I LOVE School, but...

By Ava Apeajyei

South Windsor High School

Dear Board of Education and Faculty,

I love school. Yes, I truly do, unlike my peers who despise and hate school. I rather love it and find it invigorating. Not in the way you think, like making friends. No. I love to learn. Be insightful. Test new horizons. Participate in competitions of sorts. Join clubs, create community. Now I think that's what school is about. I'm assured you all have been to school and have your own lists of pros and cons, but maybe you can hear me out this one time. Please be the one to listen to me, at least for this time. But… There are things that ought to change.

Can we get some better-quality food? My goodness. Those frozen mystery meats are becoming quite bland. And don't even get me started on that bright yellow stuff they call cheese, gives people the stomach bug.

Anyways, moving on from that, our overall school environment. The way kids talk to each other. It makes me sick. I, for one, don't speak like that. But profanity from their mouth every second. While degrading and bullying each other. And you know they don't do a thing about bullying until something bad actually happens.

And they always ask that question, “Do you feel you have a safe adult in school to talk to?” No. No, I do not. I personally don't trust people that well anyway. It's just my family, and maybe not even my close friends. I feel like some teachers just hate me. Have a vendetta against me. I come to class early. Say “Good morning”. Perfect attendance and participation, but to no avail. I ignore those ones. Then there's the special ones. Like once in a blue moon. Who actually talks with me. Or like a long time no see, even after not being my teacher. Now that's a REAL teacher!

Oh, and counselors. I reach out time and time again, and I feel like they barely help me. That's why I barely use them for support anymore. It feels like I'm talking to a brick wall. Don't even get me started on our grading system. Why oh why did we change it to 80% assessments and 20% learners tasks? I can barely stay up float but I do so anyway. You could do all your work, bomb one test, and it's over. Let's say a kid who has a terrible work ethic, shows up late, and doesn't even do classwork, or comes for help, does a great job on the Quiz/Test and the other kid, who is a good student but doesn't do as good on the test. I think that's a terrible way of grading. It should encompass a lot of other things too. Am I right? Or is that too complicated?

Never mind that, dear, despite all that, I still love school. The school just needs a little fixing. Just hear me out, okay.

Sincerely,

Ava.