week 25

School MY Way
By Cheshta Singh
Albert D. Lawton School, Grade 6

If I could change one thing about my school it would be for kids to rule the school not teachers. I mean, who wants to learn about algebra or when Fidel Castro overthrew Batista? Borrrrriiiiiiinnnnnnggggggg. Snore. If I were principal, I would do more funner things like take a field trip to Hawaii occasionally and surf the waves. Why study about Antarctica when you can visit Antarctica? For math instead of finding an area of a rectangle we would bake brownies and who cares about the area? I would just eat it in one gulp.

I Want my mp3
By Krystal Schraut
Spaulding High School, Grade 11

There are many things I would change about my school. One thing is the new rule enforced on no ipods or mp3 players during class. Just a few weeks ago, the rule was under teachers discretion; if the teacher didn't mind his or her students listening to music during certain activities, like taking tests or quizzes, then the students were allowed. Now however, the administrative has cracked down and has said "no musical devices whatsoever." This new rule should go back to the way it used to be.

Picture of Change
By Ryan Tran
John J Flynn Elementary School, Grade 4

If I could change one thing about my school it would be to make a school mural so we can have something good at our school. When we are older we can go back to Flynn and see what we did in the past and remember what we did before. I think the school mural should be people holding hands around a world and different colors and different languages from different cultures. I think some people will disagree. They might say how will we get the supplies? We can have a fund-raiser to raise money for the supplies. And where are we going to paint the mural? I was thinking of the cafeteria because when the students eat they will remember to respect and treat other people how they want to be treated. My idea is that some teachers and some students can paint the mural on a weekend together. Then people would think school is a better place.

New School
By Holly McClintock
Hiawatha Elementary, Grade 3

If I could change the school,
I would make no rules.
No homework for me!
The principal I’ll be!
If I could change the school.
I would jump around and play,
Much, much, more than just one day.
If I could change the school.
WE COULD SHOUT!!!!
(And give a clout)

Creative Writing
By Alec Ellis
Woodstock Union High School, Grade 10

If I could change one thing about my school, I would remove the things that help to put a damper on a student’s curiosity and interest in learning. For example, when a student is forced to write creatively on a teacher’s command, it turns writing into a chore for that student. It is likely that he/she will not write anything especially creative because the command of a teacher alone can lack the inspiration needed to actually use one’s imagination and creativity. This could make a student dislike writing and therefore, make it less likely for he/she to write on their own time. I believe that by removing these and other similar aspects of our educational system, students would learn more by finding more enjoyment and gratification in their work.

Quick Change
By Nathan Dike
Hiawatha Elementary, Grade 3

If I could change the school, we would have just 5 seconds of school. We wouldn’t have homework and I would sleep in my classroom. There would be no rules! I would eat in the teacher’s room. The playground will be my backyard, and I will play when I am bored. I will play on the computer all day long. The library is where I’d get all my books. The principal's office is where I’d be the boss of all the teachers.

A Change for the Better
By Lacy Bortz
John J Flynn Elementary School, Grade 4

If I could change one thing about my school it would be picnic day. I think we should have picnic day every day of the week. Picnic day is when you get to sit anywhere in the lunchroom with anyone you want. You can sit with your friends and children from different classes. You can eat on the floor or on a mat or at a table. I like picnic day because then I could teach my friends how to knit and play games they don’t know. Picnic day is good for talking about things that are happening at school and after school. I could talk with my friends about things that are happening at our homes, too.

For Arts Sake
By Anthony Bruessard
John J Flynn Elementary School, Grade 4

If I could change one thing about my school I would change Art because I like to draw and Art would be for a longer time. It would be an hour every day instead of only having Art once each week. I think we should have Art every day because some people might want to be an artist. In Art, we could draw monsters, we could paint, we could make things out of paper mache, or draw animals.

Vermont
Matt Schultz
Brattleboro Area Middle School, Grade 8

I really like Vermont
Even though it's not very hot
There are a lot of pine trees
And some come in threes

It's very cold
And kinda old
There's a lake monster
But no lobster

It's white in the winter
And sometimes you'll get a splinter
In the summer it is green

Snow
McKenzie Bover
Brattleboro Area Middle School, Grade 7

As the snow falls to the ground,
I wipe off my frosty window,
To see the thin sheet of white,
It thumps to the trees so lightly,
It makes a decent ending on my front lawn.

When it falls from the sky,
It turns the earth to a wonderland
And it chills the air so fast,

Disappointment
Lizz Benton
Brattleboro Area Middle School, Grade 7

Disappointment sets in
When there are no more hugs or kisses
When there's less talking
When it stops completely

Disappointment takes over
When there's no more laughter
When anger builds up
Overpowering the love
Not changing it to hate

Cherry Hill Road
Jesse Woodcock
Brattleboro Area Middle School, Grade 8

Dark before light,
Moon before night,
Certain things I see
Up on Cherry Hill Road.

Cookies after tea,
Flowers after bees,
Simple things I see
Up on Cherry Hill Road.

Whip the cream,
Balance the beam,
Lively things I see
Up on Cherry Hill Road.

'Under God' stays
By Cheri Murphy
Rutland Middle School, Grade 8

Dear Editor,
My name is Cheri and I am writing about whether should we remove the words “under God” from the pledge of allegiance and my answer is, no we should NOT remove the words “under God” from the pledge.

'Under God' Goes
By Kelsey Soto
Rutland Middle School, Grade 8

Dear Editor,

I feel that “under God” should be removed from the pledge of allegiance. I believe that it totally goes against the Constitution. I found that this is very rude to people who don’t believe in God.

Picture and words by Alex Paone
Mount Mansfield Union High School, Grade 10

Eyes can see the world
Through eyes we see beauty
Through eyes we see color