The problem with our education system.
Yesterday, I had the biggest breakdown and the longest panic attack I have ever experienced.
I couldn't breathe for twenty minutes and couldn't utter a proper sentence for almost an hour.
My principal saw me and just shrugged.
I was in school, that's right.
and I was internally dying because of school, that's right.
Is it really worth it?
I really don't know.
But is it right? No. It isn't.
As a senior IB student with four HLs and a whole list of extracurricular activities, the stress is quite understandable. What isn't, though, is the ridiculous treatment we receive from the staff at our school.
Not only are they quite unwary of the effects their actions have on us, they are, quite frankly, heartless.
After having school from 7 to 3, "Here, only 2 hours of homework today! You can sleep early tonight" said my Math teacher, then 5 other teachers, summing up to 12 hours of homework everyday, never less than 5. But wait, to remain an honor student don't forget to join two clubs and sport teams! oh.. and don't forget that you have school SIX days a week and afterschool meetings. That's about it.
Oh, wait.
Let me just add a couple of tests that will include things you never learned in class, y'know, just to drop your grade a little more.
And of course, when you try to raise it back up I'll give you a pop quiz you were totally unprepared for, just to keep you as a permanent C-.
Also, let me favor my children that I teach and the kids that I've known for longer and can make me laugh.
I almost forgot! Let me give you detention and suspend you because you wore the right uniform on the wrong day, that's just about it, easy!
No. NO, this isn't right.
I'm devastated and outraged
I am clinically depressed and a massive reason for this is school.
NO, IT'S NOT FINE, IT'S NOT RIGHT that the longest sleep I get is 5 hours a day.
It's not right.
Prisoners get better food and sleep than we do.
Prisoners have a longer life expectancy than we do.
Prisoners have a more relaxed life than we do. Their life is punishment but not controlled by punishment which is a much merciful life.
So many of my friends have constant suicidal thoughts and we are all emotionally, physically and mentally exhausted (..its only the second month of school)
Never once has a teacher asked how we felt or how much other homework we have all 14 years I was a student.
Never once has a teacher *helped* us outside the hours s/he was paid for.
Never once has a teacher showed us compassion or understanding.
My nightmares used to be about getting murdered or my family dying, now they're death in the form of my planner, detentions, drowning in work and being chased by Internal Assessments.
Of course, a generalization of all these teachers is outrageous. Some are kind and understanding and a sanctuary, but they are as rare as the stars in my light polluted country and usually are counsellors or coordinators not actual teachers.
Sincerely,
a tired 17 year old.
I couldn't breathe for twenty minutes and couldn't utter a proper sentence for almost an hour.
My principal saw me and just shrugged.
I was in school, that's right.
and I was internally dying because of school, that's right.
Is it really worth it?
I really don't know.
But is it right? No. It isn't.
As a senior IB student with four HLs and a whole list of extracurricular activities, the stress is quite understandable. What isn't, though, is the ridiculous treatment we receive from the staff at our school.
Not only are they quite unwary of the effects their actions have on us, they are, quite frankly, heartless.
After having school from 7 to 3, "Here, only 2 hours of homework today! You can sleep early tonight" said my Math teacher, then 5 other teachers, summing up to 12 hours of homework everyday, never less than 5. But wait, to remain an honor student don't forget to join two clubs and sport teams! oh.. and don't forget that you have school SIX days a week and afterschool meetings. That's about it.
Oh, wait.
Let me just add a couple of tests that will include things you never learned in class, y'know, just to drop your grade a little more.
And of course, when you try to raise it back up I'll give you a pop quiz you were totally unprepared for, just to keep you as a permanent C-.
Also, let me favor my children that I teach and the kids that I've known for longer and can make me laugh.
I almost forgot! Let me give you detention and suspend you because you wore the right uniform on the wrong day, that's just about it, easy!
No. NO, this isn't right.
I'm devastated and outraged
I am clinically depressed and a massive reason for this is school.
NO, IT'S NOT FINE, IT'S NOT RIGHT that the longest sleep I get is 5 hours a day.
It's not right.
Prisoners get better food and sleep than we do.
Prisoners have a longer life expectancy than we do.
Prisoners have a more relaxed life than we do. Their life is punishment but not controlled by punishment which is a much merciful life.
So many of my friends have constant suicidal thoughts and we are all emotionally, physically and mentally exhausted (..its only the second month of school)
Never once has a teacher asked how we felt or how much other homework we have all 14 years I was a student.
Never once has a teacher *helped* us outside the hours s/he was paid for.
Never once has a teacher showed us compassion or understanding.
My nightmares used to be about getting murdered or my family dying, now they're death in the form of my planner, detentions, drowning in work and being chased by Internal Assessments.
Of course, a generalization of all these teachers is outrageous. Some are kind and understanding and a sanctuary, but they are as rare as the stars in my light polluted country and usually are counsellors or coordinators not actual teachers.
The problem with school is that we no longer go there to 'learn'.
We go there to cross boxes on our To-Do Lists and to submit paper after paper that we have bullshitted our way through.
We go there to get enough credits to graduate and get into college.
We go because we have to.
We don't go to learn. We don't go because we love to. We don't go because we are passionate to learn more about the world and people around us.
Not because we aren't passionate, but because school has suffocated this passion and killed the enthusiasm and seasoned our days with all forms of unrecognizable torture.
We don't learn. We just add pile of information to pile. We 'learn' how to add number to number then our calculator begins to do it for us then we 'learn' how to use a calculator and a ton of other things that, not only will we not use in the future and will be forgotten the minute we graduate, it just doesn't help us.
Why don't you teach us about society? about how to overcome oppression and to develop a strong personality? why don't you teach us first aid or how to choose a right partner for life?
Okay, If that is too drastic a change, maybe just go a little easy on us? Maybe give us a little less homework? Maybe don't give us detention because of reasons as ridiculous and trivial such as uniform?
Many do not have the privilege we do and would love to go to school, and I understand that. But when it gets this bad and slowly changes us into emotionless, depressed robots, Ignorance is truly bliss.
Many do not have the privilege we do and would love to go to school, and I understand that. But when it gets this bad and slowly changes us into emotionless, depressed robots, Ignorance is truly bliss.
Sincerely,
a tired 17 year old.
Labels: education, highschool, new blog post, problem, reality, school, seniors
posted by jessica @ 03:51
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