

The building itself is hostile: cracked plaster, broken windows, splintered doors and carved up desks, gloomy corridors and metal stairways, dingy cafeteria (they can eat sitting down only in 20 minute shifts) and an auditorium which has no windows.When I had asked why they were taking English, a boy said: "To help us in real life."."Let it be a challenge to you" means you're stuck with it "interpersonal relationships" is a fight between kids "ancillary civic agencies for supportive discipline" means call the cops "Language Arts Dept." is the English office "literature based on child's reading level and experiential background" means that's all they've got in the Book Room "non-academic-minded" is a delinquent and "It has come to my attention" means you're in trouble.

"Keep on file in numerical order" means throw in wastebasket. The clerical work is par for the course.

