Rebellion, part I

I have many thoughts to get down this weekend about what went right and what went wrong in this first week with my new lot. But I would like to share--in a series of posts--the activity I did with my Honors Civics class. After putting the Dec of Independence into their own words, the students then listed the grievances they had with the Principal and subsequently drafted their own DoI from the principal's authority. Text of the document is below:

"Dear Principal Harris,

There comes a time when every student should break away from the chains of oppression. We have come to a conclusion, after many debates, that the rules and guidelines of the school are way too strict; and that the opportunities given to us are limited. We shall explain the reasons why we desire to separate from your rule.
We have devised a few simple changes to your despotic system. We base our objections on the fact that we believe that democracy should be applied in this school, because we have natural rights.
The “long train” of our grievances:

YOU have taken away our right to text message and receive cell phone calls at school.

YOU have made money off of our families by charging too much for lockers that do not even work.

YOU have shut off the vending machines from which we obtain nourishment.

YOU have limited our creative expression by enforcing the dress code.

YOU have crushed our freedom by enforcing tardies and absences.

YOU have not allowed the existence of a dance team.

YOU have raised the price of lunch and the quality has dropped.

YOU have stifled creativity by not building an auditorium.

YOU have charged us heavy fees to take elective classes.

YOU have frozen us and given us the flu by not changing the outdated heating and air conditioning units.

YOU have taken away our homework and sleep time by enforcing detention.

Therefore, we the students of Mr. Thomas’ HONORS Civics class hereby declare our independence from your authority. We will seek to fulfill our rights on our own accord henceforth."