The Declaration of Student Rights

            The rights of students at Grosse Pointe South High School have been neglected for years.  Teachers have abused them for too long, and they will have no more.  Students at the new Grosse Pointe South High School­­­­­ have entitled themselves to new rights.  Students agree that they should have the right to protest at school.  Insubordination should never be a right to a student’s right to assemble. Teachers at Grosse Pointe South have protested at school, so why can’t the kids.  These students also believe that they should be allowed to advertise their argument without teachers consent.  All advertisements would be left up throughout the school as long as they weren’t inappropriate.  Also Grosse Pointe South rules state the parents must call their child in for an absence.  Unless the student is over 18 years old, then they are not allowed to call themselves in for an excused absence.  Students here deem otherwise because students are solely responsible for their own education.  If students do not want to utilize the advantages of having a good education then that is subsequently their own fault.  Here Grosse Pointe South students also believe that there should be monthly evaluations on teachers and substitute teachers each month.  The students would be able to submit an online survey by signing in with their student identification number.  The survey would be about rating their teachers based on three questions relating to the teachers performance, and would also ask one to rate the substitute teachers they had in the past month.  Those three questions would be; How would you rate your teachers attitude towards learning?; How would your teachers ability to make sure you understood material?; How did you do on your grades in this teachers class for the past month?  Each question would be answered in a rate 1-5 scenario.  For those teachers who had an unacceptable score for the first time would be put on probation, for those teachers who had an unacceptable score two times would have to go in front of the school board to be reevaluated, and those teachers who failed for a third time would be suspended without pay for a month.  These evaluations that students would take would help eliminate teachers who don’t do their job to the fullest.  These are the new rights that the students of Grosse Pointe South have created for themselves.

Complaints to the Crown:

I. No Homework

Students are tired of homework.  They don’t want any more work outside of school.  The students spend seven hours a day at school doing work.  They don’t want to be sent home with more work to do.  Students spend around three hours of homework a night.  On a regular day of homework a students spends about ten hours on work.  If they spend that much time in school they shouldn’t receive homework.

II. Teachers shouldn’t make the rules

Teachers and staff should not make the rules for the students.  The students are the ones attending school, so they should be making the rules.  The kids should be able to pick them and agree with teachers for the rules.  It is not fair for the teachers to except the student to do everything they want.  They already have to sit in the teacher’s class, do their work that is assigned, listen to the rules for of the classroom, and follow the dress code.  They have enough to listen to.

III. Every Teacher Should Accept Late Work

Every student should be able to turn in late work. This should be possible because a kid may have a lot to do. A kid may have to do sports a club that prevents them from their work. It is unfair to a child not to earn points for things they can’t change.  There may have been a great loss in the child’s family that may have occurred. A teacher never knows what happens in a child’s life. Not without commutation.

IV. No Midterms or Finals

Almost everyone in the student body believes that having a midterm and a final is a waste of time.  They think this because they have to cram everything in at the last second in order to study.  There should be no midterm or final because the grade that they get should not be affected by a final test.  Without these final tests there would also be an extra week of school which means that there would be longer breaks.  With longer breaks then that means a happier student body and staff.

V. More Passing Time

Many students show up to class late each day. They are punished in numerous different ways by their teachers for their tardiness. With little time in the rest of the day, students spend most of their passing time socializing with friends. When the students show up to class late they cause a distraction to their peers and teachers. If more passing time were given the students would be less likely to show up to class late and cause a distraction to their peers when they finally show up. Students have the right to more passing time in between classes.

VI. Teacher Evaluations

Unproductive and inappropriate teachers or substitutes can cause problems for the students in their classes. Many teachers don’t witness to inappropriateness of these particular educators. The only witnesses to these sides of these teachers are the students. Without an evaluation done by the students, the unproductive educators will continue to be hired. Students have the right to evaluate teachers and substitutes.

VII. No calls home for unexcused absences

Phone calls shouldn’t be made for skipping school.  A student’s education depends on not having unexcused absences. The student that is skipping may understand the lesson that is being taught. Also the child maybe receiving an excellent grade in the class that he/she is skipping. So instead of hurting that student’s education, sitting him/her down and having a discussion would be more effective. The school may have to switch the student out of the regular class and put him/her in a more advance class room, so they are being challenged.

VIII. No Cameras in Hallways

There should not be any cameras in the hallways at Grosse Pointe South.  Hallways are the only private place for students at school and need to be kept that way.  Having cameras in the hallways violates each student’s right to privacy.  Also, teachers do not have cameras in their classrooms, so students shouldn’t have cameras in their hallways.  It violates student’s privacy and if they are unwanted by the majority of students, then there is no use for them.

IX. Paying at School Home Games

Students should not have to pay to come to their own schools home games.  It should be free for students to come and support their friends.  Also paying at home games discourages attendance.  Sports Casters often talk about how important the home crowd is during a big game.  This is why having a big crowd to support Grosse Pointe South sports teams is so critical.  So without many screaming fans our teams might not play as well.

X. Cell Phones

In this school most teachers do not allow the usage of cell phones.  Besides on tests cell phones should be allowed in classrooms.  With the new technology of cell phones they could help the class in many different situations.  An example of this is that if no one knows the answer to a question in a class discussion they could look it up on their phone.  Although there is a possibility students could use phones for the wrong reason, if the students were given the right to use them then they would not use then this will have a positive effect on the student making them likely that they will put their cell phone to good use.

                       

          The students have been violated their rights for far too long. The students’ rights at school are limited to an extent as mere as possible. Faculty members have been controlling the rules of the school. The students are the ones following the rules, so the staff and students should agree upon the rules at school. They have been paying at football games even though they go to the school. They have not been allowed to use cell phones in class when they could be proven useful at some points in class. The students are constantly under surveillance, being watched in the hallways with cameras everywhere. The teachers aren’t being watched in class so the students shouldn’t be watched in the halls. Students and teachers cram twice each year in order to study for finals and mid terms. These yearly tests are inconvenient for both the teachers and students. Calling a parent or guardian when their son or daughter has skipped school is a waste of time. Students skip school for different reasons and the parent can notice on their own. Late work should be accepted by all teachers and the student shouldn’t have to be punished for their lack of time or personal issues. Students go to school 7 hours each day and then go home with 2 hours worth of homework. School already takes up most of a student’s day so sending them home with more work is pointless when they could do it in the 7 hours they are in school. The world is evolving and with it so are people. The school system is changing but its rules aren’t. The rules should be developing as its students are. The students have begun learning of the rights that they have outside of school, but they also apply in school also. With this in mind the student’s ideas should be taken into account and applied to the schools rules.

Crucible Epilogue

It has been about five months since John’s death.  Abby is still crazy for John and everyone knows it.  She has trouble sleeping at night because she knows she can longer be with John.  Abby blames John’s death on Elizabeth Proctor.  She thinks that the only reason John chose to die was because Elizabeth constantly made him feel guilty about the affair.  The people in the town are starting to worry about how she acting.  She isn’t ordering the girls to follow her directions, she isn’t accusing other people people in the town any more, and people are starting to wonder.  Abby prays to God hoping that there is still a chance that she can be with John.  She hopes that John will hear and thinks that he still “cares” about her.  She is in still in love with John Proctor and thinks that someday maybe there is a chance that they can be together.  Since John is dead, the only way Abby and him could be together is if John came back to life or if Abigail died.  Abby thinks that she can take her life just so she can be with him.  This proves how crazy Abby is.  She is willing to kill herself just to have a chance with John again.  She is starting to realize that she misses John more than anything.  Tonight is the night that Abby made her decision.  Abby is willing to give up anything to be with, and wants to prove it to him.

Abby is willing to do anything to be with John again.  She finally made her decision.  It is around 4 o’clock in the morning and Abby can’t stop crying about how much she misses John.  It has been seven month since John has died.  Abby realizes that it she has spent too much time without John in her life.  She decides that tonight is the night that she will reunite with her “soul mate”.  Abby goes into the kitchen, she digs around for the sharp blade that will end it all.  She goes into her bedroom, closes the door, closes the windows, takes a deep breath and screams.  She jabs the knife into her stomach and screams.  She lets a terrifying wail.  She falls to the ground and starts to yell, I love you John.  She starts gasping for air, and then takes her last breath.  She is dead on the floor in her own bedroom.

Days later they find Abby alone in her room, on the floor with a knife six inches deep into her stomach.  She is laying on the floor in a dried up pool of her blood.  Abby thought that if she took her life, she would be reunited with John.  Everyone in the town believes that Abby was sent to hell for all the sins she has made.  The people in the town are so much happier now that Abigail is dead.  People aren’t being accused for being a witch and no one has to worry about dying for lies that Abby made up.  Everyone is happier and people can go on with there lives in a better way.

Crucible Essay

The Crucible by Arthur Miller is about witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts, in the late 1600’s.  People are constantly being accused of witchery.  There are people who are held responsible for most of the witch trials.  Abigail Williams is a huge part of this story because she gets caught up in her lies.  Another is Mary Warren because she is constantly changing stories.   There is also reverend Parris, who is extremely selfish and is worried about his reputation more than he is the town.  Although there were many people involved in the Salem witch trials, Abigail Williams, Mary Warren, and Reverend Proctor are most responsible for the outcome of everything.

Abigail Williams plays a huge role in this book.  She makes up lies and accuses people of witchcraft.  The people she accuses are innocent.  She tried to convict Elizabeth Proctor for being a witch because she wanted John all for herself.  After the affair Abby had with John Proctor, she started to get jealous of Elizabeth.  Abby wanted John for herself and would do anything to get rid of his wife.  “Abigail were stabbed tonight; a needle were found stuck into her belly-“(76).  Elizabeth was innocent when Abby told the court that Elizabeth tried to use voodoo on her.  John knew that Abigail was trying to make it seem like his wife was going to kill her.  The court thought that Elizabeth was guilty.  No one would believe that Abigail was lying about everything.  Abby wanted Elizabeth dead and was willing to do anything to make it happen, but she wasn’t the only one who was held responsible for the witch trials.

Another person who was responsible for the witch trials was Mary Warren.  She didn’t want to die and was switching from side to side trying to save herself.  At one point she was on Abigail’s side accusing people, but when John’s wife was accused, that is when he decided to step in.  John made Mary confess that the girls were lying about everything, but the girls found a way to trick the judge.  “I will not hang with you!  I love God, I love God” (118).  Mary was making it seem like everything was Johns fault, and that he was the liar.  The girls went after Mary for admitting that they all had been lying.  She switched sides again because she didn’t want the girls to accuse her of anything else.  Mary is not a leader, she is a follower and she only wants to live.  Mary is afraid that if she is on the same side as John then she will also be hanged and hated by the girls, but if she is on the same side as Abigail then she is safe.  Mary only wants to live.  Mary isn’t the only one who worries about what other people think.

Reverend Parris was a big part of the witch trials because he was on Abigail’s side.  He wouldn’t believe anybody else.  He didn’t want to hear other sides of the story.  He made people leave the court room because he didn’t want to hear their part of the story.  Parris was a very selfish man and was only worried about his reputation.  Earlier in this book he was more worried about his job then he was about his dying daughter.  She was very ill and the only thing he was worried about was if her actions would cause him to lose his job.  Parris is worried about what the people in the town think of him.  “I will strike the village that Proctor confess.  I beg you, let him sign it” (141).  Parris thinks that by saving John’s life, it could save his.  Proctors confession would make him look better.  Proctor would rather them have his soul then his name.  They didn’t have much back then, and John didn’t want a bad name.  Parris always wants people to feel bad for him so he tells everyone that people are out to get him.

In this book it talks about all the witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts.  Everyone in town is being accused of witchery.  Abby is a big part of this because she is constantly making up new lies to accuse people.  Mary Warren is always switching stories so she stays alive.  Also Reverend Parris is too worried about his reputation to care about anyone else.  The people most responsible for the outcomes of the witch trials were Abigail Williams, Mary Warren, and Reverend Parris, even though there were many other people involved.

Crucible Post 2

As a child I would always lie.  If I knew that I were going to get in trouble, I would put the blame on anyone but myself.  People lie all the time and have been doing it for centuries.  When someone gets in trouble the first question that crosses their mind is "should I lie".  I remember when I was younger, I had spilt red paint all over my moms new white carpet.  While trying to clean it up, instead of making the little red spot disappear, it ended up being spread over a huge area of the carpet.  I was afraid I was going to get in trouble, so I told my mom the dog hit the coffee table and spilled it everywhere.  I wasn't happy I lied, especially because my mom knew I wasn't being honest and I ended up getting in more trouble.  Usually children will lie so they don't get in trouble, but you can find older that will lie too.

At one point Proctor mentions to Hale, wouldn't you admit that your a witch if you were going to be hanged for denying.  Mr. Proctor does not believe in witches, but says he does because if he goes against the bible, dying is one of the consequences.  Im sure that people lie all the time so they don't get themselves in trouble.  Usually people think that the younger kids are lying when its really the older crowd.  I don't think that people mean to lie, it is just their instinct to do so.  If the consequences are severe enough they will lie as much as they can so they don't end up getting in trouble.  I think it was necessary for Mr. Proctor to lie because of what would happen if he didn't.