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As it turns out life is complicated and messy and gritty and dirty. Call it simple or easy if you want, but you're lying to yourself to feel better. It's hard growing up in today's world, it's hard having friends who betray you or families that are hard to like. We all need those everlasting friends and those moments of clarity where we see our lives flash before us, and those times to be completely carefree. As we crash through the jungle of this life, we all steal a few hearts and break a few bones. But hey. That's life right?

Thursday, December 28, 2006

I'm Speaking Out

Dear Teachers, Staff, and Administration of Albert M. Lowry High School:

I feel that my classes are not fair in grading students. I put in about twice the amount of work as my fellow students, yet even those who put in no effort to their projects receive an equal or better grade.

Some classes (ie. Spanish classes and social studies classes) are ridiculously easy. This allows students who do not understand the material to receive a passing grade. This passing grade sends the student on to the next level when the student has not really learned anything from the class at all.

Cheating at Lowry is rampant. Teachers know it, but are often incapable of proving the fact, or they do not care. Students know it and see it, but never speak up to tell someone. As a student, I have often been approached before a test and asked if I will allow someone to cheat off me. I have always replied to the negative, but that doesn't prevent the student from cheating off of someone else. I know students who regularly copy homework from someone else and cheat on tests, but I don't know what to do about it or who to say something to. If teachers really want to make cheating more difficult, they should appeal to the students.

Winnemucca has a reputation. It's town of drug-abusers. Most of these drug-abusers are students. Teachers often see this and do nothing. Or, in most cases, students walk across the street to smoke their pot, putting them off school property and out of the school's jurisdiction. I opt for a closed campus. Not only will this allow the school to benefit because students must eat on campus and most will buy their lunches, but a closed campus would also keep drug-abusers and smokers from leaving campus for their habits.

Fighting is common at Lowry; there is at least one everyday. Teachers are often not privy to the information of the whereabouts of the fights, but I don't know how they could possibly be blind to the fact that there is fighting. Oftentimes, teachers respond slowly, and arrive on the scene long after a fight is over. Other times, teachers are afraid to come between two students because they are afraid of being hurt. If this is the case, teachers should get help, not just stand there and watch helplessly. If the teacher believes the fight will be over by the time he or she comes back, the teacher should send a student.

Less fighting, fewer druggies and smokers, and less cheating will make for a better learning environment for students such as myself who would actually like to learn something in school. Teachers must take the initiative and make some radical changes. I don't know if this means interrupting your lives to help students, or changing the system, or employing a closed campus, but something needs to be done. The students of Lowry High School, and I, depend on you.
I appreciate a chance to voice my opinions.

Sincerely,

Katy

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Letter to the President

Dear Sir:

I am seriously concerned for the future of our country. Just the other day I was informed that you had signed a new space policy stating that the United States has given itself the right to deny people access to outer space if they deem said people to be hostile to U.S. interests. Sir, the United States cannot own space. It is space. One doesn't own it, one can shoot astronauts into it, orbit satellites in it, or launch probes into it, but one simply cannot own space. The other day a man paraded an elephant an a mariachi band back and forth across the mexican border, and didn't get caught. How is it possible for the United States to regulate who enters and exits outer space, Sir?

By saying that space now belongs to us, the United States is displaying a dangerous amount of arrogance. This arrogance is exactly what makes Americans believe that everyone in the world speaks English, rides in airplanes, and drinks from the faucet. This arrogance, therefore, is also a pathetic show of ignorance and a ridiculous grasping of straws. The United States government has trouble controlling its own country, let alone many other countries around the world. We cannot also govern space.

Ignorant people make for a country of ignorance, Mr. President, that should be pretty self-explanatory. Sir, please make an effort to reduce the amount of blind ignorance that shrouds this country. Please attempt to be a leader in humility instead of arrogance. Practice peace, not warmongering. Show respect in place of condescension. Model leadership, instead of idiocy. And please realize, Sir, that I mean this letter with all due respect. And please realize that the respect that is due you, Sir, is draining into the hole you've dug yourself.

Sincerely,

Me