Self-esteem School

So, as my mom can attest, I have a Music Literature class this semester that is needlessly difficult. As this is public domain, I suppose that's all I should say about that. BUT. We all have to do these class presentations in an effort to follow the glorious new learning model which includes students teaching each other which will somehow lead to a beautiful world where everyone loves learning and we all become Einsteins. I'm not saying certain elements aren't good, but I'm not sure that class presentations are really the best choice. Nonetheless, we have to do these projects, which include a 5-6 page research paper and a 5-10 minute presentation on the topic. Last week I did mine on Palestrina. Chad helped me put together a slideshow of the Sistine Chapel set to Palestrina's music (It applied to his role in history and a few quotes I had). I wrote my paper and I made a PowerPoint (lame-o PowerPoint but using my teacher as my example, that's what I chose to do) and I spent what seemed like forever on it. I learned everything there was to know about Palestrina and I wrote an intelligent paper (or at least I like to think so) and put together a useful presentation. And the teacher liked it - and my class did too. Now, if you're wondering where this is going, you obviously don't know me all that well. Today a girl stood up to present her project and the first words out of her mouth were "I brought brownies!". And the first words out of my teacher's mouth? "Wow! A+!" The first words that came to my mind? "Are you kidding me?!" She brought in brownies as part of her project. Which had absolutely nothing to do with her project. Except that she put a sticker on the Saran wrap of each one that said the name of the composers her presentation was on. She was vying for literal brownie points. I kind of thought that once we got out of high school that would no longer be an issue. Obviously I was wrong. So help me if she gets an A+ for bringing in brownies. And I guess I'm too prideful because the other kids in the class were saying "You should definitely get an A for bringing us brownies!" You know what this means? The rest of the semester's presentations will be fraught with superfluous sweets of all kinds. And everyone will get A's. Apparently college is easier than high school. Apparently it's easier than nursery. Bring a snack and everyone's happy.

*sigh* Some people.

Sometimes I don't feel like I go to college - I go to a glorified middle school.