1. When people use the word "literally" when they're talking about something figuratively: "OH MY GOD! My backpack was so heavy yesterday, I literally died!" No, if you literally died, you wouldn't be talking to me. You would be awaiting burial. What really happened here? You figuratively died, and you literally felt back pain.

2. When students fail a class, they get an "E" on their report card instead of an "F." I guess this to make people feel better about their lack of achievement, but the "F" makes sense. An "F" stands for "failure" while an "E" stands for "Eh, it's okay that you failed; you did your best!" Well I, for one, am not buying it.

3. When people pass by a classroom I'm in and stand there looking through the glass like a moron, and then look surprised and embarrassed when someone looks over and stares back. What are these people expecting: to stand in the door for 20 minutes unnoticed until they've properly inspected the class?

4. Those who feel that school is optional. Didn't feel like finishing your homework last night? Have a big test today? Just don't feel like going to school? Well, too bad. School is not a choice. Don't be so worried about failing your test or neglecting your responsibilities by not finishing that PowerPoint; chances are, if you're one of these "school-optional" people, your grades probably don't matter so much to you anyway.

5. The "media center," otherwise known as the school library. Most people who enter the library are there to use the computers, where Big Brother charges you ten cents per printed page, which seems somewhat silly, considering that one of the many computer labs is sure to be open, where you can print thousands of pages and not pay a dime...

6. People (or animals, I should say) who throw their shoes at the ceiling nets in gym to get the volleyballs down and wind up getting their shoes caught up there and then delay everyone else by making the teacher use the key to bring it down and retrieve the shoes AND the volleyballs. 'Nuff said.

7. People who get jobs at a high school even though it's painstakingly clear that they hate not only high school students but also their lives. If you have no interest in dealing with teenagers, perhaps a job that requires interaction with teenagers on a daily basis isn't the best choice.

Sorry for that explosion, but it all needed to be said. As always, you have the opportunity to respond by either (a) e-mailing me at ajacobs@fanscotian.net or by (b) writing a letter to the awesome editors here at The Fanscotian.