#the school system

[anti-school]

"School only exists to turn children into wage slaves" and "school doesn't actually teach us anything useful" are two statements that CAN and SHOULD coexist. Stop pretending like they're not.

[poppletonink]

Radio Silence Review

★★★★★ - 5 stars

"I wonder – if nobody is listening to my voice, am I making any sound at all?"

Frances Janvier studies. She studies a lot. Because soon enough, Frances will be applying to Oxford, and she knows that good grades will get her in. So, Frances Janvier studies, and she doesn't let anyone get in her way, because she has to go to university. Frances Janvier also happens to be incredibly boring, or so her friends probably think, because all she does is wear plain clothes and complete school work. Then, Frances meets Aled, and for once in her life she feels free to be herself. But Aled is Carys' brother, and Carys is the girl who vanished, and though she’ll never admit it, Frances may just know the reason she disappeared. With new friends, secrets that are tearing her apart, and her future on the line, what happens when her platonic soulmate and the passions she never knew she had take her down a path she never even considered an option?

First of all, I need to make it abundantly clear that the message of this book is so important. It holds the idea that school and grades are not all that makes a person. It teaches that you can make it on your own, and that school isn't for everyone. Most of all, it reminds the reader that life doesn't always go the way you want it to or expect it to. For those reasons, and so many more, I feel that it's vital for people to read this book.

As always with Alice Oseman's books, I was instantly attached to the characters. I found comfort in the wonderfully weird ways of Frances and Aled. I felt the need to protect Raine at all costs, and wanted to give Daniel the hug he clearly needs on more than one occasion. I got so absorbed in the lives of these characters, that at numerous points I wanted to throw the book across the room just because Aled's mother was mentioned. If you are, like me, a character driven reader, I must advise going to your local library or purchasing this book anywhere that you can - I guarantee you will love it. Alongside the characters as individuals are the relationships that intertwine them. It’s safe to say, the character relationships are the main drive of the plot, with Frances and Aled’s friendship being the heart of the novel, and even Aled and his mothers’ relationship displaying the toxic attitudes some parents impose upon their children.

The main theme explored throughout the book is the idea of identity. Radio Silence explores the fear of letting our truest selves be seen, of being viewed as weird for the things we’re interested in, and implores the reader to express themselves however they want to (it doesn’t really matter what anyone else thinks).

Alongside the theme of identity, Alice explores the idea of freedom to choose. Society often sets us up for the idea that academia is the one route we can take in life - you go to school, then college or sixth form and then university. Radio Silence discusses how this is not the only option - especially for those of us who are in the arts - and that, even if society tells you otherwise, school isn’t for everyone. It’s explored in many ways, whether its through Frances and Aled’s storylines or Raine’s or Carys’. There’s even the podcast ‘Universe City’, which presents an anti-capitalist, anti-school-system attitude, that readers can listen to exerpts of as they read (the podcast episodes included throughout the novel are available to listen to on Alice Oseman’s Youtube Channel).

Overall, Radio Silence is an amazing book - a book that should be required reading for everyone across the globe. It teaches teenagers, and adults alike, important messages (messages we all could do with be reminded of once in a while). The characters are phenomenal. The writing is easy, yet impactful. I’d definitely recommend giving it a read, especially to those of you who feel like outcasts or are misplaced in the school system. 

[essily]

The school system is shit. They don't care whether you have mental health problems they just say they that they do for reputation. They're all for loving yourself until someone slightly adjusts their uniform so they feel better about themselves. They tell you to be yourself, but when you do its a detention. Detentions don't do anything to the people who get them. Maybe instead of focusing on giving people detentions for tiny things, maybe you should deal with the major behavioural issues within the classes and maybe use some of your money to make more pasta at lunchtime so there's no children left with nothing to eat. Try harder.

[the-sun-is-also-a-star]

Fuck the school system as it stands.

[merriadoc-brandyfuck]

Ok so, I just moved to my city’s Quiet High Program (for the mentally ill) and I seriously think that their policies and procedures should be implemented everywhere!

9am start time, free lunch, 5-10 minute breaks at the start of every hour, small classes, ends at 2:15pm, teacher’s assistants to help, NOTHING IS MANDATORY (You literally don’t have to show up to PAA classes as long as you’re with another teacher), one on one help from the teachers!!

This would have helped me and other people so much if regular high school was like this

[buckieduckie2]

my parents are giving my brother shit about his shit grades but hes actually really super fucking smart and now hes calling himself dumb at reading and i

[cleopatrachampagne]

when i see that post about poetry and the star sticker i think of how i sucked at and virulently hated visual art as a kid but i was a dedicated student so i tried my best anyway until eighth grade when i had a strict teacher with a chip on her shoulder. i worked for extra hours upon hours on our big final assignment (duplicating a famous photograph of the adirondacks). but when we presented our pieces for review the teacher ripped mine up in front of the whole class and accused me of goofing off and mocking her. years later i learned i was colorblind, and that was why what i saw as muted mountains she saw as garish coral reefs. how do i write the poem in my heart about that when it doesn’t need a poem? The memory has more meanings than my small simple words can enhance. The poem is already there somewhere between the wrong colored paints and the still lingering pain.

[moregraceful]

Bought my uncle a burger and milkshake in exchange for letting me disrupt the holiest day of the week, NFL Sunday Football, so I could install a Pi-hole and free the household of ads...the thing abt the specific boomers I live with is they told me not to trust people on the Internet but they do not understand the algorithm or online advertising and think that Facebook has their best interests at heart. And every time I have tried to explain to them that no, blorbo from my dashboard is not selling my kidneys on the dark web but Google from your capitalism is definitely selling your web searches to every advertising company on the planet, they think I am paranoid. How could their personal friend Mark Zuckerberg want anything bad to happen to them etc. I am fighting battles I did not know existed!!!

[anti-school]

Oats Jenkins: I FIXED the School System

[thatonecalledclover]

Okay i think we as a society needs to understand how much teachers influence kids. Like both good and bad. I had a diverse array of teachers back to back through primary and elementary school and the way that they each affected me is insane. For reference i have adhd and had a pretty bad home life so i was very different from the rest of my classmates.

Kindergarten my teacher was Mrs. Miller. Mrs Miller was an absolute sweetheart, she would find ways to keep me focused on lessons, one common way is she would give me a page to color, but would make sure to keep me engaged in the lessons so she knew i was still learning. This made me realize really young that i learn a lot better if i’m doing something with my hands. During nap time (which was mandatory for kindergarten) instead of forcing me to sleep she would grab a book for me and let me sit beside her desk while she graded stuff. I’d also get to draw on the smart board at times, or put together puzzles. (for reference i learned to read at 3 years old, so i was one of the only kids in my class who could read).

1st Grade- I had Mrs. Moss. Mrs Moss was one of the worst teachers i’ve ever had in my opinion. She would repeatedly get onto me for not looking at the board or her at all times, when in reality i was listening and absorbing material fine, just looking for things to keep my brain entertained. Coloring wasn’t allowed, and so i got in trouble routinely for just trying to focus. I turned to tapping my legs, tapping my fingers, wiggling in my chair, just to help me focus. I’d also whisper to my tablemates since they happened to be my friends, and because i would get bored of the lessons. I learned extremely quickly, especially compared to my peers, and would often get really bored since it was essentially just review for me. Eventually Mrs Moss decided i was “too much of a distraction to the other kids” and called my parents in for a meeting. It was recommended that i get diagnosed for ADHD. After my diagnosis i was immediately put on medication (despite my dads protests) and that was that. One thing i will say about medication is that the side affects (at least for me, everyone reacts differently) are awful. I completely lost my personality, i hardly talked to anyone, and i was essentially a zombie.

2nd Grade- I had Mrs Kinney. Mrs Kinney was an angel of teachers. She was made aware of my diagnoses and worked with it amazingly. During lessons i was allowed to walk to the back on the classroom to the library and read, i was given blocks and magnets to stim with. I excelled in the class and finished with 100s all across the board. I think i took like 70 AR tests (tests that kids had to take after they finished a book, i think the required amount for each kid was 10-15). Mrs Kinney really worked with me and made sure that i was always doing my best in the class, while finding ways to keep me busy. I was also experiencing bullying at the time, and so she would allow me to stay inside during recess some days and help pick up the classroom or read.

3rd Grade- Mrs Holland was one of the worst teachers I had. 3rd grade was when elementary school started for my school system, and they had a class called “GATE” (gifted and talented education). My Gate class was at the very beginning of the day, and so right after morning announcements I had to leave the class to go. Mrs Holland HATED this, and would find every excuse she could to keep me and the other gifted kids in the room longer. At this time i was being ab**ed at home by my mom and stepfather, and despite the obvious signs never reported anything. She would repeatedly embarrass me in front of the class and would send bad notes home almost every. day. 9/10 it was because I would hide a book under my desk and read during lessons, because i already understood the material and would get bored. This made my mom and stepdad angry and my home life worsened. I was also developing an ED at the time because of my meds. My dad was extremely against me being on medication, so on the weeks I was with him he never forced me to take it, he allowed me to but almost every day i’d choose not to because it made me feel awful. It would zap my appetite, give me extreme nausea, and made me feel like a zombie all the time. I’d over eat when i was with him since i was actually hungry and would very quickly gain weight. At my moms, she Would force me to take it, so i never ate breakfast, didn’t eat lunch, and barely ate dinner. I’d lose weight super fast, and would even become depressed later on.

Eventually i’d get off my meds with my dad demanding so, after seeing how awful they were affecting me. Later my (narcissistic) stepdad would abandon Me, My mom, and their two kids, and I would go to live with my dad full time. It came out that my mom was so adamant about my medication because she was secretly taking it (it wasn’t adderall but it was a amphetamine). My ED would slowly start to go away, though i’d experience relapses in the future during my early teenage years. My depression and anxeity became chronic, and i’d develop BPD and CPTSD from both my physical and emotional ab**e/trauma, from both home and school.

I’m not sure exactly what point i’m trying to get across here but. Just make sure that you understand just how much teachers affect your kids, they do spend more time with them throughout the day then at home after all. Also, though medication for ADHD will help some people, it isn’t right for everyone. No one experiences the exact same reactions and side affects, and there ARE other treatment options. Some people can find ways to function in society without needing medication, others don’t. Everyone is different and it’s important to be aware of the affects. I guess this concludes my rant/dump for the day

[marimbles]

ok ok I’ll STOP now (me when I lie)

[boykisserwizard]

Wtf is the problem with mathematicians and the school system? "Ah, yes, what an excellent idea, Harold! We should find the least efficient and most useless way to measure things possible and force high schoolers to learn how to do the most inefficient and least useful way to do it and teach it in the most inefficient methods possible!" Fuck mathematicians.

[l393ndjean]

Why do we tell kids that they can be anything they want if in only a decade’s time we’ll tell them that that’s not the way the world works? Why to we teach them to uprise, Say fuck the system, if we’re just going to force them to conform to what society expects of them. Why do we tell them to chase their dreams, that they can change the world if we just end up squashing them and forcing them to live a hard, boring, insignificant life barley just scraping by? I don’t understand why you would get their hopes up only to smash their dreams with “reality”. They’ve been told for more than a decade that they can change reality, by standing up for what they believe in. I don’t understand why we can’t just protest and change the world. It’s happened in the past, we’ve come miles in getting rights for women, people of colour, queer people. I know we still have a long way to go, the world is far from perfect. I don’t understand why we can’t fight to abolish the abusive, sadistic system we have now, which forces everyone to jet a shitty job and work the nine to five just barely supporting themselves, if they manage to do that at all. Almost everyone agrees it’s crap, so why doesn't anyone ever do something about it? Why do we have to accept that that’s how live is. Why is life unfair? Why is life about hard work? Why can’t I change the world? I’m going to, or I’m going to die trying!

[becomingvecna]

reblog if you think these are all valid reasons for a student or an employee to take a day off from their school or their job without their grades or paycheck being affected in any way:

- period cramps

- exhaustion, be it mental or physical

- depression, anxiety, and other mental health related issues

[jonathan-sins]

School is rotting my brain. A kid said bye to me while I was writing about the French Revolution and a I just looked at him and said “Paris” in the flattest voice I’ve ever used.

[spectral-honey]

AU where Jason gets his revenge by becoming a lawyer and getting joker sentenced to the death penalty

Bruce is conflicted about it but any time he tries to say anything on the subject Alfred just talks over him like "oh we're so proud of you master Jason you finished college and you didn't even use your father's extensive resources that could've easily gotten someone in this family a degree aren't we so proud master Bruce that Jason got himself a respectable profession--"