Editorials
October 9th, 2020
Student Health Takes Priority Over In-Person Learning
By Maria Chettoor | Photo By Maria Chettoor
While the coronavirus pandemic has affected everyone's lives, students continue to adapt to the changes involving education. Children of all ages used to go to school face-to-face, sit in crowded places, and enjoy life without worrying about catching a fatal virus. With the new conditions, students have started learning remotely, through live sessions and websites. The question of whether in-person learning has become more important than putting students at risk of catching COVID-19 has emerged. We need to realize that putting students' health first should be the number one priority.
COVID-19, a deadly disease, spreads easily. The United States hasn't taken necessary precautions to limit the spread, so the opportunity for someone to catch the disease rises daily. Not only does the US have the most cases in the world, we also lead in the number of deaths caused by the coronavirus. The president has also downplayed the effects of the coronavirus, causing chaos. The Times notes, "He has stubbornly clung to a fantastical belief that the virus will simply 'disappear'; he encouraged states to reopen ahead of his own Administration's guidelines; and he has repeatedly cherry-picked statistics that make the situation in the U.S. look far better than it is in reality." The mixed messages and the late response from the president has made the coronavirus a bigger threat. Going back to school can worsen the pandemic and cause the case and fatality numbers to increase more than it already has. According to the Associated Press, "Teachers in at least three states have died after bouts with the coronavirus since the dawn of the school year." No one wants to go through the pain of losing a loved one just because they had to attend school.
Including the number of lives saved, virtual learning has its advantages. It provides flexibility to students, a comfortable work environment, and it makes it easier for students to get one-on-one time with their teachers. Teachers have tried to make it easier for students by giving them less work and tests. Overall, it has become a temporary replacement for face-to-face learning, and it hasn't changed too much.
I don't doubt that students would prefer to be back in school. They miss their friends, teachers, and hands-on learning. In-person education allows students to understand the material better, gives people who might have a troubled home a safe haven for the day, and students have more motivation to do work. Even though most people would prefer it, we can't be selfish. We have to think about how everyone has a different situation at home, and that going back to school can impact every student differently. Right now, online school remains our best option to learn and keep everyone healthy.
September 18th, 2020
Dear AFHS
By Ash Willis | Photo by Ash Willis
Going through high school can be a difficult experience with college applications to be sent and AP classes to do. High school can become much more difficult, however, when students feel that they can't trust their own administration to step in. So students made their voices heard in another way.
An Instagram page titled Dear AFHS, created in July of 2020 has become a place where students feel free to air their hardships and experiences at the school. Many of the issues had been brought to the administration already, only to fall on deaf ears. The page deals with rather heavy subjects sometimes, including racism, sexism, transphobia, homophobia, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and depression. Every story on the page appears anonymously with the photo following it suggesting to the administration how they could have handled the situation better.
One student wrote, "I've had multiple guys continuously ask what's in my pants....I've also had experiences with two other guys who just said the f slur over and over to each other. I repeatedly told them to stop and they didn't. I had to get the teacher who just moved them to opposite sides of the room." The student wished to remain anonymous. Stories like this continue to be widespread at AFHS, especially from marginalized groups such as students of color and those belonging to the LGBT+ community.
When asked if they would like to be interviewed, Dear AFHS remained more than happy to accept the invitation, answering questions to the best of their ability. They wished to remain anonymous so as not to add bias to the stories they post. When asked what shocked them the most about running a page based around such sensitive stories, the response regarded the lack of sensitivity from other students. They said, " I've been shocked by the amount of submissions completely missing the point of the account or mocking the stories being submitted. The ignorance is even more impactful when you have to read other genuine stories right after."
When asked what they hoped to achieve by running this page, they had this to say, "The ultimate goal is to make a safe/nurturing environment for everyone at AFHS, but in reality that's going to take years of work involving more than this account. It serves as a platform for students to share their truth without fear and then demand change. Through that, we hope that admins recognize what they're failing to do." From the time of writing, Dear AFHS has not been contacted by school officials in any way, though a teacher has plans to inform the Equity and Diversity team. The students behind the page find it essential that administrators see this page and understand how their students feel about not only the school but those in charge of running it.
Many of the stories have to do with teacher reactions, or what teachers themselves have said or done that made students feel uncomfortable. In the past, AFHS ran a Student Equity board, which I, as an LGBT+ student, had the privilege of being on, but it didn't change much. On the student equity board, we made teachers and students more aware of the struggles and oppression that different groups of students faced. If teachers or administrators wanted to let our words be ignored, they had that opportunity in that forum. Having a page like Dear AFHS continues to be different than a student board. Dear AFHS at the time of writing has 56 posts relating to student stories and experiences, and that number will probably increase through the school years. Having all of these loaded stories in one place for administrators to read should be a good way of making them aware of how the students feel, and creates a place for student voices to be heard.
As a student at AFHS, I feel the importance for students to make their voices heard should be emphasized-I have experiences that have not been positive with the administrators here as well. Now a place exists for our voices as students to be heard. Anyone with a story can post it to tinyurl.com/dearafhs or message them directly off their Instagram @dearafhs. Those working on the page had one last message they wanted to share with readers.
"Teachers, you're the ones educating these students. These individuals are coming into high school one person and then leaving another. You're in control of your classroom and the environment you create. Within your career you're going to have thousands of teenagers at your attention, listening to what you say and watching what you do. The students in your class will grow up to be leaders, influencers, teachers, artists, fathers, mothers.
You don't have to instill every life lesson and belief into each student. We all remember small moments where teachers have impacted us. That could be a few moments where they open up and show genuine care, or they could be moments where they overlook a cry for help. If every teacher showed empathy and tried guiding students on the right path, we wouldn't have so many tear-stained experiences.
There's no excuse as to why you can't educate yourself on what students are going through and how you can change. If it's 1 or 2,500 students it's worth having that uncomfortable talk, it's worth putting up those posters in your classrooms, it's worth adding an extra segment to your lesson.
There have been too many silent moments to have one of the few cries to be swept under and ignored.
Teachers, what you say and do could speak happier lifetimes into existence, saying nothing allows the destructive to be heard; know the worth of your words."
Zoos: Ethical or Unethical
By Claire Hannah
Do zoos represent an educational opportunity beneficial for both humans and the furred, scaled, and feathered occupants, or do they create another example of speciesism and disregard for the well-being of animals? In this long seated debate the most typical arguments for zoos remain their educational benefits, breeding programs, and the improvements in life span evident in some captive bred species. However, the question must be raised regarding if these benefits outweigh the potential harm or stress these animals face due to their unnatural environmental circumstances.
Despite the fact that zoos can be a typical family getaway, allowing tourists to enter zoos for educational purposes may be against the best interest of the animals. Visitors can often be a source of stress for animals, especially when viewed from above. Prey animals may be instinctually reminded of birds of prey when viewed from above, while predators may become stressed due to the unfamiliar sounds, smells, and movements of people. According to Zoo Animal Welfare Education, "other studies have concluded that the constant presence of unfamiliar people can produce stress and have a negative impact on welfare". In addition, zoo keepers often have to be vigilant to ensure visitors do not attempt to feed animals and dispose of their litter improperly.
According to Conservation Physiology, in the wild, animals would have unlimited space to roam, explore, hunt, and encounter situations that require problem solving. Although humans may see a zoo enclosure as wide and expansive, when an animal remains confined to a certain area for its entire life with little stimulation, they can become very restless. While boredom may not seem like a big problem, it has been proven to be an animal welfare issue rather than a simple inconvenience. When an animal doesn't get enough mental stimulation or experiences chronic boredom, they may show many unnatural symptoms. These symptoms may include pacing back and forth, repetitive actions, difficulty sleeping, constant self grooming. Other harmful behaviors include ripping fur, chewing or biting skin, and even depressive symptoms which can cause the animal to stop seeking ways to alleviate boredom and become inactive which can cause a variety of other health issues. Even animals with more "enriched" enclosures that contain objects for climbing, water to swim in, passages, and objects to chew on may still suffer symptoms of chronic boredom due to the confined space once their surroundings become familiar to them. Prolonged symptoms of boredom can cause persistent low mood and potentially shorten an animal's life span.
Although many species have extended life spans in zoos due to lack of predators and exposure to nature's hardships, this does not ensure these animals have the best quality of life. It makes no sense to appreciate these animals while simultaneously disregarding their needs. Humans put their own interests over other species causing animals to continue to suffer not only in zoos, but in meat industries, pet trades, and in nature itself as humans continue to destroy their habitats and pollute their land.
eBooks Hurt the Reading Experience
By Abi Burt | Photo by Abi Burt
Ray Bradbury, a famous American author, once said, "A computer does not smell...if a book is new, it smells great. If a book is old, it smells even better...And it stays with you forever...the computer doesn't do that for you." Many people agree with Bradbury, however, others feel eBooks can be just as sufficient as paper books, maybe even more.
Websites like Kitaboo claim that eBooks can be more "portable" and "lightweight" than paper books. That may be true, but does one really get the same satisfaction of tapping on a screen as flipping the pages of a handheld book? Approximately 84% of students polled at Apex Friendship prefer paper books over eBooks. Despite the fact that eBooks cost significantly less than paper books, can be more convenient, and take less space; there happen to be multiple reasons why book lovers enjoy paper books more.
Biomedcentral and book lovers alike use "woody, smoky, and earthy" to describe the unique smell of a book. The smell of a book continues to be an experience people will never get from a computer. Whether the book happens to be old or new, books carry a certain smell with them that people can't help but be comforted by.
Just the color of a book can draw people into the reading experience. Book covers, sprayed edges, and gilded pages can be qualities that appeal to book fanatics. Book covers usually get people's attention first. whether the colors occur as vibrant and bold, or black and white, they grab people's attention and immediately draw people in.
Paper books don't cause eye strain like eBooks. Healthline writes, "Scientists at the University of Toledo may have discovered how blue light emitted from your technology has a potential to lead to macular degeneration, one of the leading causes of vision loss in the United States." Even though many eBooks have "blue light," which isn't as harmful as light from the sun, people's eyes follow the same path over and over again, which results in eye strain. Reading a paper book affects the eyes less and causes less irritation due to repeated movement.
Though eBooks have their advantages, so do paper books. It depends on personal preference; however, paper books withstand the test of time and continue to be the preferred method of reading.
May 27, 2020
Democrats' Move Left Could Be The Party's Ruin
By Daniela Paris | Photo by Daniela Paris
Democrats will be quick to point out the Republicans' rapidly radicalizing party-and for good reason. Ever since Trump's rise in power, the party seems to have shifted dramatically towards the right, pushed forth by the insurgence of presidents with more extreme views. Vox News ran a segment on the issue in 2018, boasting a chart that ranked Trump the most extreme president to date. For many young Democrats and left-leaning organizations, the Republican party has broken from respectable competition to a bunch of capitalist, racist, and homophobic rich old men (and remember, for a considerable amount of Democrats, capitalist counts as an insult).
However, Democrats should look to themselves with a certain level of concern before pointing fingers, for the party has joined the fray of radicalization as well. Just look to the rise in popularity of Senator Bernie Sanders and freshman Democrat sweetheart, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Sanders, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist, amassed national popularity in the 2016 primaries, and his base continues to grow in the 2020 primaries-although it appears his candidacy for the nomination has come to an end, with Biden pulling far ahead in the later Democratic primaries.
According to The Atlantic, Sanders has in the past defended regimes of dictators such as Daniel Ortega and Fidel Castro. Democrat Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, dubbed AOC by fans and critics, gained fame for her uncompromising positions on climate change, gun control, expanding Social Security, and a tax hike for the rich. She has grown to become perhaps the most hated (by Republicans) and loved (by young Democrats) figure in the party.
Regardless of one's stance on this liberal, socialist brand of the Democrat party, it cannot be contested that the shift may present problems for the party's future. Older Democrats especially may be appalled. "Some of the same qualities that have made Sanders a folk hero among millennials could be repelling seniors," Politico wrote, citing a major flaw in Sanders's 2016 campaign that appeared again in 2020: the Senator failed to attract votes from the party's older generation. In addition, even the young generation has qualms about AOC. "I like some of her ideas, but some of them can be too radical," Carlyn Calayan, a senior at AFHS said.
Perhaps even more dangerous could be the alienation of centrist voters. Nearly four in ten U.S adults identify as Independent, according to the Pew Research Center, and parties know that a radical shift in party values presents the exact type of dilemma that will scare Independents from giving them the vote: votes they desperately need, as the parties fight head to head for the most seats in office. The party needs to take care that their shift-however necessary-doesn't detract from their ultimate goal this year: shoving Trump out of the White House.
Unwanted College Mail
By Daniela Paris | Photo by Daniela Paris
In the past months, I've gotten heaps upon heaps of mail from colleges. Far-off schools in Indiana and Ohio have sent pamphlets with pictures of their campuses-drone shots and smiling students, embossed on glossy, expensive-looking cardstock. Kenyon College, located in Some Random Midwest State, USA, sent me a generic letter begging me to consider their college, accompanied by a beautifully designed card with an inspirational quote printed on it. To top it all off, Rochester Institute of Technology sent me an enormous, orange and fuchsia poster with the phrase, "Daniela, you're always on to something amazing" on it.
I'm not the only student who has had to deal with the sudden barrage of college mail: 92% of AFHS juniors polled said they had received some form of college mail in the past six months. The intent of the mail seems obvious: colleges hope to reach out to as many students as possible and foster interest in their schools. However, colleges seem to miss the reality of where these letters end up. More often than not, these tailored ads go straight from the mailbox to the trash. It appears a tremendous waste of both paper and money.
There exists little reliable data showing the amount of college mail sent out to students each year, but The Washington Post writes that Americans receive an average 41 pounds of junk mail per year-junk mail that ends up going straight to landfills and dumps. This junk mail presents a huge drain on the planet, and even on advertisers' wallets. The drawbacks remain obvious, so why don't colleges make the switch to email? In reality, most colleges do utilize email to solicit students, in addition to sending snail mail.
Colleges often send emails more often than mail, but stick to mail because students (and people in general) have been proven to respond better psychologically to mail than email. In addition, as Inc. reported, with mail volume decreasing as email becomes more prominent, any mail received stands out more to the average student.
Snail mail may prove more effective comparatively, but the fact remains that all junk envelopes merit a tremendous waste of money, paper, and effort by the college industry. In fact, only 7.5 students at AFHS responded positively when asked if college mail has made a significant impact on what colleges they will apply to. Molly Hungate, a junior, said, "It's just a lot of wasted paper I don't even bother looking at this point. They all say the same exact thing." Shane Menzigan, another junior in the midst of the mail-receiving frenzy, joked, "I'm doing an experiment to see how much I can possibly get in the year."
The solution? Colleges should take steps to drastically limit the amount of college mail they send. If not refraining from mail completely and making the total switch to email, universities and schools should make sure to limit the mail to only certain demographics: perhaps they could only send mail to students that fit the GPA ranges of their school, or only to students interested in the majors the university has good programs for. Compliance with these guidelines may prove difficult, but ultimately, colleges must take these steps in order to decrease waste, save money, and (perhaps more important) save future college students and their families the pain of receiving heaps of unwanted mail.