The Declaration of Independence.

As students, we have the right to have a full education being in a public school. As students, we have the right to have free expression that shall not hurt others. As students we have the right to defend our privacy.  We have the right to talk to our teachers about work that we missed. We have the right to attend school daily on time except when we are sick. We have the right to succeed in our courses. We have the right to be careful of our language in anything publicly viewed. We should become involved with making decisions. We have the right to wear whatever we would like considering the school dress code. We have the right to make this school the best it can be. We make this school a better place by respecting the property. We have to except the fact that all rules are not null-and-void. The students have their own rights and abilities that should be accounted for. An ISS should be made so that the student is still learning instead of missing the classes. Going home sick should not be taken as an unexcused absence. There should be some exceptions to the dress code. Since we are in a public school, students shouldn’t have to pay for some school supplies. If students are allowed to eat by their car, they should be able to eat inside their car. Students should also not have to pay for activities or clubs that are not sport related. The cell phones of students should not be taken away for a long time. Self-defense should also be allowed to some extent. School should start and end later. The reasons as to why are as followed:

I. When kids misbehave they are given an ISS or if what they did were more severe they would be suspended.   We are aware that the children of Grosse Pointe South should be punished when they are at fault, but if it means that being absent from class and missing school work then the staff should find a new solution.  Yes, they are received their assignments that they would have been given if they were at school but since they were unable to learn the material that is used in the assignment there is no point. The school should be giving out more detentions, so they can serve their punishment when there aren’t any of their classes going on.  Another solution could be a few hours of their Saturday spent in school, basically like a detention. 

II. Many absences of a student at Grosse Pointe South are spent sick in bed.  Although their parents call the school early in the morning, it really doesn’t do the student any good because their absence may be excused and they are still marked down for missing a day of school.  A note from a doctor, orthodontist, dermatologist, dentist, etc. is not only excused but they are marked down as if they attended school the whole day.  One can only miss one class period 10 times before they will have to retake the whole class over again.  So why would that be fair if missing ten days of school for a sick related reason could set a student back a semester?

III. Another issue we have at Grosse Pointe South is the dress code.  Yes, there is a line being drawn when skirts are too short, or when a top is to low cut but some of the rules are a little strict.  Students have the right of Freedom of Expression so it is not fair for a school to tell them what they can and cannot wear.  The school says some shirts are to obscene or give off an inappropriate vibe, but many of the time the attire is harmless.  For an example, a tank top.  When the months of May or June come around the school reaches scorching temperatures, and since we don’t have any air conditioning in parts of the school students can become very uncomfortable.  So sometimes fingertip length shorts and the no tank top rules are very unfair. 

IV. Students should not have to pay for school supplies. Students have to pay for their education and the books that they need for classes. The students should not have to pay for the supplies they need. If the students’ textbooks are paid for, then the supplies should not. This is fair for the students and for the Board of Education. They should not have to pay a high amount for supplies the school should provide for them.

V. Students should not have to take gym to graduate. There are many classes that students need to take to graduate, but gym should not be one of them. Students ought to decide if they want to take the gym class or not. This should not have to be required. Students must not be forced into a class they do not want to take. Gym ought to be a class for students who want it and not for those who do not.

VI. Students should be able to eat in their car. Students are allowed to go to their car during lunch, but they cannot eat in their car. Students should be able to eat in their car during lunch if they are allowed to go to their car. If students can leave the school during lunch to go get food, they should have the right to eat in their car as well. As long as students do not have any alcohol or drugs on them, then it should be ok for students to eat to their car.

VII. Students should not have to pay for non-athletic clubs/activities. Many students want to join clubs, but do not have the money to pay for it. Several students would, most likely, join clubs if they did not have to pay. If the money is needed for the club, then the club can do a fundraiser. Fundraisers not only raise money for the club, but bring people together. Is that not what clubs do?

VIII. Students’ cell phone should not be taken away for long. Teachers sometimes keep the cell phones over the weekend. If the students’ cell phones are taken away during that time period, then important calls could be missed. Students should also be able to shut the phone off or take the battery out if concerned about privacy. The cell phones, however, should be immediately taken down to the office or given to the student at the end of day.

IX. Students, when necessary, should be able to use self-defense. If there is not a teacher around at that given time, the student should defend themselves. That should only apply if the student cannot get help when needed. There is a strict no fighting policy within school but that should be an exception in some cases. It is simply defending rather than just fighting to fight.

X. School should start and end later. According to the health teacher, students who sleep in longer and go to school at a later time perform at a higher level. Sleeping in can give the students enough time to wake up and not feel tired. Not feeling tired can keep the students thinking early in the morning. Ending school later can help balance out the loss the time in the morning. 

These are the demands of the students. These reasonable and necessary points must be adhered to. If they are not, then we will file a complaint to the school board. The needs of the students must be met. Each and every student is registered into the school with certain unalienable liberties. These include being allowed to eat in cars, no detentions, and longer lunch times. These rights are to not only make school a better, more enjoyable place, but to preserve the limited freedom of the student body. Refusal to comply to the points of the declaration will also result in a strike by the students and a protest. When people walk through the doors of the school, they should know they have rights. All people should be able to walk throughout the school without having to worry about persecution.

Rachel Quinn
Brooke Quinn
Carly Walkowiak
Nick Gilbert
Andrew Cullen