new thread
Granite City High School has been deceiving the public for far too long. They say everyone has equal opportunities but do they really? In this land of equality and freedom does everybody have their rights? No. At Granite City High School if you are a male with long hair you are treated as scum.
Those responsible for this atrocity have used intimidation to keep it under wraps. If any body stands up to them they have said person brought to the office where multiple faculty members will be waiting to give the person a bunch of bull and make them feel like they are worthless trash only placed on the planet to annoy them. They tell the public that everything is fair and that they will talk to people if they have any problems. Those are lies. They are not fair, nor will they listen to reason.
It is time that they learn that they are not all powerful, that we the tax payers pay their salaries. It is time that they realize that there is no place for tyrants in America. It is time that we take back the schools, fire the administrators and replace them with competent employees. It is time.
To all the people who have ever been treated unjustly I urge you to join in the reformation of the Granite City Athletic Departments. One studentÂ’s voice can and has been ignored, but when an entire community unites to protest they will have no choice but to listen.
You know... from what little of I've bothered skimming of these letters you've been posting, I've yet to read even one that, were I someone in authority at your school, I would not immediately set fire to and happily smoke a cigar while watching burn in my ash tray.
well, what would you suggest then?
Grin and bear it. It's only High School.
sorry, i am not the type. i act on what i think is wrong. Even if it is just writing a bunch of stupid letters.
but then again you are entitled to your own opinion as to what you think i should do.
I completely agree with you Lupi. I wouldn't just sit back either. Though i would stop writting these letters entirely, and reorganize the events ito a timeline of what happened both to you, and any other student that has had similar issues. After i did that, i would contact a local news station or paper as Ken suggested. Continue until you have found one that will wrute a story on it. Honestly it shouldnt be that difficult. I'm sure youve seen at least 3 or 4 stories on the news about hair or clothes in schools across the nation. It WILL get media attention, and the coach will most likley loose his job, if not be seriously reprimanded. Even if the school approves of his actions, the school district will not appreciate the attention drawn. I've seen it happen over simalr issues all across the country.You just need to find a local outlet to get the ball rolling.
I've linked an article below on a local clothing ban challenge that was won by students. Being a sympathetic character helps though. A girl wanting to have Tigger on her socks during normal school hours is in a completely different category from an extracurricular activity unrelated to the purpose of education. On the plus side, a ban on logo socks at school does not impact life outside school. Having a hair policy that limits life away from school seems a stronger imposition so might be easier to overturn.
Lupi, consider writing an opinion piece for the school newspaper to get students on your side. Broader media attention can also happen but you might need to use the bullying angle to add weight to your cause. From earlier posts I recall some members of the team were harassing you. Schools are better aware now they must head off that form of abuse so "boy gets picked on for standing up for himself" would be more likely to be a story of news interest rather than "disobedient teen whines about rules".
If nobody wants to take on your story you can also write it yourself. Document the ongoing saga on a blog or even video online. Keep being sympathetic in mind though and stick to facts rather than rants. The coach is doing his job the best way he knows how and coming off as an angry kid with a grudge against his teacher won't help you any. Actually, now that I think on it I wonder if there are protections a staff member has (like earning you detention, suspension) against what can amount to online bullying. Whatever your course of action, be levelheaded, Lupi.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth, you give excellent suggestions and I hope Lupi is able to help facilitate the change he wishes to see. I agree withhis cause but of all the responces I've read, yours is the one that lays down a concrete foundation for what must be done.
Go for it, Lupi!
Shawn (Mr.Crow)
thanks I will take all this into consideration.
Matt, I can feel what you are saying, now and in your upstream post.
When I was assaulted by three faculty members in college, I was in a better position in one way than is Lupi - my father was a lawyer. He complained in some very high places. At some point, when he did not get much reaction, his comment to me was, "Let's just forget about it and get you graduated out of there." I agreed.
Lupi, however, has chosen to fight, and as a support forum, many of us here, after saying what you and I have above, have chosen to support him in following the path he has chosen. We have given Lupi arguments, we have told him how to organize them, and we have suggested how he might spread the word. What we have not done is written it for him, because this is something we feel he must do himself, and truthfully, if I were Lupi, I'd be far more concerned about the Granite City High School English Department than its Athletic Department. He is a senior in high school, and it is clear from his efforts shared with us here, which have gone off in a different direction each time and lacked much persuasion each time, that he has not been taught yet how to organize his thoughts and write a persuasive letter advocating for what he wants. [sigh]
Bill
Indeed Bill has a valid point. Much advice and support have been given and little of it used. I will say as kindly as I can that this is beginning to wear on some of us. I would suggest doing some of the things mentioned in the numerous responses to the many posts by Lupi. There are no guarantees of success but if you just send a letter you'll get nowhere fast.
I once worked with a labor union who was in the process of organizing a food processing plant. We had 67% of the workers signed to authorization cards, petitioned for and got an election. The company was very good at turning some of our weaker supporters, and or we weren't very good at keeping them solid. We lost the election badly by two thirds. I wanted to continue the fight with labor board charges among other legal maneuvers, but in the end we had to walk away. The Union had limited financial and human resources to fight the good fight and we had to make a tough choice that we hated but did.
My point is as has been before, there comes a time where you have to make a tough choice and move on regardless of how much you may hate it. This is only high school and it will end some day just try and get through it so you can make a life for yourself. A good education is far more important for your future than football unless you plan on playing college and or in the NFL. If that's the case then you will cut your hair because your football career will start in high school and you will have to get past your asshole coach. I might add he is one of many assholes you will meet in life so get used to it.
Kevin
You're right, I will quite writing letters for now. All of those letters were written BEFORE I posted any of them on here. That is why none of the advise was taken into consideration.
I still refuse to give in though.
I am actually a sophomore. I had written these three letters before I posted any of them here. I am on a few medications and a dyslexic (spelling?). I know it sounds like I'm making excuses, but I find it hard organize my thoughts.
ROFL!!! OMG, I needed a good laugh today, and reading this reply definitley gave me what I needed! Thanks, Nightfall, --- sometimes your view puts a perspective on things that nobody else here sees or is willing to state...
I always enjoy reading your replies!
- Ken
I should also add an additional comment to Lupi...
There is great truth in the statement many have made here that you do not yet have perspective on. It is when some of the members here have said to you, "It is only high school", or; "it is only football". --- or similar type comments.
For example...
I have yet to attend ANY of my high school reunions. I absolutely hated my high school years. The only thing I wish I had taken better advantage of back then was that I wish I had concentrated more on the learning aspect, and that of trying to get better grades. Period. I'm 54 now, and high school feels like just a little sneeze in time, --- about as insignificant as blowing my nose in the morning. Someday you'll feel that way, too; but, obviously not right now....
I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors to fight your battle against your tyrranical high school football coach; but, I have already spent way too much time giving you the best advise I could think of, and need to lay this issue to rest now (meaning, for myself). As of this last posting, I will no longer reply to you re. you asking us for advise here. This doesn't mean I don't care, --- or that I wouldn't root & toot loud horns if you win --- just that I think you need to figure this all out on your own, now.
- Ken
Thanks, I'll be working on this on my own for awhile. I have read all those previous posts and I do feel that these letters are just a pointless waste of time. I wrote these and I wanted to see if they are any good. Apparently not. So as for now however, I will be leaving MLHH. The next time I write I will hopefully have good news.
Thank you, thank you... I'm here all week.
;D
I've never been a fan of tact. I have to work at it every day. More often than not, I fail, and usually on purpose.
;)
The letters are one thing, but are they just threats?....You need to have a plan in mind such as a gathering, or sign a petition to allow you to play. Letters will only achieve so much if they have no sustinence behind them.
peace
clayton
And with this final letter it is time to just let go.
A tip for the future however: Whenever you feel strongly about something and feel that you just have to write a letter, make it as short as possible. The 1st line should grap the attention right off the bat. Don't ramble about every picky little detail, for the reader will very soon be worn-down and pay it less attention or not even finish reading.
The less said but getting right to the point is the best. And keeping it extremly short will more likely make the reader read all as it won't take more than 10 seconds or so.
But an essay-like long letter? Most people just don't have the time to bother.
I've only given some of these letters the benefit of a skim but it strikes me that you're using too many emotional phrases and insults to try and convey your message.
Bear in mind that your intended audience holds all the cards- if you want to be taken seriously you need to demonstrate respect for them- even if you don't feel it. You should read the letter as though you are the recipient- or as though you are the coach in question. Would you take the author seriously? Anger is destructive and the one thing conveyed in your proposed communications is anger. If you intend to communicate the rage then you are seriously doomed.
You need to assume that the B.S. is endorsed by your intended recipients and as such, attacking the policies as tyrannical and the reasoning as lies will be taken as an angry attack and WILL NOT BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. You are investing effort in an anticipated relationship and if you were somehow to successfully bludgeon the school board into browbeating the coach into accepting you onto the team how would you anticipate the relationship to unfold from there? Would you get more playing time? I'd say not- life is unfair and injustice will happen. You're not going to change the coach's mindset whether or not you can effect a shift in policy and he's bound to take that out on you.
Obviously the Board of Education has enough confidence in the coach that he is successfully holding his position. The fact is that a student isn't going to be taken as seriously and your letters will not help that in the least. You'll be branded as an over-emotional head case.
Avoid negative characterizations of the cast in this little drama and win or lose, you MIGHT just win the respect of the people involved (maybe even the coach himself). Concentrate on factual arguments in the case and perhaps touch upon leading by example by not practicing systemic discrimination and stop calling people tyrants and their policies lies. If you give it your best shot and do not prevail you'll need to make the difficult choice of hair or football.