ally's a very bright girl,

but she doesn't pay attention. Nothing I say...

- sinks in? - Right.

Yeah. Everything I read says that's teenagers.

I used to teach second-graders.

Sure, you had the occasional pee-pee accident in class, but...

they... they were so...

- Sweet. - Yes.

- And appreciative. - Yes.

- Mm-mmm. - You two met before, or?

No. But we understand.

You know, I will have one of those lozenges.

Please.

And we're gonna work on Ally.

Well, it was nice meeting you.

I have to go.

It's parent-teacher night at my son's school.

I hate those.

Well...

if "X" equals lame, that guy is four times "X."

Come on. You gotta feel bad for the guy.

What? He's the teacher.

So?

I'm sorry, but this is his job,

and he gets paid good money to do it.

Good money?

Plus he's got a teacher's lounge, a gym,

the tetherball... he's got a sweet deal here.

I know teachers like this.

He obviously doesn't understand children.

Oh, and you do?

I know why Ally hates math.

Why?

Because this guy thinks math is the whole world,

and... and he takes it out on the kids

when they hate it like they're supposed to.

He's a professional teacher

who took time out of his day to talk to us.

Yeah, right.

You love him so much, why don't you marry him?

Would you just stop it?

Grow up.

Look, all I'm saying is Ally...

No, Ally needs to learn that not every subject is fun.

She has to focus, and you need to back me up on this!

Math.

I'll give you math.

This minus this equals nothing.

What do you want from me?!

I want you to stay in your room and study!

Fine!

And there's no TV!

And I don't wanna hear any music,

and I'm keeping this phone!

It's going well.

You know...

every child goes through this rebellious phase.

I did.

One time in church choir, we were all supposed to sing

"What a Friend We Have in Jesus,"

and my friend and I sang

"What a Friend We Have in Cheeses."

It seems like it was just yesterday Ally was so nice...

cute little smile, little blonde curls.

I have blonde curls.

Yeah, you do, Ma.

What are you gonna do? How're you gonna handle this?

She's basically grounded.

There's no TV, no phone,

no contact with the outside world

until she gets her math grade up.

- Complete lockdown, huh? - Yeah.

You know, in the big house, solitary can go either way.

Sometimes they come out and they're nice and docile,

and other times, you open the cell and aahhh!

I'd hate to see Ally go that way.

I just felt so sorry for Mr. Putnam.

Kids have no respect today.

I got his lozenges.

You know, Mr. Putnam is the teacher.

He should get respect automatically.

You know, Debra...

now, don't take this as a criticism...

But brace yourself just in case.

You can't expect

to impose discipline on children

who have never had any.

You have to teach them when they're young.

That's how they learn respect.

You deny them water.

If you're their source of water, they respect you.

What bothers me is that, right away,

she took the teacher's side.

Oh, Ally's "F" is the teacher's fault?

She's getting good grades in all her other classes.

Why can't you accept that maybe it's him?

I just know this Mr. Putnam. He's not a good teacher.

It's... it's all about him.

"Math is great. Kids are bad!"

It's not the teacher's fault! It's Ally.

No! No, teachers are fine,

but some teachers can't relate to kids.

Remember that French teacher I had in high school?

Oh, you mean Monsieur LeFevre?