An Open Letter to High School Students

[FreddyMuscle]

If one of my students had turned in an analogy like yours, they would have received a failing mark...

Apples and oranges dear... and the fact that you can't tell the difference calls into question your critical thinking skills.

I understand that this thread has hit the wet spot as far as you're concerned... and now you're fully invested in hating my "atrocious" and "revolting" writing, as you call it. As it stands now, it's somewhere between Faulkner and a velvet Elvis... and I can live with that.

You also accuse me of "bad behaviour" on this board but I defy you to show me an instance. I think I've been remarkably restrained given that "name calling" seems to be the accepted practise here. I've gone back to see what you could possible construe as bad behavior and I can't find anything. Maybe you can, but I think you're mistaken here as well...

Thirdly, you seem to agree with a previous poster that kids today are pretty much the way they've always been... and with the exception that kids today are young and immature like their predecessors, you couldn't be more wrong (at least in terms of education).

Thirty years ago (or even 20), the majority of kids weren't being born to single Moms (in Baltimore where I teach) and teenagers weren't having children in the numbers they are today. That makes a big difference in how they socialize. (This is no small thing.)

Thirty years ago, kids didn't have easy access to the types of weaponry they have today. Schoolyard fights are nothing new, but they used to be settled with fists... then it went to knives... now no one can ever be sure what a kid is carrying. For example, on the first day of this school year, a student pulled out a shot-gun in the cafeteria and proceeded to blast another kid.. not an isolated incident either. On another occassion, I personally disarmed a student that was aiming a handgun at a classmate. The kid with the gun was back in school the next day.

Firepower plus immaturity is a deadly combination that teachers didn't face thirty years ago. Watch West Side Story again... it seems rather quaint and archiac. Sharks and Jets.... puh-lease!

Thirty years ago, you didn't have metal detectors in schools and armed Police officers roaming the hallways. Why do you think that is?

Thirty years ago, kids didn't bring personal cell-phones (Smart phones, I-pads etc) to school giving them instanteous 24/7 communication with every other student in the building (and the country, actually). And this communication is rarely used in a positive way... most commonly it's used to send answers to test questions back and forth or to notify friends when and where a fight has broken out (so they can join in)... or play music/FunRun/look at porn instead of paying attention.

Thirty years ago, 1 in 5 kids wasn't on some kind of methylamphetamine salt (i.e., speed) to treat their ADHD. Pregnancies among 13-16 yr. olds were rare... now we have a room in our school dedicated to daycare.

Used to be the worst thing you could catch in school was chickenpox and head-lice or possibly exposed unknowingly to TB... now it's AIDS.

Corporal punishment (and/or the threat of corporal punishment) used to be standard fare. You Catholic school graduates all have your favorite Nun stories. These days I better have a real good reason for getting within a foot of one of my kids... and they know it. [For the record, I do not approve of corporal punishment, then or now.]

I could go on but I think I've given you enough food for thought in one post. Kids may well be kids in some respects... but they are nothing like they were thirty (even 20) years ago. Neither is teaching.

 

[High_Gravity]

assuming this op is really from a teacher


If that's how the twat writes, could you imagine having to sit and listen to him speak for an hour?

Tell me about it, I'd transfer out of this clowns class.

 

[High_Gravity]

If one of my students had turned in an analogy like yours, they would have received a failing mark...

Apples and oranges dear... and the fact that you can't tell the difference calls into question your critical thinking skills.

I understand that this thread has hit the wet spot as far as you're concerned... and now you're fully invested in hating my "atrocious" and "revolting" writing, as you call it. As it stands now, it's somewhere between Faulkner and a velvet Elvis... and I can live with that.

You also accuse me of "bad behaviour" on this board but I defy you to show me an instance. I think I've been remarkably restrained given that "name calling" seems to be the accepted practise here. I've gone back to see what you could possible construe as bad behavior and I can't find anything. Maybe you can, but I think you're mistaken here as well...

Thirdly, you seem to agree with a previous poster that kids today are pretty much the way they've always been... and with the exception that kids today are young and immature like their predecessors, you couldn't be more wrong (at least in terms of education).

Thirty years ago (or even 20), the majority of kids weren't being born to single Moms (in Baltimore where I teach) and teenagers weren't having children in the numbers they are today. That makes a big difference in how they socialize. (This is no small thing.)

Thirty years ago, kids didn't have easy access to the types of weaponry they have today. Schoolyard fights are nothing new, but they used to be settled with fists... then it went to knives... now no one can ever be sure what a kid is carrying. For example, on the first day of this school year, a student pulled out a shot-gun in the cafeteria and proceeded to blast another kid.. not an isolated incident either. On another occassion, I personally disarmed a student that was aiming a handgun at a classmate. The kid with the gun was back in school the next day.

Firepower plus immaturity is a deadly combination that teachers didn't face thirty years ago. Watch West Side Story again... it seems rather quaint and archiac. Sharks and Jets.... puh-lease!

Thirty years ago, you didn't have metal detectors in schools and armed Police officers roaming the hallways. Why do you think that is?

Thirty years ago, kids didn't bring personal cell-phones (Smart phones, I-pads etc) to school giving them instanteous 24/7 communication with every other student in the building (and the country, actually). And this communication is rarely used in a positive way... most commonly it's used to send answers to test questions back and forth or to notify friends when and where a fight has broken out (so they can join in)... or play music/FunRun/look at porn instead of paying attention.

Thirty years ago, 1 in 5 kids wasn't on some kind of methylamphetamine salt (i.e., speed) to treat their ADHD. Pregnancies among 13-16 yr. olds were rare... now we have a room in our school dedicated to daycare.

Used to be the worst thing you could catch in school was chickenpox and head-lice or possibly exposed unknowingly to TB... now it's AIDS.

Corporal punishment (and/or the threat of corporal punishment) used to be standard fare. You Catholic school graduates all have your favorite Nun stories. These days I better have a real good reason for getting within a foot of one of my kids... and they know it. [For the record, I do not approve of corporal punishment, then or now.]

I could go on but I think I've given you enough food for thought in one post. Kids may well be kids in some respects... but they are nothing like they were thirty (even 20) years ago. Neither is teaching.

You are totally not a teacher, nice try.

 

[Esmeralda]

If one of my students had turned in an analogy like yours, they would have received a failing mark...

Apples and oranges dear... and the fact that you can't tell the difference calls into question your critical thinking skills.

I understand that this thread has hit the wet spot as far as you're concerned... and now you're fully invested in hating my "atrocious" and "revolting" writing, as you call it. As it stands now, it's somewhere between Faulkner and a velvet Elvis... and I can live with that.

You also accuse me of "bad behaviour" on this board but I defy you to show me an instance. I think I've been remarkably restrained given that "name calling" seems to be the accepted practise here. I've gone back to see what you could possible construe as bad behavior and I can't find anything. Maybe you can, but I think you're mistaken here as well...

Thirdly, you seem to agree with a previous poster that kids today are pretty much the way they've always been... and with the exception that kids today are young and immature like their predecessors, you couldn't be more wrong (at least in terms of education).

Thirty years ago (or even 20), the majority of kids weren't being born to single Moms (in Baltimore where I teach) and teenagers weren't having children in the numbers they are today. That makes a big difference in how they socialize. (This is no small thing.)

Thirty years ago, kids didn't have easy access to the types of weaponry they have today. Schoolyard fights are nothing new, but they used to be settled with fists... then it went to knives... now no one can ever be sure what a kid is carrying. For example, on the first day of this school year, a student pulled out a shot-gun in the cafeteria and proceeded to blast another kid.. not an isolated incident either. On another occassion, I personally disarmed a student that was aiming a handgun at a classmate. The kid with the gun was back in school the next day.

Firepower plus immaturity is a deadly combination that teachers didn't face thirty years ago. Watch West Side Story again... it seems rather quaint and archiac. Sharks and Jets.... puh-lease!

Thirty years ago, you didn't have metal detectors in schools and armed Police officers roaming the hallways. Why do you think that is?

Thirty years ago, kids didn't bring personal cell-phones (Smart phones, I-pads etc) to school giving them instanteous 24/7 communication with every other student in the building (and the country, actually). And this communication is rarely used in a positive way... most commonly it's used to send answers to test questions back and forth or to notify friends when and where a fight has broken out (so they can join in)... or play music/FunRun/look at porn instead of paying attention.

Thirty years ago, 1 in 5 kids wasn't on some kind of methylamphetamine salt (i.e., speed) to treat their ADHD. Pregnancies among 13-16 yr. olds were rare... now we have a room in our school dedicated to daycare.

Used to be the worst thing you could catch in school was chickenpox and head-lice or possibly exposed unknowingly to TB... now it's AIDS.

Corporal punishment (and/or the threat of corporal punishment) used to be standard fare. You Catholic school graduates all have your favorite Nun stories. These days I better have a real good reason for getting within a foot of one of my kids... and they know it. [For the record, I do not approve of corporal punishment, then or now.]

I could go on but I think I've given you enough food for thought in one post. Kids may well be kids in some respects... but they are nothing like they were thirty (even 20) years ago. Neither is teaching.

You are totally not a teacher, nice try.

I think we are all hoping he isn't. I am starting to feel very sorry for his students if he is. Very, very much so.

 

[editec]

William Faulkner does not write in any way like the OP's 'letter.' Nothing like it. Take out some Faulkner and compare it.

Absolum Absolum.?

One of his sentences is over 1200 words long.

You are entitled to you opinions regarding style, of course.

But your opinion that a style of highly complex sentence structure and florid language is archaic is highly misinformed.

 

[FreddyMuscle]

No substantive response from Esmeralda and more "You're not a teacher" from High Gravity.

Okay. I'll play.

You're totally not black, HighGravity. Nice try, white boy!

Hey, that's kinda fun! Let me do that again.

You're totally not female, Esmeralda! Nice try, dude!


<Sarcasm>
Wow, I feel empowered. This is great. It's silly and an utter waste of time... but GREAT!
</Sarcasm>

 

[Esmeralda]

William Faulkner does not write in any way like the OP's 'letter.' Nothing like it. Take out some Faulkner and compare it.

Absolum Absolum.?

One of his sentences is over 1200 words long.

You are entitled to you opinions regarding style, of course.

But your opinion that a style of highly complex sentence structure and florid language is archaic is highly misinformed.

If you want to understand Faulkner's style better, I suggest you actually read him, and not just one or two passages from specific works. I recommend The Sound and the Fury and "A Rose for Emily." If you are hoping to use him as a representative of purple prose, you would be mistaken. If you are trying to compare his style to what the OP wrote in his original post, well, all I can say is that it's clear you are not a student of serious literature or knowledgeable about what is considered good writing. But, anyway, I'm not going to continue with this. I do know whereof I speak in this particular discipline and art form. Arguing with people who don't is not interesting or worth my time and effort. It's comparable to stopping on the highway and trying to talk people out of buying velvet Elvis paintings because they are not good art. Not worth the effort or trouble. Believe what you want.

As far as the OP, he has proven himself as not worthy of a respectful reply.

 

[High_Gravity]

No substantive response from Esmeralda and more "You're not a teacher" from High Gravity.

Okay. I'll play.

You're totally not black, HighGravity. Nice try, white boy!

Hey, that's kinda fun! Let me do that again.

You're totally not female, Esmeralda! Nice try, dude!


<Sarcasm>
Wow, I feel empowered. This is great. It's silly and an utter waste of time... but GREAT!
</Sarcasm>

Yeah thats real mature there teacher.

 

[High_Gravity]

Its obvious you have alot of issues and if you are a teacher, you need to resign. You should not be around children with your synical depressing attitude.

 

[Connery]

For example, on the first day of this school year, a student pulled out a shot-gun in the cafeteria and proceeded to blast another kid.. not an isolated incident either.

Do you have a newspaper article, school report, police report or any official report to verify this claim?

 

[High_Gravity]

For example, on the first day of this school year, a student pulled out a shot-gun in the cafeteria and proceeded to blast another kid.. not an isolated incident either.

Do you have a newspaper article, school report, police report or any official report to verify this claim?

He doesn't because he's full of shit, I'm not buying any of this.

 

[FreddyMuscle]

I'm going to humor you two this once, and then we'll know who's full of what.

Perry Hall Senior High... Perry Hall, MD... look it up for yourselves.

And Gravity... I'll be expecting an apology from you. Nothing fancy... just something to let everyone know you were wrong.

 

[Connery]

I'm going to humor you two this once, and then we'll know who's full of what.

Perry Hall Senior High... Perry Hall, MD... look it up for yourselves.

And Gravity... I'll be expecting an apology from you. Nothing fancy... just something to let everyone know you were wrong.

As the one who set forth the claim the burden is upon you to prove your assertion.

 

[FreddyMuscle]

No... actually... Gravity claims I'm full of s---. Let him prove it.

I just gave you the name of the school, where the school is located and the date it happened. If you're at all interested in the truth you can look it up. If not, I really don't care at this point.

 

[Unkotare]

Now I'm even more certain he's some punk kid.



"Here's the name of a high school!" "See? That proves it!"


Get off the drugs, kid.

 

[Connery]

No... actually... Gravity claims I'm full of s---. Let him prove it.

I just gave you the name of the school, where the school is located and the date it happened. If you're at all interested in the truth you can look it up. If not, I really don't care at this point.

Dear Mr. Muscle:

You need to provide the proof in order to actually establish your claim as fact. "Go fetch" simply does not meet the proof requirement which establishes your claim. Incidentally, I am the one who asked you to provide sources which would establish your claim...

 

[Esmeralda]

I'm going to humor you two this once, and then we'll know who's full of what.

Perry Hall Senior High... Perry Hall, MD... look it up for yourselves.

And Gravity... I'll be expecting an apology from you. Nothing fancy... just something to let everyone know you were wrong.

This is interesting. The OP claims to be a History and American Government teacher at Perry Hall Senior High School in Perry Hall, MD.

Interesting. So, he is telling us, on the internet, for 'all the world to see,' so to speak, where he works and what job he holds. So, anyone can look him up. Not very smart. Would a high school teacher be dumb enough to tell everyone on the internet where he works and what specific job he does there?



So interesting....

 

[Esmeralda]

No... actually... Gravity claims I'm full of s---. Let him prove it.

I just gave you the name of the school, where the school is located and the date it happened. If you're at all interested in the truth you can look it up. If not, I really don't care at this point.

Dear Mr. Muscle:

You need to provide the proof in order to actually establish your claim as fact. "Go fetch" simply does not meet the proof requirement which establishes your claim. Incidentally, I am the one who asked you to provide sources which would establish your claim...

Yes, exactly. And this is something a high school teacher would know, that claims of fact need to be supported by valid, credible and verifiable evidence/sources. This is especially true for a social studies teacher.

 

[DGS49]

It took me about three minutes to verify the shooting incident, using Google/News.

If there was any doubt before about the worthlessness of some of our "contributors" it has been removed.

 

[High_Gravity]

I'm going to humor you two this once, and then we'll know who's full of what.

Perry Hall Senior High... Perry Hall, MD... look it up for yourselves.

And Gravity... I'll be expecting an apology from you. Nothing fancy... just something to let everyone know you were wrong.

Heres my apology, go fuck yourself faggot.