Reputation on Fire

Have you ever been singled out in class and wrongly accused in front of EVERYONE! 60 eyes stare at you like a scared mouse surrounded by 100 hungry cats. Sometimes well meaning teachers make mistakes and sometimes students are right. Why, is it that if someone is wronged publicly the apology follows quietly when no one is around. This is shaping up to be a year of reputation preservation. There have been many fire's to put out recently in order to protect my reputation...but that's High School.

SAT/ACT Times Up!

Our schools ask us to begin taking the SAT/ACT during our junior year in High School. Some students take it before their junior year, but for the most part students take these tests during their junior year. For those of us which would like higher scores, we continue taking the test through October of our senior year. With the colleges November deadlines for 2010 enrollment most seniors have already compiled their transcripts, college applications and the SAT/ACT scores. Today, the last week in October, our English class is signing us up for the SAT online class. We are to complete 5 assignments per week. This on-line training is suppose to take us through May. Sounds 'to little to late' to me. Seniors wishing to attend colleges will be receiving acceptance letters by January. Many of my friends have already received acceptance letters to one or more colleges. If seniors wait until the end of this SAT class in May, they will miss the deadlines for the 2010/2011 year, not to mention any scholarship money that's available. What's the logic behind this class? Many of my classes this year are turning into time-fillers until graduation. Also, if it's on-line why attend class and why have a teacher? Crazy! I signed up for a Senior English class and this is what I get...but that's High School.

Are we a School or a Prison?

During 7th period we had a guest speaker that kept us 3 min after the bell. You wouldn't think this would mean the end of the world, but in my case it did. Having arrived at my 8th period class, with my hand on the door knob as the bell was ringing, my teacher was greeting me into his class and willing to let me in, but the Hall Guard (or Prison Guard) saw an opportunity to capture a student. He yelled "Get to the cafeteria". My teacher vouched for me, but it was in vain. With the hall guards two large arms, he reached over and blocked entrance to my class. "Get to the cafeteria" he said firmly, again. I learned today that hall monitors have greater authority then our teachers. Wow! Once I arrived in the cafeteria I was asked to be quiet as they called the other captives up one at a time. We were instructed to sign our names and a tardy would be submitted on our school record. In our school one tardy equals detention. I told myself "I am not serving detention for being held after class for a guest speaker I didn't even know we were going to have" Come on! This is ridiculous. Not to mention the tardy which would be on my permanent record. As I approached the table I was so mad, I thought of a way to out wit the system. Shh. I'll tell you only if you keep it on the DL. I wrote a name which was not my own and included a school ID number that was random. Thank goodness the staff did not recognize me. They handed me a pass to re-join my class and with 10 min. left I walked in and caught the last of a review. Isn't the goal to get kids to go to class? I want to know how to file a complaint against a school that takes away class time for unwarranted discipline. Do I have any rights as a citizen or is this a prison? ...But that's High School or is it? Who knows?

If Madam Librarian Burns Down the Library, We're Prepared

Fire drill on a half day of school? I don't understand our twice a month, middle of the week half days. I know teachers need planning time, but our teachers aren't to keen on these half days either. Holding a fire drill on a half day makes me feel like we were called out of bed at 4:30am to come down to the school only to participate in a fire drill. If I'm going to get up early in the morning I do not want it to be for a fire drill. Here's a solution: How about holding half a fire drill and giving us one Friday off each month....No sight of Madam Librarian. The library has been closed due to state testing. I won't even waste my time talking about the crazy reasons why the library closes. Well, at least not today. All those wonderful books and no ones able to read them...But that's High School

Baa, Baa, Black Sheep

I say yellow. They say yellow. The teacher says blue. They say blue. The teacher says red. They say red. This discribes the frame work for the conversations which have occured for the Fall Reading. For the past 3 months our class has been trying to come up with a theme. An idea is presented and agreed upon until our teacher inserts her idea and then everyone adopts her opinion. Over and over, round and round it goes. I've asked myself many times if schools are a holding pen for sheep. As children our schools tell us what to read, how to read it, when to play, when to sing, when to eat and how to think. Is it any wonder why we are unsure about the idea of thinking for ourselves? I don't know. Go ask the teacher....but that's High School.

16 Girls, Nothing to Wear

16 Students, all GIRLS!...This describes my first period class. We're responsible for planning the Senior Spring Reading. We have had conflicting ideas on posters, props and theme since this project began months ago. Nothing has brought more contention among us than clothing. No matter what is suggested, there is someone who says "I don't look good in that color, dress, jeans, shirt, too short, too tall, too thin". You name it. It's a fashion nightmare. Wish us luck in getting this one resolved. I don't know how to get 16 girls to agree on what to wear...but that's High School.

A+ Schools on the Down Low

Everyone in high school knows what goes on in the dark quiet places around the buildings, but we keep it on the D.L. Except for today. Some seniors boldly went where no senior had gone before. We were visited by our Student Body President and asked to talk about what would make us a better school. Over the years, seniors have offered the canned responses such as, more lunch choices, off-campus lunch, leave early, front place in the lunch line and stuff like that. All very good ideas, but nothing really changes from year to year and we get fed up with the same questions and answers. Today, the course of student surveys has changed. One student stood up proudly and requested a smoking zone, so the bathrooms can remain open. Another student followed-up with requesting a safe sex room which provides free condoms. He sighted this as supporting the prevention of teen pregnancy campaigned by all schools. And this one is interesting to, how about an excused absence to get high. This is the dark side of high school no one really addresses. The students know what's going on. But administration, well they just want their school to appear A+. Is anyone listening? We have real problems that need real answers...But that's High School.