This is my story. My story reproduced, prodded, molded like clay, sat out in the sun like a dream deferred, hardened and cracked as a product of America’s tyrannical educational system. I’ve whined and complained about school all my life and have never received any progress. When I’ve tried to hold resistance with a procedure that I don’t agree with, I get written up for “being disrespectful and insubordinate.” But this year, things are going to be different. This year I’m a senior; this year I’m a teen taking a stand against the educational system! My motivation, determination and self-education have led me to the revelation that nothing is won without a fight and if you want something to change, you have to take action. I’m starting a revolution!
QUESTION EVERYTHING!
At my small, multi-cultural school located in rich, predominantly Caucasian, North Atlanta suburbs, we have no rights. I’m not kidding. I’ve even heard teachers and counselors speak this truth from their own conservative, country tongues. They say that as soon as we step one foot into the door, our rights are left outside to rot.
Now … if education is power, and bloodthirsty Bush declares that power derives from democracy, then why don’t we have democracy in education?
The other day I walked into my advanced algebra & trig class and found a sub sitting at my teacher’s desk. My teacher had been out for almost a week now. I knew there was no way we would do anything remotely productive educationally in class, considering we had no qualified teacher available to teach us the new material. So instead of wasting 45 minutes of my time doing nothing, I decided to educate myself by reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Elbows tucked in, hands propped up my chin, I was all, all into this book.
Then, my substitute teacher told (didn’t ask), but told me, to put my book away.
“Why?” I responded. He looked at me dumbfounded, like I didn’t have the right to an answer of a one worded question. His response: “Shouldn’t you know by now to put books away in class? This is math class.”
“Okay and you’re asking people about their weekend,” I said bluntly in return. I knew that I was in math class since I’ve been in that same class all semester long. Why was I not allowed to educate myself in school, but he was allowed to hold a non-relative conversation with my classmates about a boy’s ski trip? I put my book away to stop the drama. School or not I feel the right to my first amendment: Freedom of Speech!
FORMULATE A PLAN OF ACTION
Next thing you know the substitute had me sitting in front of the class waiting for an administrator. I wasn’t worried; I hadn’t broken any rules nor did anything wrong. When the principal came to our class, he took one look at me, shook his head, and said, “I don’t have time for this.” I’m senior class vice-president, very active in my school, and I’m known for my outspokenness, so the principal knows me pretty well. He asked me what the problem was. I told him how the sub told me to put away my book and I did. The sub then intervened and told me to tell the principal what I said after he told me to put my book away, like what I said was taboo, a cuss word, or a terrorist threat. I then told him my word bomb, “I asked, why?”
I was then told that I don’t ask questions; I just do what I’m told.
“Is this not a democracy?” I protested. Just do what you’re told because you’re told to? That’s a dictatorship! An anarchy! Give me a valid reason! Education teaches students to ask questions, but then rejects the questions when used out of orthodox. Why can I not read a book in school, instead of sitting in class for 45 minutes, doing nothing?
“If you have a problem with it, you can come see me,” the principal said before exiting.
“Well can I come see you now?”
“No, you’re in class.”
For the remaining 33 minutes of class, I did nothing. Well, at least nothing to do with math. None of my classmates did. We weren’t assigned anything to do and even if we were, we wouldn’t have known how to do it because my teacher wasn’t there to explain it. I had an epiphany. I realized I had been fighting an invisible opponent my entire educational life and I wasn’t winning by whining about it. It was time to start the revolution!
BEGIN THE REVOLUTION!
I was inspired by Malcolm X. After I finished the book, I noticed more and more ridiculous rules and regulations about my school that furiously frustrated me to the brink of insanity. At this precipice, a light bulb went off that Einstein himself couldn’t have made shine any brighter. I decided that everyday at lunch, I would give a speech. Not anything super long, but short and sweet speeches that would knock those smiles off the administrations’ faces, and expose the true feelings my peers and I felt about our school and its policies. Not only would my speeches unveil these unconstitutional policies, but they would inspire and teach students ways to override them through unity.
I nervously thought about how my peers would react to my speeches, but my urgency to change the injustices of my school outweighed my fear. I didn’t care what reaction I received, as long as I stimulated a reaction. I encourage everyone to speak up for what they believe in and find some way to get their voices heard. I plan to address my brothers and sisters with a powerful and vigorous voice while I speak out against our school. I plan to speak out against the absurd rule that unless you report to the library, or the counselors office within the first ten minutes of lunch, then you aren’t allowed to go at all. I plan to speak out against the library closing twenty minutes after school let’s out. I plan to make a mockery out of every ridiculous policy that keeps us students oppressed mentally and physically!
If you feel strongly enough about an issue, I say take a stand about it. Start your own revolution for a just cause! I’m not encouraging anyone to use violence or cause any general harm to the public, but you could start a club, post controversial articles in your school’s newspaper, hold rallies, fundraisers, fashion shows, food drives — it doesn’t matter how you do it; all that’s important is that you take action to get your voice heard! My ultimate goal is to set up a student board council that works with the Fulton school board and our administration to have equal rights for students. It’s not going to happen on its own, so I’m fighting for it! I’m fighting not through violence, but with words. I’m a senior starting a revolution for justice and freedom for students.
Who are you?What injustices do you believe exist in your school? How are your rights diminished?
-Alyssa D. McLendon/ VOX Staff
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