Letter to the Principal

I'm a year twelve student and it's nearing the end of the year. What does that mean for me? Mother fucking Formal and Schoolies is what!
I'm really looking forward to formal, hey? Finally get to dress up and look all pretty and shit. Get to spend, possibly the last day ever with all my school friends before we all leave and go do our own things. There are some people I'll REALLY miss, and some people I'll be thankful never to see ever again.

So ... This year I paid $130 for mine and Jamie's formal ticket which is to be held at the Stamford Grand in Glenelg (yeah, the school is letting me take a boy to formal). I also would have paid, if I could afford it [hey, I work at McDonalds casual and most of my pay goes to my car] $72 for my year twelve jumper that I would have something personal printed on [Probably He's Electric or something like that] the front, and all my classmate's names on the back, in alphabetical order.

I was at school one day, when the topic came up of Formal. It was brought up in the conversation, which made my ears prick up that the Aboriginal students at my school acquired their tickets FREE of charge. This made me really angry. So what did I do? I got home and wrote an angry letter to the principal.

Whenever an issue comes up for me at the school, I do not hesitate to write a letter to the principal with my opinion bluntly being told. I do not pull any punches in my words.

So ... This is my letter. Read it guys, and let me know your opinions, yeah? Tell me if I was being ostentatious, or if I'm right, etc.

Also, I'll let people know the Principal's reply when I get it.





To whom it may concern,

I am a year twelve student at your school, who has been a very public member of the student body, and am well known in the school yard by both faculty and students.
Mine and my partner’s formal ticket cost me $130. My year twelve jumper, had I bought one—however couldn’t due to being unable to afford it—would have cost me $72. I am on the student card, as my family lives off of the old age pension. This constitutes of $440 a fortnight and this is all we survive off of and I am forced to work part time, plus my government benefits of Youth Allowance goes towards household keeping. This means that my family of three survives off of $350 a week to cover bills, food, and household expenses.

It has recently come to my attention that the Aboriginal students of Salisbury High School received both their year twelve formal tickets and year twelve jumpers free of charge. This, to me and many others in my situation is highly unfair.
I am personally all for human equal rights, however I do not see the equality of this, when students that do not come from an indigenous background are required to pay full amount for their year twelve expenses that are sentimental to them.
I am aware that it is a government decision to give those of an Aboriginal background extra financial benefit, however I do not see how it is equal. I do not see how it is equal for schools to be teaching students of different racial diversities that the Aboriginal students have everything high costing handed to them on a silver platter, but those that are Caucasian, Asian, African, American, etc have to pay full price for their schooling.

I myself, having missed out on my year twelve hooded jacket am outraged that they receive this without cost, but I, because of financial difficulty could not and do not have anything to show for year twelve except for year twelve formal photos, which I will have to purchase anyway through Event Photography. It is no doubt that the Aboriginal students will probably receive these for free, if not discounted.
Each winter day that I attended during my time as a year twelve student, I felt a slight sadness that I could not wear a jacket with my personal nickname/own name and have all my friend’s names written on the back, just to find out at a later date that if I were an Aboriginal student, I would have been handed this straight away without cost.

It is not my intention for action to be taken, just that these words be taken into consideration.

I am open to cultural diversity, and their rights as human beings, however I am strongly against special treatment because of skin colour. To me, this is racism saying that because these kids are of Indigenous background, they acquire special treatment and favouritism, however other students are expected to pay full amount.
Special treatment towards these students if, in my personal opinion racism. In my personal opinion, racism is not negative comments/actions towards those of a different cultural background, but the differential treatment of different cultures. Allowing those of Aboriginal descent cheaper or no costs with their year twelve formal tickets and jumper is treatment unique to this culture, which in effect is racism.

Thank you for listening to my concerned opinion,
James Mattin,

Year twelve student, SRC president, and same-sex attracted student. Where’s my special treatment for being gay?