Who is Holden's history teacher at Pencey who tries to help Holden get it together?

• A. Stradlater
• B. Mr. Spencer
• C. Jane Gallagher
• D. Ackley

Answer: (B)

Holden’s history teacher who tries to help him get it together is Mr. Spencer. This moment matters because it shows the one adult at Pencey who genuinely tries to intervene and push Holden toward responsibility, even though Holden resents the intrusion. Mr. Spencer visits Holden in his dorm, lectures him about his poor grades and attitude, and asks him to write about his future, urging him to take things more seriously. This scene highlights the tension between Holden’s craving for independence and the reality that he does need guidance, a theme that runs through his interactions with adults.

Stradlater is Holden’s roommate and classmate, not a teacher; Jane Gallagher is a girl from Holden’s past, not an adult at Pencey; Ackley is another dorm neighbor. None of them fit the role of the teacher who tries to steer Holden, making Mr. Spencer the correct choice.