Declaration of Student Rights

We, the students, have come together to bring down some rules from the Code of Conduct which have prevented us from doing things at Grosse Pointe South High School. The students of Grosse Pointe South demand that are opinions of our rights will be respected. We also demand that our demand of rights will not separate student from teacher; that the teaching would continue as well as it should; and that we will represent Grosse Pointe South the way it should. The students have recognized the sense of trust is lacking, the rules are corrupt, and that the history of the school has not changed. The students of Grosse Pointe South has set and advised new rules that should be placed, set and stoned. We secure our rights, and we know that putting our student career on the line is what must be done. Anything that would guarantee us our rights is what we will do. Being able to dress how we want, being able to have cell phones in all classes, being able to haze others during spirit week just out of fun is some of the rights that we are demanding. Everyone should be able to express themselves in anyway they want to. Still being able to have the Freedom of Speech is lacking at Grosse Pointe South. Whether it is by school news, school newspaper, or by speech, the students of Grosse Pointe South should not have a consequence for the little things that may occur during our four years here. Other rights will be demanded of the school board and faculty Grosse Pointe South. We aren’t looking to changed everything about the school system; we are just looking to modify the rules that were set out from the beginning; to make things more efficient for the students at the high school. To prove this, we have submitted our opinions and complaints about Grosse Pointe South High School and the school system; and with these, we are looking for changes and the rights we desire.

The dress code at Grosse Pointe South is strictly enforced.   There are a variety of rules for guys and girls restricting what clothes we wear.  Yes, we need to have a sort of dress code, but some things are much too strict.  Guys should be able to wear sleeveless shirts and be able to wear hats and sunglasses.  Girls should be able to wear skirts and shorts that are slightly shorter and be able to have skinny straps.

We work very, very hard all day.   Sometimes to the point where we can’t even focus anymore.  Lunch does give a slight break, but we have to rush through eating and hurry to class.  We should at least have a longer lunch period.  A 15 break between lunch and the end of the day would also be very helpful.

Almost all music websites are blocked on the school’s computer.  A lot of students have better focus with their work when they can relax with some music.  We should be able to have access to at least one music website and if need be it can be monitored.  Although many kids have iPod’s for music some do not or some forget them at home.

No skateboarding/longboarding- Skateboards and longboards are a great source of transportation.  For skateboarders, the school grounds provide a great environment.  If no damage is done to the property, then skateboarding should be allowed.  Longboards and skateboards are good means of fast transportation and should not be banned on school property.  The no skateboarding rule should be taken out of effect for the benefits of the students.

Cell Phones- Cell phones can benefit students during school hours.  Most cell phones these days have internet on them and students can use them to look up information during classes.  As long as the students use their phones responsibly and don’t make disturbing phone calls during class or have the ringer going off, they should indeed be allowed.  Cell phones can also be used as music players.  Students should be able to have their phones out during the free time in class so they can listen to music that does not disturb the learning environment for the others.                In school full freedom of speech must be granted to all students.

                If the students are taught in various history and government classes that freedom of speech is the single most import propositions, than why in the very same building is that right infringed upon.

                Students must be allowed to say anything in class so long as it follows the rules set by the original constitution. If a statement is made by a student that is neither offensive nor threatening than that is a compatible statement and the student may not be punished in any form. As human beings protected under the constitution we declared our freedom of speech in school not be taken away.

                We do not live in a Communist establishment and our rights have been secured by the many that have served and still do to this day. If rights are not being given to everyone their service and dedication has been all for nothing even if it is just a school in which rights are denied.  

                We declare that cellular devises and music players may not be taken away. Forcibly taking an object from a student who owns that devise is considered theft and no acceptation should be made in a school.

                 Music has become a very important part of students, and many times can help productivity. Students declare our right to listen to music in any class, at any time.

                As school is a service provided to the students paid for by the taxes by the people than these declarations must not be ignored.

Tardy Policy- The school tardy policy is very strict.  Students who arrive to class less than a minute late to class just a few times are heavily punished.  They are either given a number of detentions or also the teachers will dock their grades down whole percentage points.  All students should be given more passing time between classes so they don’t have to worry about the results of showing up late.  Consequences for showing up a moment late should be greatly lessened.

We declare are rights as students of the Grosse point school system.  We hope this document helps you realize what we been asking for scents we started high school. In conclusion, we would like to have free access to cell phones during school hours, we also want are school to unblock all music websites during school house, and allow IPods. Also we want to change the dress code because students want to be allowed to dress like the way they feel, not be told what we can and can’t wear. We also want the tardy police and unexcused absents to change. My fellow students also demands thirty minutes breaks in between classes. And last but not least freedom of speech, for examples like in the school news paper, and writing assignments kids want to be able to write what they want not be told what’s appropriate or not. 

Crucible Epilogue

Epilogue

Swaying back and forth upon the rope that he hangs from, is John Proctor.  Abby is struck by the horrible fate that she has brought upon John, her eternal love.  At this point Abby doesn’t know what to do.  Elizabeth is in a state of devastation and anger.   The hangings are over and Abby goes back home, straight up to bed.  She is tired and exhausted yet still cannot get a wink of sleep.  She keeps tossing and turning with the sight of her love hanging from his throat still in her mind.  Abby starts to examine the events that have occurred in the past months.  She starts to notice that many bad things happened to very good people.  She realizes that almost all of this somehow was her fault.  Abby is in a pickle, either keep up what she is doing and stays safe, or confess her pretense and free the innocent people in jail. 

Abby seems to make a drastic turnaround from her old self.  She makes the risky decision of confessing her pretense and all of her false accusations.  Abby is sitting at home, rocking back and forth, nervously by her fireplace.  She is trying to muster up the courage to explain and confess herself to the court.  Abby finally stands up and starts to creep to the courthouse.  She quietly slips into the courthouse and begins to walk down towards Danforth.   He is in session with a different defendant, but that doesn’t stop Abby.  In complete interruption, Abby yells towards Danforth, “I have a confession”!  In certain shock Danforth commands, “Well let it out then”.  “It was pretense all along sir, I swear of it, I see what I have done and cannot bare the guilt anymore”, Abby proclaims.  “And the other girls?” Danforth asks.  Abby continues, “I was fully responsible and put them up to it”. 

Abby walks out of the courthouse with a huge weight off her chest, but still has a chill running through her spine.  Almost as if she knows something bad will still come of this.  As she was leaving Danforth had Hale fetch the other girls to see if they would also confess.  If so Abby and the rest would all have avoided jail and would be free.  But Abby knows the girls will stick by her past word and keep up the charade.  Almost only minutes later, the other girls walk out of the courthouse with an angered look on their face as they see Abby.  Abby walks up to the girls and asked if they had confessed as she had.  All the girls at once start yelling and screaming at her, “Why didn’t you tell us to confess!”  “We are sent to jail now for your stupidity”!  Abby is stiff with fright and doesn’t know what to say.  So she eventually runs home, scared.  Abby thinks to herself, “What are they going to do to me?”  “Are they going to try to get revenge”?  Abby is almost shaking in her bed with true fright.  She then brings herself to the thought that she made these girls behave this way.  She was the leader and the other girls were the followers.  It was her fault for all of this.  Abby realizes she is stuck, and comes to a conclusion she believes is the only way out of this horrible mess she caused.

The next morning, Parris, the man Abby has recently been serving, goes up to Abby’s room to wake her.  In awe, Abby is not in her bed.  Most of her belongings are missing and the window is open.  Parris goes downstairs and comes to a realization when his horse is gone.  Abby is gone, and she is never to return. 

Crucible Essay

In the town of Salem, Massachusetts, during the early 1690’s, the accusing of witchcraft spiraled out of control.  There were many different characters that took some kind of responsibility for the witch trials.  The people of Salem were making false accusations for greed and self-protection.  Almost everyone in Salem had to lie at some point.  The three characters that are most responsible for the witch trials are Mr. Putnam, Parris, and Abigail Williams.

Mr. Putnam is a very greedy man in ‘The Crucible’.  He owns a large portion of land in Salem.  The way he acquires all this land is not necessarily noticed by the other citizens of Salem.  He basically steals the land from other people in town. He does this by falsely accusing people of witchcraft.  If you are accused of being a witch, and you don’t admit being a witch, you are tortured and eventually your land is put up for auction.  Mr. Putnam was so ‘obsessed’ with owning all this land that he forces his daughter, Ruth into accusing people of witchery.  Therefore, once their land is up for auction, he buys the land.  He ends up accusing many people, good people, and taking everything they have. 

Another, slightly less responsible, character in Salem is Parris.  Parris is an extremely selfish man.  He looks at the whole witchcraft situation as every man for himself.  He is so worried and focused on his position in the town that he puts himself and his reputation before his own children.  This state of mind that Parris has is what drives him to do everything in his power to not get accused of witchcraft himself.  Whenever Parris was in court, and someone was trying to prove themselves not guilty, he would step in.  At the very moment he sensed that someone had good evidence of being not guilty, he would shout, “This man is trying to overthrow the court”!  He did this when John Proctor was trying the innocence of the people of Salem.

Abigail Williams was insane for power.  She would do anything in her ability to obtain more power.  Abby has the most responsibility for the witch trials out of anyone in Salem by far.  Even though Abby accused more people than anyone else, she was the closest one to actually being a witch.  In Act I Abby danced naked by a fire and was said to have drunken a blood potion in order to kill Elizabeth Proctor.  That’s how all this nonsense started, because after she had an affair with John Proctor, she wanted him all to herself.   In order to protect herself, she started to accuse other people in town of witchcraft.  She also got all the other girls to play this ‘game’ with her.  Although, that would seem like the smart thing to do if it meant not being accused.  Throughout the play Abby uses her power in every way possible to protect herself and get what she wants.  But in the end she failed her overall goal of this whole thing, because her actions end up killing John Proctor.

In conclusion there is more than one character in Salem that is responsible for the witch trials.  Abigail was the obvious menace who started this craziness and continued to make it grow and grow into an overwhelming mess.  Everything could have been prevented if Abby wasn’t so crazy and evil.  Mr. Putnam was just a sneaky and greedy man who wanted nothing but more land.  The worst part of his scam was that he could choose anyone he wanted and accuse them of witchcraft and get away with it, even if they were perfectly good Christians.  Parris basically made anyone accused in court found guilty.

Crucible post 2

Most people say that no matter what the circumstances, they won't lie.  Well, first of all, that was a lie.  Everybody lies at some point or another.  9 times out of 10 people will lie to protect themselves from certain consequences.  Whether it is getting grounded by their parents, or if it as extreme as going to jail.  I know I lie, but I try not to if I don't have to.  Although, even if I do lie, my parents usually figure out that I was lying in the first place and I get in more trouble.  With that in mind, I try not to lie.  I used to lie all the time.  I wanted to be on my parents good side and wanted them to be happy.  But lately I have been telling the truth a lot more because they like knowing the truth even if it hurts them.

Would I lie to protect myself?  Yes, most likely.  But only if it is for a good cause.  I would most definetly lie if it is for "the greater good" as some may say.  I would especially lie if  it were to help someone in need.  The reason I would lie to protect myself or others is because sometimes, in the right situation, it may be the right thing to do.  Some situations may require you to lie to protect yourself or someone else from embarrassment, injury, bullying, punishment, etc.  I'm not saying that lying is the right thing to do in every situation, but sometimes it's the right choice.