There are no words...
Today was my first day back to school.
I walked out of the house with a smile on my face, even though I missed lazing about at home, I was eager to see my friends, and eager to start off my junior year. Because, guys, I'm OFFICIALLY A JUNIOR.
But, to give you guys a little background, I go to an inner-city school. Which, if you're not familiar with the term, means that I go to a school where there are security guards and metal detectors and drugs and fights and because of this, it's not really an ideal school, but it is a school nonetheless.
I believe in many things, but I strongly believe in education. Sure I may whine about having a butt-load of homework. Sure I may whine about how I hate getting up in the morning, but that doesn't mean that I hate school in general.
I love school and because I believe in education, I also believe that even the worst of schools deserve a chance.
High school is your last chance. After that, it's time to face the music. That's what everyone is always telling me, other young people my age. It's a universal law: knowledge is power, and then I think about the many countries out there whose kids don't have a chance at receiving an education, I think about how blessed I am for being born in one of the greatest nation's in the world. Even though we have had our ups and downs, America is supposed to be the land of the free. It's supposed to be the land of opportunities and possibilities and then there is the American Dream:
So, yeah, even the American Dream requires for every child to receive a good education and a career, but let's face it, you can't land a good job, if you don't make those four years in high school count, and get accepted into a good college.
You must be thinking "What's the point of all this?" Well, let me finish telling you about my day.
I was so happy to finally be rid of my 10th grade status that I literally skipped to school, but once I actually stepped inside, my smile turned into a frown, and then from there, I started to get angrier and angrier.
Why?
Half of my school is off limits. This is not essentially why I was angry, but it's part of it. There are walls and padlocked doors to keep us from getting to the other side, and once I saw them, reality set in.
They are closing my school, guys.
I have sent letters to the superintendent, a lot of people in my school did. I have spoken to the local paper, but the article was never written. I have ranted and raved and parents of my fellow students have been in the news, talking about how this is not right.
Because it isn't right. There are a lot of people who disagree with me, but a lot of these people are American and they claim to believe in education and this so called American Dream, that clearly states that every child is eligible to receive a GOOD education.
But, how are children supposed to learn when they are closing schools down?
In my hometown, the city is divided up into four categories: the West End, the East End, the Northside and the Southside. I live in the East End, and you want to know something?
After they close down my school, there is going to be only one high school in my area.
Do you want to know what they want to do to my school once they close it? Well, they want to put another school in there, one that I couldn't even get into even if I wanted to, because there's a waiting list that started years ago, and these kids who will roam of the halls of my school, the one I have been at for almost three years, have parents who are rich, and they are not inner-city kids.
And do you know what else sucks? We don't even get a choose what school we want to go too.
It's either the one school that's left on the East End or another, which is on the other side of town. They say they will pay for transportation but...do you know what's so freaking funny about this whole thing?
The reason why they are using our school for this new school, is because the drop-out rate is high in my school and they think the building should be used for people who want to learn.
There are about 300-400 students attending my school, which is the norm for a lot of the schools in my area, or was, I should say, because they recently sold another high school building to a hospital, because the hospital needed more office space.
I SWEAR TO GOODNESS. It's like...this town doesn't even care about education. They are spending money building new hotels, and new gyms and new this, and new that when they can't put a penny into our education...which really pisses me off, and I don't want to just sit here and take it.
I won't, but what the hell can I do? I've tried to talk to the Superintendent but he doesn't give two shits about anything, nor does he know anything about anything. He's making these blind decisions, when he doesn't really know why the kids in my school are doing poorly, and it's not everyone...it's just a chunk of the student body, and that holds true in any school, no matter who attends it, inner-city or rich kids.
I'm a straight A student. I was one way before I went to middle school, and there are lot of kids at me at my school, but the school board doesn't want to see that, they just want to kick us out of our school...and it hurts so much, because I've come to like my school. I love the teachers, even though the students get on my nerves some times, I've had some great memories there, and to know that they're going to be washed away....I just...
And I'm not even going to have a prom. They're closing the school after the end of next year, and I graduate in 2012, which means I have ONE more year of high school left...but I don't even get to spend it with my friends, I have to go to a new school, one that is located in a bad area and bad is seriously an understatement.
People get shot just by walking down the street, in that neighborhood and they want to send us there?
And you know what the funny thing about that is? The school board knows that. That is why they wouldn't dare send those rich, non inner-city kids to that school. It's a bad neighborhood and they wouldn't want any of them getting shot up...but when it comes to us....who cares?
I'm sorry if this was just a whole bunch of ranting, but I had to let off some steam.
I walked out of the house with a smile on my face, even though I missed lazing about at home, I was eager to see my friends, and eager to start off my junior year. Because, guys, I'm OFFICIALLY A JUNIOR.
But, to give you guys a little background, I go to an inner-city school. Which, if you're not familiar with the term, means that I go to a school where there are security guards and metal detectors and drugs and fights and because of this, it's not really an ideal school, but it is a school nonetheless.
I believe in many things, but I strongly believe in education. Sure I may whine about having a butt-load of homework. Sure I may whine about how I hate getting up in the morning, but that doesn't mean that I hate school in general.
I love school and because I believe in education, I also believe that even the worst of schools deserve a chance.
High school is your last chance. After that, it's time to face the music. That's what everyone is always telling me, other young people my age. It's a universal law: knowledge is power, and then I think about the many countries out there whose kids don't have a chance at receiving an education, I think about how blessed I am for being born in one of the greatest nation's in the world. Even though we have had our ups and downs, America is supposed to be the land of the free. It's supposed to be the land of opportunities and possibilities and then there is the American Dream:
The meaning of the "American Dream" has changed over the course of history. While historically traced to the New World mystique — especially the availability of low-cost land for farm ownership — the ethos today simply indicates the ability, through participation in the society and economy, for everyone to achieve prosperity. According to the dream, this includes the opportunity for one's children to grow up and receive a good education and career without artificial barriers. (Wikipedia)
So, yeah, even the American Dream requires for every child to receive a good education and a career, but let's face it, you can't land a good job, if you don't make those four years in high school count, and get accepted into a good college.
You must be thinking "What's the point of all this?" Well, let me finish telling you about my day.
I was so happy to finally be rid of my 10th grade status that I literally skipped to school, but once I actually stepped inside, my smile turned into a frown, and then from there, I started to get angrier and angrier.
Why?
Half of my school is off limits. This is not essentially why I was angry, but it's part of it. There are walls and padlocked doors to keep us from getting to the other side, and once I saw them, reality set in.
They are closing my school, guys.
I have sent letters to the superintendent, a lot of people in my school did. I have spoken to the local paper, but the article was never written. I have ranted and raved and parents of my fellow students have been in the news, talking about how this is not right.
Because it isn't right. There are a lot of people who disagree with me, but a lot of these people are American and they claim to believe in education and this so called American Dream, that clearly states that every child is eligible to receive a GOOD education.
But, how are children supposed to learn when they are closing schools down?
In my hometown, the city is divided up into four categories: the West End, the East End, the Northside and the Southside. I live in the East End, and you want to know something?
After they close down my school, there is going to be only one high school in my area.
Do you want to know what they want to do to my school once they close it? Well, they want to put another school in there, one that I couldn't even get into even if I wanted to, because there's a waiting list that started years ago, and these kids who will roam of the halls of my school, the one I have been at for almost three years, have parents who are rich, and they are not inner-city kids.
And do you know what else sucks? We don't even get a choose what school we want to go too.
It's either the one school that's left on the East End or another, which is on the other side of town. They say they will pay for transportation but...do you know what's so freaking funny about this whole thing?
The reason why they are using our school for this new school, is because the drop-out rate is high in my school and they think the building should be used for people who want to learn.
There are about 300-400 students attending my school, which is the norm for a lot of the schools in my area, or was, I should say, because they recently sold another high school building to a hospital, because the hospital needed more office space.
I SWEAR TO GOODNESS. It's like...this town doesn't even care about education. They are spending money building new hotels, and new gyms and new this, and new that when they can't put a penny into our education...which really pisses me off, and I don't want to just sit here and take it.
I won't, but what the hell can I do? I've tried to talk to the Superintendent but he doesn't give two shits about anything, nor does he know anything about anything. He's making these blind decisions, when he doesn't really know why the kids in my school are doing poorly, and it's not everyone...it's just a chunk of the student body, and that holds true in any school, no matter who attends it, inner-city or rich kids.
I'm a straight A student. I was one way before I went to middle school, and there are lot of kids at me at my school, but the school board doesn't want to see that, they just want to kick us out of our school...and it hurts so much, because I've come to like my school. I love the teachers, even though the students get on my nerves some times, I've had some great memories there, and to know that they're going to be washed away....I just...
And I'm not even going to have a prom. They're closing the school after the end of next year, and I graduate in 2012, which means I have ONE more year of high school left...but I don't even get to spend it with my friends, I have to go to a new school, one that is located in a bad area and bad is seriously an understatement.
People get shot just by walking down the street, in that neighborhood and they want to send us there?
And you know what the funny thing about that is? The school board knows that. That is why they wouldn't dare send those rich, non inner-city kids to that school. It's a bad neighborhood and they wouldn't want any of them getting shot up...but when it comes to us....who cares?
I'm sorry if this was just a whole bunch of ranting, but I had to let off some steam.
2 comments
OMFG.
REPLYSO.MUCH.RAGE.RIGHT.NOW
I am so sorry Raven.
STILL. HARBOURING.SO.MUCH.RAGE.
Gosh, I'm just so incredibly sorry and angry to hear about this. I wish so badly there was something I could do to help. I'll definitely be praying for education to become priority in your area, because that's just so ridiculous. It honestly makes me so angry.
REPLYI'm really sorry.