Pep Assemblies- the true highlight of "education" in America, the one event where kids of all types can be herded together, and conform by adorning colored arm bands and such, in support of the home teams at this wonderful institution known as High School.
I remember my first experience at a BSH pep assembly, being reprimanded (by staff as well as students), for not standing up and cheering, or singing the school fight song (which I don't plan on learning- so fuck you), being glared at for choosing to remain seated during the pledge of allegiance, and hearing really intelligent statements from our school's head authority figures, down on the gymnasium floor.
"I am very disappointed in the negative attitudes some students display toward our rival schools. Now come on and kill the Cougars! Woo hoo!"
"We strictly prohibit any discrimination, hazing, or initiation. Now, a little louder, 'Freshmen suck!', and girls don't forget to sign up for Big Sister, Little Sister."
I read somewhere a comparison on high school pep assemblies to the two minutes hate in the book 1984. Think about that for a second...
Okay, I know they're harmless, all in fun (hmmm...I tried to be amused, but really they're just incredibly lame and boring), and it's easier to accept the group mentality than to waste time thinking for yourself, so a great time is had by all, etc., etc., but I still find this whole mentality a bit disturbing. The faceless huddled masses, cheering, blindly conforming, doing just what our teachers say.
"If you don't like the assemblies, don't go. We don't want you there."
"Well, we don't go."
"Well, we try to make school fun, because WE know what you all want, us being the all-knowing high school staff, so appreciate what we do for you, dammit!"
The staff thinks they know what we ALL want, same with the student council (you remember, the ones who delivered identical boring speeches about how they care about EVERYONE'S concerns), they think we all want the SAME THINGS for the SAME REASONS that WE'RE ALL THE SAME, and aren't we proving them right?
I am sure that MANY high-schoolers in America think their principal is an asshole, or have teachers they don't get along with, or think this whole education system is, well, less than perfect. Yet, some of these same "individuals" are out there cheering and screaming for the home team just 'cause well that's what they tell us to do, you know, don't ask why, right?
Wrong. Tell ANYONE if they are being an asshole, don't be afraid to tell "Authority" to fuck off, and THINK before you just accept some idea that is fed to you.
