Ever since that fateful
prepubescent day in sixth grade...
prepubescent day in sixth grade...
When I was in sixth grade and thirteen years old I had been reading a book that I checked out of the school library to do a book report on. It was titled “Hall Pass”. I do not remember who the author was but the reading level was higher than what I was supposed to have. So anyway, I had read about 3/4’s of the way through the book and had written down chapter summary responses for each chapter I had read. Well the teacher wanted to check everyone’s progress so I had handed mine in and the next morning before the first bell rang I was called down to the principal’s office. My english teacher, the principal and what I guessed was a league of guidance counselors were waiting for me and they asked me for the book. I could sense I was in some kind of deep trouble but I was still confused as to why. I told them I left my book at home and they told me to go without hearing their explanation. I got home and my parents were all nervous and they asked to see the book too. I gave it to my mom, she read it and drove me back into school a few hours later and I was left outside the office to make out faint bits and pieces of people screaming at each other. I never saw my book report or the book again. But I had to talk about it with a psychologist three days a week for the rest of my sixth grade school year (to no apparent avail). As it turns out, a book about a girl who investigates a string of oddly deserved murders in her hometown where the people she trusts the most are her biggest suspects is not appropriate reading material for middle schools to be handing out to sixth grade minds. And well, a lot of my anger and hatred for teachers, school administrators, and the whole modern education system has probably stemmed from that one little incident. Still though, to this day, I'm glad to have been "educated" of the utter unjustifiable actions that society condones and empowers at such a young age. Ever since that fateful prepubescent day in sixth grade, I've felt a stronger sense of integrity and honor in myself than any "qualified" authority figure in my life has ever even come close to attaining. The experience taught me that merely being a certain amount of years older than somebody else does not guarantee the wisdom-gap that one would assume would exist. I learned that putting trust into people who have the power to control every waking aspect of your prescribed and moderated life is just about as demonically masochistic as dragging a silver razor along the line of veins in your pale, skinny, little arms. As a rightful individual of the human race, I hereby swear that I would rather die a thousand brutal deaths than to ever become taken in by the lies of others and treated like a mannequin version of myself that neither goes where he wants to or says what he thinks. That's not who I am.
[ Testimony Collumn: challenge entry for Week 4, Mission 2 of APTP ]
It's a tragic true story about the first time somebody tried to steal away my right to express myself and succeeded. But I shall not be beaten. I have a mind of my own God damnit! And with the clouds as my witness... I'm going to fucking keep it that way!
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Hehe, I'm sure there are a lot of good teachers out there and a great many of good experiences had by other students who aren't me.... but my catalyst was not a concentrated incident. This is merely the story of the beginning of a series of countless unfortunate malnourishments of soul. Actuallly, this story recently wrapped up its loose ends. I finally found the aformentioned book on ebay a few moths ago (I've been searching for years)... so I bought it and I read it (all the way through this time)... and I loved it. The ending has everything to do with why it would SEEM inappropriate for young readers... and ALSO everything to do with WHY it was written that way as well. I think that if these 9 years of stripped humanity have taught me anything... it's that people don't value truth indirectly. Life is a selfish race... and the ones we enforce the power we give ourselves unto are the ones who are going to lose. Every time.
Truth will never be politically correct. -
This was brilliant!
Everything about it... At first I was thinking "Where is he going with this? Should I click on a different page?" but once I got to the middle, you started getting down to business, and you got good points across. And I can not disagree with what you said. This column reminds me a lot of the book "Anthem" by Ayn Rand for some reason.. It just does. (If you read that, you might know what I mean. If you didn't, you might be lost)
As for the educational system... my mom is a teacher- and if she read this she would laugh at how stupid and ignorant some people can be (NOT YOU- the people running the system, I mean) but just know that all teachers aren't like that.
I'm sure you know that.. but yeah. I know my mom isn't at least.
Well, at school I hate it how we get in trouble for being late to class.. it pisses me off so much. One day, i got sick, and threw up in the bathroom, yet I still had to go to the office because of my tardy (which was my third, and final tardy [we are only allowed 2 tardies, the 3rd one we are to the office]) and I got threatened with a detention. *sulks* I'm an IB student (Intellegince Bacholorette Program- for college bound students) and I'm being threatened with a detention... fuck them! (excuse my french) lol
but i totally see what you mean about the school system, if I showed this to my friends every single one of them would say "RIGHT ON!"
Later dude.
Edited on Oct 29, 1:21 because ''. -
The wntire school system is so sad and pathetic these days. I was told to not enter my writings in a school editorial, because they were too "social". Define that for me, please?
Your story is one that, sadly, is becoming so frequent these days. I mean, I am against almost all censorship. I can see where some student writing about a school shooting would be serious, or something along those lines... but, it all would boil down to the way in which the person wrote it.
I'm glad you shared this with us, 'cus it has fired me up and made me want to debate.
- Justin -
i hate being controlled, and being told what to do (or what not to do).. i value my freedom (or the little semblance of freedom i have
) and i really try to be the person i want to be. gwah, reading this just made me really mad... i did not go through something like this when i grew up, and i honestly don't know how i would "fight back" if i was told to shut up or something like that. i love your author's notes 
yes, don't let them beat us 
thank you for this
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this is an awesome peice! the way you wrote made it interesting...u have a lot of talent in writing...well, really good write, byez!
~Karinn
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Excellent
These people who took away your right to read whatever it is that you wanted to read are probably the same people who believe that music and movies can lead a good person to murder or other crimes against humanity. We have to face the fact that soccer mom's rule the world, and children will always be subjected to the most thorough and sometimes ridiculous censorship. If somebody would commit a crime, or take part in a particular act due to something that they read, heard, or watched, than odds are they would've been bound to do something to that nature no matter what. The media does not create an evil mind, and due to my experiences as a child, and how I turned out, I don't believe parents have everything to do with it as well. If you are intelligent enough to make rational decisions, the only one to blame for your actions is you. I'm sorry for the rambling, but when somebody is stricken of their rights, it really upsets me. This was an excellent write, and the way you worded it only provided more evidence that you are blessed with an exceptional gift in writing, as well as an exceptional mind, Crackertl82 -
I had so many experiences like this when I was growing up. I got in trouble too many times to count for reading, which is odd considering we all had to follow programs designed to encourage kids to read. I think it's sick that we censor our children with the belief that they can't handle certain books yet. I was lucky to have parents who allowed me to read and as I grew older showed me certain books deemed "controversial" by many parents and educators. Books like Catcher in the Rye and Slaughter-House Five shaped who I am today, and I believe benefitted me in a way I could never describe. Anyone who wants to hide such books from young people are the real problem. Hell, I was embarresed in front of my entire second grade class for reading Heidi because we weren't allowed to check out chapter books, apparently we just "weren't ready".
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that helps so many things make more sence. its truly horrible what some educators, and administrators, do to children "becasue they are not old enough for _____________ yet." you can full in the blank with almost any word. im sorry that this had to happen to you, and at such a time, but it is something that helped make you who you are today. not trying to sound like an educator, or a shrink, just exprising my view on things. keep letting things out, no matter how old they, or you, get. later Honeybe
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ahhhhhhhhhh OAMS! Remember the fruitcake known as Mrs.Coyne Horton?
Evil guidance counselors aside, this is an extremely powerful piece. It obviously affected you very much.
I especially liked
"I learned that putting trust into people who have the power to control every waking aspect of your prescribed and moderated life is just about as demonically masochistic as dragging a silver razor along the line of the veins in your pale, skinny, little arms." ~wow
keep being an individual.
Edited on May 25, 10:29 p.m. because 'i can't spell'. -
I'm so glad you had the courage to stand up for what you thought was right...so many young people are swayed by people with radical views..one instance of society losing its mind...when I was in EMS the state changed a law to take the pulse of an infant brachial(under the bicep) instead of below the left nipple...which is the truest pulse of an infant, because of pedophiles...ignorance is bliss...I enjoyed this ..thanks for sharing a piece of you...Peace Muddy
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