Jarvis Students Unaware of Reign of Terror
by Owen Elliot & Chris Shantz
Outside the Phoenix Concert Theatre
"How many of you fourteen-year olds want to get beaten or raped?"
How Do You Know If You Know Anything?
by Kelly Liao
George Reid, Forgotten Artist
by Elisabeth Beattie
Bomb Threats at Jarvis
by Laura Barr
What was high school for, and what have we learned?
by Kate Gorsline
To Be or Not To Be... Why the hell should I care?
Jarvis Students Unaware of Reign of Terror
by Owen Elliot & Chris Shantz
Some time ago headlines like "Reign of Terror" filled local newspapers. The reign of terror they referred to supposedly took place at our school, Jarvis Collegiate. The media sensationalised the arrest of seven teenagers, three of whom attended Jarvis.
It began with an attack on a teenager at Spadina Billiards. The victim was at the billiard hall with her boyfriend when a group of seven girls and two boys with a history of harassing the victim entered. They had earlier threatened her with violence if she refused to pay them protection. The seven girls attacked the victim and when her boyfriend tried to protect her the two males attacked him with a machete.
Exact details on the incident vary from report to report. One student said that she heard that the males attacked only because the boyfriend stepped in, thus breaking an unwritten rule of not hitting females. Ms. Mackenzie thought that the males may have been secreted in an area of the billiard hall where they were unseen by the victims boyfriend until they attacked him and had planned the attack all along. Also the number of girls participating in the initial attack is unclear.
When this incident was reported to the police they came to Jarvis and began interviewing students. The names of the three who were to be arrested where given during these interviews by students who had been harassed. The incidents at Jarvis were only verbal harassment, the only physical attack happened at Spadina Billiards, according to Ms. Mackenzie. However some students say that there have been violent incidents at Jarvis in the past but if they go unreported they can not be dealt with.
The police then contacted Asian Youth Crime at 14 division and arrests were made.
The gang of teenage girls from Harbord and Jarvis, which the arrested teens belonged to, was known as the Spadina girls. Their trademark was a streak of orange gel in their hair, a common mark of distinction among Asian youth gangs. After the arrests the number of Jarvis students wearing the orange hair gel has seemed to have decreased. In November last year there was an incident involving students from Harbord and Jarvis in front of Jarvis. It involved large numbers of students gathering in front of the school and two groups shouting at each other, but there was no apparent violence and when school security began to photograph the event the crowd dispersed. That event and another at Nathan Phillips Square last year were linked to the Spadina Girls and their male counter parts the Silver Boys.
However Jarvis and Harbord may not be the only schools involved. The teenager who was attacked at Spadina Billiards attended Jarvis but at the bail hearing students from Riverdale, Central Commerce, Bloor and Danforth were also present as spectators although it was held during class hours. The media portrayed Jarvis as the centre of the events ignoring the involvement of students from other schools.
Ms. Mackenzie attended the bail hearings and testified that she did not think that the students should return to Jarvis and requested that the Justice of the Peace rehabilitate these girls before they be returned to society.
At the bail hearings two of the girls were held in custody while the others were released on bail. However those who were released can have their bail revoked if they attempt to make contact with their victims. Indirect contact, having a friend harass the victim in person or on the telephone is also grounds for having bail revoked.
The two males involved are being tried as adults and have already begun their trial.
Jarvis was supposed to have been kept out of the headlines but due to a leak at 14 division the media caught on. Ms. Mackenzie has since received an apology from 14 division. The media called the incident a "reign of terror." "I was not very pleased." said Ms. Mackenzie referring to the media coverage, which she believes to be exaggerated.
The hype surrounding the arrests was mainly because violence among teenage girls was a hot topic. The death of 14 year old Reena Virk, which was related to teenage girl gangs and the murder of a woman in charge of a group home by two of her female wards both helped create the heightened interest.
The negative publicity could also have a detrimental effect on enrolment in Jarvis for next year. The news coverage of the event came at the same time as grade 8 students were touring high schools and deciding where they would be attending next fall. As of February 23 there were approximately fifty fewer students enrolled in Jarvis for grade 9 than were expected.
Students at Jarvis were mostly unimpressed by the so called reign of terror. Comments such as "ridiculous" were the standard reaction. One grade 12 student claimed sarcastically "I'm terrified, I live in a constant state of fear." Bibi felt that the news reports were exaggerated and that if the girls had been in school they would not have got in trouble.
This is the reaction of the majority of people at Jarvis, however among a small group of students violence is a fact of life. There are rumours of other violent incidents at the school but it doesn't affect most; the reign of terror only applies to a small layer of Jarvis' students. This strata of Jarvis society often consists of troubled kids with nothing to lose. For instance the ring leader of the Spadina Girls who attended Jarvis had been living on the streets for a period of time and both her parents are currently incarcerated. According to Bibi she was unfazed by the arrest and the two others were "glad to be arrested."
If you are a victim of harassment at Jarvis you should not be afraid to come forward. In order to continue to have a safe school it is necessary to communicate openly about issues of violence and with the strict bail conditions retribution should not be feared. The perpetrators are usually troubled and need help which social agencies can provide.
Outside the Phoenix Concert Theatre
Veronica was pacing impatiently along the sidewalk outside the Phoenix Concert Theater. It was 4:30 in the late afternoon, and like me, she was waiting for something.
"I'm a student, you know, and I, like, can't afford these things," she said. The things were concert tickets -- these specific ones were $15.50-- and she seemed very upset. "I'll talk to the band, and I'll say, like, 'I don't have enough quid for you guys', and they'll be like all polite and British and they'll say to their manager 'put her on the guest list!', and I'll like say thanks and come back later."
"That's interesting," I said. Unable to attend the event-- 19+ it said in the papers-- I was outside the Phoenix Concert Theater for an altogether different reason. I was stalking the band and looking to get an autograph. They were due to arrive at 5:00 for sound check, and I was looking at my watch very frequently. "Have you seen them before?" I asked, as I hadn't.
"Oh yeah, I seen them in America in Detroit in 1995. They were brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Right before they parted ways, like they were taking the piss out of each other on stage, like really brilliant stuff!" Veronica replied, breathlessly. Veronica spoke like a cross between a rollerblader from Southern California and a British aristocrat. I could picture her rolling along the boardwalk in Santa Monica wearing a mink coat, with a French poodle trotting along behind. "He's just so shaggable!" she intoned as I tuned back in.
"You're right. He is." It was cold outside that day, and I wasn't dressed warmly enough. There were about 20 people shivering and blowing into their hands along the 70 feet of sidewalk outside the establishment. I guessed they would arrive through the back door, so I left Veronica with her friend Emily (who was smashingly dressed in a blue angora overcoat) and shuffled off towards the rear of the building. On the way, I passed many very underage looking kids, and a few overweight, well-dressed men. They all seemed to be ignoring each other.
"You look cold," said Brad, from Brampton. He looked to be from Brampton: he was wearing an Adidas track suit and bobbing his head softly to his extremely large headphones.
"I am. I trusted the weather too much this morning," I said. Brad was an old fan. He'd been a fan since 1993, and he hated the bands' new album. "Me too," I said, " I tore it up after I heard for the first time."
"That's brilliant! That's fabulous. I wish I had done that," he said. He hadn't done that, because I could tell by the faint noises coming from his headphones that he was listening to the new album, and I could tell by the way his body was responding those same exact headphones that he quite liked it.
"Have you seen them before?" I asked.
"Oh yeah, I seen them in England in 1995. Right before the break up. They were fabulous. My friend and I, we saw them after the show out on the street, and we said 'hey, do you wanna go for a pint?' and they were like 'Yes' and so we went for a pint and I got pissed with my favourite band, the best band in the world!" Brad said. Brad had gotten really excited.
"What did they talk about?" I asked, because well, I had gotten a little excited too.
Brad stooped down to tie his shoelaces on his Adidas, and answered while in this position. "I can't really remember. They were really British."
So was Brad. I quickly began to feel rather less obsessive than the rest of the obsessives shivering outside the concert hall. All these people spoke exactly like their favourite musicians, only without the proper lower-class accents. "What other music do you like?" I asked, just out of curiosity.
"Britpop. I fancy Britpop," he replied.
I was beginning to see a pattern here. "Do you like the Spice Girls?" I asked.
"Of course not. They're shit," he said, very matter-of-factually, while standing up from his crouching position. "They're sell outs. They did an advertisement for Pepsi, you know, supporting American corporate culture."
American corporate culture is very bad, I agreed. I'd seen video footage of the so-called "British Invasion" of the mid 60's-- those fanatical teenage girls ripping their hair out at the sight of their Rock n' Roll idols, jumping up and down, crying, generally losing control of their young bodies- but never anything like this.
"Do you read?" I asked. Brad looked at me suspiciously, but then got over it.
"Irvine Welsh, all his books. Trainspotting's not the best one you know."
Yes, well, the band arrived in a huge white Chevy van. The record company types climbed out first saying "no autographs, no autographs", but being British, and being proper British Rock n' Roll idols, the band politely interrupted their day to give back to some of their extremely dedicated fans. We all politely moved into a single-file line (I was second, behind Brad), and very gratefully accepted the signatures of the musicians. I got the shiny side of one my CDs signed. I liked to think it was a very North American thing to do.
After the crowds had dispersed, I had a brief chat with the bassist and the album sleeve photographer-- both slightly disturbed by my enthusiasm-- about the direction the band was taking and the lead singer's tabloid reported marriage to another British Rock n' Roll idol. I smiled and laughed and made jokes. I really tried to be as charming as possible. They didn't smile and laugh. I just didn't speak their language, I guess.
On the way home, feeling satisfied and slightly insecure, I passed by Veronica and Emily, who were looking very happy. They had gotten their free tickets. "Bye," I said, " nice to meet you."
"Cheers," Veronica said.
I went to Burger King to celebrate.
"That's interesting," I said. Unable to attend the event-- 19+ it said in the papers-- I was outside the Phoenix Concert Theater for an altogether different reason. I was stalking the band and looking to get an autograph. They were due to arrive at 5:00 for sound check, and I was looking at my watch very frequently. "Have you seen them before?" I asked, as I hadn't.
"Oh yeah, I seen them in America in Detroit in 1995. They were brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Right before they parted ways, like they were taking the piss out of each other on stage, like really brilliant stuff!" Veronica replied, breathlessly. Veronica spoke like a cross between a rollerblader from Southern California and a British aristocrat. I could picture her rolling along the boardwalk in Santa Monica wearing a mink coat, with a French poodle trotting along behind. "He's just so shaggable!" she intoned as I tuned back in.
"You're right. He is." It was cold outside that day, and I wasn't dressed warmly enough. There were about 20 people shivering and blowing into their hands along the 70 feet of sidewalk outside the establishment. I guessed they would arrive through the back door, so I left Veronica with her friend Emily (who was smashingly dressed in a blue angora overcoat) and shuffled off towards the rear of the building. On the way, I passed many very underage looking kids, and a few overweight, well-dressed men. They all seemed to be ignoring each other.
"You look cold," said Brad, from Brampton. He looked to be from Brampton: he was wearing an Adidas track suit and bobbing his head softly to his extremely large headphones.
"I am. I trusted the weather too much this morning," I said. Brad was an old fan. He'd been a fan since 1993, and he hated the bands' new album. "Me too," I said, " I tore it up after I heard for the first time."
"That's brilliant! That's fabulous. I wish I had done that," he said. He hadn't done that, because I could tell by the faint noises coming from his headphones that he was listening to the new album, and I could tell by the way his body was responding those same exact headphones that he quite liked it.
"Have you seen them before?" I asked.
"Oh yeah, I seen them in England in 1995. Right before the break up. They were fabulous. My friend and I, we saw them after the show out on the street, and we said 'hey, do you wanna go for a pint?' and they were like 'Yes' and so we went for a pint and I got pissed with my favourite band, the best band in the world!" Brad said. Brad had gotten really excited.
"What did they talk about?" I asked, because well, I had gotten a little excited too.
Brad stooped down to tie his shoelaces on his Adidas, and answered while in this position. "I can't really remember. They were really British."
So was Brad. I quickly began to feel rather less obsessive than the rest of the obsessives shivering outside the concert hall. All these people spoke exactly like their favourite musicians, only without the proper lower-class accents. "What other music do you like?" I asked, just out of curiosity.
"Britpop. I fancy Britpop," he replied.
I was beginning to see a pattern here. "Do you like the Spice Girls?" I asked.
"Of course not. They're shit," he said, very matter-of-factually, while standing up from his crouching position. "They're sell outs. They did an advertisement for Pepsi, you know, supporting American corporate culture."
American corporate culture is very bad, I agreed. I'd seen video footage of the so-called "British Invasion" of the mid 60's-- those fanatical teenage girls ripping their hair out at the sight of their Rock n' Roll idols, jumping up and down, crying, generally losing control of their young bodies- but never anything like this.
"Do you read?" I asked. Brad looked at me suspiciously, but then got over it.
"Irvine Welsh, all his books. Trainspotting's not the best one you know."
Yes, well, the band arrived in a huge white Chevy van. The record company types climbed out first saying "no autographs, no autographs", but being British, and being proper British Rock n' Roll idols, the band politely interrupted their day to give back to some of their extremely dedicated fans. We all politely moved into a single-file line (I was second, behind Brad), and very gratefully accepted the signatures of the musicians. I got the shiny side of one my CDs signed. I liked to think it was a very North American thing to do.
After the crowds had dispersed, I had a brief chat with the bassist and the album sleeve photographer-- both slightly disturbed by my enthusiasm-- about the direction the band was taking and the lead singer's tabloid reported marriage to another British Rock n' Roll idol. I smiled and laughed and made jokes. I really tried to be as charming as possible. They didn't smile and laugh. I just didn't speak their language, I guess.
On the way home, feeling satisfied and slightly insecure, I passed by Veronica and Emily, who were looking very happy. They had gotten their free tickets. "Bye," I said, " nice to meet you."
"Cheers," Veronica said.
I went to Burger King to celebrate.
"How many of you fourteen-year olds want to get beaten or raped?"
This delightful phrase was uttered (along with many other unquotables) by the now-infamous "Reverend" Marilyn Manson at a concert in Toronto in October of 1996. Since then, he has sent shock-waves through the music industry, as his band has risen to the top of the charts, and children all across the world have seemingly adapted not only his music, but also his drug-addled, extreme lifestyle.
Marilyn Manson is just one in a growing number of bands who are receiving constant opposition from many of society's institutions, from the church to the parliament. While rock and roll has always had an element of danger to it, and has seemingly always gone against society, why is there so much of a fuss now?
The controversy really began to escalate in 1989, with the arrival of Miami's 2 Live Crew, who became superstars purely because storeowners across America were arrested for carrying their music. They were the first modern group to generate fury in the hearts of North America, but they certainly were not the last.
Rap music has also churned out much controversy. Most famous among the many artists, of course, are N.W.A., the group who coined the word "Gangsta" but whose music went far beyond the world of Hip-Hop and delved into shock. Gangsta rap got very old very fast, as it was all too clear that the many practitioners relied on the plots of bad TV shows instead of actual experiences to describe the horrors of the street. They were undeniably shocking, however. Songs like "To Kill a Hooker" were hardly the sort of thing that would appeal to Mommy and Daddy.
Perhaps no genre has created such disturbing imagery as "Death Metal." This form of music essentially consists of incomprehensible shrieking, played in front of unintelligible noise. This music is perhaps personified in the necrophilia-obsessed gore of Cannibal Corpse.
Which brings us to Marilyn Manson. Manson (whose name is meant to represent the dichotomy between Marilyn Monroe and Charles Manson, the good and evil of society) has stirred up controversy all across the globe since his triple platinum LP Antichrist Superstar and his aptly titled "Dead to the World" Tour have become the latest outlets for repressed teenage angst, mainly from youthful males seeking some sort of aggressive sexual outlet. The response of the general public to Manson and his super-stardom has developed into outrage. But Manson's antics, which include indulging in fascism and sex onstage, and joining the Church of Satan in his spare time, hardly represent anything new in the rock and roll world. So why the fuss now?
While Manson uses the First Amendment to protect himself and his right to perform every night, many groups have been trying to stop him. The British parliament banned his first album, calling it "A disgrace to society." The infamous opponent of rap music and racism, C. Delores Tucker, summarized his work with a single word, "pornography." The American Family Association and the Christian Family Network have spent hours attempting to document his movements, and successfully prevented him from playing several shows on his most recent tour.
After seeing the Marilyn Manson concert on October 22, 1996 in Toronto's Warehouse, one begins to see where many of these opponents are coming from. The concert began with Manson entering the stage wearing nothing but discarded pantyhose and many layers of poorly applied makeup. He proceeded to play such songs as "Cake and Sodomy," "Irresponsible Hate Anthem," and "Deformography," stopping occasionally to insult the crowd, or leading them in protests against government and Christianity, usually involving the dreaded F-word. Most disturbing, however, was the song "Antichrist Superstar," in which the suit-adorned Manson led the crowd through a mock-fascist rally, with Manson himself looking like a raving cross between Hitler and a Christian television philanthropist looking for money. Worst of all was the crowd, who, throughout this song, eagerly pumped their arms in the air, chanting "Heil! Heil!" on cue. Is this really the way the world wants to see their children growing up, to be groupies to this sub-human?
Maybe there is a touch of the groupie in me as well, because I am not as bothered as I should be. There was something about Manson's performance which struck me as being truly visually stunning, despite any disturbing imagery. And their music, unlike that of their predecessors, such as KISS and Alice Cooper, is genuinely well written.
After Mr. Manson has untangled himself from the bodyguards and groping females, he is ready to talk to me. White flakes around his nose indicate that a considerable amount of cocaine has been snorted since then. A large bandage on his right hand and numerous bruises attest to the fact that he recently emerged from a violent fight with a security guard. Since the controversy had just recently emerged, that is what he wishes to discuss.
"America hates Marilyn Manson," he sneers, "which is ridiculous, since they're very responsible for us. In a perfect world, there would be no place for a band like ours. We represent everything that is wrong with American society…America feels it needs to blame all of its problems on scapegoats. It's a tradition, which has carried on since the Middle Ages. I guess I'm the scapegoat. They built me into what I am through their personal hatred."
The attempts at censorship clearly don't bother Manson, as he readily admits. He adores the free publicity. But groups like the American Family Association are still pestering him, and have not given any indication that they are giving up. "Those people are ridiculous," Manson exclaims, the one time in our discussion in which he actually raises his voice. "They claimed I raped children onstage. They have no idea what I'm about. They also claimed I throw free drugs into the audience. That's total bullshit. If I had that many drugs, I'd be backstage using them myself, not giving them away for free," he says. But he isn't smiling.
What about the fascist imagery during the "Antichrist Superstar" portion of the show? "That isn't meant to be fascism," Manson states unequivocally. "It's meant to be an observation on the abuse of power. I'm trying to say to America, 'you've built me into this, now you'll have to deal with it.' It uses some fascist imagery, but that's just to get the point across and get people's attention." He pauses. "I'm good at getting people's attention."
The question still remains unanswered: Should children be listening to this sort of music?
Children are certainly influenced by what they see and hear. When representatives of Interscope Records (Manson's label) are asked this question, they simply point out that the albums come with Parental Advisory stickers on the cover, and that they can therefore not be deemed responsible for who purchases it. However, the sticker really means nothing, as anyone has the right to enter a record store without their parents' permission and purchase the albums of their choice.
This issue rose to a climax several months ago, when a teenager committed suicide by jumping off of a cliff. He was evidently listening to Marilyn Manson's "The Reflecting God" just moments before this occurred, which contains considerable amounts of death imagery. His parents have responded by filing a lawsuit against Interscope Records, naming Manson as a defendant, who they claim is responsible for their son's death. Manson's response was simply: "I don't see how they can believe that I'm responsible. If they raised their child so poorly that he would commit suicide because of a song, then no one can possibly be considered responsible other than them."
The suicide has, unsurprisingly, fueled censorship activities, which brings up the question of whether or not this music should be censored. Rap music is, perhaps, the best place to start, as the intense debate really began around it, and, despite the recent controversies involving Manson, is without doubt the most notorious music in the industry. While the music is rude and shocking, many agree that it far too cartoonish and absurd to really be taken seriously, unlike a band like Manson who create genuinely disturbing images.
The same goes for most "Death Metal", except for the humorous element. However, the sheer lack of talent and skill displayed by bands like Cannibal Corpse will forever prevent them from entering the mainstream.
Which brings us back to Manson. To everyone's shock, he has infiltrated the mainstream, and has sold over three million records in North America alone, which is what makes him a target for censorship, particularly from Church related groups. While the vast majority of these efforts have been failures on the part of the censors, some have been successful. Many shows on the band's last tour were cancelled (including several in Canada), and he is now forbidden to enter the state of Iowa.
But whether or not the censors have the right to cancel shows is another issue. Ironically, it was Manson himself who summed up the argument most effectively when we talked. "People think that I hate everything, and that there's nothing in the world that I care for," he says. "But there are things in the world (besides drugs) that I care about enough that I would give anything for. I think people have really developed the wrong perception of me just because of the music. In fact…" he pauses. "I think that, in a lot of ways, I'm actually a really… sensitive person."
And now he forces a smile.
The controversy really began to escalate in 1989, with the arrival of Miami's 2 Live Crew, who became superstars purely because storeowners across America were arrested for carrying their music. They were the first modern group to generate fury in the hearts of North America, but they certainly were not the last.
Rap music has also churned out much controversy. Most famous among the many artists, of course, are N.W.A., the group who coined the word "Gangsta" but whose music went far beyond the world of Hip-Hop and delved into shock. Gangsta rap got very old very fast, as it was all too clear that the many practitioners relied on the plots of bad TV shows instead of actual experiences to describe the horrors of the street. They were undeniably shocking, however. Songs like "To Kill a Hooker" were hardly the sort of thing that would appeal to Mommy and Daddy.
Perhaps no genre has created such disturbing imagery as "Death Metal." This form of music essentially consists of incomprehensible shrieking, played in front of unintelligible noise. This music is perhaps personified in the necrophilia-obsessed gore of Cannibal Corpse.
Which brings us to Marilyn Manson. Manson (whose name is meant to represent the dichotomy between Marilyn Monroe and Charles Manson, the good and evil of society) has stirred up controversy all across the globe since his triple platinum LP Antichrist Superstar and his aptly titled "Dead to the World" Tour have become the latest outlets for repressed teenage angst, mainly from youthful males seeking some sort of aggressive sexual outlet. The response of the general public to Manson and his super-stardom has developed into outrage. But Manson's antics, which include indulging in fascism and sex onstage, and joining the Church of Satan in his spare time, hardly represent anything new in the rock and roll world. So why the fuss now?
While Manson uses the First Amendment to protect himself and his right to perform every night, many groups have been trying to stop him. The British parliament banned his first album, calling it "A disgrace to society." The infamous opponent of rap music and racism, C. Delores Tucker, summarized his work with a single word, "pornography." The American Family Association and the Christian Family Network have spent hours attempting to document his movements, and successfully prevented him from playing several shows on his most recent tour.
After seeing the Marilyn Manson concert on October 22, 1996 in Toronto's Warehouse, one begins to see where many of these opponents are coming from. The concert began with Manson entering the stage wearing nothing but discarded pantyhose and many layers of poorly applied makeup. He proceeded to play such songs as "Cake and Sodomy," "Irresponsible Hate Anthem," and "Deformography," stopping occasionally to insult the crowd, or leading them in protests against government and Christianity, usually involving the dreaded F-word. Most disturbing, however, was the song "Antichrist Superstar," in which the suit-adorned Manson led the crowd through a mock-fascist rally, with Manson himself looking like a raving cross between Hitler and a Christian television philanthropist looking for money. Worst of all was the crowd, who, throughout this song, eagerly pumped their arms in the air, chanting "Heil! Heil!" on cue. Is this really the way the world wants to see their children growing up, to be groupies to this sub-human?
Maybe there is a touch of the groupie in me as well, because I am not as bothered as I should be. There was something about Manson's performance which struck me as being truly visually stunning, despite any disturbing imagery. And their music, unlike that of their predecessors, such as KISS and Alice Cooper, is genuinely well written.
After Mr. Manson has untangled himself from the bodyguards and groping females, he is ready to talk to me. White flakes around his nose indicate that a considerable amount of cocaine has been snorted since then. A large bandage on his right hand and numerous bruises attest to the fact that he recently emerged from a violent fight with a security guard. Since the controversy had just recently emerged, that is what he wishes to discuss.
"America hates Marilyn Manson," he sneers, "which is ridiculous, since they're very responsible for us. In a perfect world, there would be no place for a band like ours. We represent everything that is wrong with American society…America feels it needs to blame all of its problems on scapegoats. It's a tradition, which has carried on since the Middle Ages. I guess I'm the scapegoat. They built me into what I am through their personal hatred."
The attempts at censorship clearly don't bother Manson, as he readily admits. He adores the free publicity. But groups like the American Family Association are still pestering him, and have not given any indication that they are giving up. "Those people are ridiculous," Manson exclaims, the one time in our discussion in which he actually raises his voice. "They claimed I raped children onstage. They have no idea what I'm about. They also claimed I throw free drugs into the audience. That's total bullshit. If I had that many drugs, I'd be backstage using them myself, not giving them away for free," he says. But he isn't smiling.
What about the fascist imagery during the "Antichrist Superstar" portion of the show? "That isn't meant to be fascism," Manson states unequivocally. "It's meant to be an observation on the abuse of power. I'm trying to say to America, 'you've built me into this, now you'll have to deal with it.' It uses some fascist imagery, but that's just to get the point across and get people's attention." He pauses. "I'm good at getting people's attention."
The question still remains unanswered: Should children be listening to this sort of music?
Children are certainly influenced by what they see and hear. When representatives of Interscope Records (Manson's label) are asked this question, they simply point out that the albums come with Parental Advisory stickers on the cover, and that they can therefore not be deemed responsible for who purchases it. However, the sticker really means nothing, as anyone has the right to enter a record store without their parents' permission and purchase the albums of their choice.
This issue rose to a climax several months ago, when a teenager committed suicide by jumping off of a cliff. He was evidently listening to Marilyn Manson's "The Reflecting God" just moments before this occurred, which contains considerable amounts of death imagery. His parents have responded by filing a lawsuit against Interscope Records, naming Manson as a defendant, who they claim is responsible for their son's death. Manson's response was simply: "I don't see how they can believe that I'm responsible. If they raised their child so poorly that he would commit suicide because of a song, then no one can possibly be considered responsible other than them."
The suicide has, unsurprisingly, fueled censorship activities, which brings up the question of whether or not this music should be censored. Rap music is, perhaps, the best place to start, as the intense debate really began around it, and, despite the recent controversies involving Manson, is without doubt the most notorious music in the industry. While the music is rude and shocking, many agree that it far too cartoonish and absurd to really be taken seriously, unlike a band like Manson who create genuinely disturbing images.
The same goes for most "Death Metal", except for the humorous element. However, the sheer lack of talent and skill displayed by bands like Cannibal Corpse will forever prevent them from entering the mainstream.
Which brings us back to Manson. To everyone's shock, he has infiltrated the mainstream, and has sold over three million records in North America alone, which is what makes him a target for censorship, particularly from Church related groups. While the vast majority of these efforts have been failures on the part of the censors, some have been successful. Many shows on the band's last tour were cancelled (including several in Canada), and he is now forbidden to enter the state of Iowa.
But whether or not the censors have the right to cancel shows is another issue. Ironically, it was Manson himself who summed up the argument most effectively when we talked. "People think that I hate everything, and that there's nothing in the world that I care for," he says. "But there are things in the world (besides drugs) that I care about enough that I would give anything for. I think people have really developed the wrong perception of me just because of the music. In fact…" he pauses. "I think that, in a lot of ways, I'm actually a really… sensitive person."
And now he forces a smile.
How Do You Know If You Know Anything?
by Kelly Liao
What is meant by the word "God"? What is it to know something? What is consciousness and what is its relation to the body? Can people survive the death of their bodies? If you are looking for answers to questions like this, Jarvis' History Department has the What is meant by the word "God"? What is it to know something? What is course for you.
Philosophy, which to the ancient Romans and Greeks meant "love of wisdom", is a new OAC course being offered at Jarvis this coming fall. In "Philosophy" you can learn both history and wisdom. This course enables you to seek explanations to questions concerning human experiences as well as the nature of the universe. It will guide you through the intellectual history of civilization and let you explore the fundamental basis of modern wisdom. This course will not only improve your critical thinking skill, but will also increase your awareness of everyday experience.
OAC Philosophy is being offered next year because many students showed their interests to Mr. Wood and Mr. Solomon, who later proposed the creation of the course to the school. This subject is currently being taught in other schools, like Eastern Commerce. Philosophy is a relevant and useful subject that deserves attention in a high school like Jarvis. The "methods and concepts developed in philosophical inquiry" have been of central importance to history, politics, psychology, economics and in pure sciences as well, such as mathematics and physics. Thus philosophy has a close link and correlation to many subjects already taught in high school.
"Philosophy" is offered to students who have already completed one senior Social Science subject. This requirement ensures that the students have adequate writing and thinking skills. Mr. Wood, who will be teaching the course, said that the challenge of the expectation from students in terms of their ability to express themselves precisely and clearly as well as their capability to explain matters through logic and reason. The exceptional amount of oral work in this class, i.e., debate, class discussion, participation and presentations, is what makes this course unique and distinguishes it from other subjects. It is recommended that students who wish to register in "Philosophy" are not shy to express their philosophical opinions or engage in any fervent open discussions, as 40% of the course evaluation is credited to oral work in the class.
"Philosophy, basically, is a course which will allow students to use common-sense and logic to solve problems. It is the study of how things should be but not how things are," said Mr. Wood. Learning about how one thinks, methods of inquiry and the various logical approaches to problems are the most important objectives of the course. In Philosophy class, students will learn about epistemology (the theory of knowledge), logic (reasoning), metaphysics (matters concerning Nature), and philosophy of human nature,…etc. In addition, schools of thought and major philosophers like Socrates and Plato will be introduced to the students. There will be some case studies in areas such as racism, violence and human's impact on the environment. Moreover, students will be given the opportunity to examine arguments, theories and positions in selected writing and the media in everyday life.
So, if you are the type of person who wonders if there is life after death, or how one even knows that we are alive, Philosophy class is a good place for you. In Philosophy, not all answers will be found but more than often, a question will lead to another question. In "questioning about questions", you will learn to ask questions to clarify further problems. Some of you might ask: what is the use of studying philosophy? Mr. Wood's answer to this is: "philosophy makes you think, improves your reasoning, and lets you examine your life using a critical method. Most importantly, you acquire a thinking skill which is universal." He adds that this course will help you gain confidence in speaking in front of people and teach you how to write a philosophical essay.
"Philosophy is a course for everyone," stated Mr. Wood. In fact, the units of study listed in the Philosophy text book consist of: Philosophy of Science, Political Philosophy, Philosophy of Religion, Philosophy of Mind and Social Philosophy. For this reason, it does not matter if you are a Science student or if art or law are you interests, you will still enjoy Philosophy because it incorporates a wide variety of subjects and fields of interest. The Independent Study Unit in the course further allows you to delve in areas like Eastern Philosophy as well as any kinds of philosophy that fascinate you.
This coming fall, Jarvis will be one of the few schools in Ontario to teach philosophy to students. This will give Jarvis' students a chance to explore the most significant roots of Social Science. The uniqueness of Philosophy class lies in its potential to enlarge one's thoughts, sharpen one's awareness, build one's rationality and encourage curiosity. Most importantly, philosophy sheds light on people's capability to think. Even though there are many people I know who already show just as much enthusiasm about the course as I do, I still recommend it to students who have not considered it. My advice, however, to those of you who do not want to miss this great opportunity to study the "great minds", and develop your own minds, is to make sure that you are first in line when you hand in your course option sheet!
To Be or Not To Be... Why the hell should I care?
Ever wonder why you exist? What you're doing here? Where that vicious cycle about the chicken and the egg finally ends?
The would-be intellectuals of Jarvis are rejoicing that they will be offered a course in philosophy next year. Many are asking why. Most first year philosophy students would be quick to ask "why not?" or settle the issue with a simple "because".
Critics say that philosophy, even more than the other humanities, has no practical application. They ask how philosophy will help a student pick stocks or invent cold fusion. It won't.
It is inarguable that the sciences are important to a well rounded education, but it hasn't been so long since philosophy was considered the science among sciences. Thousands of years ago that was all they did. Labour was provided by slaves, which left your average Greek aristocrat plenty of time to wonder why stuff was like it was, and how did it get there? It didn't make him a lot of money by itself, but what it did make him is one of the most enlightened guys in history until the renaissance would roll around a few hundred years later.
Nowadays (a couple millennia later) most North Americans aren't struggling to stay alive. Yet people fail to see anything as credible unless they can turn a buck off it. After working forty-plus hours a week, people use what time they have left over for TV, the movies, sports, or any number of diversions before it's back to the grind on Monday. Then it's only a week before they get to do it again, and if they work extra hard maybe they'll be able to do it with a bigger TV or a faster car. To some, this may seem a bit like a tale told by an idiot, signifying nothing, with some sound and fury thrown in to keep us entertained.
So maybe old Macbeth was wrong, maybe there is still hope, though most won't find the solution in Calculus or OAC Accounting. Although philosophy may not give you all the answers, it at least acknowledges that there are questions. But to answer any of them you'd have to actively contemplate yourself and your surroundings, instead of just thrilling vicariously through the Walshes and their affluent friends.
Many people, especially teenagers, feel alienated from the world they live in. This was happening way before Marx started talking about it, and it's not getting any better. Sure there's a global village, but it doesn't do any good if it's residents are completely lost in it. How we relate to our surroundings is directly responsible for our mental health and happiness. Philosophers try to make sense of the world in terms of the person, not the metre, litre, or dollar.
When asked why he plans to take next year's philosophy course, Jarvis student Mike Eagles responded:
"Philosophy offers different perspectives and interpretations of life. Then you can pick the one that suits you best. Also, you're free to interpret or elaborate as you see fit. It's easily applicable in a very personal way."
Mr. Wood, who will be teaching next year's course, is more down to earth. He hoped the course will improve analytical problem solving skills and "give students the ability to see a sense of logic in how they process information."
According to Mr. Wood this course will be particularly good for " those who like to debate, to talk, and to think". Writing and reading comprehension skills will also be very important. In this language based course essays and oral work will account for 40% of the final mark, not including exams or the independent study unit.
The program statement (or curriculum vitae if you want to get Latin about it), which outlines the goals and subject matter of the course, is available in guidance. It says the will introduce the student to basic philosophical concepts as well as major philosophers and schools of thought. Among the possible topics to be explored in-depth are: metaphysics (why am I here?); ethics (what should I do?); epistemology (how do I know?); human nature (why Captain Kirk would risk ship and crew to roll around with a green headed floozy from the beta quadrant); and logic (why Mr. Spock wouldn't).
It's a given that most people won't see a career in philosophy, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's unimportant. Most chemistry students won't become chemists and most French students won't become French. Philosophy may help you realise how remarkable it is that we're here, how remarkable it is that we're anywhere. It may give you a new outlook on life. But at very least, it'll give you something to talk about at cocktail parties.
What was high school for, and what have we learned?
Meeting our educational goals
by Kate Gorsline
After almost 5 years of classes and hallways, teachers and marks, many OAC students are now facing a question they hadn't wrestled with until the prospect of university, college or the job market lay before them. What was high school for, and what have we learned?
According to Ms. McKenzie, Jarvis is essentially a university preparatory school; about 70% of survivors will go on to post-secondary institutions. This means that the students are expected to know things: facts, specific skills, formulae, and procedures. Other types of schools, such as private schools, have a strong focus on personal development, rigorously pounded into the curriculum, where more technical schools such as Central Tech offer trade courses to prepare directly for the job market or specific college programs.
However, there is an incongruity in what various interest groups think students were getting out of a Jarvis education. The Government of Ontario, now ruling dictator of the education system, has made it clear that the role of education in high school is to prepare young people directly for the job market. Recent education reforms, such as Bill 160, have a strong emphasis on co-op placements, technical and professional skills, and the depletion and eventual death of the less test-score relevant subjects of music, arts and literature.
As the teachers' political protests of October and November demonstrated, educators are not keen to adapt to the government's shift of focus. As well, many of these teachers are adamant that the music and arts programmes at Jarvis are a valuable part of a student's education. For instance, the same parts of our brains that are developed in music are those that are used in mathematics, and similar associations between what are called practical skills and the arts have been found by leading studies on education.
Besides teaching us what we 'need to know,' many teachers are widely recognizing the importance of instruction on learning itself. This includes test writing skills, time management tips, creative and discovery method teaching, and the promotion of good note-taking habits and organization. For instance, Ms. Akmens includes a unit on test-writing skills in the form of exercises and hand-outs.
Many teachers, however, swear by the 'death-by-note-taking' method. This is supposed to prepare students for university lectures. These teachers often feel that they are at the mercy of a packed curriculum, or have taught for so long with the same method 'successfully', that they continue with little desire to alter the equilibrium they have created. At the high school level, however, lack of deviation from note-taking and lecture is an ineffective way to teach. Students should learn the necessary skills, then learn how to adapt them to the needs of the curriculum and their personal learning styles.
As Darwin said, adaptation is the secret to evolutionary success. Today's students are going to be expected not only to keep up to speed, but also to accerate into the "fast lane". Students have been told by the media, by the school, by the guidance department, and by our parents, that we are going to a future where job security may be obsolete and a degree in hand will not mean guaranteed employment. Learning how to learn new skills now is going to make the difference between success and failure.
Amidst all the debate within the schools about teaching style, the bigger issue of a changing curriculum threatens from the outside. With the reduction of a year of high school, many mandatory courses may be cut, or consolidated, forcing these few 'how to learn' units out of classes completely. Many of these courses are in the social sciences, and even Canadian History and Geography are at risk.
Extra-curricular activities are another endangered but important aspect of our Jarvis education. Not everyone is involved in these activities that develop everything from leadership skills to physical health, to art and creativity. It's these activities that round out the otherwise overwhelmingly academic atmosphere of Jarvis. This type of experience will teach students how to learn to deal with the "real world" by handling finances, volunteering, organizing meetings, etc.
Many students agree that they do not see the link between what they are taught in high school and their world outside of school. As well, many students feel that their teachers methods of teaching are outdated, and well, boring.
A cut and dry solution does not exist in this situation. Too many different groups with different ideas are involved, but ultimately the students are going to have to live with whatever happens. With teacher threatening the Tories reign over education, and a new system coming into place, the issue of what should be taught cannot be agreed upon.
Bomb Threats at Jarvis
by Laura Barr
January 1998
Male voice undisguised
It all started on Thursday December 11th with a call to the attendance office. The call came at about 1:50pm and was received by Mrs. Byrne. The voice was male and apparently undisguised. The secretary was told: "there's a bomb in the school, you better clear out." All of the secretaries have a special sheet of paper concealed at their desks which they fill out in the case of such a call. This was done and then an attempt was made to trace the call. All office phones are equipped with a special code designed to trace the last call received, but unfortunately this feature had not been installed properly and wasn't working. Ms. McKenzie was promptly notified of the call, and she then set the emergency procedures into action. All teachers in the building who weren't presiding over exams were called down to the office. They were informed of the situation and told to search the building for anything that looked suspicious. But just as the teachers were about to embark on their mission the police showed up and insisted that the building be evacuated. They gave these orders even though this is against both police and Board policy. Knowing this, Ms. McKenzie suggested to the police chief that perhaps it wasn't necessary to clear the building at that point. The police chief proceeded to call the staff sergeant, who told him it was his call. In the end the 2:00 exams were cancelled, and students were sent home after being given a chance to grab their various belongings.
Unusual police measures leave students out in the cold
The next day the students arrived for their exams blissfully unaware of the events that had taken place the day before. But at 8:30am another bomb threat was phoned in, this time to the main office, and received by Mrs. Mckray. Once again the voice was male, this time warning: "there's a bomb in a locker, you better evacuate." The police were again called and the building immediately evacuated. This was highly unusual, since the police don't usually clear a building based on such a call. The excessive measures taken by the police meant that students were locked out of the school without their coats, books, or anything else they had left behind.
Explosive-sniffing dog on holiday
Soon after, the bomb squad ( which is a division of the SWAT team) arrived to survey the scene. They informed Ms. McKenzie that the school couldn't be declared safe until it had been checked top-to-bottom by an explosive-sniffing dog. There are two such dogs available in Toronto, unfortunately one was on holiday, and the other was busy until 2:00pm that day. Due to this shortage of canine help, the Jarvis students were sent home without their belongings. Susan Mazza, a grade 12 student had left her books inside the school. When speaking contemptuously of the bomb threats she said: "I studied half an hour for my OAC French exam because of it."
When the dog finally did arrive it checked the entire building, focusing specifically on lockers. At one point the dog became excited by a locker on the third floor near the vocal room. The lock was cut, but the locker turned out to be empty. Just to be sure the lockers on either side were checked, but both turned out to be empty. Finally at about 4:00pm on Friday December 12th the building was declared safe.
Students treated "like cattle"
The administration staff at Jarvis realized that many students had left their belongings behind, and every effort was made to ensure they had access to their lockers before Monday. As many students were called as possible, signs were posted in the school doors, and announcements were made on numerous radio stations to inform students that the school would be open from 9:00 - 11:00 am on Saturday December 13th. The students who came to get their books entered through the front doors and were escorted by teachers to their lockers. Ms. McKenzie explained that this was not done because they feared someone would plant a bomb, but because they had to be able to say the building was still secure. The only way to ensure this was to keep track of everyone in the building at all times. These security measures were kept in place for the duration of the exam period, inconveniencing both teachers and students alike. Access to the building was restricted to the cafeteria, and the adjoining first-floor hallway. The rest of the building was either locked or blocked off by staff members on security duty. This meant that the hallways were overcrowded, and students were herded in large groups to their exams. Susan Mazza describes the situation by saying: "it was like we were cattle." Another grade 12 student, Liz Nelson, feels that "it was pretty unfair", but admits "that's really the way they had to do it."
Call traced to Metropolitan Reference Library
On Monday December 15th two more bomb threats were received by the main office. Luckily the school was able to ignore these threats due to the precautionary measures they had taken to ensure the safety of the building. The first came at 8:50am, and by the time the second call came in at about 1:00pm the code on the office phone was working, and the call was traced to a payphone outside the back door of the Metropolitan Reference Library. There are rumours floating around Jarvis that an OAC student paid a grade 9 to make the calls, but as of yet there are no real suspects and the case remains open. Ms. McKenzie encourages anyone with information to cal 222-TIPS.
Threats probably not an attempt to get out of exams
Many people feel that the bomb threats were made by a Jarvis student in an attempt to get out of exams. However, Ms. McKenzie provides a different view. She explained that on Tuesday December 16th there was a rash of bomb threat calls in the 52 division just west of Jarvis. To Ms. McKenzie this indicates that the calls were made by a prankster simply looking to make trouble. But even if the threats were an attempt to get out of exams, they failed. Thursday exams were rescheduled for the following Monday, and Friday exams were moved to January 5th, the first day back after the holidays. Nina Corfu, a grade 12 student, had two of her exams moved to January 5th. "I was so bitter" she said, "I seriously did not have a holiday." Liz Nelson echoes her sentiments, saying: "You had to study twice, and that really sucked."
Bomb threats " a hazard of life in the modern city"
When commenting on the bomb threats at Jarvis, Ms. McKenzie said that "it's a hazard of life in the modern city." This comment seems to ring true, as just last week Riverdale received a call before their exams, warning of a bomb in the school. This call also turned out to be a hoax, and was traced to a payphone on Danforth. Police arrived at the payphone, but found no one to charge.
Precautions to be taken in the future
In the future Jarvis will take precautionary measures before exams to ensure that there will be no more interruptions such as the ones experienced this December. These steps will include having students clear out their lockers before exams, although clearing out lockers this December had nothing to do with the bomb threats - they were being sprayed for cockroaches. So Jarvis students be warned, if you want to get of exams this June, you'll have to get more creative than bomb threats.
George Reid, Forgotten Artist
by Elisabeth Beattie
His name was George Agnew Reid. It is not a name that rings many bells, yet in his prime he was well known to the public, producing hundreds of works of art. He taught at least one member of the celebrated Group of Seven. Today, however, most can only scratch their heads and ask "Who?"
His curriculum vitae reads impressively. He was born on July 25, 1860 in Wingham, Ontario. Against the better judgment of his father, he made his decision to become an artist and moved to Toronto to attend the Central Ontario School of Art. His particular passion was scenes of his home country. Following his stay in Toronto, he went to study under Thomas Eakins at the Pennsylvania Academy, paying for his tuition by painting portraits on commission for about twenty-five dollars apiece. He studied in France and Spain for several years after that, but never gave up painting Canadian scenes, even while he was overseas. In 1893 his painting The Foreclosure of the Mortgage won a medal at the Chicago World's Fair, and another at the 1894 San Francisco Fair.
From 1897 to 1902 he was president of the Ontario Society of Artists. He was president of the Royal Canadian Academy from 1906 to 1909. He was a founder of what would become the Ontario College of Art and principal there from 1912 to 1929. In 1918 he was named an official war artist by the Canadian government.
About 1896 he developed an interest in mural painting, calling it "the oldest branch of pictorial art." He was commissioned to paint murals for the New City Hall (now the Old City Hall), for the Royal Ontario Museum, for the Earlescourt Library, and for the New York State Onteora Club, as well as for several other institutions and private commissions.
This remarkable set of achievements was complemented by his equally remarkable generosity. He was eager and willing to donate his time and work freely in order to promote a greater interest in art among the public. He offered to do his murals at City Hall at his own expense rather than let the project be cancelled for financial reasons. He donated approximately four hundred of his paintings to the Ontario government, to be distributed to the province's schools for use as teaching aids and to foster a love of art among contemporary youth. His generosity extended even to Jarvis Collegiate.
After the Great War, the students and teachers of Jarvis decided that there should be a memorial in the school to those students who had fought and died overseas. They wanted the memorial to be composed of three parts: a plaque with the names of those being honoured, an "eternal flame", and a painting which would be hung in the auditorium for all to see. For this last part, they commissioned George Reid. He suggested that instead of a framed painting he should paint a series of murals in the auditorium. The school counted its pennies and found that it could afford to have one wall decorated at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars. Reid shook his head. To decorate only one wall, he felt, was pointless, because a mural was part of the architecture of the space and as such required a degree of unity not needed by a standard painting. He was eager to assist in the creation of the war memorial, however, and so he offered to decorate the remaining walls free of charge.
The focus of the auditorium murals was the two panels that flanked the stage. He titled them "Patriotism" and "Sacrifice". For the rest, he chose scenes from Canada's rich and variegated history: Cabot at Gaspe, the United Empire Loyalists travelling up the St. Lawrence, the founding of the Hudson's Bay Company, Mackenzie on the shores of the Pacific, Eric the Red discovering America in the year 1100, Champlain going up the Ottawa River. Above the windows on the east side he painted a tribute to the Canadian convoys that sent supplies and troops to Britain during the Great War. The completed masterpiece was unveiled in 1929.
When the Second World War broke out, Reid made plans for another set of murals for a new memorial, but he died before he could complete them. For an artist of such great repute, his passing on August 23, 1947 caused very little stir. His obituary in the Globe & Mail two days later is easy to miss, indistinguishable from the many others that surround it. Except for a memorial plaque erected in his hometown of Wingham in 1954, he seems to have faded from the public's memory, virtually without a trace.
And his artwork? Its fate is varied and sometimes tragic. The murals in the Jarvis auditorium were restored by the Old Students' Club for the school's one hundred and seventy-fifth anniversary. The murals in Old City Hall are still in existence but have not been restored. Of the thirty four panels in the Royal Ontario Museum, nineteen have been placed in storage and the rest covered over in the course of renovations. The murals in the Earlescourt library have been painted over. Recently, a desperate search was instituted for the paintings that Reid donated to the schools of Ontario. Some have been recovered from school attics, storage closets, even basements. Many are still missing and may never be found, having perhaps made their way to the junkyard long ago.
George Reid was not just an artist like any other reasonably successful painter. He was that rarest of birds, a passionate Canadian patriot. His love of painting the landscape, the people, and the people of this country, his generosity, and his desire to make art more accessible to the public set him apart from others. It would be a small gesture of respect and acknowledgment to leave a record in the Jarvis auditorium of the extraordinary gift he gave the school. It is surely wrong to let this remarkable man vanish so completely from the memory of the country he loved.
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