The Thomas Paine Archive


Articles Dante Alighieri Arthur Dent Jesus Jones Contact Us! Letter to the Editor Dante Alighieri Arthur Dent Jesus Jones Thomas Paine	Gone With the Wind In the last fiscal year, San Mateo County schools received over $7.4 million in money intended to improve student achievement. Jefferson Union High School District received exactly none of that money. Couldn't fill out a form. Couldn't ascertain eligibility. Couldn't be bothered. How on earth did this happen? More... Captive Audience It started during my sophomore year. It took place once again when I was a junior. This year, it has happened seven times, and I fear it will happen again. Hundreds of impressionable teens, taken hostage. No choice. No mute button. No escape. More... Sexual "Education" Every January, a new group of freshmen embarks on a wondrous journey. Expectations abound as these youthful, curious pupils trek into the vast and unknown environs that are "Health." Up to this point, they have been told so little, and hence they are full of questions, namely, the age-old "Where do babies come from?" More... The Truth Hurts The following item appeared in Dr. Kazakoff's weekly staff bulletin on Friday, December 13, 2002, sent to all staff and posted in a public location. It was Item 10 of 10. "Item #10: ON A LESS THAN POSITIVE NOTE: I have heard from many students and faculty who are extremely upset about the scurrilous comments made about them in the "Subterranean". More... Hostage Situation Late October: Three administrators walk into Leadership and announce that the next dance is cancelled unless the class comes up with a suitable method for handling drunks at the dances. Students were told they had to "earn" the dance's reinstatement. Students brainstorm numerous ideas, each of which is rejected by Administration, until they say the answer that the principals wanted all along: More... Forgoing the Boobies? Yesterday, we were at Starbucks involuntarily eavesdropping on the conversation of two loud women who were bemoaning men in general for patronizing strip clubs. We had the computer out, and the following exchange ensued. Enjoy. Power of the Parent 101 Ponder: there exist, here at Terra Nova, teachers who actually teach. One may not believe it given some of the ranting in this paper, but there are a good number of men and women who come to work and don't just do their jobs - they become their jobs. More.. Don't Shoot the Messenger Pacifica City Council This week, I met and interviewed all six candidates for Pacifica's City Council, asking them about their positions on issues that affect all of us. More than anything else, I tried to get a feel for who the candidates are and what they would do for our city...More >>> It's been some four weeks since Issue 1 came out, and since then, a great deal of chaos has enveloped the school, especially in the first-floor lair of those in charge. Many people have been called down for questioning, including a group of girls suspected by Administration of having received "early editions" of Issue 2. More... Follow-up It has been a mere week since the first issue of The Subterranean hit your desktops, and created a flurry at Terra Nova. A featured article in the periodical, entitled "Pathetic, Anyone?" generated the outcry from many members of leadership that the facts were confused, the article moot. At this juncture, all concerns to which we were alerted will be addressed. More..	The Most Importantest Thing…Ever! Let it be known, juniors and seniors, that April 2nd and May 31st, respec-tively, are celestially predestined to be the most important days of your lives. Not the day of your graduation. Not the day you are ultimately employed in the field of your choice. Not the day of your marriage. Not the days of your children's births. Not even Judgment Day. No single day shall ever be more important than the day of your prom. More... To Walk or Not to Walk? We sat down with somewhat discordant opinions regarding the recent walk-out. The following exchange ensued. More... The Man is Out Speeding rocks. Hard. Who doesn't enjoy it? Whether whizzing over Alicante to beat the lunchtime crowds, whirring over Fassler to make it to school on time, or pressing the upper limits on Highway 1 just because you can, it can't be doubted: speed is a source of joy for many a teen driver and something that seems to come naturally to us at this stage in our lives. The only people who really mind such automotive irreverence are the cops. The five-o. The fuzz. The man. Well, ladies and gentlemen, the man is out…and he wants your license. More... Reclaiming December "It's the most wonderful time of the year…" "I hear those sleigh bells ring-a-ling…" "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas…" Can you hear the music? Yes, children, it's that time again…that blissful season when everyone's spirits seem a bit brighter, children are a bit happier, and warmth towards one's fellow man abounds. Right? More... Brilliant Dropouts Every single day, I hear students in the classrooms and corridors of Terra Nova lament that "I'm never going to need to know this stuff outside of school. This is such a waste of time!" One might respond that these students are simply whining and should get over it. However, I'd like to set the record straight and join the dirge of the masses. More... They're Just Fucking Words! In the last week, I have overheard or been told by many that The Subterranean should not be swearing if it wishes to be regarded as a respectable publication. As one responsible for many of the "dirty words," and since this is a topic about which I feel strongly, I am thus compelled to respond to the concerns personally. More... Pathetic, Anyone? If our last senior class meeting was a restaurant, what they served was the usual: gentle scolding with a side of congratulations. The administration reminded students that the future is now, and then Senior Class Advisor Peita Ramos and Senior Class President Tiffany Zammit talked about Senior Ball. The latter speaker called the class "pathetic" for failing to put forth the effort to raise money for the all-important dance. The statements made seemed well-intentioned; after all, it's our last prom. What could be more important than that? The answer to that question came the following Friday: Lunch. More..	Archive Back Issues Why? Cartoons Poetry Random Rants Disclaimers Losers and Kudos of the Week Letters to the Editor Editor's Notes Picture of the Week
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Gone With the Wind

In the last fiscal year, San Mateo County schools received over $7.4 million in money intended to improve student achievement. Jefferson Union High School District received exactly none of that money. Couldn't fill out a form. Couldn't ascertain eligibility. Couldn't be bothered. How on earth did this happen? More...

Captive Audience

It started during my sophomore year. It took place once again when I was a junior. This year, it has happened seven times, and I fear it will happen again. Hundreds of impressionable teens, taken hostage. No choice. No mute button. No escape. More...

Sexual "Education"

Every January, a new group of freshmen embarks on a wondrous journey. Expectations abound as these youthful, curious pupils trek into the vast and unknown environs that are "Health." Up to this point, they have been told so little, and hence they are full of questions, namely, the age-old "Where do babies come from?" More...

The Truth Hurts

The following item appeared in Dr. Kazakoff's weekly staff bulletin on Friday, December 13, 2002, sent to all staff and posted in a public location. It was Item 10 of 10.

"Item #10: ON A LESS THAN POSITIVE NOTE: I have heard from many students and faculty who are extremely upset about the scurrilous comments made about them in the "Subterranean". More...

Hostage Situation

Late October: Three administrators walk into Leadership and announce that the next dance is cancelled unless the class comes up with a suitable method for handling drunks at the dances. Students were told they had to "earn" the dance's reinstatement. Students brainstorm numerous ideas, each of which is rejected by Administration, until they say the answer that the principals wanted all along: More...

Forgoing the Boobies?

Yesterday, we were at Starbucks involuntarily eavesdropping on the conversation of two loud women who were bemoaning men in general for patronizing strip clubs. We had the computer out, and the following exchange ensued. Enjoy.

Power of the
Parent 101

Ponder: there exist, here at Terra Nova, teachers who actually teach. One may not believe it given some of the ranting in this paper, but there are a good number of men and women who come to work and don't just do their jobs - they become their jobs. More..

Don't Shoot the Messenger

Pacifica City Council

This week, I met and interviewed all six candidates for Pacifica's City Council, asking them about their positions on issues that affect all of us. More than anything else, I tried to get a feel for who the candidates are and what they would do for our city...More >>>

It's been some four weeks since Issue 1 came out, and since then, a great deal of chaos has enveloped the school, especially in the first-floor lair of those in charge. Many people have been called down for questioning, including a group of girls suspected by Administration of having received "early editions" of Issue 2. More...

Follow-up

It has been a mere week since the first issue of The Subterranean hit your desktops, and created a flurry at Terra Nova. A featured article in the periodical, entitled "Pathetic, Anyone?" generated the outcry from many members of leadership that the facts were confused, the article moot. At this juncture, all concerns to which we were alerted will be addressed. More..

The Most Importantest Thing…Ever!

Let it be known, juniors and seniors, that April 2nd and May 31st, respec-tively, are celestially predestined to be the most important days of your lives. Not the day of your graduation. Not the day you are ultimately employed in the field of your choice. Not the day of your marriage. Not the days of your children's births. Not even Judgment Day. No single day shall ever be more important than the day of your prom. More...

To Walk or Not to Walk?

We sat down with somewhat discordant opinions regarding
the recent walk-out. The following exchange ensued. More...

The Man is Out

Speeding rocks. Hard. Who doesn't enjoy it? Whether whizzing over Alicante to beat the lunchtime crowds, whirring over Fassler to make it to school on time, or pressing the upper limits on Highway 1 just because you can, it can't be doubted: speed is a source of joy for many a teen driver and something that seems to come naturally to us at this stage in our lives. The only people who really mind such automotive irreverence are the cops. The five-o. The fuzz. The man. Well, ladies and gentlemen, the man is out…and he wants your license. More...

Reclaiming December

"It's the most wonderful time of the year…"

"I hear those sleigh bells ring-a-ling…"

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas…"

Can you hear the music? Yes, children, it's that time again…that blissful season when everyone's spirits seem a bit brighter, children are a bit happier, and warmth towards one's fellow man abounds. Right? More...

Brilliant Dropouts

Every single day, I hear students in the classrooms and corridors of Terra Nova lament that "I'm never going to need to know this stuff outside of school. This is such a waste of time!" One might respond that these students are simply whining and should get over it. However, I'd like to set the record straight and join the dirge of the masses. More...

They're Just Fucking Words!

In the last week, I have overheard or been told by many that The Subterranean should not be swearing if it wishes to be regarded as a respectable publication. As one responsible for many of the "dirty words," and since this is a topic about which I feel strongly, I am thus compelled to respond to the concerns personally. More...

Pathetic, Anyone?

If our last senior class meeting was a restaurant, what they served was the usual: gentle scolding with a side of congratulations. The administration reminded students that the future is now, and then Senior Class Advisor Peita Ramos and Senior Class President Tiffany Zammit talked about Senior Ball. The latter speaker called the class "pathetic" for failing to put forth the effort to raise money for the all-important dance. The statements made seemed well-intentioned; after all, it's our last prom. What could be more important than that? The answer to that question came the following Friday: Lunch. More..