Yeah, I know this is dead, but I just thought it was worth pointing out that Mr. White had apparently instructed his lackeys to break the law and try to take students' copies of the Pioneer, the satirical newspaper published by some seniors. Yeah, that'll get them to stop reading it-make them think there's something in there that they're not supposed to see. I sure hope this was just a result of our hall monitors being idiots, and not a result of Mr. White flat-out telling them to take them. Because he seemed to be getting a little better about this whole breaking-the-law thing.
Alright, well, I guess this is the last post of this here blog. It hasn't really been a good journey; if it had, then I wouldn't have needed to write this, would I? Today, though, was my last day under the jurisdiction of Pioneer's administration, and there are no plans for anyone else to take over. If you were really curious (which I doubt, considering the only people who read this knew who I was), my name is Bill Gallagher, I'm a senior, I wrote for the Optimist, blah blah blah. If the other writers want to reveal who they were, they can do that, but really, it's not important. What's more important is that students make sure that the discussion between the administration and the parents and the students continues next year. Without it, the school will degrade into a pseudo-military state with no communication whatsoever. Mr. White and his administration will not work to improve communication lines; it is up to you.
5.22.2008
Who Cares?
Not you. No one really cares anymore. There are cameras in our school. No one protested. You'd expect a sit in of some sort. Nope. What do we have? A club that doesn't do shit. Well they sure complain a lot. Very helpful. Senior pranks? Hahahahahha yeah right we're all too lazy and scared. Overall Pioneer is bound to become the next Huron. I'm not saying I'm any better, I'm just the same. All talk, no action. Who cares? Not me. I hope that all you juniors and underclassmen enjoy the school how it is because it's not going to change.
Captian Obvious, stating the obvious one last time.
Captian Obvious, stating the obvious one last time.
5.14.2008
The Rules Don't Apply to All of Us
Today I was informed that a Librarian just whipped out her Cell Phone and started talking on it right in front of everyone during 7th hour. This reminded me of a math teacher I once had who did this. "It's important I have to take it," she'd always say. She did this about 4 times in just one semester. then some kids phone went of during class one time and she stopped teaching and embarassed him in front of everyone. All I have to say is that if you expect something out of your students you should think that they expect the same out of you. The same goes with all those teachers with 10-year that assign busy work and give tests they don't even write.
5.07.2008
More Fun with Announcements
Michael White made another first-hour announcement today. However, he wisely chose not to make the exact same announcement second-hour. Because that'd be really, really obnoxious.
Anyway, the point of it was that you can't leave class early, or you will be "gathered up" (like livestock! Hall monitors now carry cattle prods) and sent to his office, and asked to go home. I kind of doubt people are "asked" to go home. I don't think they really have any say in it or any appeal process. But I digress. What bothered me was that he referenced a "system." If you leave class early, you mess with the "system." Sounds kind of sinister to me, as if he has some secret plan and us being in the hallways during class somehow messes everything up.
Anyway, yeah, that's your punishment for leaving early. Being sent home early. Seems like they just want to make it seem like they're still in control. . .
I also wonder about parents of children who can't walk home and who can't drive. If I was a parent and I received a phone call from my child telling me I had to leave my job and pick them up because they were in the hallway during class, there would be a problem.
Respect, respect, respect. . .
Anyway, the point of it was that you can't leave class early, or you will be "gathered up" (like livestock! Hall monitors now carry cattle prods) and sent to his office, and asked to go home. I kind of doubt people are "asked" to go home. I don't think they really have any say in it or any appeal process. But I digress. What bothered me was that he referenced a "system." If you leave class early, you mess with the "system." Sounds kind of sinister to me, as if he has some secret plan and us being in the hallways during class somehow messes everything up.
Anyway, yeah, that's your punishment for leaving early. Being sent home early. Seems like they just want to make it seem like they're still in control. . .
I also wonder about parents of children who can't walk home and who can't drive. If I was a parent and I received a phone call from my child telling me I had to leave my job and pick them up because they were in the hallway during class, there would be a problem.
Respect, respect, respect. . .
5.01.2008
The First Rule of Senior Skip Day is There is no Senior Skip Day
As Mr. White has proclaimed, there will be no Senior Skip Day this year. Senior Skip Day doesn't even exist. In fact, it exists so little that we will be punished with not being able to go to the Senior all night party if we don't show up that day. It's bogus, so just have your parents call you in or call in yourself, pretending to be your parents, whatever.
4.19.2008
Regarding the events of April 18, 2008
Yesterday, as most of you probably know, Michael White decided to crack down. He decided that enough was enough, and that the dress code had to be enforced.
I was sitting in first hour when he made the announcement. He said that people would be sent home for wearing shorts that were too short, etc. He told us right then and there that he'd be making the same announcement second hour. This makes very little sense; while there are people who start their day second hour, in my four years at Pioneer, I have heard of one person having a first hour, but no second hour. It simply doesn't happen. Why, then, make an announcement to both hours? Could it be that he was just so excited that he couldn't wait?
White has been mostly laying low since the camera issue exposed, over a period of a couple months, the fact that he had been spiraling downwards, most likely towards the realization that he is simply not fit to lead a school this size. This was one of the first times (besides shouting over musicians at assemblies) that he had put himself out there, shown how ridiculous he's come. It really wasn't reassuring.
It's not that I have a problem with all rules. Obviously, for a principal to be necessary, we need to have rules; it also comes close to preventing chaos. What I have a problem with is these specific rules, and the way they are being enforced.
I disagree with these rules not because I disagree with dress codes in general. I think certain things shouldn't be allowed. But I think this dress code takes things too far. For instance, I don't wear hats particularly often; still, I cannot understand the hatred White seems to reserve for headgear. I don't understand why the rules are ambiguous, based on your body type (think that's not discriminatory? Obviously, you don't have long arms and a small torso). Men are not held to the same standards as women. He claims that a school should be a semi-business-like environment. I understand that there are different standards in the Marines. But if I ever work in an environment where my boss refuses to respect me, no matter how hard I try, then consistently patronizes me in front of his superiors and peers in order to save face, I will quit. And that may be an idealistic viewpoint for me to have, but isn't that what White is doing, too?
The other aspect of yesterday that angered me was the way the rules were enforced. White had a hall monitor stand at the doors and watch for kids who might be wearing clothes that violated the dress code, and sent them to the office. Once there, it would be determined if they were to be sent home. They'd have to let their arms hang at their sides to determine if their shorts were long enough. Staff members would determine if the shorts were long enough (what a wonderfully efficient and ambiguous system!). My friend's sister was sent home, along with several of her friends.
White seems to think that we need a military state at this school. He's wrong. He can take that back to Livonia, where everyone will give in to whatever an authority figure says. I've said it before. I'll shout it until May 23rd. I'll help out efforts of the next classes at this school to promote it. Michael White will never succeed at Pioneer with that kind of mentality, and he will never succeed at this school without respecting students.
I was sitting in first hour when he made the announcement. He said that people would be sent home for wearing shorts that were too short, etc. He told us right then and there that he'd be making the same announcement second hour. This makes very little sense; while there are people who start their day second hour, in my four years at Pioneer, I have heard of one person having a first hour, but no second hour. It simply doesn't happen. Why, then, make an announcement to both hours? Could it be that he was just so excited that he couldn't wait?
White has been mostly laying low since the camera issue exposed, over a period of a couple months, the fact that he had been spiraling downwards, most likely towards the realization that he is simply not fit to lead a school this size. This was one of the first times (besides shouting over musicians at assemblies) that he had put himself out there, shown how ridiculous he's come. It really wasn't reassuring.
It's not that I have a problem with all rules. Obviously, for a principal to be necessary, we need to have rules; it also comes close to preventing chaos. What I have a problem with is these specific rules, and the way they are being enforced.
I disagree with these rules not because I disagree with dress codes in general. I think certain things shouldn't be allowed. But I think this dress code takes things too far. For instance, I don't wear hats particularly often; still, I cannot understand the hatred White seems to reserve for headgear. I don't understand why the rules are ambiguous, based on your body type (think that's not discriminatory? Obviously, you don't have long arms and a small torso). Men are not held to the same standards as women. He claims that a school should be a semi-business-like environment. I understand that there are different standards in the Marines. But if I ever work in an environment where my boss refuses to respect me, no matter how hard I try, then consistently patronizes me in front of his superiors and peers in order to save face, I will quit. And that may be an idealistic viewpoint for me to have, but isn't that what White is doing, too?
The other aspect of yesterday that angered me was the way the rules were enforced. White had a hall monitor stand at the doors and watch for kids who might be wearing clothes that violated the dress code, and sent them to the office. Once there, it would be determined if they were to be sent home. They'd have to let their arms hang at their sides to determine if their shorts were long enough. Staff members would determine if the shorts were long enough (what a wonderfully efficient and ambiguous system!). My friend's sister was sent home, along with several of her friends.
White seems to think that we need a military state at this school. He's wrong. He can take that back to Livonia, where everyone will give in to whatever an authority figure says. I've said it before. I'll shout it until May 23rd. I'll help out efforts of the next classes at this school to promote it. Michael White will never succeed at Pioneer with that kind of mentality, and he will never succeed at this school without respecting students.
Quick Note
In response to a long comment regarding trash pickup:
The solution to that would not be extorting us for the right to park at our own school, funded by our parents' tax money. The solution would be to fine those students seen littering. The kids who say they're doing it to rebel against Mr. White are just using his convenient idiocy to cover up their own laziness, sort of like how people who are afraid of others being different use the Bible to cover up their homophobia, and so on. I certainly don't like the litter at this school, either; I think it's disgusting, and that students are just plain lazy.
The solution to that would not be extorting us for the right to park at our own school, funded by our parents' tax money. The solution would be to fine those students seen littering. The kids who say they're doing it to rebel against Mr. White are just using his convenient idiocy to cover up their own laziness, sort of like how people who are afraid of others being different use the Bible to cover up their homophobia, and so on. I certainly don't like the litter at this school, either; I think it's disgusting, and that students are just plain lazy.
It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's... a Water Balloon?
After school yesterday in and just outside of A-hall waterbaloons were being thrown all over the place. Personally, I thought this was pretty hillarious, especially when after all the throwing was over I saw Mr. Brown just standing there doing nothing at all. Iwouldn't be surprised if Mr. White's reaction to this was extremely over the top. "The parking lot is off limits to students" or something of the sort sounds like a reaction he'd have.
Also people being sent home left and right yesterday? What freaking bullplop. How are we going to "better out education" if half of us arn't even there? We should all just show up to school naked and end this.
Also people being sent home left and right yesterday? What freaking bullplop. How are we going to "better out education" if half of us arn't even there? We should all just show up to school naked and end this.
4.18.2008
Who wears short shorts?
I can't even comment on what went on in school today. I'm really, really angry at Mr. White, though I'm not sure why; it's not as if I didn't expect him to be an idiot who thinks he's running a military state. Anyways, I'll try to write down my thoughts sometime this weekend.
Seriously, I'm so glad I'm leaving this school. If I had to deal with this administration for more than another month, I'd probably go insane.
More News
Two perfect examples of Mr. White's general behavior and misuse of the school's time and money were made clear to me today, and, since I haven't been on the blog in a while, I thought I was due to post them. The two are quite different, as one is folly and pathetic, while the second struck me as far more serious.
At the beginning of first period, Mr. White came on to remind everyone that the rules regarding how we ought to dress are still being enforced. This is understandable; he is afraid that the warm weather will warrant cooler, more breathable clothing. In order for a student to wear this type of attire, some, if not all, of these myriad rules simply must be broken or stretched beyond reason. Mr. White went on to say, however, that he intended to repeat his announcement one hour later, reiterating his rather quotidian and elementary request. It's one thing to make a repetitive comment that annoys people, but it's quite another to waste people's time, who have to stop and listen to their principal tell them, essentially, nothing.
The second is an anecdote shared with me by a fellow student. I will respect the anonymity of all parties involved, out of courtesy and because their identities have no bearing on the meaning of the story... So a hall-monitor and a teacher get into a little quarrel about something or another. While this unpleasant exchange wasn't rooted in anything particularly awful, the effect was that of bitterness between the hall-monitor and teacher. Later, perhaps that day, but certainly within the week, a student of the teacher we are speaking of was sent out of the class -- with a perfectly legitimate and sponsored yellow hall permit. The hall-monitor, however, still fuming on account of her argument with the student's teacher, decides to "get even" with his/her enemy by sending the student, who was innocently traversing the halls, to the principal's office for violation of the dress code. The infraction, according to the person who told me the story, was that the student was wearing headgear, which consisted of a pair of sunglasses on her head (in order to avoid being punished for wearing them). This story absolutely baffled me, mainly because of the complete lack of fairness and professionalism of the hall-monitor. To punish a 3rd party as recompense for an alleged wrong received at the hands of another is one of the first misdeeds a young child learns not to do, let alone an adult. It is truly unfortunate that an employee of a public school is unable to keep in check emotions, especially when the victim in this circumstance is a youth. But the reason why such an event was allowed to happen was the unreasonably strict way in which the dress code rule pertaining to headgear is expected to be executed. The truth is, many entities are at fault and contributed in some way the sad synthesis of this unjust punishment. Hopefully the mismanagement of this school doesn't run this deep in every case.
At the beginning of first period, Mr. White came on to remind everyone that the rules regarding how we ought to dress are still being enforced. This is understandable; he is afraid that the warm weather will warrant cooler, more breathable clothing. In order for a student to wear this type of attire, some, if not all, of these myriad rules simply must be broken or stretched beyond reason. Mr. White went on to say, however, that he intended to repeat his announcement one hour later, reiterating his rather quotidian and elementary request. It's one thing to make a repetitive comment that annoys people, but it's quite another to waste people's time, who have to stop and listen to their principal tell them, essentially, nothing.
The second is an anecdote shared with me by a fellow student. I will respect the anonymity of all parties involved, out of courtesy and because their identities have no bearing on the meaning of the story... So a hall-monitor and a teacher get into a little quarrel about something or another. While this unpleasant exchange wasn't rooted in anything particularly awful, the effect was that of bitterness between the hall-monitor and teacher. Later, perhaps that day, but certainly within the week, a student of the teacher we are speaking of was sent out of the class -- with a perfectly legitimate and sponsored yellow hall permit. The hall-monitor, however, still fuming on account of her argument with the student's teacher, decides to "get even" with his/her enemy by sending the student, who was innocently traversing the halls, to the principal's office for violation of the dress code. The infraction, according to the person who told me the story, was that the student was wearing headgear, which consisted of a pair of sunglasses on her head (in order to avoid being punished for wearing them). This story absolutely baffled me, mainly because of the complete lack of fairness and professionalism of the hall-monitor. To punish a 3rd party as recompense for an alleged wrong received at the hands of another is one of the first misdeeds a young child learns not to do, let alone an adult. It is truly unfortunate that an employee of a public school is unable to keep in check emotions, especially when the victim in this circumstance is a youth. But the reason why such an event was allowed to happen was the unreasonably strict way in which the dress code rule pertaining to headgear is expected to be executed. The truth is, many entities are at fault and contributed in some way the sad synthesis of this unjust punishment. Hopefully the mismanagement of this school doesn't run this deep in every case.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)