From Steal This Wiki

Contents 1 Fuck everything? 2 Theft 3 Stereotyping 4 Cheating 5 Moved from [[1]] 6 high school 6.1 Remember the purpose of high school is education to prepare you as a revolutionary! 7 Return Of Libberator 8 Moving Some Content

Fuck everything?

While the original STB had "Fuck City" as its template, we decided to use "Free City" in order to suggest a more positive attitude toward these things (Fuck really didn't fit well in the STB, in my opinion). So I moved Fuck High School to Free High School, and I'd recommend keeping the "Fuck This" to a minimum, unless we want lots of angry teenagers spouting unhelpful venom in these sections. Cheers, Doctormatt 12:45, 3 February 2007 (PST)

Good idea, the only reason i titled this section as "Fuck High School" was to follow the template formerly used in the other parts of the section. I do not mind at all if the title is "Free High School," however, I don't think you should change the titles to the original sections of STB due to the fact that when writing it Abbie Hoffman chose that template as a way of expressing his anger at authority, the government, and most of American civilization during the seventies. We are only here to improve and update his original material not change it. Besides, STB is not just a "how to" book but also a social criticism of the Vietnam War era.--Libberator 13:59, 3 February 2007 (PST)

Yeah, we're not changin STB, we're making something new. Besides, we can't: it's already out there, and is what it is. I look at this project as a totally new thing, with STB as a jumping off point, not as a template to be followed. It does still says "Fuck Chicago" etc. at the top of the original section on the Free Chicago page; the original text included on some pages ought to be unchanged, so it represents what STB is. STB is a lot of things, but it's just here as a reference, not as something enshrined; my understanding is the original will be removed when this project goes to print. Doctormatt 14:14, 3 February 2007 (PST)

Theft

I removed a couple of things from the Cafeteria section. Specifically, suggestions that one should cause the cost of one's lunch to be charged to another student, or if caught you should try to pass the blame on to another student. While institutions may be worth ripping off, stealing from our "brothers and sisters" is not cool. Frankly, I think this kind of thinking is part of why people are apathetic about politics: everybody is a crook. So encouraging crookish behavior is the reverse of what we want to do here. We want people to be better than politicians, so we can show people that there are better ways to be, and get people to join us, with the goal of changing everything.

Along these lines, I think there should be more philosophical/political talk on STW, and I think the Free High School section is a good place to start. We need to explain why we think it is okay to rip off the school cafeteria. There must be a principle (not principal!) on which all this is based. I'm not suggesting that Abbie had a solid philosophical basis for what he wrote and did; however, Abbie failed, and we need to be better than that if we are to succeed. Cheers, Doctormatt 13:13, 3 February 2007 (PST)

Thanks for the suggestions and improvements in the cafeteria section. Now that i think about it i do agree that we should discourage stealing from other students and committing crookish behavior and i may also remove or edit the "Homework" section due to fact that often times copying homework only hurts the students grade due to the fact that he receives no reinforcement of the lesson the teacher was trying to teach and will most likely due bad on tests later which will hurt his grade much more than a bad homework grade. Also, i think you have a good idea on encouraging philosophical/political talk on STW, in future edits i'll try to include your points.--Libberator 14:24, 3 February 2007 (PST)

Stereotyping

I removed Libberator's caricature of teachers and his suggestion that more would be coming, as I don't think this is helpful to our revolution. Teachers are our brothers and sisters, and more importantly they are humans. Sure, they can be mean, and can effect students in very negative ways, and suggestions of how to deal with this are welcome. But breaking human personalities into little stereotypical categories (e.g. "The Banshee") is not the way to go. Teachers are (often) poorly paid, overworked members of our working class. They, in turn, are often controlled by mean, petty administrators who are also (not quite so) poorly paid, overworked members of our working class. What needs to change is everything. Making little digs with antique, misogynist stereotypes is not revolutionary. On another note, there is no "I" in "wiki": everyone edits everyone else's work, so one cannot write from a first-person perspective. If we did, we'd have a gazillion "I"s running around, none of which refer to the same person, and that'd just be weird. So 3rd person it is. (To have full disclosure, yes, I am a "teacher", though at the university level) Cheers, Doctormatt 10:25, 4 February 2007 (PST)

I can see where you're coming from Professor and you do have good points, but what i was trying to do was profile the different personalities behind high school teachers in order to give students insight on the patterns they often follow. My first attempt was quite harsh (not as bad as the original anonymous posting though) but i had many others i was working on classifying. There are many different types of teachers some good and some bad and sometimes the hardest part of high school can be adjusting from year to year to the different kinds of teachers you have. I wanted to create this section in order to give advice to students on avoiding pushing teachers buttons and my later ones were going to be a lot more positive. My first profile was very harsh but lets face it everyone has known at least one teacher at some point in their life i myself can count three. the one in particular who helped inspire the profile happens to have a few of my less fortunate friends in class and belittles them constantly. One friend in particular she humiliates on simply because he is overweight and another because she thinks his hair is too long. Having this sort of teacher can be terrible and can ruin your grade when the teacher already has a bias against you. This is not the only kind of teacher in the world and i count myself fortunate to have known more good teachers than bad ones. If this section insults you in anyway i will be glad to change it or edit it and if you want i can even run my rough drafts of profiles through you first and you can edit them before. Remember this section is made to be from the perspective of a high school student for high school students--Libberator 11:21, 4 February 2007 (PST)

Yes, I think you have the right intent in mind: helping people survive high school is a noble cause. My thinking is that we want to keep this section in the same spirit as the rest of the project, and this project is about revolution (that's my take anyway). While I think "avoiding pushing teachers buttons" would be helpful information, I think it is not right for this project. There are plenty of other places on the web that you could put this info. Here, I think we want to talk about how to help high school students live in a way that will lead them to revolution. I don't think narrowly classifying teachers will do that; the idea that one can "profile the different personalities behind high school teachers" is a very non-progressive one. On the other hand, I think talking of things like fairness, justice, organizing, resistance, solidarity, communication, protest, dissent, class, etc., in a high school context would be fantastic. What can a student DO about their situation, besides classifying it? A start might be a full understanding of it (e.g., why do teachers act the way they do), and then constructive action, i.e. action that will improve the situation. Wouldn't it be great for students to learn to demand fairness and justice in their classrooms? (By the way, I'd like to emphasize that this isn't my website, it's Firsty's, though he's not around all that much. So I have no authority here: it's a wiki, so everyone is free to add content and edit everyone else's.) Cheers, Doctormatt 14:40, 4 February 2007 (PST)

excellent point. I can see where you're coming from now. You're right next time I'll try to focus more on the revolutionary spirit of STB and steer away from nonproductive ideas.--Libberator 20:44, 4 February 2007 (PST)

Cheating

I have a problem with this line: "but it is best to not write them down in a place where public can easily gain access, like here". Aren't we trying to reach the public? If the techniques don't get down here, then they won't go into printing, which makes having such a section a waste of paper. I think we should include any and all techniques that work. Zeerahks

Agreed. 100%. The free exchange of information is our primary goal. Root 18:42, 15 May 2007 (MDT)

The entire point is to share information. sharing information is not a crime, and it's not up to us to ensure that any and all who use this information use it towards a productive goal, although we are writing it within that context. we have to try very hard to not be afraid. or, if you cant help being afraid, at least know that we have a higher purpose than many will interpret, and thats not our fault. thats their fault. firsty 09:22, 16 May 2007 (MDT)

Moved from [[1]]

high school

I was wondering if it would be at all possible to set up a section for high school students only. This would mainly consist of information that would only pertain to students under the age of 21 or 18. I would like to set it up but will only do so with permission from an administrator or other authority on this website because so that I don't risk the chance of getting the owner of this site in trouble over hosting information like how to get cigarettes or beer. If i could set up this section I could probably get more peers involved in it and hopefully expand the yippie culture to a new generation. Please comment with support

So, you want to start a high school students section to tell them how to get cigarettes and beer? Is that it? Maybe you could explain further what you want to do with such a section. Cheers, Doctormatt 16:30, 1 February 2007 (PST)

thanks for the fast response. getting cigarettes and beer would only be a small part of this section it would also feature many other useful pointers. I don't want to turn it into a breeding ground for juvenile delinquents and punks, but more of a starting block to increase interest in the political activism in a generation im afraid may need in a future where things only seem to get worse. By creating a section for a model yippie high school lifestyle. I think that through this i may be able to reach my peers who seem to be afflicted with political apathy. If you want a further example of some of the material i will be putting in this section check out my edit in the Free Meals section. Also if i do end up creating this section i encourage any former high school students to share their experience and knowledge in it. ---Libberator

Thanks for elaborating. I think you've got a good idea there, though I don't think it is just your peers who are apathetic. Lots and lots of people are. Maybe having a section for high school specific stuff would be helpful to draw in a young(er) crowd. In the same way as we have location specific stuff (the Free Chicago, etc., sections), there could be a Free High School section. Under the Liberate section, you'll find all the Free City sub sections; maybe you could add the Free High School section there. What do others think of that idea? Cheers, Doctormatt 11:34, 3 February 2007 (PST) (p.s. remember to sign comments with four tildes (~) so your user name and date stamp get applied to your comment)

thanks for the permission and support ill get on making it under the Liberate section that looks like the perfect place for it. It's going to take a while I have to collect all the information I want to put in it and I'm still new to wikis. Also, as I said before any former High Schoolers who want to put in information or stories about their high school experiences/hi-jinks and I'll do my best to update them. --Libberator 12:13, 3 February 2007 (PST)

Well, I don't know if I gave permission: I'm not in charge here, though I have some admin powers. But on any wiki, it's always a good idea to ask before doing anything drastic. Cheers, Doctormatt 12:49, 3 February 2007 (PST)

HEAR THIS: I agree with Libberator. As a high schooler myself (representing the majority of the students at a particular high school), I think that the effect high schoolers can have over America might be huge. I know that this is a freedom for Amerika community, but I think that every aspect must be considered. And before I begin, I think I should state that the whole issue with finding beer and cigarettes is pointless. Who likes cigarettes and who wants a beer belly? Anyway, if you can get to ANY high school party, you will find that these materials are easily provided. Here are points that a high schooler should point out about the issues of everyday high school life-at least coming from the high school that I represent:

-Why is it that teachers have the authority and power over students to disrespect them in any physical, social, or emotional way and not even take account for it? I know the whole sha-bang that being a teacher "is such a hard and charitable job that does not get enough credit", but come on! What about students? We come to class, we do as much work as we feel to-it is OUR choice, and we comply with simple rules [e.g. not killing anybody, not creating large riots, not stealing from the 'public', etc.] but why are such simple expression rights taken away? If teachers want to talk however they'd like to, then fine-no war there...but why is it that students from my high school get "written up" for simply saying whatever the hell they want to?!? Especially when it is nothing degrading or disrespectful. Consider these two situations--

A) A teacher, who will be labeled 'Stapeler' for other purposes likes to make sarcastic jokes. Alright, so everybody laughs, but then it is YOUR turn to be made fun of. I personally was never made fun of, but a friend of mine who had just moved from Columbia was trying to adjust to the 'Amerikan' HORRIBLE, might I add, way of life. He was taking a test along with the rest of us and stopped a neighbor nearby and asked what something meant on the test. Stapeler, without even considering what he is about to say, says, "Hey...-in AmeriKa, we don't talk while we're taking a test," to this innocent Columbian in a sarcastic way. The poor boy just looks at him with pain and says nothing else. Stapeler then continues day by day saying whatever he wants to-to students and not even considering the effect it has on them.

B) My friend from Mexico has been in the U.S. for over 12 years trying to earn a citizenship (another fucked-up issue in Amerika) and attends my high school. She is in German class and does not understand all the language discrepancies and says something on the terms of 'I don't fucking understand...' and as a result of saying the "F-word", she got "written" up. This is supposed to go on her records and supposedly label her as a "bad" student for not being proper and prim, but most importantly, for EXPRESSING herself.

These two issues disappoint me and I am most definitely sure that they are not the first accounts of such examples of the "credit" that high school students DO NOT get. I know that change will not come soon while I am still in my years of high school education, but I do hope to make the situation better for future high school students. There are many other issues that will point out the faults of the school system (at least coming from my high school) but at this time, I will not continue. If anyone is interested, aimed mostly at Libberator, then please write back on here. I am sorry, e-mail will not be provided at this time, but a website is provided: http://www.millcreekhighschool.org

P.S. This was written by a strong female (hint for the administrators at my high school...ding!) whose voice FORCES others to listen...including the rest of the students at my high school. On a further note, a lot of other students AGREE with me, but are not quite ready to ENGAGE in anything, but I am not about to sit around waiting for the world to mature, so I am doing small things that might make a difference and representing those students.

-Mill Creek "HIGH"!

Well done! Believe me, as a high school student myself, this rings very close to home. In my town we have a very large immigrant population, as well as a number of foreign exchange students. Sadly, they are outcast and are completely cut off from most other students.

We can't wait for the world to mature around us. As we mature, we have to force it to mature around us. Teachers must learn that their disrespect is a thing of the past. Of course, this doesn't give us students free reign to disrespect them. It has to be a mutual exchange of respect, otherwise no one deserves it. Zeerahks

It has been many years since high school for me, but follow my advice as I was a college instructor and saw several HS students suceed this way, get out ASAP get to college, high school is a waste of time. Even if you have to start at community college fight for your right to be free of high school. There is NOTHING for you in high school except kids you age, the assumption is that you are too stupid to be given civil rights. Having been aquainted wih HS teachers you must belive that after the first three years of employment they are mostly burned out unless they have only the shiny smart AP kids.

Is everyone OK with cut/pasting this HS thread to Free_High_School?

ABOUT THAT AND MORE: Sure, that would be fine. I think that this is a BIG topic, so let's MAKE IT BIG! It will take some time of course, for the entire nation. But we can start with many individuals from high school to start a revolution and riot in their own school. Some tips to begin with:

1) Don't allow any disprespectful situation to go unannounced. Do whatever you can to let the entire school know, but most of all-the principle. This is most important for issues with teachers-make them feel bad without actually doing any damage.

2) Give yourself the freedom you deserve. If you feel like sleeping in class, then by all means, SLEEP! If you are being forced to go to school, then you should at least have the choice of paying attention or not. Or if you come to class late a few minutes. Don't let those silly teachers that "warn you" worry you-real school does not care about this.

3) Try to avoid financially supporting your school as much as possible. If possible, get the papers from your cafeteria for free school lunch. My school makes over $6,000 each year from school lunch. Guess where that big bill is going towards? A nice, lovely GOLDEN HAWK at the center of our school. What could possibly surpass that? Say-maybe not charging students that lose their books or get one stolen from them?!?

4) Be really loud all the time and be sure to say whatever the hell you want. If teachers or administrators try to write you up-let them. And if they want you to come in for detention, think of it as extra time to plan what other riots you can cause and may give you some excuses to linger around the school (hint).

These are only suggestions. Basically, do what you feel like doing and don't let anyone tell you that you are inferior, uneducated, or that you do not have simple human rights. If anything happens, just remember-you are still under 18! Right now is the time to do anything you want and get away with it-you have parents that will deal with everything. Or, you are just dubbed as being a "rebellious teen". That's what they think...but little do they know that we will be the leaders of the next revolution!

-Mill Creek "High"-Fuck It Like A Hawk

Just a pet peeve of mine, but how come teachers have the "right" to stop kids from going to the bathroom. This is possibly the most bogus of all things wrong with a school. Take it from me (5th grade experience-long time ago): peeing your pants in class because a teacher told you not to go to the bathroom is incredibly humiliating and creates a disgruntled student. Also, I personally belive that the Free High School section is possibly long enough to warrant it's own book (lockpicking section included, of course). Zeerahks

Remember the purpose of high school is education to prepare you as a revolutionary!

Just wanted to put a short note here for you guys who are talking about the free high school section. The thing first to remember is that high school is just a 4 year phase of life and that you should be there for a purpose and that is to get an education. With an education you will be a much better equipped revolutionary to fight the corpgov monsters that rule our land at present than you will be without an education. I'm not saying that students don't deserve respect and shouldn't have the right to express themselves. All I'm saying is this. I myself am an instructor of sorts working with teens and I can't tell you how many times I've been respectful and all only to be cussed out by a teen simply because they didn't want to cooperate with the lesson that I was trying to get across to them. The thing is this a lot of teachers are truly there only for the paycheck because they washed up elsewhere in the world. But many teachers are there to truly try to help those students who want it to get an education. What I would like to encourage each of you to do is to try to get to know your teachers at the beginning of a school year and find out why they're there. If you find that they're there to try to help you learn something then work with them but if they prove themselves to be there strictly for a paycheck and if they repeatedly disrespect you then feel free to give them a taste of their own medicine. I think a lot of teachers who fit the mold of the disrespectful ones are usually found in public schools where they have to not only try to deal with students but worry constantly about stupid dumbass politics that put their positions on the line everyday. Just remember that a lot of teachers are there because they do care about what happens to others but many are there just to be getting a paycheck. I for one am an instructor for teens and the only reason that I do it is because I want the following generations after myself not to be sheeple like so many are in Amerika today but to know what the hell is going on and how to read and write and do the things that are needed so that they can be effective revolutionaries. Remember the first American Revolution was not led by the dumb and uneducated who ended up in jails or dead but was led by people who were some of the smartest and most educated people of their day. It's a proven fact that the smarter one is the more agile they are in facing problems. Those who are uneducated do stupid things like the video I saw the other day where a guy broke into a liquor store through the roof and ended up all cut up and unable to get away when the pigs came to pick him up. So remember first try to be respectful in your dealings with others and then if that doesn't work and you've tried repeatedly to be nice but they won't let you then and only then break open a case of whoopass. But remember the purpose in high school is to get an education to allow you to be a true revolutionary. (El Almirante)

CONSIDER THIS:We never said we DON'T want an education. People who want to get others to listen must obviously know what the hell they are talking about. Do you know what the Board of Education was built on? Do you know what AmeriKa was built on? We have respect for teachers-I never said to DISRESPECT them. But I also do not think that they have a right to disrespect us. I also believe that this has nothing to do with teachers looking for a paycheck or looking to "change the world". Let me just say this: being a true revolutionary comes through uncommon education. Look at Abraham Lincoln who went to school for less than two years. I think the only useful education that you get is from real-life experiences and reading. I read all the time-and nothing that I am assigned from school. Besides those adults like you who are involved in the school system, how many adults can say that their high school education is remembered or has provided happiness or stability in their lives? Basically, it only gets one a diploma-and this is all part of the government's plan to control all of the new adults and to regulate everything that they say or do. This is the truth, but I think that being involved in the school system has shielded you from seeing the truth and how you felt when you actually were a young adolescent. Try to remove the stereotypes that you have fallen for. Only then will you be able to understand where we are coming from. (I am not saying you are wrong.) Consider the novel that we just currently finished reading: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. What is the "theme" or message of this play novelette? It is the story of two young men seeking out the American dream and working to achieve that dream. So basically-it doesn't matter how hard you work, the nature of life is that you can never get what you desire. What kind of message is that?!? Yeah-you will never get what you desire if you fall under the trap that the government and the authorities set up for you. AmeriKa needs to be changed. Back to the real democracy-no more phony lies, no more desires for controlling your citizens...freedom, not corporate biz.

-Mill Creek "HIGH"

Response to Mill Creek "HIGH": I agree with you that the government has been nothing but lies and phony democracy and it at present is made up for and by the ultra rich and corporations. I'm certainly not one who has as you so eloquently put it "being involved in the school system has shielded you from seeing the truth and how you felt when you actually were a young adolescent." I remember the dreams of my young adolescent years and how the system that is in power at present is not one built by and for the people but by and for big business and I've grown to see my dreams crushed by that system but I refuse to give up on them that is why I got into working with teens was to instruct the future generations as to the true nature of the beast that they face in the real world not to fill them full of lame ass feel good shit that the government wants them to learn. I wish that someone would have been there to show me the truth when I was an idealistic young person thinking that the system worked instead of being left to my own devices to see the truth that if one works within the rules of the corpgov system but is too ambitious they'll be crushed. I'm still working towards those dreams that I have though and that is why I'm involved in this project. I want all to have the right to realize their dreams. The whole Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness promise that the wig wearing, pot smoking freaks who started this thing were all talking about and willing to give everything they had up for. I want equality for all not just the select few who can buy it. Also the "Theme" of Mice and Men that you so see as working for your dreams and that if you do you will lose them is certainly not the theme that I picked up from having just finished this book this past year reading it and teaching it. I had a teen tell me this and I looked them square in the eyes and said to them in as respectful a manner as possible. "That's one interpretation I guess and you might be right and you are certainly entitled to that opinion. However I choose look at the whole story from a different perspective, which was Lennie was the uneducated person of the story who didn't use the sense he was born with and George was the one who had his head screwed on straight and trying constantly to steer the lamebrained Lennie in the right direction with everything George had in him and realized that they both were going against the grain of their day and age which stated that those on the bottom should stay on the bottom. In the end the point of the story that I got was the fact that because Lennie didn't think past the end of his nose in how he handled the woman in the barn and killed her rather than just leaving when she started screaming he ended up ruining the opportunity for him, George and the old man to realize their dream." This was the idea that I got this time and it was the same idea I got at an early age of 14 when I first read the book. The fact is that it's not the one who is the chameleon who appears to fit in with the status quo while the whole time is scheming a way around the system to realize their dream that the corpgov monsters will crush and seek to destroy but it is those who are the squeaky wheels who are out there in the open who it will seek to crush. It turns on those who it perceives as a threat not those who appear to not be a threat. It's much the same principle that is used in warfare using the principles of the code of ninjitsu which says to stealthily approach one's enemy and hit them as hard as possible when and where they least expect it in such a way that they never see it coming. Also let me state this that I never said that I agreed with teachers disrespecting students but that students should research who they are dealing with before they disrespect someone. The High School Diploma some may see as just a piece of paper that is part of the cog of the system that the corpgov idiots have created and it is in some ways. However it is a lot easier to take a system down from the inside out than it is to try to tackle a giant from the outside in. That was the point that I was trying to stress in the point of my earlier post. Therefore it seems that it is much easier to function within that system if one plays as though they are going along with it and get the diploma and in some ways fit into it. My point in saying it is this which I see as a major principle in the defeat of the system. That principle is said in a paraphrase of what I once read in Sun Tzu's writings who said "To beat one's enemy the most swiftly is to make the enemy not see you as his enemy but his friend and then defeat him using his own ways, people, and resources." If one is aware of their history of the world they will realize that this was exactly how the great empires of the past have all eventually been destroyed since before Rome. So let me end this post by stating that there is no excuse for teachers blatantly, unnecessarily, and cruelly disrespecting any student. But students need to really check who they are dealing with and make sure that said teacher is truly an idiot before they go off and not try to learn something from them. I'll be the first to say that the public school system in this country is one of the most messed up, jacked up and fouled up in the world and that it has become something akin to a government brainwashing propaganda machine and not a place that offers much in learning but there is still some to be gleaned from it in that if nothing else it teaches one the skills needed to develop into a stealthy revolutionary who can work on the system doing an inside job to mess it up. Also one of the best revolutionary films that one could see that shows just the effectiveness of the point of this post is the movie Micheal Collins and it shows how it would have never been possible for Ireland to have gained it's independence and realize a dream that was hundreds of years old without the help of people on the inside of the imperial British system in Ireland feeding the revolutionaries info on who, where, and how to strike their blows against that system. This was the point of my earlier post and the point of this that it's much easier to bring something down by being like a cancer and eating it from the inside out than it is to bring something down being like a sledgehammer and beating on the outside in. (El Almirante)

IN RESPONSE TO ALL OF THAT: Yes, El Almirante, you make good pointers on ways to tackle the system in a more successful way. I do have personal connections with certain teachers, and I do know which ones are there for which reasons. Let's look at current times, however. It is now the year 2007 and AmeriKa has gone through so much: war, inflation, gas problems, false freedom, lies, and large corporations. Citizens everywhere have been trying to fix these problems like you have suggested. They are educated citizens that work within the system, come up with incredible analyses, and reveal the truth for all of AmeriKa to see. Has anything changed? No. Will it change before Bush is gone? No! True change does not happen with those who try to work peacefully. I am for peace-all the way; but when the country is falling apart in some of the most imaginable ways, peace does not save. I am not saying that war is, though. I just believe in a revolution that CAN happen where citizens stand up for what they believe in. And students can be in on that revolution, too. Whether a teacher is there for a paycheck or to "change the world", they can still hear what we have to say. They can still witness what WE plan for ourselves. And they can still change their ways after seeing what needs to be done. When we have debate in class over political issues, why is it that students are held back, asked to speak no more, and stopped from saying their opinions? Because authorities believe that the school is a "learning environment" that need not be interrupted by outside forces. Well, I believe that education SHOULD involve important matters, too. And how are we supposed to go out into the world and be revolutionaries if we cannot learn how to back up our opinions? What if some other students JUST DON'T get it-how are we supposed to MAKE them get it? Not by speaking peacefully and educated obviously. This country needs to be changed, and those of us that will be heard, will be those of us that FORCE others to be heard. I agree that things cannot work without somewhat negotiating, but in dire and desperate times, there is only one answer. Each citizen has a FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, so each citizen has EVERY right to speak, do, and act as they please. Whether it fits with the "learning environment" or not-since everyone must and SHOULD face issues like these every day. Furthermore, I was TAUGHT in school that the theme of John Steinbeck's novel is naturalism of life. That no matter how hard you work, your idealistic dreams can not come true, since this is life. I do not believe in that saying and never will. I was only stating what I was taught IN SCHOOL. I was trying to reveal just what students learn through school. Exactly what the government wants us to believe-not to try and do anything smart, because we'll never get our way. Well that's what THEY think and they happen to be wrong. Since I as an individual represent a WHOLE of high school students and how they feel, I will not let the authorities get away with ANY disprespect for students. And last but certainly most, as a teacher, you should be more considerate in what you say and GRAMMATICALY how you say it. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
-Mill Creek "HIGH"

FINAL RESPONSE ON THIS SUBJECT: To: Mill Creek "HIGH" And all High School students.. Due to time constraints and the need to handle revolutionary things in my own area of Amerika this will be a final post to all concerned on this. I agree with you that some change is needed from the outside because the change cannot entirely be done from the inside of the system.. On the subject of grammar on my earlier posts understand that it has been extremely late in the evening with these and grammar when one is tired is a trifling matter and not as important as getting the important point across that needs to be made. So taking this into account I would ask that one please overlook the gramatical errors that are made in this post or were made in the past postings. Now for finishing the final point that I have to say on this subject and this post. It seems that we agree in many ways on our ideas and what needs to happen is exactly what you say about a citizen standing up and making their point heard and standing up for their rights that they are guaranteed under the Constitution. And I know what you are talking about with many administrative and faculty people in schools where they are shutting down healthy political and societal debate when they should not. I've been the victim of such shenanigans when I was a student and have been asked by many public schools that I have worked with to not return due to the fact that I have been one of those rare people that will let a young person say what they need to say and finish it as long as they are doing it in a civilized manner and not in a rude, crude and totally disorderly manner as some people can. For this I have been brandished unable to control students by some administrative people.. My point of view is much the same as your own. Any person regardless of age has the right to be heard and respected so long as they recognize those same rights of others and act in a civilized manner. The hardest struggle in this country's history was won through this basic precept. The struggle that I speak of was that of the Civil Rights Movement. It was won by both pressure from the inside as well as the outside by people who practiced non-violence but was met by those entrenched in power in the places where civil rights needed changing by violence. Those who fought for this struggle fought for it through the principles of non-violence, education and through working to bring both inside and outside pressure against the system to force the change. I can guarantee you that had violence been the choice of method that the majority of those civil rights fighters had chosen that they all would have been seen by the majority as lunatics and rebels and would have gotten far less support than what they eventually were able to garner. And our current struggle against the government being by and for big business and the ultra rich is of the same type of struggle that the Civil Rights struggle was. That said I will say this just as violence would have met a bitter end in the those days it will meet the same fate in these if those involved in this struggle to change our current society choose the violent path. The reason is this it may and probably will take world opinion as well as the opinion of the vast majority our own countrymen to turn against what's happening in the current situation to change it. That opinion will much better be shaped if it sees that non-violent gentle change is seeking to make headway but is being met by nothing but blatant violence on the part of those in power against those seeking the change. Those principles which worked for India's independence and for the eventual triumph of the Civil Rights movement may be old but they hold as much validity today in 2007 as they did in both 1947 and 1967. Look at a current example. How successful in bringing change have those who seek to change the current situation in the Middle East through violence truly been? Yes this country's government has been messing things up there since World War II but has that violence in the Middle East yet managed to bring about anything other than more violence? No! Also look at how things have been viewed by most of the rest of the world by this violence. When 9/11 occurred many of the world saw that violence was being used against this country unjustifiably regardless of how untrue this may be. If this was not still believed to be true by many in the world and perhaps the majority then the situation of our present wars would not be allowed to continue because there would be such an outcry by the nations of the world against the U.S. so as to force it to stop this war we're into. The fact is this much more has always been and always will be achieved in our present day world through non-violent means of protest against the system with it reacting with violence than ever will be accomplished by meeting violence with violence. There may be times one will need to resort to violence to defend one's self against the violence perpetuated by those in power. However, overall in today's world for a revolution to be revolutionary and truly change the society it must be seen as one where that revolution is a non-violent grassroots movement in the society against the establishment rather than a war of violence against the government by a bunch of thugs. In order for a non-violent revolution to succeed it needs to have educated, articulate, and knowledgable people operating both within and outside of the system that is being made to change. Otherwise the change will not occur and this revolution will be nowhere fast. Think seriously about this. One must learn from history to prevent the mistakes that have been made in the past from occurring again and one must also learn what has worked in the past in order to figure out how to be successful in the present. I'm not saying that some things will not be slightly different from era to era because they will, but overall the precepts and principles of historical lessons are applicable across time and space. Think of it like the following examples. Who is more famous and more remembered in the Civil Rights struggle in the U.S., Martin Luther King, Jr., who preached non-violence and practiced it, or Malcolm X, who favored violent change in that struggle? Who in India's independence is better remembered Ghandi ,who also taught and practiced non-violent struggle, or the Sikhs and Sepoys, who fought repeated wars for India's independence? Who is better remembered in the Irish independence struggle; the Fenians, who fought repeated organized violent wars across centuries against the British or The Irish Republican Army of 1916-1925 and Michael Collins, who caused those in power to turn against the innocent non-violent people of Ireland while the IRA of 1916-1925 struck against those in power with violence only when absolutely needed? The lesson time and again in all of these struggles is that the people in power lost that power every time because the people on the outside looking in on these situations saw those in power as unjustly acting and brought pressure upon those in power forcing things to change. Therefore I'll end this lengthy post by saying this; that change on the present war situation and the corporate government monster will not happen overnight. Remember this, the monster we struggle against today was not created in a day but over a long period of time stretching back at least 60 years if not longer. The first movement of the last 150 years, the Progressive movement, which was similiar to our own revolution, achieved what it achieved because of non-violence not because of violence. Also this revolution will achieve a million times more by sticking to non-violence, education and bringing pressure against the system than it ever will if it should choose the path of violence. This was my intended idea to convey in the very first of my posts on this subject and that is why I have been encouraging all young people who are involved in this revolution to deal with high school and to get an education and not to turn the way of ease and go down the path of overall violence in the revolution. Because we will need you to be educated, articulate, smart and knowledgeable about the truth in order to lead this revolution into the future otherwise whatever may be accomplished can and will eventually be lost. That was the point overall that I was seeking to convey. I never was seeking a place to bellyache and complain about young people. I therefore end this post by saying this; get an education and realize that it will be much easier to operate both inside of and outside of this system we're facing with having a high school diploma than not having it; if for no other reason than there may be times when the revolution requires financial funding by revolutionaries finding good paying work within the present system so that the revolution can complete certain goals that are needing to be accomplished. Good luck and Best Wishes to all of you who are in Jr. High and High School at this time for it will probably be you who will see the fruition of the revolution because the changes we seek to bring about will most likely not happen in the next two to five years. (El Almirante)

Return Of Libberator

Hey everyone sorry I haven't been on the wiki in a while i had to resolve some personal issues the last few weeks. Anyway, I'm glad to see this Free High School movement has picked up a lot of speed and new members.

To Mill Creek High: good to have you on bored it looks like you're really enthusiastic about righting the common wrongs found in high school across the country and we could really use you here. Check out the section on my future goals for this section and let me know what you think.

To El Almirante: wow, you really know how to leave long responses. anyway, its good to have you with us. I have the same position towards teachers that you do, full respect for the ones that are there to make a difference and no respect towards the ones that are only there for the money. Personally i hope to maybe one day be a teacher who is there to make a difference and work to continue improving high school only from the inside preferably in the english department.

On Of Mice and Men: Keep in mind you guys that songs, books, and paintings have thousands of ways to be interpreted each of them and all are right in their own way. My own personal interpretation of mice and me was that it's on fellowship between two unlikely men in a world that doesn't accept them, common goals and dreams unite us, and the importance of having goals and dreams to drive you. Steinbeck may have had these themes in mind or one of the other ones listed above or maybe he didn't, it doesn't really matter.

On the future: now that I'm back in action I hope to put up a few more sections in other parts of STW. Also I would like to expand the Free High School movement to myspace. This would allow us to reach out better to friends and organize better. Personally i would like to use a myspace group to organize a nation wide underground high school papers or a network of underground high school papers that work together. Eventually I will post an email account so that anyone can reach me or correspond with me directly. If you are interested in being a part of this or think it's not a good idea please feel free to let me know.

It's time to really shake things up! Libberator

Moving Some Content

The mall stuff, drug descriptions and other topics should probably be moved to trashing and free dope since they are not really high school specific. I will try to do this in a few days unless there are objections.

Thats a good idea.

Jedite83 00:22, 14 December 2007 (MST)

I originally included a drug section on this page because of all the incorrect anti-drug propaganda you receive in school from kindergarten to 12 grade. Feel free to move it if you want, just make sure you leave a link to the free dope section. Libberator 20:42, 15 December 2007 (MST)