WHY?

The many days spent in the grasps of the education system can take a toll on the average man, woman, or child. From the many math classes spent analyzing shapes and figuring out letters, to the science classes dissecting flowers and worms. We have all seen the oddities that school can throw at us, and frankly I am sick of it!
We start at the primary level, learning the most basic of human abilities. Such as, "sharing is caring," "treat others the way you want to be treated," colors, and the alphabet song. We then move to the intermediate level of schooling learning the "principles of 4 square," and "tetherball 101." Then lastly, the secondary level, learning such things as "Calculus," "Physics," "The Periodic Table of Elements," and the best ways to get out of awkward situations that are completely and totally your fault. Some people say that, "the most valuable things you learn are in the first three years of school," I agree with those people. As we sit politely listening to stories and having naps, we grow more in that time then we ever will in math class.  Do you ever look back fondly on that great Trigonomotry class that revamped you for the day, I say nay! But you do look back on the nap that revitalized you for the tasks at hand. "Treat others the way you want to be treated" has gotten me through much more then the parts of a worm ever will.
There is many sayings that pat the back of toddlers, but never young adults, ever heard someone talk about "how much you can learn from a teenager?" No! Ever heard someone talk about how much you can learn from a 3 year old? Heck Yes! Something is seriously wrong when highschool students are being outsmarted by 3 year olds.
"Children are the change we want to see in the world." Not young adults, Children, we are a lost cause, and school isn't helping
Why not?

"A Still Life"

A Still Life-


He see's the sight he's always longed for,

"First from his study to the back yard, then from there to his front lawn"

He used to see "salmon tins glinting with silver,

set above hand painted signs instructing purchasers to deposit twenty-five or fifty cents."

now he see's the same colors, the never fading

white

paint of the walls, the

mahagony

of his desk, the

lines

of the paper, and the

blue

smeared ink of his pen.

he used to "meander" instead of run,

he used to cruise through "the suburan labyrinth of cul-de-sacs, bays, and circles, losing and finding himself endlessly,"

and he used to pass by "the houses (that) all face the sun,"

he
longs

for that again.

the "cracked sidewalks and the ridges of stiff grass" call for his return, that return will not likely soon

come

He sits in his office remembering the "fences here (that) are little more than fragments," and "the

police car (that) was concealed in the shadows of a side street," like a panther

stalking it's prey.

and as he feels his "sunglasses" fling from his face from the initial impact and his legs crumple underneath him

He asks,

What would it feel like?

he sits in the chair that has been like a prison since that faithful day, and remembers his last "voluntary movement (below his waist), reaching his hand toward his wallet"

And as he watches the fly dart in and out of his office, he has found what he craves most.




MOVEMENT.

Parallel Structure

What am I you ask? I am anything and everything your mind can ponder. I am a professional, and an amateur water polo player, and have aquired a super bowl ring from the last 18 years. Coaching, playing, and reffing are my specialty in any and every sport, including backwards binoculars soccer. I watched Mary give birth to baby Jesus, I am the father. I met Buddha twice, and I am mentioned in the bible. I am on a peacekeeping mission in a war I started with only 50 ants and 4 Cheapets and I take long walks through war torn countries.  On Monday I sit in my apartment that smells of rich mahogany and read leather bound books, on Tuesday I talk to famous dead people, on Wednesday I slip into a diabetic coma, even though I am not diabetic, on Thursday I count cards in casino's, and on Friday I play chess, yes just chess. 

What I am is not nearly as interesting as what I am not.  I am not part of a terrorist organization, I am not born in April, and I am not slightly ill.  Flowers do not grow for me, entire colonies of platypuses grow and I use them in dog shows. I do not have a mascot, I do not own a sports team, I do not have employees, and I do not have a boss. I do not bark at dogs and I do not meow at cats, and I do not have a college degree.

Now I will take Ghandi cliff diving and take the members of P.E.T.A hunting, I will make Mr. Corrie like the Canucks and Ms. Searcy like the Bruins, and I will win an academy award.  Steven Harper will look to me for advise and Barrack Obama will look to me for a good time, and lastly I will get into College.

Who I am and what I have done are the subject of this application, but what I will do will surely be of more importance. Your campus will be my territory and I will guard it with my life.


Sincerely,
Descendant of Knights, Father of warriors,

Zac Thompson

Letter Of Concern

Mr. Kleats @ Central High School
123 Main Street, Sportstown, British Columbia
V2A 1W3.

Hello Coach Kleats, thank you for taking the time to read this email and congratulations on your recent win. I am the father of your starting striker Dave Biznazty, and I appreciate the playing time and success of the team, but I just have a few concerns.  I know that being a coach is a hectic and emotionally demanding job, but I would really appreciate it  if you could use more care while talking to the players.  My son has come home distraught about the way that he has been addressed by you, and I know that you want or players to feel the thrill of winning, but I know that there may be a better way to go about it.

I also decided to sit in on a practice, and although I know that you have a busy schedule I think that our players deserve someone who arrives on time.  I do appreciate everything you have done for our team and am willing to do anything that you need to help to make your job easier.  Also practices are disorganized, and again I will be happy to help you in any way. I have done some research and have found some great drills for the team. 

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this letter and if you have any more concerns feel free to let me know at the next practice.


Sincerely, Zac Thompson

Moral Dilema

Zac Thompson123 Green Ave,
Penticton, B.C.
V2A 3W1

February 10, 2011

John Smith
Mayor
City Hall 568 Main Steet
Small Village, B.C.

Dear Mr. Smith:

     The severity of the situation you have been put in is nothing to be taken lightly.  Mr. Grass has no doubt done some irrefutable things in the past but lets just be completely realistic and stick to the facts.

     To open,  this man is 92 years old.  To send him to prison would not only cost unnecessary tax payers dollars,  but it would not serve any purpose in his reabilitation.  On this topic, the fact that he is 92 years old and has done so much to rebuild this magnificent town we live in shows just how reabilitated he is.  This overall is the goal with offenders leaving prison,  I believe that Gunter Grass has achieved that goal. 

     Also Gunter is a huge part of our community. He has done so much to better our community and without him, I feel our community would not be better, actually quite the opposite. 

To close, he has created many jobs opportunities for our town, without him it would kill our economy. We are a small town with a fragile economy, and without him we would collapse

Thank you for considering these points Mr. Mayor and I hope to talk to you very soon.

Sincerely,

Zac Thompson

George's Downfall

     Slim and George sat down at the bar.      Slim put a hand on George's shoulder and stated, "Like I said, George, sometimes a guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do.  
     George let out a hearty sigh, then replied as though he was forcing the words out with incredible force " I gave my arm and leg  to help that poor bastard.
     Slim clearly a little puzzled as to how make his new friend feel better tries to convince him "you just gotta get back in the saddle there George, it'll all come out in the wash."  Slim motioned at the bartender for 2 shots of whiskey.
     George sighed again, "I guess he in a better place now"
     Slim slid the shot glass infront of George with a grin and motioned to drink up.  They slid the shots back simultaneously, Slim chuckled to himself "that guy was built like a brick sh#t house hey?"  "I ain't never seen anyone whoop Curley like that before."
     George let out a grin,  "he struck the fear of god into Curley"
     Slim exclaimed "maybe Curley will think twice before he messes with such an ox like Lennie". 
     Candy entered the bar,  "what happened, boys at the farm are saying Lennie got lit up like the 4th of July for what he did to Curley's wife".
     George swiveled around on the stool with avengeance,  "you better mind your tongue old man, it was better for Lennie to take that bullet than to keep causing trouble". 
     Candy grinned, looks like it'll be just the two of us tending those rabbits, eh George?
     Slim seemed shock at the insensitive nature of the old swamper.  "Slim said what's your beef Candy?     
     Candy laughed then looked at the two men,  "or maybe Slim would tend the rabbits?"
     Slim and George looked at eachother and with a smirk they look at Candy.
     "What you trying to get at Curley" asks George.
       Just a suggestion, and with that Curley was gone. 
    
 

Grade 12 Students Show Signs Of Life.

Many grade 12 students at the school of Princess Margaret Secondary have recently been diagnosed with the disease plaguing many young people of this generation.  They call this volatile illness many things, but the most common name is the "Don't Care" syndrome.  This has been compared to such things as The Bubonic Plague, Diabetes, And Tennis Elbow and it has caused much anguish with teachers and parents alike.  Not only are students not at all worried about applying to post secondary schools, but they are not stressing at all about the only provincial exam they have in this decisive grade, The English 12 Provincial.  This same exam has made many students before, quiver in there socks and cry in their cornflakes at alarming rates, but now there is little to no reaction to this potential brain aneurysm of an exam.  Also the many little boys and girls that these grade 12's share a school with are living happier and healthier than any other junior class before them.  Now for the first time in nearly half a century the classic annoyances provided by the young ins in this school are simply being shrugged off indifferently. Things such as circle groupers, loud attention getter's, and pre-pubescent energy balls are now being given the uninterested nod to take control of the school.  It's pure chaos to say the least.  I was so interested in this topic I decided to take a visit to this school to see for my self just how much this "Don't Care Syndrome" is taking effect, I was stunned.  Not only are there young body's sprawled out on both sides of the hallway making it incredibly difficult to employ the traditional two lane system, but there are teachers who now have to deal with the cleanup of the aftermath of the disrespectful litterers.  The grade 12 students should be leading these juniors by example showing them how things are done but instead they sit in the "common area" on the many tables talking about things that have absolutely nothing to do with what teachers think they are talking about.  When I ventured over to ask one of these supposed leaders about this issue he simply exclaimed "DON'T CARRRREEEEE" and continued his conversation with his fellow kinsmen. This is quickly spiralling out of control and I feel I may be infected as well. I may not have much time before I take on this uninterested attitude.  But there still may be some hope left.

Reporting live is Zac Thompson.
 DON'T CARREEEE.