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Cipher in the Snow
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Wikipedia article
'Cipher in the Snow' is a short story written by Jean Mizer about the death of an ostracized teenager. It was later made into a short film by Brigham Young University in 1973.
Background
'Cipher in the Snow', written by Jean Mizer, an Idaho teacher, counselor and guidance director, was first published in the 'NEA Journal', 50:8-10, 1964. It won first prize in the first Reader's Digest/NEA Journal writing competition.'Promoting Health And Emotional Well-Being in Your Classroom', Randy M. Page and Tana S. Page, Jones & Bartlett, 2007, [https://books.google.com/books?id=0FczAAAAIAAJ&q=%22Cipher+in+the+snow%22+Mizer+digest&dq=%22Cipher+in+the+snow%22+Mizer+digest&pgis=1 Educational Horizons], Pi Lambda Theta, 1976
It has since been frequently reprinted and the story and film used in moral education; for instance, as part of anti-bullying initiatives.[http://hs.boisestate.edu/radar/videos/Bullyingvideos2007.pdf Bullying Videos/DVDs], Idaho RADAR Network Center
BYU Motion Picture Studios made a movie of it in 1973. The film was produced by Wetzel Whitaker and Keith Atkinson, with a screenplay by Carol Lynn Pearson. A DVD of the movie is available through [https://creativeworks.byu.edu/CreativeworksStore/ProductViewDetail?ProductId=43&SiteID=10 BYU's Creative Works Office.]
Synopsis
The story is about an ostracized teenager, Cliff Evans, who following his parents' divorce has no friends and becomes a completely withdrawn "cipher". Then on a school bus, he asks to be let off, and collapses and dies in the snow near the roadside. His school's math teacher is asked to notify his parents and write the obituary. Though listed as Cliff's favorite teacher, he recalls that he hardly knew him. After getting a delegation to go to the funeral - it's impossible to find ten people who knew him well enough to go - the teacher resolves never to let this happen to another child in his charge. It is implied that his death was because no one loved him.
References
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