Davison Online

I don’t care if it reminds you of Jesus on the cross. The duck is not for hitting.

—Erin, proving that the religious education of our kids is going just swell

You’re going to be a great big girl, and I’m going to be big mustache.

—Jonah explains the future to Elisha

Erin teaches high school English. Although the spelling has been cleaned up on some quotes so that they’re understandable, they’ve been left “as is” on others since the spelling errors are part of what’s funny. And now, Student Quotes courtesy of brave young writers finding their “voices.” We could hardly ask for better entertainment.

“I think we should come to school for like four and half hours. We should come in to school at 9:45 and come out like at one or 12:00 something.”

“I just wish, so wish, wish wish wish that I never cheated on him, and getting with his brother never helped my case.”

“There is among many issues that our high school classes do not address. The use of drugs is one of the issues that have elevated to be one of the leading and most concerned problems in schools across the United States. The other that I find is the misuse of young athletes by their coaches. This is what I believe to be the world’s biggest disadvantages to progression.”
—Opening paragraph of a student essay published in the Statesman-Journal’s Academic All-Stars section on Jan. 27, 2006.

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“You look like a synchronized swimmer synchronized with yourself.”
—Erin builds Jonah’s ego

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“Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.”

—Max Ehrmann, Desiderata

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