Declaration of Independence from Grosse Pointe South- Rachel Montgomery, Mai Qiang Hipsley, Connor Reinman, Autumnbre Moore, and Zoie Uznis

Everyday, decisions are being made for schools without the students’ representation. While a bunch of adults make decisions on our school, we, the students, are suppose to stand on the sidelines and concede to whatever decision the adults make. We want to represent ourselves and we are willing to fight for what we think is right. We needed representation on the school board and on the city council. The adults needed to hear the opinions we have as students, instead of basing it off their own judgment. It’s too late now though and we want to form our own source of representation. We, the students of the Grosse Pointe Public School System, believe we deserve the power to make the decisions made about our school.

While the adults may say we have representation by having student councils or student associations, we only receive partial representation. It’s one thing to be able to pick out decorations for a party, but another matter entirely to decide on matters that really affect our school. We, the students, want that ability to decide on the issues that truly could affect us, the school or even our education. We want our own school board that will be the one and only group of students that will make the decisions on our school. We can no longer have a bunch of adults, who are not in or graduates of our school, being the deciders on these matters. We, as a student body, needed to be the final deciders on everything. The students are the ones that know what happen inside and outside of the school. We are the ones that get the blunt of the blow whenever the deciders on the city council or school board make decisions about our school. They don’t really know what happens in the everyday lives of the students, so they shouldn’t be the deciders of our future. Issues that affect all schools, such as snow days, need the students to be the deciders. We don’t want the adults saying what happens because they are not the one’s walking to school in the freezing cold or even driving to it on the icy roads. Then when it comes to each individual school, we need to be the deciders on issues, such as the classes we have and class sizes, because these issues could affect our education as students. The adults aren’t there in our classrooms with us or know what classes we need. They don’t need to be deciding these matters for us. So we, the students, believe it is a basic right for the students to be the only representatives on these issues.

We, the students of the Grosse Pointe Public School System, deserve this basic right as students of the schools. We are willing to do whatever it takes for us to get what we think is right. We want our own representation and we will no longer wait to act upon this. The adults will no longer be the superiors, for we are stepping up and fighting back. We are our own deciders. We are our own source of representation. We are the Grosse Pointe Public School System.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->I. <!--[endif]-->The district has given us an early start in school, and an early start to the school day as well. Save Monday, the school day starts earlier than is acceptable to students. 8:00 a.m. provides little time to be sufficiently prepared for yet another school day in the morning. After rising out of bed, deprived of sleep by large amounts of homework from all seven classes, students have to make their groggy way to school and wake themselves up by first hour. Students need to have more time in the morning to be adequately prepared for the school day.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->II. <!--[endif]-->The district has provided us with dances as an opportunity to unwind. However, we students are locked into these dances as if they were jail sentences. Some students can only stay at the dance until ten, but are locked down until 10:30. Whether it's a large event the following day or just overly protective parents, most students have a reason. Should students need to leave a dance early, they should be allowed to.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->III. <!--[endif]-->Late homework in inevitable. It simply cannot be avoided: students will turn things in late. Steep penalties for late homework are being issued by teachers who seem to have little to no respect for students. After all, the concept of filial piety says that we should respect our elders, and our elders should respect us too. If students cannot complete their homework, they should not be penalized. Students should be given two days free of penalty to complete homework and turn it in late.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->IV. <!--[endif]-->Buses are a service that most other schools in the Detroit area have, and that we lack. Taking a look at a simple comparison, the amount of snow days between Grosse Pointe South and another school in another district show a landslide in favor of any other school in any other district. A simple way to make students happier is to increase the amount of time off, in the increments of a short but great snow day, sprinkled over the school year. The way to increase the amount of snow days is to add buses to the district. Thus, the way to the student’s hearts' is through a system of buses.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->V. <!--[endif]-->The lunchtime should be longer. It’s too short, barely have enough time to eat, socialize, being back in time for class without rushing in at the last moment. The lines in the school lunchroom are too long. They don’t have enough people working the lunch counter. It takes them four to five minutes to serve one person when there is at least twenty or thirty people waiting for food and by the time that the last person is served they only have about four or five minutes to eat. If they are in that long line waiting for food then they won’t have time to socialize with their friends and talking to teachers about extra help and catching up on the thing that they missed. Some kids like to go out for lunch, but they know that if they do then they will have to rush back to the school; they will have to get a carry out and eat the food on their way back to the school.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->VI. <!--[endif]-->Extra credit should be allowed in every class at all times. Students need extra to improve their grades. If a student isn’t a strong test taker they will need to have extra credit to boost up their grade. If an assignment is missed or failed by a student they can use extra credit to make up some points. Extra credit is a lifesaver to some students. Students also use it as a pull up. There could be a limit to how mush extra credit a student is given. So they don’t depend on extra credit too much really needs it then the teacher should provide. Extra credit is not a fall back for students, but only something to give you a little push.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->VII. <!--[endif]-->The class school schedule should be changed. There should be three classes in the morning and three in the afternoon. With this schedule the students will be less reluctant to go to school. With all of the information that is given to a student in one of our regular school day they will forget half of it before they leave to go home. If the day is changed to our way then the students will have enough time to process all of the information that they are given. More students’ homework will be done. The more time the students will have time to do it and study for tests and quizzes.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->VIII. <!--[endif]-->The rule of having no cellular devices in class has always been and issue. Students are constantly getting their phones apprehended by administrators for the simplest things as checking the time. It is one thing to get the phone taken away for texting a peer during a test or quiz to cheat but it is definitely another to be texting a parent asking for schedule changes or if they dropped something off in the office. Students do not want to use the school provided phones located in classrooms unless it is an emergency. It is much simpler and less disruptive to send a quick message to a parent or guardian instead of disrupting an entire class to make a phone call.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->IX. <!--[endif]--> Facebook is a social Internet site that is used by almost every student today. The fact that it is blocked in school is inconvenient to all students. The website keeps students connected with one another. Students can frequently check in with each other between classes to catch up on a homework assignment or compare study guides to do better on quizzes or tests. Facebook is not a bad thing like the administration seems to think. It will actually improve on student’s capability to communicate with each other and make our school a joined community.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->X. <!--[endif]--> The bathrooms in Grosse Pointe South high school are horrendous. There is graffiti in almost every stall. There is always a shortage of toilet paper and soap. The actual toilets are disgusting and unsanitary. It is not healthy for students to be associating with such filth. Regular cleaning and sanitary enforcements should be looked into. Not only will this give our school a better image but it will keep students from getting sick.

We as the outnumbering student body have agreed on ever matter included within the document, signifying our strength in number and ambition to receive basic and deserved rights. If we are not to receive such fundamental rights then actions against such unjust authority must and will be initiated within the next 30 days. We can no longer live under the wrongful dictatorship of King Provenzano and the administration. Such tyranny has forced a separation between hierocracy and the people. We will no longer be subject to such oppression. We declare ourselves free of unwarranted and arbitrary rules and restrictions made and enforced by the school district. We now represent a new and free nation- of students. We will be taking our education elsewhere leaving the unjust Grosse Pointe South school district. Under this new administration we will be able to arrive at school at a decent hour of the morning, have a longer lunch break, less class periods in a day, nicer bathrooms, freedom at school dances, provided buses, usage of facebook, chances for extra credit and no more cell phone restrictions. We the students join together to create an equal and fair representation involving school decisions unlike the strict and oppressing system of the old administration, which ultimately lead to such separation.

Crucible Epilouge

The story of Elizabeth Proctor is a sad one to be told. For the tale of Elizabeth Proctor does not end on the bleak morning of John Proctor's execution. It is important to keep in mind that our story begins not shortly after the hangings of John, Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey. We must also remember that Elizabeth has claimed to be pregnant,   saving herself from execution although she was originally accused of witchcraft by Abigail Williams.

Alone in the cell Elizabeth sat agonizing over her decision. She knew she it was right to let John go, yet here she was alone in the world, with a baby on its way and two children at home. A ball began to form in the back of her throat and she began to cry. She cried for her husband, she cried for the town, she cried for Rebecca Nurse and lastly, she cried for herself. Although the tears could pour forever Elizabeth knew she had to be strong. As her weeps resided her hands slid down to her belly and she began to hum the sweet melody of a lullaby. She sung until her voice grew raspy then shut her eyes to escape into the absences of her mind.

“Get up! Get up women.” Elizabeth woke to Reverend Parris hovering over her.

“You are free to leave, for the court has no use for you anymore! Hurry your children are waiting for you”, said Paris. As she waited for the buggy to take her home she began to worry. She had to find a way to support herself and her children without a husband. How could she do it on her own? When she had arrived home she found not only her boys a foot taller and more manly than before, but also standing with them a sturdy man about 5”6 with a clean face who introduced himself as David Murray. He explained that he had looked after the boys while she was gone. He began to visit regularly and after a few months proposed to Elizabeth. Although she still loved John she also loved David and knew she could not live alone. They got married on February 30^th. Not soon after Elizabeth gave birth to a beautiful boy whom she named John. Everything had turned out to be alright, that is until the fatal night of Abigail Williams return to Salem.

Thunder shook the house as rain drops pelted the window pane. It was a Tuesday night and the men had gone to bed. Elizabeth scurried to close the windows but before she had the chance to close the last one there was a knock on the door. Timidly she went to the door and opened it to find no other than Abigail Williams herself. Soaked from the rain and shivering from the cold Abby begged Elizabeth for a place to spend the night explaining that she had come to visit her uncle but he had turned her away. She wept and sobbed her forgiveness until Elizabeth’s gentle heart could not send her out into the storm. As Elizabeth went to gather  blankets and linens Abby surveyed the house where she went to the kitchen. She took a pan that Elizabeth had used earlier that day and hid it behind her back. As Elizabeth came down with the blankets Abigail slammed the pan into Elizabeth’s head, sending her to the floor. She went to the stairs and could still hear snores from upstairs. As Abby walked back to where Elizabeth lay she kneeled down next to her waiting for her to slowly come to her senses. As Elizabeth’s eyes fluttered opened she uttered, “Abby, what are you doing?”

“You took him away from me Elizabeth” Abby explained calmly.

“Abby you’re crazy!” Elizabeth cried struggling to sit up.

Holding her down Abby yelled, “He loved me. He loved me more than you Elizabeth!”

With that Abby grabbed Elizabeth’s neck between her hands and closed them muttering, “He loved me.”

As Elizabeth’s body lay limp in her hands Abby looked down at what she had done. Elizabeth’s hands lay cold against Abby’s leg. With a satisfied smile she placed a blanket over Elizabeth’s body and ran out the door, never to be seen or heard of again.

Crucible Essay

                What 3 characters were most responsible for the Salem Witch Trails in "The Crucible"?

           In the small town of Salem Massachusetts the possession of power was the driving force throughout the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller. Control over the town quickly became a power struggle between the main characters. Power can often lead people to do irrational things in order to obtain. Arthur Miller tells the story of how the struggle for power can cause catastrophes such as the Salem Witch Trials, a tragic event in American history. There were many contributors to the Salem Witch Trials in the play, but when considering the people involved at the heart of the trials it is apparent that they were all connected to the struggle for power. In the play The Crucible Reverend Parris, Abigail Williams, and Mary Warren were the three characters most accountable for the Salem Witch Trials-all driven by the yearn for power.

            Reverend Parris was a heavy contributor to the start of the witch trials.  As reverend, Parris had the position of the leader in the town. However, just because one might hold the role of a leader it does not guarantee that person has the characteristics or qualities to be a leader. Parris is not a leader, although he tries to be one. Many times throughout the story Parris shows his weakness and inability to command the situation. When Betty falls ill Parris is worried most about his own reputation in the town. He refuses to tell anyone of how he discovered Betty and Abigail dancing in the forest, for he is afraid that it will look bad on him. Parris says, “Now tell me true Abigail. And I pray you feel the weight of truth upon you, for now my ministry is at stake, my ministry and perhaps your cousin’s life” (11). This line shows how much he cares about his reputation in the town for he emphasizes that over his own daughter’s life. He is scared that the town will judge him for the way the girls acted under his care, therefore lowering his authority and control in the town. If Parris had admitted in the beginning that he had come across the girls dancing in the forest, startling them him he might have stopped the snowball of events that lead to the hangings and trials. But because of the fear of losing his power Parris inadvertently confirms the witchcraft accusations, resulting in the Salem Witch Trials.

            Abigail Williams not only contributes to the beginning of the trials, but also influences the trails to continue, killing more people each day. In the play Abby is a leader. She snatches the position and keeps a firm grip on it. She tells Parris, “I want the light of God, I want the sweet love of Jesus! I danced for the Devil; I saw him; I wrote in his book; I go back to Jesus; I kiss His hand. I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil” (48)! Abby confesses this only a few minutes after she swore to Parris that she had never trafficked with the Devil. But once she realizes the power that the even the slave Tituba has received, she confesses receiving the power herself. She and the other girls who follow behind her have become saintly in the community. As Abby recognizes this she decides to use this newly obtained power for her own excitement and to be with John Proctor--which she will stop at no ends to do. With the help of the girls she preserved the witch trials and accusations by playing on the fear of others.

            Although Mary Warren did not initiate the trials or accusations, she did help them to continue on. Mary was a follower. She was a weak and vulnerable girl who was sucked in by Abigail. By following Abigail’s lead in court she had gained herself a sense of power over the people in the town. When Abigail charged Elizabeth Proctor for sending her soul upon her and stabbing her, Mary had the power to stop Abby’s reign right there and then, which could have ended the hangings and trials. All Mary had to do was stand up and admit that Abby was faking. If she had said that Abby was sitting next to her and stuck it in herself than all of Abby’s authority would have been stripped away because good Christians do not lie. Instead Mary proved how truly passive she was by letting Elizabeth Proctor be taken away for witchery. When asked if she stuck the needle in the poppet herself Mary replies, “I-I believe I did, sir, I-” (75). Although she knew that Elizabeth had not stuck the needle in the poppet she did not admit that Abby did either. Instead she gave a submissive response that was overlooked by all which left Elizabeth guilty but also let the trials proceed.

            In The Crucible Reverend Parris, Abigail Williams, and Mary Warren were most responsible for the Salem Witch Trials. The story signified the importance of power. It showed what having it can lead to, but also what not having it can lead to. Reverend Parris and Abigail contributed greatly to the trials because they wanted to keep or gain power. However Mary Warren let the trials go on even when she had the power to stop them by not having the power to speak up and stop Abby. In the end all three characters contributed to the trials in a significant way.