America's deadliest school massacre occurred in 1927. Progressive teachers took an immigrant community beyond farm life. When a "model citizen" with war-surplus explosives destroyed their school, the fearless teachers proved themselves by rallying the community in an extraordinary rescue that led DuPont to terminate its product.

SYNOPSIS:

The immigrant community of Bath, Michigan, wants a better life for its children. A new school with a young, enthusiastic principal, FLOYD HUGGET (26), and exceptional TEACHERS (in their 20's) build an environment that fosters creativity, and their actions establish their devotion to their students. They formulate a progressive curriculum with music, art, photography, publishing, language, science, and shop classes. The teachers, many immigrants as well, reside and grow with the community.

RUTH BARNES (17) compiles biographies and photos of the yearbook's students, staff, and community. As she talks with the children, their aspirations are exposed and presented in a tapestry of this rural population. Students engage in different activities that reinforce their character.

However, not everyone appreciates the progress of the town. ANDREW KEHOE (55) sells Pyrotol (a war surplus incendiary explosive). But, the blacksmith ALBERT DETLOFF has sympathies with the Ku Klux Klan and FRANK SMITH; the Janitor has PTSD. None of the townspeople are aware of the sinister backgrounds. Pyrotol bombs are placed under the school by an unknown figure. An inquest after the explosion detail how any of the three men had a motive and could be responsible.

Less than half of the Pyrotol explodes. The explosion collapses the north wing and destroys windows in the entire town. The teachers run toward the collapsing building to rescue students. They gather townspeople to help. They contact neighboring communities. They apply skills they never knew they had. The community and the state come together in an extraordinary rescue effort. Heavy machinery can't make it to the site, so hundreds of people work with their bare hands.

The inquest will later reveal Kehoe's motives. Kehoe resents that his in-laws own his farm, and his property tax has increased to pay for the new school. He detests school Superintendent EMORY HUYCK (33), who brought in young teachers with new ideas. Kehoe loads his truck with explosives and kills himself, Huyck, and five others.

Rescuers become victims. Cars, school buses, farm trucks, and ambulances transport 58 victims to local hospitals. Once thought too young for the job, principal Hugget orchestrates a rescue effort that discovers the unexploded Pyrotol, and after 12 hours, accounts for everyone.

DuPont Powder ceases the production of Pyrotol and destroys all that remains. They cite "there is no need to have weapons of war used by the public."