As many of you know, I've had trouble getting some of my schoolwork done, but, as a recent call from my parents revealed, I have officially graduated from high school, days before college started. That is nice, and important, I guess. I'm sure that was required for my being here.

But anywho, I have finished my last Spanish test, and with the last test in every subject, the school gives you a page where it asks you to leave your comments about the course. As much fun as they had torturing me, I was going to have some fun replying to them about my experiences. However, they really didn't give me a chance. They hade three questions, something like, "What was your opinion of of the study guide?" and "Where the exams clearly worded? Did you feel they covered material adequately?," I don't remember them all exactly, but they were all in regard to the study guide or the examinations. The problems I had were with the textbook. However, this was not going to deter my plan to verbally ravage the terrible mess of wood pulp, soy ink, and glue they called a textbook.

I took this problem into my own hands, and using the extra space left on the page following my answer to the third question to write, "What is your opinion of the textbook? What, if any, suggestions do you have regarding it?" Pleased to see that there was finally the question I've been literally waiting years to answer, I went to work and the result follows:

The textbook was a terrible learning tool. It made this the hardest course i took at American School. (The next hardest course was Spanish 1.) This is despite the 8 years of Spanish I took in elementary and middle school. It took two other books bought on my own to help me understand the content that the textbook rushed over. Near the end, I would look over the topic in the supplements before cracking open the textbook. Thus far my grades have improved.

I would suggest getting wood burning stoves installed next to all the staff's desks and take the remaining supply of the books and make good use of their carbon-based properties. With soaring natural gas prices, this should help with the winter heating bills. If you run out, I'll send you mine.

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