The Student Declaration Of Independence

Student Declaration of Independence 

     The students of Grosse Pointe South High School have put up with unfair treatment for far too long. The rules of the establishment have oppressed the basic rights of the children. School should start much later. It is much easier to learn and do work when one is well rested. We need a more relaxed dress code. Students express themselves through their choice in clothing. It is only fair that they be allowed to wear what they choose. There should be free parking for students. Students may waste time that could be spent learning looking for a place to park. We demand more class work and less homework. Class work allows students to not have to stress about getting their homework completed. Students should be allowed to use their cell phones in class. This also contributes to a relaxed environment. There should not be blocks on the school computers. Students are mature enough to know which websites are appropriate for school and which ones are not. The school store needs to be open all day. This allows students to buy supplies. It also allows them to have a snack in between classes. Food and drink should also be allowed in class. This permits students to be relaxed and focused on learning rather than the fact that they are hungry. We need a longer lunch. Social situations are an important part of high school. Lunch lets students learn social skills. And, finally, we demand that we have more snow days. When it is ten degrees below zero outside with a foot and a half of snow on the ground, it is a bit difficult for us to get to school. These are the basic rights which we as a student body require in order to create a more relaxed, simple, and enjoyable learning environment.

I.          One complaint against school is that school starts way too early. Many students do not get enough sleep at night. That causes students not to function well in school. School should start an hour later. This will allow students to get a better sleep and do better in school.

II.          Students should also get a longer lunch. Students work hard all day and should get more time to relax. A longer lunch would allow students to socialize with friends. Also, students will have time to eat their lunch and not be rushed. As of now, lunch is too short and too rushed.

III.         The school store should be opened all day. This will allow students to get a snack when they are hungry. Many students don’t have time to eat breakfast. The school store will allow students to get food in the morning at school. This will also make more money for the school.

IV.        Phones should be allowed in class. Some may argue that phones are distracting, but if they are on silent they aren’t disturbing anyone. And phones should be allowed in every class on everyday, besides test days. Texting in class doesn’t take the spotlight off the teacher, and doesn’t draw attention to the student texting. Phones can also be helpful in class when students are trying to look something up.

V.        There should not be a dress code at South. Dressing freely is a form of self expression. Kids know what they’re comfortable in, and know not to come to school wearing anything too revealing or inappropriate. In the summer months girls should be able to wear whatever length shorts they’re comfortable in. The rule is unfair since some girls have shorter legs than others, and can get away with shorter shorts. Also, girls can get over heated in long shorts and jeans when its warm out.

VI.        Charging kids for parking at school is extremely wrong. The meters along Fisher road, starting Across from the fitness place, and ending at the library, shouldn’t be in use during school days and school hours. Also, passes for the S-Lot should be free. Students should never have to pay to park when they got to school, since some kids can’t afford to pay the fees everyday.

VII. Websites for high school students shouldn’t be blocked. By the time a child reaches high school, they’re aware of what is right, and what is not. Kids wouldn’t use a school computer for anything inappropriate. And Facebook and Twitter should be unblocked so kids can keep in touch with their teachers and fellow classmates.

IIV.    Being late is affecting not just me but other students attendance as well. As students, we must argue that school starts to early. Getting up early to make the first bell is hard, not only, it affects the grading system. Getting up early will affect the brain to function  and stay focus due to numerous hours of sleep.  This why we must argue that school starts to early.

IX.     Food and drinks should  be allowed in class. Teachers and students will argue with this law. Without food, the brain will not function correctly. Getting up for school is already to early, there is no time for people to stop to grab a donut or just a coffee. Breakfast is the main meal of the day. Without  the option to eat or drink in class, we as students can not function correctly. Food and drinks should be allowed in class.

X.      Over the years in Michigan, the weather has been getting worst. In the summer the weather is usually 90°F and in the winter its below 20°F. When it snows over 6in. the district still makes all schools open. If there is sleet and snow on the ground, why should have to continue to go too school if the weather is bad? When the weather is bad, its a higher chance for students and teachers to become ill. to prevent this, school should be closed on snow days.

We the students declare independence from the school board and King Provenzano for all of the reasons just spoken. We want school to start later. We want more snow days. We want to have the power to use cell phones in class. We want an elimination of the dress code. We want a longer lunch time. We want more work in class and less work at home. We want the parking outside of the school to be meter free. We want all of the websites unblocked. We want the school store to be open all day. We want food and drinks to be allowed in all classes.

We have stated the consequences if these things do not happen. The students will create a new, free and independent education system. We have tried to bargain and bring forth an agreement of our requests and the board’s failure to complete these things has created our want for independence.  We, the students of the great Grosse Pointe South High School publish and declare our right to be free and independent from the school board and the class of King Provenzano. There is no longer a connection between the students and the school. We find it our right to write and pledge this document and to declare our independence for the better of all of the students against the school board and the class of King Provenzano. Through this declaration we mold a new alliance and mutually defend our rights and our honor. 

Eric Addy

Semonika Drain

Kaelyn Moceri

Josh Dauphinais

Alex Cascio

The Crucible Epilogue

The Crucible Epilogue

    Many years had passed since the witch trials at Salem. Reverend Hale had long since ceased to believe in witches after the horrors he had witnessed. Now, whenever he is summoned to search for evidence of witchcraft he simply shows up and disproves any evidence of what other people may see as contracting with Lucifer. There was, on occasion, a call involving a legitimate crime, such as robbery or murder. But, those were few and far between. Most of the time, a town’s legal system was more than capable of determining a logical reason for a crime and sentencing the offender accordingly. People were not as quick to jump to the conclusion of witchcraft now. Not since the insanity that had gone down in Salem. Not since the blood of the innocent had been spread across the land like butter upon a slice of bread.
    No; now Hale was getting on in years significantly. He had a good life. It was much less hectic now. He lived with his wife—Lily was her name—and his son, Joseph. His son was of the age where he could assist his aging father around their farm. This made work around their land much easier on Hale.
    Hale would often visit his dear friend, Elizabeth. After the witch trials at Salem, they stayed in touch. Hale comforted Elizabeth after the death of her husband. John Proctor had martyred himself to save many other’s lives. He may not have understood it in its entirety then, but now Hale viewed John Proctor as a hero.
    Elizabeth had remarried to a man named Jacob Smith. Jacob was a kind man. Elizabeth’s children had grown quite fond of their stepfather. Hale had a good friendship with Jacob. They would go into town together and drink. They spoke of life and of God with one another. They helped each other with labor around their properties. Yes, it was truly a good friendship indeed.
    Hale lived quite a good life now. He was very content with the way things were. He no longer had to fear for the loss of life due to lying and deceiving. The witch trials were long finished. His wife and son loved him very much, as did his dear friends. All was well. All was peaceful.

The Crucible Essay

There are many characters responsible for the witch trials in Salem. There are three characters particularly at fault. Abigail Williams accuses many people of witchcraft. Parris is aware that the girls were partaking in dancing and possible rituals and he does not mention it to anyone. Mary Warren is at fault because she would not testify against Abigail in court. There are numerous characters responsible for the Salem witch trials, but Abigail Williams, Parris, and Mary Warren are most at fault.
    Abigail Williams initially starts the witch trials. She has an affair with John Proctor. She then becomes unhealthily obsessed with him. She decides to try and kill his wife, Elizabeth, by partaking in a ritual and drinking chicken blood. Back in those times, this was a legitimate attempted murder. The people of Salem actually did believe that this would kill someone. Therefore, Abigail is really the only one to ever partake in the dark art of witchcraft in Salem. She blames others to take suspicion off of herself. She threatens the other girls with death should they report her ruse. “Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you” (20). They believe she will kill them if they say anything to contradict her. She then attempts to kill John Proctor’s wife by accusing her of witchcraft. She causes much chaos within the town. Abigail is the most at fault for the witch trials in Salem, but her uncle, Reverend Parris, is also partly to blame.
    Parris is a greedy reverend. He worries only about himself and his position of power. He knows that Abigail and the other girls were partaking in rituals, however, he does nothing about it. He is afraid that if it is found out that his daughter and niece are found out to be lying and sentencing people to death, that he, in turn, will be removed from power as the town’s reverend. Therefore, even when good people’s lives depend upon it, he does not mention what he witnessed. He says to Judge Danforth when John Proctor gives the evidence that Abigail is lying “Excellency, you surely cannot think to let so vile a lie be spread in open court” (89)! He denies that his niece is, even though the evidence against her is immense. Parris is, in fact, a very bad minister. However, Mary Warren does not help to dismiss Abigail’s lies either.
    Mary Warren is more or less a friend of Abigail’s. She is a very naive and weak-minded girl. She is not a leader. She is a follower. She follows Abigail out of fear. When John Proctor tells her to testify against her in court, she refuses, saying such things as “I cannot do it, I cannot” (80)! She has a great fear of Abby. She truly believes that defying Abigail Williams will result in her own death. She testifies only because John Proctor threatens her life. “I will bring your guts into your mouth but that goodness will not die for me” (80)! John Proctor is referencing the fact that he will kill Mary Warren, lest she testify against Abigail to prove his wife’s innocence. Perhaps, if Mary Warren held her ground and stood firm, the people of Salem would start to notice that the other girls were lying.
    Abigail Williams commits the crime of adultery with John Proctor. She then tries to kill his wife by drinking blood. She is discovered attempting to conjure spirits in the forest, however, by her uncle, and is found out. She tries to keep suspicion off of herself by accusing others of witchcraft. Her uncle, Reverend Parris, is afraid of losing his position of power within the town of Salem and so he goes along with her accusations. Mary Warren had many a chance to disprove Abigail’s lies, but she was too frightened to take any of them. She always crawled back to Abby in the end. These three characters are the most responsible for the horrible tragedy of the Salem witch trials.

The Crucible Post 2

     I would lie to keep myself out of trouble. I would not like it, but I would do it. I am fairly certain it is just a part of human instinct to lie. If I were going to die and I could only prevent it by lying, then yes, I would lie. If I were accused of witchcraft, why wouldn't I just admit to it and prevent my death? Everyone else could do the same, as well. Then, no one would truly get hurt. I would also lie to protect my friends and family.
     As for what John Proctor did, I think he was right morally. However, rationally he was wrong. He could have just lived life fine without upsetting anyone. However, he decided to tell Elizabeth that he had cheated on her with Abby. If I were put in the same situation, I would probably have told the truth as well. I would not be able to live with myself. I am certain this is what the case was with John Proctor. He told the truth to make himself feel better. But I am not sure that is the only reason he did it. Perhaps he thought he would make his wife feel better because he was so honest with her.