Current Mood: Dumfounded
I read stupid things in the news all the time, but this was stupid enough that I had to post a myspace blog about it, which led me to think it may also be of interest here (if, in fact, anyone on earth still regards this domain as "alive"):
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21661718/?GT1=10547
I remember when I was a mere teenager, getting detention and Saturday school and being suspended and expelled, it seemed like such a vicious snowball effect. It would start with something as small as not completing a homework assignment and it would end with my mom calling the principal a bitch and security being called to escort us out, followed by homeschooling.
I also remember a lot of stupid administrative action for things that were totally innocuous such as singing the dirty lyrics to a popular song or wearing the same item of clothing as two other friends. Do these school administrators not realize that kids practically live at school and that most of the things that are important to them are occurring there? How can any school administration be so inhumanly run, that kids are to be strictly punished for squeezing one another on the arm or sharing a hug?
While I realize that the story I'm linking takes place in Mascoutah, Illinois, a place which I never knew existed until now, it is not unique as far as public school systems go. Everyday kids are treated like criminals in their own schools for behavior as benign and inoffensive as showing a healthy affection for one another. It makes me need to ask: What kind of people are we raising to be adults in this society if we are teaching kids that "Displays of affection should not occur on the school campus at any time. It is in poor taste, reflects poor judgment, and brings discredit to the school and to the persons involved"? Are these kids supposed to carry that into their lives later on, the notion that affection is a thing intrinsically tied to poor taste, poor judgment, and discredit to all involved?
But you know, by the end of this little story about one more incredibly fascist public school system within the U.S., what really made me sad was that the parents of this girl - who is in trouble for hugging her friend - feel helpless, and would choose to do nothing rather than risk getting their daughter into worse trouble. My own mother may or may not have ever experienced that fear in the midst of her persistent desire for justice, but in the end, she always chose to fight. She fought for my right to be treated like a human being within the Los Angeles public school system, and she lost pretty much every time. (The upside is that she gets a lot of credit for helping to educate me in spite of my incompatibility with public school.) If I were the girl in this story, given detention for a hug and threatened with suspension if the detention were not performed, my own mom would have undoubtedly opted to risk the suspension for the principle of it. I wish I could have read in this story that this girl's parents did the same. Alas, they didn't. They'll just conform or die and teach their children the same. Maybe it's too harsh, and they're just doing everything through the proper channels, I am only a testament to the system that didn't work no matter what, not the one that could work if it were approached correctly. I'm only here to say that it sucks. It sucked back then and it sucks now. Goddamn the bullshit.
Posted by Maria at November 7, 2007 02:25 PM | TrackBackI used to feel bad about my crazy family, but I quickly realized: if you are normal, you attract a bunch of normal people. And life is just too damn short for that shit.
Posted by: Darcie at November 8, 2007 03:46 PM.
Howzit, Maria?
Having had to take a case over a haircut all the way to the NJ State Supreme Court (I was in my twenties by the time I "won"), I know what you mean.
But school is excellent training for the kind of world in which innocent children will be forced to try and survive, once they leave the system. It separates the sheep from the goats, and rewards the lambs with a relatively peaceful and servile, if meaningless existence; right up until the moment that it kills them.
The goats get to have some fun in between vicious beatings. That which does not kill us gives us a reason to have some more fun. And we owe it all to whatever form of conditioning our particular society chooses to inflict upon its' children.
The trick is to break the conditioning, survive, and live free. A nice Beaujolais Nouveau helps. And it's just about that time of year.
[clink]
A votre sante!
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I wanted to let you know what's happened to Michael Heath:
Notice To His Friends & Fans:
Our very good friend Blogger [ deeperwants.com/cul1/homeworlds/journal/ ] CUL finds himself in a DIRE medical & financial EMERGENCY, please email me for direct contact data. He can't receive or send emails. Even a friendly card or letter would help.
Thanks.
cosanostradamusATexciteDOTcom
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Your security software prevented me from publishing until I eliminated my links. Sorry for the messy post.
Posted by: cosanostradamus at November 11, 2007 05:08 PMMy kids were in high school when the Columbine shooting occurred. The school gathered all the "goth kids" (both of my kids were amongst those rounded up) and made them sit in the lunchroom during the changing of classes, so the whole school could see that they'd been apprehended. Soon after, a new dress code banned "dark clothing."
My son didn't flinch. He found out how to get on the committee of adults who changed the dress code, attended meetings, talked with parents, talked to administrators, made friends among all, and ended up basically writing the next dress code himself. Then in celebration, he dyed his hair the brightest most beautiful blue I ever saw (he already had the longest hair in the school).
We sure got an earful after that- and it was all good. Many teachers took the time to tell us that they supported our son every step of the way, some even liked his hair. But not one negative comment. Not ONE.
He graduated, works as a technician in the same company where I work, and is a good kind intelligent liberal-thinking voter.
Yeah I guess I'm bragging... but I think that's what I most like about your blog: you speak so well of your parents, and obviously they did a spectacular job of shining the light, letting you find your own way in the world.
Thanks for sharing that article, my son will probably take great interest in that! My daughter too, who follows ever so well in her brother's footsteps...
Posted by: Greg at November 13, 2007 08:25 PMCheck your e-mail.
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Our dear friend Cul may be on the Internet today, SAT 11/17/07.
He's very ill and in financial trouble as a result [GAWD BLESS AMERICA: Still Health Care Free!], so he could use a bit of cheering up.
Say hello, folks!
Post a comment here:
deeperwants.com/cul1/homeworlds/journal/
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Cul's family have requested that no more money be sent to him. He is being well taken care of by his family. They thank you for your support.
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Mele Kalikimaka e Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!
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