Dear fellow peers,
It's not fair for you to assume those of us returning to on campus living this year do not care about the safety of others. Many of us do care. The truth is not every student has the privilege to learn safely at home. Many LGBTQ students, like myself, have to hide in the closet at home, if outed we risk homelessness. During this pandemic we can't afford to even think of taking that risk.
International students are also at risk. Leaders in our government have been pushing to force international students to return home if all their classes are online, this means some students may have to wake at 2am to make up for time diffrences between their home country and the state their college is in. This had put pressure on universities to hold in-person and/or hybrid...
Education
What can I say other than I’m sorry? When the year began, I walked into my classroom the same way I had many years before- with enthusiasm, excitement, anticipation, and a bit of anxiety. I started the new school year expecting it would be like every other year. We would dive into history, discussing and reviewing curriculum, breaking down historical eras, and revisiting stories that repeatedly conveyed the essence of the human spirit. Little did I know, we were about to enter our own historical chapter together and witness in actual time, not only what struggle and hardship is but also strength and perseverance.
I begin with an apology not just to you, but I’m also apologizing to myself. I am well aware that teaching is a work of heart and we dive headfirst into our daily...
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Hello, my name is Daisy Prince and I am currently being brainwashed. I am Junior at Lamar High School, one of the many apart of the Houston Independent School District. I am sure you are aware of how pertinent bias is in our society, but I am one to witness this bias daily; the bias in our education system, and in my fellow peers’ minds. I am currently in US History class, and we have not once covered the American Revolution, in any form or fashion. In fact, the class curriculum started after this, and instead of covering the founding of our country in-depth, we are covering FDR’s new deal and all new organizations.
In my 9th English class, I received a fill in the blank quiz telling me that communism would be great if blank worked. In my Theory of Knowledge class, a class required...
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Dear Universities and Colleges alike,
A lot has happened in the last few months that neither you or I could have predicted. As the semester came to an abrupt end and many of us lost our graduation, prom, and last goodbyes to our friends, I ask that you take some things into consideration moving forward.
As we move into May, I ask that you rethink your decisions of online based learning for the fall semester. I admire your dedication to our health and wellbeing but I feel as though these decisions are premature. The progression of the virus has changed immensely over the past few weeks and undoubtedly will continue to in the coming weeks. Our efforts in slowing the spread are paying off but it doesn't feel like they are. Your decision to cancel in-person learning in the fall feels...
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17 April 2020
Dear Mrs Kerr-Dineen,
First of all, we would like to express a sincere hope that this letter finds you in good health, and that you are coping with the unprecedented stress of the current situation. We would, however, like to express a few concerns regarding the assessment model which was announced on Friday morning. The concerns below may be marshalled into three categories: concerns about the structure of the exams, concerns about the effects they will have on grades and work loads, and finally, and most importantly, concerns about the mental health issues this statement has given rise to. We hope that this letter will be read in the spirit in which it was intended, and that a reply will be given at your earliest possible convenience. We also trust that the...
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Dear College.
You are like waiting in line to ride a roller coaster. First, it's exciting, but then that person waiting might start to feel scared or anxious for what's ahead. Eventually, she gets annoyed because it's taking so long that she starts to think about turning back, but she is so close to the front, that she decides to stay. Finally, it's her turn to ride the roller coaster, and it all becomes worth it.
You are exactly that, but with your own complications. Almost everyone nowadays has to go through you and those feelings. You are something I don't always understand, like why do you feel the need to be so expensive? I already give you my time, but now my money, and it’s a lot of money at that. Yes, financial aid does help, but not with all of it.
So, I won't...
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It’s a new year, so this has to be a new you. I say that with the kindest pretext I possibly can. Clearly, you’re new to the gym, and everyone knows it. You can feel it, every time you look up at someone they quick look away, everyone’s looking at you… but why?
I’m trying not to stare while you’re “warming up”, doing a bicep curl/shoulder press movement. But I just can’t help it, I want to run over and tell you what you’re doing wrong. Not many of us “seasoned vets” will though. We don’t want to draw attention to you because we were you, and we know what it’s like.
I wouldn’t have wanted someone drawing attention to me telling me I’m doing everything so very wrong. Or worse, making me notice how “small” I was. What you should be doing is watching us and paying close attention....
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It’s been a while since I shared my innermost turmoil, often running through my mind by way of insidious thoughts. I am not sure sharing these would really make a difference, but as they say one has to be more forthcoming, when in doubt, especially when the matter concerns grave humane considerations.
The world we are living in; the place inhabited by myriad beliefs, faiths, emotions, cultures, is controlled by some intellectuals who proclaim themselves as community head/religious head, the heads who guide us; tells us to follow their path, who are ready to rage wars in the name of religion in the name of religion.
The heads of states who can spend billions to create new weapons to destroy humanity but cannot even spend a penny to fight hunger, illiteracy, child labor, woman abuse and...
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What are values?
Are they something that can be quantified or something that can be bought? Does education teach us values or is its only aim to make us street smart and to teach us to earn a living and make financial fortunes?
Are values to be taught in a school, as part of a curriculum or should they be nurtured at home? Should a government create a place for values in a nation’s education policy and impart as a classroom subject?
Is earning money and being successful more important than learning and inculcating values in children?
Alas…All these questions can never have a real and satisfactory answer. We can have endless avenues for questioning and debates on this topic but can never conclude one way or the other.
Amongst, all these questions and debates, there is a matter of...
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Last month the coronavirus, to us anyway, was just a meme about some sickness and China. Last month we had no idea the effect it would have on the world, our nation, and us personally. Last month we thought that we’d still be in school laughing with our friends over a semi-decent hot lunch.
From the time that we were young we were told by our parents, the movies we watched, and by our teachers that senior year was our year. It was the year that we ran the school. It was the year that we were supposed to find the Gabriella to our Troy. It was the year where everything in life was supposed to be perfect. But kicks and giggles hit the fan and it was an incredibly large fan. The thought that our senior prom, our senior year being the captain of our team, being the officer of our club, or...
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