There has been a tremendous amount of media coverage regarding the provincial government's plans to revamp the entire educational structure. At the heart of the situation is a teacher's union that is fighting for the advancement of the education system and the rights of the students. The union believes that today's youth is the cornerstone of the future. To disrupt the learning environment would be to hinder the success of students. Opposing them is a bill of amendments, created by the government, which stipulates that an overhaul in fundamental procedures will deteriorate the stimuli that drives students to succeed. In other words, there will be changes that will drastically affect the potential of students because teachers will not be able to provide valuable knowledge and insight into a specified field.
In protest to this bill, students at different schools are planning to "strike" against the changes proposed by the government. Unfortunately, many of the involved students are unaware of the political consequences regarding such an action. The obvious ignorance displayed by these striking students will only damage the delicate negotiations between the teachers' union and the government. In many cases, the students are walking out for something that they know little or nothing about. There has been an evil rumour that some students at MAC were considering walking out. The School Advisory Council has encouraged Mrs. Taylor to hold an assembly on Monday to address the student body. Her speech will notify students of the situation at hand. She will deal with the major issues of Bill 160. The major issues are geared towards increasing the quality of education by decreasing the means by which to achieve it. The main issues include a massive $1 billion budget cut, the annihilation of co-curricular programs, the decertification of teachers, the removal of early childhood education, and the deterioration of student learning conditions. These issues, produced by the government, will be utilized as the means to address the myth of rising standards. Unfortunately, it is hard to stand up when you're continuously being kicked down.
I am asking the student body to listen to the advice of Mrs. Taylor. The student leaders of the school have no interest in pursuing a protest where the students involved are uneducated as to the repercussions of the protest. Alternative methods of expression are already being planned by the student leaders. To those who have already decided to protest, I beg you to reconsider such an action. The teachers' union is at a critical point during their negotiations, and an unnecessary protest will do nothing but destroy the very thing that they have strived for.
Bryan Gopaul and Richard Windross
"GO MAC!", "YEAH BLACKSCOTS!", "MAC #1!": those were just a few of the excited cheers I heard on Wednesday at Macdonald's pep rally. The pep rally can be described by this one sentence: Mac Sprit is running wild!
This pep rally was a lot better than the one we had two years ago. The student body, although they were crammed into the aud and could barely breathe, was very energetic and they filled the aud with a great feeling of school pride.
Also, this year they gave prizes! However, whipping balls into the audience wasn't exactly the best way to do it. I think someone got hit in the face with a tennis ball but I'm not sure.
Plus, the music was great!
They had songs by The Prodigy, Moist, and Blur . Why can't they play these in the mornings before the announcements? Though, that's another story that I don't want to get into, so I won't.
In closing: MAC SPRIT RULES!
Stoopid Head
Dear MacNews,
I am in grade 9, and have just finished reading your latest issue. It was really good, and I am interested in joining you. I'm just wondering, is it too late? I never heard anything about a sign-up, so I'm looking into it by writing to you.
Genny Manolakos
Dear Jenny,
The reason you've never heard about sign-ups is because we've never had any. If you want to join MacNews, come to room 114 after school on Thursdays. Everyone is welcome (especially newbies!), and there's no obligatoin to show up every week. Just come when you've got something to write about.
If you can't make it on Thursdays, just drop your poem or article off in the MacNews mailbox, or give it straight to me.
Sofi, ed.
ARIES: You are warm, fiery, passionate, and expressive with a streak of spontaneity. This week, take a risk!
TAURUS: Patience is the key to surviving this week. Don't be too cautious when approaching new things. Repetition is boring!
GEMINI: You know how to communicate, so this week, tell something to somebody that you've been wanting to tell them for a long time.
CANCER: Watch the mood swings this week! Somebody is watching what you do. First impressions count.
LEO: You're feeling bright and energetic this week. Put it to good use; do your homework!
VIRGO: Being overly cautious is a trait of Virgos. Use it this week. Somebody is thinking about you.
LIBRA: Your charming ways are going to resolve some of the trouble you've had in the past.
SCORPIO: Get over your grudge. It's over. Move on. Speak from the heart this week.
SAGITTARIUS: You're optimistic, outgoing and adaptable. You're on a mission this week.
CAPRICORN: Being very positive and having a sense of humour will help a close friend.
AQUARIUS: Having trouble with something? Stop being so stubborn! Let the other guy have his way!
PISCES: Set your imagination free this week! Look inside of yourself for answers to questions you've been asking other people.
Shorty
By Homer J. Simpson.
*ahem* La la la la... *ahem* LAAAAAAA!!
DO...... the stuff... that buys me beer..
RAY..... the guy that sells me beer...
ME...... the guy... who drinks the beer...
FAR..... a long way to get beer...
SO...... I'll have another beer...
LA...... I'll have another beer...
TEA..... no thanks, I'm drinking beer...
That will bring us back to...
(Looks into an empty glass)
D'OH!
Submitted by A.T.
Dear Guinness Gal,
That sounds like a fantastic idea! I was so excited about trying your recipe that I went straight to the grocery store. That's where the problems started. All the different kinds of peanut butter made my head throb. Which ones do you recommend?
Need Some Oreo Fun
Dear N.S.O.F.,
Sure I can help. It's a tough world out there, and the huge aisles in the grocery stores can be very intimidating. When it comes to peanut butter, only SMOOTH will do, and you'll get the best results. I recommend smooth peanut butter to all beginners. However, if you're up for a challenge, or have had sufficient experience, CRUNCHY has some exhilerating results. There are three possible choices of Oreos.. All work well so use your favourite. If you're looking for a lower-fat version, the 25% Less Fat Oreos are good, but taste strange at first. I hope this helped. Thanks for the mail =)
Last week, Matthew Pullerits, a grade 10, was appointed webmaster of the Macdonald website. This site can be reached at http://macdonald.egate.net. Hopefully, our website will become something all Mac students can be proud of. Good work, Matthew!!
Nony LaSouris
Four. That's how many fingers I'd like to have. No more, no less. After some pain and tears and bleeding and gnashing of teeth and screeching, all I'd be left with is a pair of fingers on each hand. They wouldn't even be hands anymore, they'd be mandible claws.
I once saw a woman at the sideshow who had hands like those, and I wonder if she had to go through what I'm proposing to do to get them. The Lobster Girl, half human and half crustacean. According to the sign, she had hands just like the ones I want. Wow.
After I get my new hands, I'll hunt me down a sideshow to work at. There aren't as many around as there used to be.
It's not as bad as it used to be, being a freak. The hours are better now, and you get government support for being different. Affirmative action taken to the max is when any man or woman can do any job, despite the fact that s/he has scaly skin or two pupils in each eye.
Also, if you work the sideshows, you get to retire to Florida with all the other freaks. That town in The X-Files really exists. You go to the grocery store, and half the women have beards. The other half can fit their husbands in the child seat of the cart. Freakville, U.S.A. Not a bad life, and all it costs to get there is six fingers.
Tetsujin 28