The Education System is Dumb [Robert Hughes NPC Topic]

Unlike earlier in the day the school halls were empty, leaving the building to seem vacant yet pulse with a quiet sort of energy. Everyone was still at school, of course, classes weren't over. Class was in session. All the eager pupils and their illustrious clearly superior Government funded teachers were filling their brains with bullshit they'll never need and a linear view of the world. That's why Patty wasn't there. The only sounds aside from muffled instruction came from the delinquent's echoing footsteps as she swung her arms and meandered the building. She wasn't skipping though. Patricia was sent to the Principal's office for arguing with a teacher on the deeper themes of Romeo and Juliet. Mrs. Nolan portrayed the play as a cautionary tale against going against one's organization (the Capulets and the Montagues) for the sake of selfish desires as evidenced by the ending double-suicide, Patricia argued that the play was more focused on themes of passion and how those organizations should have no say in how two individuals should live their lives, that even if Romeo and Juliet killed themselves it was what they had wanted to do, to live and die by the mistakes they made and there was nothing wrong with that. It was a fairly innocent debate up until Patty asked her teacher are you fucking stupid? and got kicked out. That that was why Patty was there.

But whatever, she didn't directly get detention (at least not yet) and wasn't written up, there was the odd chance that this would never reach Principal Hughes's ears and she could just pretend she was there to ask about other things. Like, Mrs. Nolan said go to the Principal's office! so like, she did what she was told. She didn't say tell the Principal you called me fucking stupid because I was being a close-minded bitch so she'd shut her mouth if it didn't come up. Easy day. Patricia sidled up to the door to the Principal's office and rapped her knuckles on the wood. She'd need to think of a good reason why she was there too, exactly how to phrase it and a good cover just in case he knew she was full of shit. Patty had gotten into trouble but she didn't plan on staying there.

Posts : 2548 Join date : 2015-01-01 Age : 25

"Come in." The headmaster's voice would be heard from behind the door, as the teenager opened the door and entered his office his attention which was previously transfixed on a set of papers laying on his table would shift to Patricia. From what he had heard she was somewhat troublesome. "Ah, Ms.McDowell correct?"

With one hand he removed his glasses and placed them on the table. He inferred a teacher send her there, after all it was class time, but why she was sent there made him wonder...

"Take a seat." He gracefully gestured towards the chair before his desk."Now tell me Ms.McDowell, why are you here today?"

Patricia kicked off the frame and lazily swung the door open, allowing it to fall shut behind her as she strode in with a nonchalant gait.

The Education System is Dumb [Robert Hughes NPC Topic] Impres11

"That's what they call me! Got a sec?"

Patricia sauntered in chirping as if she didn't get sent there for mouthing off to an authority figure at all, like she wanted to be there. Like, that's really how you get away with this kind of thing. Most people think you're a trouble maker when you act all defiant and too cool and shit but if you were nice enough they let it slide. Besides, she could make it seem like she totally chose to be there and that might be enough to complicate the issue so that it just gets dropped. Patty was going to take a seat anyway, sliding the rigid chair out to a cant so she had room to cross one leg over the other. She folded her arms but in a relaxed way instead of an aggressive one, her posture was chill for the most part.

"Yeah so like I wanted to talk to you about the Student Council and stuff if I can. So like, I wanted to try running for Class Treasurer and I even started putting up posters and stuff but I'm gonna be totally honest when I say I don't really know what I'm doing, haha." Patricia would gesture as she spoke, keeping up a positive attitude and an interested smile as she did so.
"I've kinda not done anything like it before, school stuff I mean, but there's a first time for everything right? Like, what would I be doing exactly? I'm pretty sure it's fund raising and junk but I bet there's a lot more than that and I totally have no idea." Okay so it technically wasn't lying if she wanted to ask him about that, right? It just wasn't telling the truth. Of course, she'd have to get lucky and hope he just doesn't know who sent her here or why or that bitch doesn't decide to call in and rat her out. But that was cool, she'd talk her way out of that one too.

Strengths, Weaknesses:

Impact:

Posts : 2548 Join date : 2015-01-01 Age : 25

"I assume you got the teacher's permission to leave during class to discuss this. Still, you do know i'm available during breaks? I don't want students losing class time." The headmaster spoke, his tone was stern but not confrontational.

Regardless of her answer he'd definitely talk to the teacher afterwards, not out of distrust necessarily but if he gave her the benefit of doubt this once he'd have start opening exception to every student that comes knocking on his door during class period. As for the subject she wanted to discuss, it definitely got his attention. Considering her "background" it was a pleasant surprise.

"It's good to see students are interested in school duties. Yes, fund raising is part of the duties of a class treasurer, so is managing the budget of the class bank and reporting the status during Councils, which you are required to attend." The headmaster paused for a moment. "Though, if you have no idea of what to do. What made you interested in the position? It's a lot of responsibility."

"Yeah, 'course I did," Patricia answered thoughtfully and immediately, "We were just doing discussion anyway, it's not like we were learning anything new." Like, Mrs. Nolan told her to come here in the first place. She just did it for other reasons and wanted to get her sorted out, but like yeah no, that wasn't about to happen. She said go to the Principal's office this instant! so Patty did. Like, she didn't tell her what to do when she was there so technically none of this was dishonest. She uh, was still gonna be in deep shit if this ever got figured out but like it maybe might not? If he asked Mrs. Nolan if she had permission to go to the Principal's office she'd say yah she sent her there and then Principal Hughes would ask why-

...fuuuuuuuuuck.

Okay whatever, this just meant she was going to have more time to... figure this out. Yeah this was future Patty's problem, best case she'd just get called out of class again and have to lie her ass off but that just meant more time out of class. She listened to Principal Hughes with all of her limited attention span as he went over just what would be expected of her and it was all easy shit like she thought but she wouldn't be caught not listening right now. She had to put on the I love my school act or she was gonna get fried.
"I mean, I just knew it would involve fund raising and I have a lot of cool ideas I probably need to talk to you about when I get there," she spoke animatedly, completely glossing over the fact that she was just assuming she would get the position in the first place, "I dunno, I thought it sounded like a good thing to do. Like, good for me to do I mean. It's got to be the same for everyone else trying to get into Student Council, like, they can't know what they're doing until they actually get there either, I'll figure it out. I'm an adult now, I've got a job, I can handle responsibility dude."

She kept up an easygoing appearance despite starting to get a little bit annoyed with him. Like, he was implying she didn't know what the fuck she was doing. Oh, you have to be responsible and you have to attend councils, we all know you'll have a problem with that because you're fucking delinquent trash. But whatever. Don't get mad, get even. It just made Patricia want it more because other people said she couldn't do it. Honestly she probably should try to do it because parole and all that junk but like, she wanted to do it because it'd be easy and get her out of other stuff. Like, that was legit right? Something about time management and future planning or some shit, writing her schedule around skating could totally be spun into a good thing.

Posts : 2548 Join date : 2015-01-01 Age : 25

"I believe there's something to be learned from debates. Even if you are not convinced or agrees with one perspective, you can still gain insight on it. Or sometimes even reach a synthesis of both sides of the argument. It also aids with oratory skills... which you will need if you wish to be elected." He spoke, irrelevant as it to the main topic was the headmaster had something he felt should be said.

The headmaster quietly listened to the students answer. Generic and with no direction. Not that it mattered, she likely wouldn't get the position if she has no idea of what she is doing and if she is, well, more power to her.

"Very well, Ms.McDowell." He gave her a nod, his neutral expression made him hard to read. "Is there anything else you would like to discuss or is that all?"

"Yeah, I totally agree! As long as both sides can say their piece and be considered it really makes you think about stuff, I don't think anyone ever got anywhere without having their ideas challenged, y'know?" she'd comment. It was a slight insight into her own situation, as long as both sides were considered. Mrs. Nolan wasn't considering her side she was just being a preachy bitch, Patty was honestly still pissed off about it. It totally felt good to just ditch her and not even get yelled at for it. But she was already pretty good at talking her way out of things, kinda like now how she was supposed to be in trouble but wasn't? She really wasn't worried, the thug could be the smoothest talker alive if she wanted to be.

She crossed one leg over the other, shifting her stance slightly as she grew comfortable. The alternative to this situation would probably be going back to class and sitting through Mrs. Nolan's smugness or apologizing or coming back right where she was to do this all again but with screaming so if she could she'd time this out. The odds of Mrs. Nolan wanting to push this pass her English period were pretty damn low by her guess. Patricia would spend as much time as she could in the Principal's office until the bell rung.
"No, no not really, but why can't we keep talking about this?" she'd invite, maintaining her casual demeanor "I mean, I did want to talk to you about the Student Council and about being Class Treasurer but I mean if I just wanted to learn what I'd be doing I could've asked any teacher and got told. Like, I wanna know more than that. Like you said oration was important, but what else? I bet you would've done something like this when you were my age, right? What should I do, Principal? You have to have some good advice I bet." So it was sort of buttering him up, but it's not like she just wanted to keep him talking. Like, she did, but she was interested in what he had to say too. If anything she wanted to win on the sole foundation that was no one believed she could, and any little advantage she could take she would. She would've seen him at some point anyway, this was... just a convenient time to do it. Kill two birds with one stone, y'know?

Posts : 2548 Join date : 2015-01-01 Age : 25

"Indeed." Principal Hughes answer was short in order to avoid getting sidetracked.

Despite her apparent lack of knowledge she appeared set on learning more about the position and how to perform better at it. Something the principal appreciated, it showed interest in the position and a level of compromise with the position. He'd entertain her questions for now, if she was going to stay away from class might as well learn something with it.

"Managing the funds might sound easy on paper, but it takes more planning than you think. Weighing if it's worth to spend the funds on something now or if it's important to keep them for something more important for later, what amount goes into each project and so on." He calmly explained, to many the idea of managing money sounded simple but it requires more foresight than most assume. "Oratory will aid you if you want to get elected, yes. You can be the best Treasurer in the world but you won't get the position if you can't make people believe you are the best. Speak with confidence and as for you mannerisms... they are fine for casual conversation but people won't take you seriously if you use them during a speech."

Hughes would lean back on his chair, tapping his glasses on his left hand gently while looking up. He pondered on what else he could tell Patricia.

Shit, yeah that was right. Patty would have to actually plan for stuff, like, plan for longer than a few weeks away. Well that sucked. She wasn't really good at planning junk but at the same time she had certain immeasurable qualities that could do the same job without needing to plan for it if the goal was having enough money to do crap with. Honestly she was totally better at getting something done that just kind of pops up, which was uh, pretty much everything when you sucked at planning for the future like she was. If Patricia was rattled by it she didn't show it but it would've been something that would've impacted her decision if she knew it was more than fundraising and spending money you got from fundraising. Budgeting totally blew chunks. Whatever, she already wanted to do it in the first place so she'd get to be Class Treasurer if it killed her. She'd wait for the pause in his advice before speaking herself.

The Education System is Dumb [Robert Hughes NPC Topic] Thinki10

"Huh. Yeah I guess I didn't account for doing finances as Treasurer... as dumb as that sounds..." she'd admit, reflecting just like the Principal was doing. "I guess I never thought that far ahead. Like, I knew I'd have to be in charge of fundraising but I thought it'd just be funneling the money you made into stuff until it ran out and you did it again. It really didn't occur to me that I'd have to, y'know, manage it that much in the first place since the clubs and the council members would decide how much they need for what..." Her thoughtful look would fade to her average dreamy smile as she went into further explanation. "But I'm totally one of those sink or swim types, I'm positive I can do it I just need to be exposed to it and have something like immediately in front of me to accomplish first."

Patricia took this moment to shift gears a little bit while he was still thinking. For whatever reason he kept bringing up her speaking skills so he probably didn't like the way she talked but that didn't mean she was bad at it. Especially not when she wanted something.

The Education System is Dumb [Robert Hughes NPC Topic] Welcom11

"I'm confident, you can trust me when I say that I'm the best person for this position but not for the reasons you would expect. I may not be the obvious choice for it but I can promise you that I'll work the hardest at it because of how much it means to me. Most other students who want this position see it as a status symbol or an achievement they can put on a college application but I don't care about any of that. I want it more than anyone else does because I think highschool isn't just something you do for a few years, taking tests to get into college. It's an experience that will shape much of your future. As Class Treasurer I want to accept that responsibility of offering the best experience I can, creating the fondest memories everyone can look back and pointing everyone in a more positive direction for the future. I'm not satisfied with just holding a bakesale every month and calling it good, I want students to get involved, to have fun earning money for school activities because they want to make them the best they can be and because they have pride in their school and in their student body. In that direction I think that Class Treasurer is more than just counting money and spending money and managing it, it's a Student Council position after all, it's a position that's most important in providing that experience as a direct reflection of how much students care about hosting these events for their school. The best Treasurer with no commitment like I have might be the best at planning and at management, but she won't be able to make people care and raise money in the first place. That's why I think I'm the best for this position. I'm not in it for the accolades, I'm in it because I care and I know I'll work as hard as I can to make highschool a memorable experience."

Patricia would have sat up and spoke to the heart, with conviction and earnestness... though would slide back down into her chair at the end of her short speech, once again folding her arms and legs but cocking her head to the side with a sassy smirk. Oh yeah, he wanted oration? She'd fucking show him how good she was.

The Education System is Dumb [Robert Hughes NPC Topic] Smug13

"How'zat? Yo, seriously lemme know what you think because I'm honestly planning on using it."

Posts : 2548 Join date : 2015-01-01 Age : 25

"In any case, you should try to build up management skills. Start with something small before you move up to bigger budgets." He stated. "Immediate short term planning can help you with fund raising, i suppose. Do keep in mind if you do fundraising too often students will get suspicious and start asking themselves where all the money is going into."

He'd fall silent once again so he could listen to the delinquent's speech, she wasn't as unprepared as he had first assumed. It showed she could be professional when necessary despite her apparent laid back demeanor, hopefully she could actually be serious when necessary and now just pretend.

"Some bits are rather...'cheesy' but overall very good." The Headmaster gave the student an approving nod. "It seems like you don't really need help with that."

"Yeah, I guess you're right about that. I've got a job now, maybe I can start with my own stuff? I dunno, all my money right now is disposable income except for my phone bill, I guess I could probably do something smart with it," she mused aloud. A brief flash of terror washed over her as she realized that someday soon she'd need to get a car and an apartment and pay rent and keep the lights on but it passed quickly. It was seriously scary to think that she'd need to be responsible for so much petty crap she took for granted, maybe she should do something about it.
"C'mon, it'll all go to good stuff that people ask for, junk like football pads and vending machines and prom. Tangible stuff you can see, y'know? Transparency's good for that kind of stuff, keeps you from getting fried, ha ha."

Patricia was impressed that the Principal was impressed and showed it. She was always good at talking, it didn't matter who or what. Being suave was a pretty mandatory skill if you kept going against the grain like she did.
"Thanks dude! I spent a lot of time thinking about what I'd say. Like, a lot of it's true though." Patricia stood up from her seat slowly. "I think highschool should be some of the best memories you have and I'd like to be the one to enable that. To be honest I'm pretty sick of how the stress is all like, getting into college and scoring high on tests. I mean I know that's kinda the point but it's like everyone's forgotten that they can make life-long friends and moments here too. I think that's equally important in life, y'know?"

Patricia pushed in her chair and took a step backward, preparing to leave.
"Hey, thanks for talking to me about stuff. I think I have a good idea what I should do now. But yeah like you said debates are important and I should probably go back to class before it's over and I miss more stuff than I need to, it'd totally suck to have to beg for notes again." Patty had mostly forgotten about snapping at Mrs. Nolan for acting like a bitch, she got distracted by the student council thing, it only occurred to her again after she moved to return to class. Eh, whatever. It was probably going to be fine. She had the whole walk back to compose herself and think about what kind of excuses she was going to make anyway. Actually, come to think of it...

The delinquent froze mid-turn and looked back to Principal Hughes.
"I think I actually learned more just right now instead of sitting at a desk anyway, ha ha. Talk again?" Like, he actually got her to think about shit a little bit instead of hammering whatever the schoolboard wanted her to learn into her skull. Finances were important and totally relevant, yo. Romeo and Juliet could fucking die.

Posts : 2548 Join date : 2015-01-01 Age : 25

"That's noble goal, it could motivate students and raise satisfaction. However, don't lose focus of your studies Ms. McDowell." The headmaster spoke as he placed his glasses back on his face. Despite her demeanor and apparent background she was perhaps good hearted, something to keep in mind. "You should return indeed, i don't want to hear you are failing in class because you are focused on other activities. I'm open to talk to you but please, do it during breaks."

"Until next time, Ms. McDowell."

Posts : 2548 Join date : 2015-01-01 Age : 25

Patricia McDowell of the Devil Arcana has established a Social Link with Robert Hughes of the Hermit Arcana!

Social Qualities:

» Requisitioned Request for a Report and Advice (Hughes SL - Afternoon)
» Experiment 001: Human Education [Cadmus' Intro: OPEN]
» Microsoft Being Dumb! : D
» Dumb thug needs friends
» Strike Me Dumb, God [Marta/Closed]