"It's good news," he intoned to the 600 or so gathered at 0730 hr this morning. "We are not closing down and they are not closing down. It's a merger."
The staff had already been briefed a day earlier with the key personnel getting an earful even earlier that day. To the unbelieving ears of the 500 students, the 'good news' came like a bolt of alienating thunder. But of course, the good-natured principal reminded them, "I know you are very excited!" Excited about ... ?
