Textbooks always seem to arrive well after the beginning of the school year at Clayton Valley. This year, however, books rolled in particularly late.

For example, in my honors physics class we only received our books a few weeks ago, much to the dismay of my teacher. We went ahead learning the material without books, but unfortunately this year’s books were different than last years. As a result, we had to relearn material previously taught in order to understand how the book explained concepts.

I realize that books don’t have to be available to students until the eighth week of school, but from a student’s perspective, I think that’s totally unacceptable. How can I be expected to learn or study efficiently on my own time if I don’t even so much as have a book to study with?

Schools tell their students to show up to class prepared to work every day, but what happens when students show up to class and the school is unprepared? If I’m going to show up to class every day, then the least the school can do is give me a textbook.
–Michelle Trosclair

“Well this paper is good, but for you it would probably be a ‘C.’” Those happen to be the words of my former teacher, and those also happen to be the words still burn me to this day whenever I feel as though a teacher has unfairly graded my work.

Time after time, I see teachers grade based on a student’s personal ability rather than the actual quality of work being turned in. What ever happened to actually abiding by standards?

Recently, I turned in a project that I spent a huge chunk of my weekend slaving away on. When the projects were returned, I was very pleased to see that I earned an “A.” Amidst my satisfaction, I couldn’t help but notice that the student next to me was given an “A” on his project as well. The reason this caught my attention was because that was the same student who had been in a few of my classes before, and to put it nicely, let’s just say that he’s no Einstein.

I wanted to check this out for my self, so I kindly asked to take a look at his project. “Sure,” he said with a shrug. And as I opened the first page, I was so taken back by how horrible it was that it was hard not to laugh. If I wasn’t in a classroom I honestly don’t think I would have been able to contain myself. Half of the sentences didn’t even follow basic rules of grammar. I could barely even read some of it because it was so bad!

Unfortunately, this is an all too common occurrence in schools (high school in particular). The requirements for an “A” should be the same for everyone. With some teachers’ logic, that means that just because someone tries hard they deserve to go to the same college as a student who actually has a brain. They’ve got to be kidding.

When colleges and people alike look at someone’s report card, they have no way of knowing when someone has merely received an “A” for effort. Sure it’s one thing to try to boost a kid’s confidence level, but that’s just false advertising.

–Michelle Trosclair

I’m absolutely thrilled to see that people are finally taking action about the “That’s so gay” epidemic. As a sophomore in high school, I’ve come to notice that the phrase is said at least once in each of my classes on a daily basis. And what’s even more shocking is that I’ve observed teachers standing within earshot of conversations where the phrase is used. Nine times out of ten they don’t even do so much as say anything!

As a matter of fact, only one out of my seven teachers tells the student to adjust their language. What kind of an example is that?! (Mind you that these are the same rooms that adorn posters stating that homophobic phrases will not be tolerated.) Rather ironic, is it not?

I understand that more often than not people use the phrase with no malice intended, but ignorance isn’t an excuse. Regardless of what one’s intentions are, the phrase is still homophobic.

If I’m so offended as a straight person, I could only imagine how hurtful the phrase would be when directed toward a homosexual individual. Racial slurs aren’t tolerated, and yet people turn their heads when a homophobic remark is made. What kind of a policy is that?

-Michelle Trosclair

Although some might find his efforts to be whole-hearted, it appears that Assemblyman Jim Beall has it all wrong when it comes to underage drinking. There’s no sense in eliminating fruity alcoholic beverages because that’s just not what kids are drinking. I might not know the statistics, but I could almost guarantee that if you went to a party where there was underage drinking going on, you would not find beverages such as hard lemonade. I’m sure that if the fruity stuff was there then kids would drink it, but most would prefer hard alcohol hands down.
They’re both just as difficult to get and fruity alcoholic beverages usually have lower alcohol content so they’re less appealing.
Teenagers don’t drink for taste; they drink to get drunk.
-Michelle Trosclair

I too was forced to wear those disgusting, itchy uniforms during my private school days.
My parents are fairly religious people, unlike myself, and had the notion that I would get a better education if they sent me to a Catholic school. I attended St. Agnes from kindergarten to the fourth grade and can truly say that I despised it. There was no way that I could have taken nine years of the place.
Nevertheless, after my public middle school years came to a close and high school was approaching, I decided to give private school another try. Although I only lasted for a grand total of about four days, I was able to gather some insight about the phenomenal academic program that the school offered. For example, in my English class we were learning about how to write a paragraph. Yes you read it correctly, a paragraph.
Apparently some students (who had attended private schools before this one) were having difficulty understanding the concept. What wonderful education good money can buy!
Granted, some private schools can have their advantages, but in all honesty, the classes in public schools don’t seem that much less advantageous than those in private
schools. I also found that I learned much more about life in general while attending public school. Because after all, being sheltered from the real world isn’t what I would call a good educational opportunity. My parents aren’t the ones spending tens of thousands of dollars on a “better” education either. And besides, I’m the product of a public school education and I think I turned out quite all right.
Hey, at least I know how
to write a paragraph!
–Michelle Trosclair