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Surveillance Cameras Get Bigger

As Do the Egos of Various Administrators

You may have noticed the obnoxious new surveillance cameras watching you in high-traffic areas of South High. These are part of a new effort to remind people that they shed their privacy, along with most of their civil rights, at the schoolhouse door. Though some of you may be annoyed about this in-school taping, at least these cameras are visible, and you know you are being taped. It's far more insidious for a school to tape you without your knowledge...which, by the way, is a tactic the district has used for a long time, and will continue to utilize for the forseeable future.

If you look real close at ceilings in the building, you'll see the little cameras staring back at you. But since most people don't pay attention to this, they are oblivious to the fact that they are being taped. So we feel that while cameras are largely unnecessary, if they are going to be employed as part of the security smokescreen, then it is better for people to at least know about them. Finally, we CHALLENGE the administration to eliminate all the hidden cameras and make them all readily visible so that students can ascertain whether or not they are being spied on. And students: Never expect that you're in private when you're in the same prison-style structure as the $100,000+/year leeches we call the admins. --Queen Lizi, Interim Opinion Editor

Fire Drill Season Returns

September 15, 2002 As part of the district's new Safety Smokescreen program, South High is scheduled to have a fire drill on Tuesday September 17. Of course, now that you know, it isn't much of a drill, now is it? Seems like schools these days need to prepare teachers for fire drills, because there must be some of them who have difficulty handling unannounced ones. And if the idea is to make sure students are able to safely get out of the building, a better way would be to tell them that school is out. In fact, studies have shown that students exit their school much faster for the end-of-the-day bell than they do for an emergency evacuation. One would think that even freshmen, who may still be somewhat unfamiliar with the building, would be able to find their way OUT by now...unless they've been trapped in there for the last two weeks. Finally, if it's any consolation, this phenomenon is nothing new. As we reported in June, fire drill season seems to pop up quite often around here.--"Judge" Joe, Interim Editor

Your Perspectives

There's been a lot of heated debate in our forums. Here's just a sample of what your fellow visitors are posting!
"I am a local radio DJ and former South High grad and thought it would be fun to see what Tigers today have to say. Based on the board it is rather disappointing to say the least. I might use this board on the air to show adult taxpayers how well the educational dollar is being spent."-Darrell
"Lol... the policy is if we live within 2 miles, we have to walk to school. I live 2.05 miles, and have to walk... that would be every morning, over some of the busiest streets and right along the route that that girl was kidnapped last year. Stupid cheap @$$ school. To top it off I'll be kicked out for having a knife with me. Better take up karate lessons or something. Maybe move into a box 4 miles from school."-ParadoxReality

If you want to read LOTS MORE opinions, or share your own, please visit the SouthHighSucks.com Message Board. If you don't want to register, then simply make up a username and leave the password spot blank-and debate away!

September 11 Remembered @ South

District bigwigs had told teachers at Minneapolis schools to "don't do anything different," and for the most part, that took place. Some teachers chose to go light on the academics that day, allowing students to have a break. The main event of the day was a 10am Moment of Silence. Not everyone was quiet--in fact, a major interruption took place when an office staffer began to read morning announcements after a previous announcement had promised that there would be no more announcements. The day went well--or as well as it could in a windowless prison, and everyone lived through the experience.--Queen Lizi, Interim Opinion Editor

School Starts With Wasted Time!

As a special Welcome-Back gift, on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2002, (the first day of school), the administration decided to crowd all students into the commons to get schedules and IDs. And because of poor organization skills, the process was very lengthy indeed. Many students missed their first class, and only a few managed to get to all their classes on time, thanks to this fresh new bureaucratic hassle plan just implemented by the administration.--"Judge" Joe, Interim Editor

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