Letter to the editor

A school superintendent told his assistant superintendent, “Next Thursday at 10:30 a.m., Halley’s Comet will appear over this area. This is an event which occurs only once every 75 years. Call the school principals and have them assemble their teachers and classes on their athletic fields and explain this phenomenon to them. If it rains, then cancel the day’s observation and have the classes meet in the auditorium to see a film about the comet.”

The assistant superintendent said to the school principals, “By order of the Superintendent of schools, next Thursday at 10:30, Halley’...