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[unoffical-voice-of-melville]

Mucked-Up Shenanigans

25 October, 2021

Thursday was muck-up day, but to be honest, it should probably be called fuck-up day.

With a combination of absolute assholery from some years 12s with broken glass in the bathrooms and coolant down the stairs, as well as an administration that punished innocent parties rather than those who did things wrong, we can be certain that the 2021 muck-up day will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

We believe that the cancellation of the parade was unfair to the students who did the right thing. According to several sources, year 12s were told to clean up the mess, which is completely understandable . However, some parties elected that they really didn’t need to clean up, and thus the parade was cancelled. We aren’t big fans of this, as it punishes those who did the right thing, and think that the year 12s who at least tried to clean up should have been given the opportunity to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Was this potentially the last muck-up day we’ll ever see? Hopefully not, but the heavy handling from our new principal and student services as well as some individuals taking things a tad too far, its unlikely that it’s something any new year 12 will ever experience.

To the parting year 12s, we wish you the best of luck, and hope you never have to hear cringe Yoda quotes ever again.

[unoffical-voice-of-melville]

YOH, What?

18 August, 2021

Recently we have learnt of an absolute disgrace of planning on the end of our school’s admin.

The year 11 river cruise, perhaps one of the more anticipated events for years 11s, just ~happens~ to fall on the same day as the YOHFest performances for year 11 and 12.

YOHFest was booked in term one, on the 9th of September, whilst the river cruise’s timeframe was decided on a few weeks ago, and changed from the 16th to the 9th seemingly this week. We know this, because it said the 16th on the school calendar, as of a few weeks ago. Why did the date change? Why did our school fail to look at their planner, and go “oh, damn, we’ve got this essential event on that we don’t control, better book on a date that isn’t this one”.

Not only is this unfair to year 11 dance and drama students, who have to either sacrifice a wonderful experience, or lose an essential part of their grade, but it is also another example of our school’s inability to plan events.

If any performing arts students want to reach out to assist our team in development of a complaint, feel free to DM us, or email us at voiceofmelville@gmail.com

[unoffical-voice-of-melville]

Cram Jam

31 July, 2021

Ah, the first week back. The start of a new semester. For some of us, perhaps a chance to start fresh, to see friends. It’s just the first week, we’ll get back into the swing of things soon-

Three tests. Three. In, well, two days. That seems a bit unfair, doesn’t it?

For many of us, especially those of us in year 11 and 12, it seems that a week’s worth of revision has just been catapulted into our laps. I personally have three tests to study for. We’ve been back for a day.

This raises question around flexibility in our schooling around the ever-cruel and dysfunctional time of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the end of last term, due to local COVID cases, we went into lockdown. By Thursday, attendance rates at school dropped to below 55%. Of course, it’s pretty unfair to run an English test whilst half the class is at home, so I understand that tests were moved back. However, is it fair to us, as students, to cram those missed tests into a single week, rather than perhaps altering the weighting of future tests, or pushing tests back a week? Is it impossible for our teachers to contact heads of departments and go “hey, I wanna do my test this day, when do you have tests for your subject”?

Look, I get that teaching seems pretty hard. There’s a lot our teachers have to fit into four hours a week, but we have other classes too. Some of us have jobs outside of school. Others do sports, or have to look after siblings. Some of us live an hour a way from school. Whatever the reason, its practically impossible to study so much, whilst also fulfilling our responsibiltys and getting a decent amount of sleep in. Teachers, if you happen to be reading this, for our sake, please try and talk with other teachers so that we don’t drown. Some of us are barely swimming.

[unoffical-voice-of-melville]

On Fallen Flags and False Gestures

4 July, 2021

potential content warning: bullying, use of homophobic slurs in context

Our previous article discussing the school’s treatment of mental health sparked more questions in our minds about the school’s policies around bullying. Does it work for us? Is it designed to protect us? Do our schools white walls keep us safe?

In our diaries it states we have the right to “be treated courteously and respectfully”, and that they “will not tolerate discrimination based on race, colour, religious, gender, ethnicity or sexuality, [or] harassment of any kind”, and that action by a “trusted adult” will be taken, the year coordinator will be informed, and subsequent follow-up action will be taken. However, evidence gathered from real students indicates that this isn’t happening, and students are suffering because of it.

Earlier in the term, a group of students tore down the pride flag put up, and whilst we aren’t really surprised, this does fall under the category of discrimination on basis of gender and sexuality, and on an interesting legal note, may fall under the category of flag desecration. Whilst not illegal, it is widely regarded as a dick move, and the act could be considered an attempt at stealing, under the WA Criminal Code, which is again, a dick move. Did the students who engaged in this act receive any punishment? We interviewed some of you, and this was what you had to say (although these quotes are paraphrased for cohesion).

“Student services said they would be suspending students who took down the flag, but not many people know about it.”

“I had a substitute teacher in my class, and they did nothing when kids were shouting homophobic slurs and saying ‘fuck the fag flag’.”

“My friends and I have dealt with homophobia and other forms of discrimination and teachers didn’t do anything about it.”

Overall these quotes indicate that student services did take action to deal with this specific incident, however on an individual teacher level, action was not taken to realistically combat the rampant discrimination against LGBTQ+ students.

Another student we interviewed shared an experience where a friend was harassed so severely they were forced to move schools, and the teachers involved did nothing to resolve this scenario.

This indicates another failure of school policy, and browsing the school’s website shows no form of bullying policy in full that is available for student access.

Whilst our school claims to campaign against bullying in all forms, even partaking in the National Day of Action against Bullying & Violence in March of 2019, the actions taken seem to be inadequate, and many of you reported feeling unsafe at school due to discrimination, physical violence and inadequacies when handling mental health. Action must be taken to protect victims of these incidents. Our wellbeing and education should not be destroyed by the actions of others.

[unoffical-voice-of-melville]

It May Be Mental Health Day, But What For?

23 June, 2021

potential content warning: discussion of bullying, use of homophobic slur in context, references to suicide.

Mental Health Day has come and gone this Tuesday, and it raises the question if our school administration respects those with mental health issues.

As someone who is mentally ill, and has experienced the school’s handling of my own struggles, the effort they put in to accommodate for these issues is pitiful. From an almost absent school psychologist, to dismissal of bullying and harassment, our student services team seems to treat every issue that arises as an issue that can be swept under the rug.

As someone who has been heavily recommended to visit the school psychologist multiple times, I’ve only had single sessions with her between each recommendation. Foundation Psychology recommends six counselling sessions to achieve one’s mental health goals. I have never had a single follow up session. Ever. And when they recommend that I come back, a year later, I’ve been forgotten. We should have access to the support we need.

Those that are hurting us, hurting others, should face consequences for their actions. They say that the perpetrator “has a bright future, and it doesn’t matter, maybe don’t sit near them?”. But what about us? The victim? What about our future? Our school will suspend you for using your phone or not going to class or calling a teacher out on their bullshit, but when someone calls you a faggot every day for a month, it’s nothing to them. And being on the receiving end of that? It takes your mental health and crushes it. If they say they support mental health and those who need help, they should do something about the cause.

Acknowledging students mental health struggles is a day to day process, and resources should be provided every single day to support those struggling. Mental health challenges shouldn’t be recognised just once a year with a platter of fruit or a game of dodgeball. Whilst healthy eating and physical activity do assist individuals trying to improve their mental health, an apple doesn’t fix depression, especially depression caused the high-pressure school environment, with all its tests and statistics and teachers who don’t really understand that you are trying, despite your grades.

We are the leaders of the future, my friends, and we are going be better than our parents, and our grandparents. We should acknowledge student struggle, and respect those that need help. We should demand help, demand change. Support must be provided for us to go down the paths this school wants us to. You can’t change the world even just a little if you’re dead.

So make sure they don’t let you die.

[unoffical-voice-of-melville]

The Second Blitz!

June 18, 2021

It’s been just over a week since the uniform blitzes have begun, and anger grows toward them with every day. Student services staff establish that the uniform exists to “promote equality and self esteem”, as well as enhance the school’s self image.

However, is a students self esteem enhanced when they are unfairly targeted for an incorrect pair of pants because they simply cannot spend $40 for pants they’ll grow out of?

Is a student’s self esteem promoted when they are unfairly targeted for expressing self-image by stitching harmless, inoffensive patches onto a jacket, a practice that has been occurring for years before, that we were told we could do?

Is equality promoted when real matters like bullying and mental illness are swept under the rug in favour for “potential damage to the school’s reputation”? 

There are bigger issues than an incorrect pair of pants, or the wrong colour undershirt, or a piece of fabric shaped like a cartoon frog sewed onto the back of a jacket, that, may I remind you all, we own.

Students economic status and individuality needs to be respected.

The uniform policy needs to be rewritten so that these issues are taken into account.

Under policy from the Department of Education (specifically Dress Codes for Students in Public Schools Policy and Procedures, published in 2018), it is stated that the “dress code.. allows for careful consideration of… cost implications of items”. This statement should indicate that uniform should be affordable, and yet, our uniform costs over, realistically, $200 dollars for a functional set (shirt, pants, and jumper). Furthermore, this policy also states that “the dress code is a balance between establishing standards, allowing reasonable opportunity for individual self-expression, and accommodating diversity.” If an individual’s self expression is not harming others education, causing offence, or other important factors, what issue should the school have with it?

No harm is caused by buying a pair of pants from K-Mart instead of Nell Grey!

No impact to education occurs from patches or pins.

There are bigger issues!