The observer is confused but impressed by the “cross-disciplinary innovation.”

Meanwhile, Principal Coleman (Ava) is actually trying (in her own way) to boost morale — she noticed the teachers are burnt out. Her method is terrible, but her goal is oddly pure. She confesses to Janine in a rare sincere moment:

JACOB: “Janine, that’s just a CD player with a sticker you made on the label maker.”

Janine insists it’s working. She starts micromanaging the CD player, skipping tracks, rewinding, and pausing at strategic moments. The kids become more confused but also weirdly engaged — they start shouting track numbers like they’re calling out bingo. (“Track 7! Play Track 7, Miss Teagues!”) Janine thinks she’s unlocked genius-level pedagogy.