#like they're holding a drive now with everything happening in palestine | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

volatilechemicalz · 5 months

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ok I'm feeling silly enough to post this so here you go [most of it is based on personal experience] my essay type thing about the American school system that probably sucks but oh well

Posters are hung around schools. Images of people holding hands around the Earth. "Be yourself, there's only one of you!" "People care." "Be kind." "Speak up for yourself." Smiling faces. Empathy. Everywhere, plastered around the hallways for everyone to see, though they go unread. This baffles me, that the school has the audacity to hang up such kinds of posters in an environment like this.

In English class, there are books that you have to read. If you don't like it, that's too bad, write an essay. It's due tomorrow, five paragraphs, another one next week. Triggering topics are often discussed and displayed in this literature, and there are no warnings. The other students are joking about the events, laughing in the corner that they're congregated in. They're laughing, why aren't you? Don't cry, it's funny, as long as you don't pay attention to it. Don't think about it. That's not the point of this class. Here, regurgitate this plot point and extend it as possible. You won't get a good grade otherwise. You forgot an indent? Points off. Oh, your hands hurt from writing? Keep going! Unless you want to fail.

In History, we are fed propaganda constantly. America is the best country, right? Yes we did that thing but don't worry about it, look at this. We have the best government system, and very good leaders. Life is good in America. Don't worry about when you graduate. It's your job to fix this mess. Current history is not told. The same story is told over and over again with slightly more detail and different wording, all to drill it into your head that you're lucky to be here. You wouldn't know that though. Why would they lie? School is here to teach you after all. They just teach what they want to. Current history? Don't worry about it. The struggles of others that are happening now don't matter, learn about the civil war again.

In Science there is a constant bombardment of work. It's difficult to complete when everyone in the classroom seems to be doing great with it, since they have time to yell at their friends at a headache inducing volume. It doesn't matter if you get one, though, do your work. If it hurts that bad go to the nurse, get an ice pack and pretend it helps. Five minutes are left in class. Clutching your head, you can't hear when the teacher asks if you're okay over the continued screaming. Another day, someone mocks transgender people in a presentation about the water cycle. Everyone laughs. Why aren't you laughing? It's funny, right? Someone yells for the freedom of Palestine with passion, while someone yells back a no with equal volume and zero passion. (Did they even believe that?...) Don't say anything. Nobody else did. Take your notes, don't say anything.

In Math, you are expected to understand everything. The first explanation wasn't enough? Good luck on your test, do this worksheet. If you don't finish it's homework, and you know you won't finish it then. You have other things to do? Too bad, you're asking to fail this class if you don't want to do it. You're just too lazy. I'll have to call your parents if this keeps up. Maybe if you payed attention more you'd understand. Look, everyone else gets it, why don't you? Do these questions. I know you don't know how to do it, but I can't help you. You aren't allowed to guess.

Lunch is the loudest time of day. The food looks wrong and tastes bad, but it always does. If you don't like it, too bad, pack your own lunch. It doesn't matter if you can't do that. If you can't afford the food, too bad. We can pretend to care about that, but that's as far as it goes. We're doing a food drive this week to help people who are going hungry though, why don't you donate? Wear this color shirt to help fight world hunger, or breast cancer, support animals in need. Why aren't you dressed up? Don't you care?

Walking in the halls is a nightmare. People are constantly bumping against you. Not a single sorry is uttered, not even if they make you fall. If you do that, everyone will point and laugh. Nobody will help you, fix it yourself. People still care, though. There are too many conversations happening at once. People are called gay or autistic as a substitute for stupid, though that's not what those mean. That doesn't matter. Nobody said anything. Don't say anything. If someone is lazy or unathletic they are fat, and that's bad and funny. It's not wrong. Don't say anything. Be yourself, though, everyone matters. Hold hands. Smile.

A sigh of relief is released on the bus. It doesn't matter how long the drive is, you have friends to keep you company. What's that? You don't? Stare into space until your stop comes into view. Don't miss it. The bus driver won't turn around for you. You have to wait now. The bus is like the hallways, but worse. There are little safety measures and it smells weird. Everyone is right next to you no matter where you sit. Nothing is sanitized and there is garbage on the floor. Don't worry about it. It's not that long. If you don't like it, you can walk or get picked up. It's likely that your parents don't have time for that.

I enter the school again and look up at the posters, dragging my heavy backpack with me.

I hate writing essays.

#noodle talks #art #writing #drabbles #anyway im gonna go play muse dash lol

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