First to arrive were the year seven and eight pupils looking warily around to make sure that the meeting wasn’t an ambush by the older students, then quickly scuttling into a corner near the stage. Next came the year ten and eleven pupils who were used to sneaking round at night and had stopped off at the kitchens for a midnight snack. Finally came the year nines who shuffled grumpily in and sat on the tables at the back complaining about how they need to sleep.
Onstage, Norris was flanked by his two best mates who also acted as bodyguards. They eyed everyone with suspicion and pushed back anyone who dared venture onto the stage. As Norris stood up the hall fell silent. He walked solemnly to a lone microphone, which was situated at the front of the stage. He moved his fringe out of his eyes, cleared his throat and began to speak.
“ My fellow students”. He said in his deep voice. “ We have been through troubled times at the hands of our so-called teachers. “ For years they have put across contradicting ideas and unproven theories and if we dare to question them we are punished with inhuman ferocity. “ Detention, isn’t that another form of captivity? Litter duty isn’t that just forced labour? I, for one am sick of being oppressed, unnecessarily punished and generally treated as a lower form of life! We must unite and fight for our cause!”
Just by looking at him the students could tell this was an emotional moment for Norris. His eyes shone as he spoke and he let his voice boom out across the silent gym as if it was magically amplified.
“ I fear that my time at this school is coming to an end, so I stand here to share with you an idea, a idea that could change your lives for the better!
“Last night I had a dream, a dream of a school where everyone is equal. A dream of a school where there are no so-called teachers to govern us, a school that is void of unnecessary work! My fellow students, I have become convinced that this dream could become a reality! If you remember my words your children, and your children’s children will not have to suffer as we have. To help you remember my wise words I have written this song.”
Seconds after these words had left his mouth the stage spotlights clicked on flooding the hall with a new light and the putrid smell of burning dust which swam round the hall like oil on a calm sea. The dirty moth eaten curtains slid back to reveal some old instruments. There was an old rusting drum kit, a very old electric guitar that looked as if it had been eaten at some stage, and a battered old bass. Finally Norris’s lone microphone stood centre stage. Three of Norris’s friends took up the instruments and Norris himself took up the mike. As the old amps burst into life a faint buzzing sound could be heard around the hall. Suddenly the opening riff of the Sex Pistols ‘God Save the Queen’ rocketed around the walls. As the intro came to an end Norris grabbed the mike and began to sing.
Pupils unite!
Get ready for a fight!
Throw down your uniform
And throw down your pens.
Pupils unite!
Pick up your arms and fight
We’ll secure our future
We will rebel.
For we are the future
We want better then this
Student equal to teachers
We will get our way
Students unite!
We’ll see it through
To protect our rights
We’ll slay.
Students unite!
They throw away our rights
Our figureheads
Are not what they seem.
Through out history
Schools taken out our fun
No lines or detentions
For their crimes they’ll pay.
For our new future
There will be no sin
Our work we’ll throw in the dustbin
We’re the poison in the learning machine
We’re the future your future.
Students will fall
But we will pick them up
We will do this
We’ll save.
As the last few notes bounced off the walls, the students stood in amazement. Norris stood tall on the stage with beads of sweat trickling down his face. As the hall fell quiet again a drunken shout could be heard from down the corridor. As if by clockwork the students shifted everything back to its original place and crept out of the hall their heads buzzing with ideas.
As Mr Branston burst through the hall doors, his cane held out like a sabre all he could find was the faint smell of burning dust and the air strangely thick with excitement.
