Budget Cuts - Screwing Over America's Future

So recently I learned that here in California the governor has decided to cut 10% off of the education budget. Why on Earth would you do this?! It is ridiculous to take money away from schools when already students are forced to work with crappy supplies and learn from crappy teachers who have no motivation because they have a tiny paycheck. Right now America is spending around 50% of it's expenses on defense. Because of this important things like school are forced to do without money. It is pathetic that our leaders do not realize that by cutting out of our education we are cutting out of our future, because America's future lies with today's students. I understand that you are worried about protecting yourself now, but down the road America is going to be screwed over because you refuse to fund it's future workers, leaders, thinkers, innovaters, etc. I can't believe how stupid our government has become, we trust them with power to make good decisions yet here they are screwing us over.

More Comfortable Classes

I dont know about you but I feel that our classrooms should be made more comfortable so that we have a better learning experience. It is hard to learn when we sit there in these uncomfortable and undersized chair-desk combo things. My civics teacher had the idea to give every student a nice leather chair. He also had the idea of giving students the ability to order food that would be delivered to them in their classroom. Genius! Things would be so much nicer this way. I would maybe actually enjoy sitting there. If we are supposed to learn then why is it that we have to do it uncomfortably. I think that we should be given a more comfortable environment because it would help us learn and would make class much more enjoyable.

Detention

How is detention supposed to deter students from misbehaving. All detention is is simply forcing students to sit in a classroom silently for like half an hour. O wow what a horrible punishment. Please don't make me sit quietly! Please! I am pretty sure anyone badass enough to get into detention is not going to be scared by it. In fact I'm pretty sure that most students that get it end up there again at some point because it doesn't intimidate them at all and in no way scares them from doing something again. I'm not saying that we resort to the old school forms of punishment where students get whacked with a paddle, but the administration might as well just give up with detention and just let minor things go.

Powerpoint

Teachers are ridiculous when grading a Powerpoint presentation. Instead of understanding that we can put text on these slides so that we can read off them and that those watching can actually pick up on the important information, they treat these presentations as if they are memorization speeches. It's almost as if they do not understand the whole point of these presentations. Also they do not want us putting sounds or actions in our slide shows, which makes for boring presentations. I am pretty sure that if every slide was full of actions and sounds that everyone would find the show much more fun, regardless of how obnoxious it can get to have a laser beam fire for every letter on the slide. Powerpoints could actually be fun if teachers did not create such ludicrous and gratuitous rules that limit the creativity that Powerpoint allows students to use.

Free Online Games

Everyone knows the best thing to do on a computer in school is to play the free online games you can find that aren't blocked. Submit your favorite games here.

iPods and Cell Phones

Why are iPods and cell phones so strictly forbidden in class? There are so many stretches in class where students are required to work on their own and the teacher just sits back and does whatever. How much work actually gets done during these periods? Practically none. The school should allow electronic devices during these circumstances because if anything it will keep students quieter since they will be occupied with their own things instead of yelling across the classroom at their friends. And as for those students who actually want to get work done during these periods, you are all idiots. Have you ever considered having fun in high school? Save the work for home that is where you will be most productive anyway. We need to allow students to have these electronic devices because they sneak them anyway you might as well give up on trying to stop them.

Texting in Class

I love how sneaky students try to be when they are texting in class. Kids will put their phones under their desks, under their legs, just about anywhere. Kids set up their phones behind an open book and try and act like they are reading when they are obviously on their phone. These people think they are so sneaky and they don't get how the teacher can see them. Stupid! Instead of constantly looking down at your phone try looking up every once in a while. It is way obvious when you are staring at your crotch and doing something with your hands that you are texting. I know that teachers shouldn't care about texting, but they do. So don't be stupid and learn how to actually be sneaky in class instead of being so in to yourself for texting during class that you become oblivious to what is going on around you.

Chat Room Classes?

How sick would it be if every class was a chat room. Instead of going to school we could just log in to the chat room from our computer at home. Each class would have a designated time in which students would need to log in and the chats would last for the same amount of time as classes do now at school. Instead of passing periods we would just have 5 minute breaks where we could go to the bathroom or privately chat with our friends. Also students could all just bring their laptops and meet somewhere and have class there. Teachers could just use file uploads to give the students access to the worksheets, notes, documents, etc. that we usually waste paper with by printing out. These chat room classes would be so good because that way we could have class anywhere we wanted to as opposed to the stupid classrooms we are forced to be in now. And if people are going to argue that students could log in and then just go do something else, teachers could easily test their attendance by asking individuals a question and requiring some kind of answer within a short alotted time. Teachers would also like this because it is so much easier to sort students work when it is all electronic. These class chat rooms are definitely better than what we have now.

Free Periods/Computers for Everyone

One of the rarest treats in school is the free period. By that I mean a class where the teacher has nothing scheduled for the day and the entire class period is devoted to "working." As if anyone actually does any work. Pretty much all people do is talk with their friends about whatever it is they find interesting. The teacher insists on everyone keeping it down so they can get stuff done, but really the class doesn't give a rat's ass and instead talk as loud as they want. It can be unfortunate however, when you are surrounded by people who you don't know or are really boring, so you have nothing to talk about and instead have to entertain yourself with whatever you can come up with. This is why I think every student should have a computer in all of their classes. Not only would this provide a good way for students to entertain themselves on these days, it would actually make regular days better too. Students would be much more efficient in their work, since they can type faster than they could write, and it would also save A LOT of paper. My binder must have 2,000 pieces of paper in it, and if we all had our own laptops that huge clutter would be gone and I would be much more organized. We need computers for every student for sure.