MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE POSTED YOUR NEWS STORY BELOW. THIS IS THE FINAL GRADE FOR THIS MARKING QUARTER.
WE ARE STARTING A NEW UNIT ON INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES TOMORROW.
THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO SENT IN THEIR LATE WORK LAST WEEK
Voicing a concern: As you know, there is virtually no homework for this class, the expectation being you use class time productively. Perhaps it's having the use of chromebooks, so that some folks feel they can procrastinate, but the reality is that too much work is not be received in a timely manner. If you are absent- with a legal absence (a parent / guardian has notified the school and there is a note- you have ten days to turn in an assignment. Since much of what we do builds on material, it is best for you to get the work done at home and send it along. If you are on a field trip, your work is due the next day, not ten days later!
Is college worth it?
ReplyDeleteKeigan Martin
Yes, in the long run college is worth going to for its financial worth say experts. Despite the rising tuition and student loans the Federal Reserve says it’s still a good investment according to their research.
Most college graduates come straight from highschool thinking they need to start their studies immediately, however that may not always be the case. Approximately 53% of college graduates are unemployed or work somewhere that doesn’t require a bachelor's degree.This is where the road becomes rocky and people start to realize that whether or not you are successful after college is completely circumstantial.
It is true that you are more likely to have a better paying job if you have some form of a college degree but according to a local girl named Precilla currently on break from her studies she has stated that she is just “doing it to finish the degree.” after realizing what she went for is better off as a hobby.
Many college students don’t have a career plan just like 2 time dropout Ian, “I didn’t know what I was doing and realized I wouldn't have any financial security”. Based on his personal experience he realized he was ‘too young’ to make those decisions right away and wished that he had given it more time to save his money and figure out what he wanted to do with his life as well as Precilla.
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ReplyDeleteSenior year captured through the lens of a senior.
ReplyDeleteNevierah Dowdell
Senior year has this perception of being the easiest school year of your life-- but is it really?
As a present day senior, senior year prepares one for the hardship of a thing called life.
“I mean, I was excited to leave school, but wasn’t excited to face the real world,” A 2012 SOTA alumni said. But in reality, senior year is all about the thrill of reserved activities for seniors.
Media, such as movies, tv shows, social media, portrays senior year as “easy-breezy”, but the actuality is that senior year is NOT as easy as it seems.
With becoming a senior, you deal with lots of anxiety and stress, whether its from applying for college, state tests like the SAT's and ACT’s or just worrying. Many seniors have to deal with finding a harmony with work, school and keeping a balanced social life with your classmates.
Fears seniors have are realizing the drastic changes from highschool to college or being alone having to survive in the world, or if they’re going to get accepted into the college one desires. But one thing that’s certain, is that the relationships of the classmates grows as they step together through the process.
“My classmates and I became more of a family during senior year,” a 2016 graduate said.
As a senior, a huge challenge one faces is senioritis.
“Everyday I wake up and say to myself, ‘Is it even worth it?’ but then I think about that diploma and say, ‘yes’,” a current senior said. Pushing through senior year trying to maintain good grades and keeping a positive attitude can be really draining.
An economic struggle that most seniors face are being able to pay all the deadlines. Let’s face it-- senior year is really expensive. From college applications, senior activities, yearbook, senior apparel, prom and more can really take a toll on one. But the majority are able to push through this.
In conclusion, the hardships of senior year can be bittersweet-- so enjoy it.
School and video games, conflicting coexisting
ReplyDeleteAvery Burgess
Since the late 1960’s people, as in children mostly, have had a found relationship with virtual pieces of coding that when put together create some of our most cherished experiences, Video games. But can a good thing be turn into something bad?
A typical student in the current day and age will often find ways of entertaining themselves by going on social media or simply watching tv, others like myself play video games. Teachers and parents alike feel that their students and or children’s grades suffer as a result of excessive gaming.
To paraphrase Ms.Sweets, a teacher from School Of The Arts, claims that when students play video games they get used to the fast paced action of video games and that once students re-enter the classroom they lose interest in their class because it does not mirror the speed at which they have become accustomed too as a result of playing video games.
“My oldest son Jack, for a while it was kinda detrimental,it was like taking away study time but we let him take his licks,”...”he can alot his time now.”-Latorre, J
“Children who constantly play video games may perform poorly in school, but the effects are so insignificant as to hardly matter, new research suggests.” fatherly says.
An associate of mine, who is also a senior this year, does not have this problem. He finds himself completing any and all required work before playing any video games. He claims that he uses video games an incentive to complete his work faster.
One can argue that video games can be something good that can push a student further but at the same time it can be said that video games can cause grades to slip and lead to failure academically, but what can definitely be said about video games is that they have a decent effect of students academic life.
MINDFULNESS CAN HELP EASE THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS
ReplyDeleteJahnae Lister
Yes we all dream of the college experience, but not all of us are able to maintain the mental stability to make it through the rather stressful process. Research has shown that when the college search begins many students face self doubt and anxiety about what is to come for their future.
Anxiety is one of the top problems faced by our youth today. If incorporating more mindfulness into processes such as college applications students may get a better understanding of the rather stressful process.
“I feel like everytime I’m almost done and ready to submit my application there's always more to it.” says a senior at School Of The Arts. Juggling school work, deadlines, activities & college applications can drive the average senior off the walls!
“I feel as if some questions are unnecessary and make me somewhat self-conscious, like why does it matter if I’m a U.S citizen or not,” says another senior at School Of The Arts.
If you’re worried about what college will accept you, where your academic abilities stand, or how good you did on the SAT; keep in mind that we all continue to face the rigorous process. Mindfulness allows us to understand that what the future holds makes it all worth it.
College student anxiety and depression on all time rise
ReplyDeleteBy Wesley Bruce
Self-destructive reasoning, extreme sadness and, self-wounding among U.S. undergrads dramatically increased over the span of 10 years/decade, and across the nation studies infer.
Looking at data from a survey covering undergraduates covering the years 2010-2018, researchers found a broad worsening of mental health indicators including depression overall, anxiety, suicidal planning. This survey is a specific representation of drug/medicine and alcohol stress relief.
The U.S. Census Bureau reports that in 2017, over 18 million students were enrolled in college within the U.S. in line with figures compiled by Statista, nearly three out of 4 of those students have experienced a way of “overwhelming anxiety” at it slow, and just below 30% report having felt overwhelming anxiety within the previous period.
After doing extensive research it is easy to find multiple ways that colleges may provoke unease in students. Questions of what causes this and why it gradually increases vary. One possible reason is a lack of preparation. “Just thinking about life after high school,college sends shivers down my spine” says Sota alumni. So in turn this feeling of freedom some feel about college can also be debilitating to others.
In an interview with Kelvin, a current undergraduate at Buffstate and close friend, he says “this first year was the hardest, because it was an unusual experience it it was fairly uncomfortable”.
So anxiety is not uncommon in college, but should be properly prepared for. Most colleges don't have thorough procedures, but organizational skills and communication are key benefactors in keeping those nerves at bay and the pressure low.
Girls treated as sexual objects at School of the Arts
ReplyDeleteBy Kyla Carter
Sexual harassment is a chronic problem for the students at School of the Arts.
Sexual harassment is defined as any form of unwanted sexual conduct including, but not limited to—request for sexual advances and favors, verbal sexual conduct, and physical sexual conduct. This type of behavior is intolerable to The Board in any setting that is related to the school, but countless girls have have shared to students and teachers that they’ve been the victim of sexual harassment more than once during their time at School of the Arts.
The girls say that they feel disgusted, shocked, and confused. “This older boy slapped my butt without my permission,” said Nadia Moralez.
“A guy was poking and touching me on the bus. Someone asked me, “Why would you allow him to do that?” but I never even consented to it,” said Jada Brown.
“A boy that I had no interest in, bent me over in the hallway and smacked my butt really hard,” said an anonymous source.
“I had a boy ask me for a sexual favor. When I declined he got upset and continued to ask,” stated another source wishing to be kept anonymous. As appalled as these girls are by the actions of their fellow students, most of them have not reported these incidences.
Students believe that the only preventive measures in place at the School of the Arts is the Dress Code Policy, which promotes girls to think that they are the reason they’re being harrassed. “The school’s dress code has normalized the sexualization of girls,” said Nadia Moralez. However, the district’s Policy Manual states that there are training programs provided on a regular basis for students to implement preventative measures and raise aware surrounding sexual harassment.
The only sexual harassment training programs for students is a brief mention in health class. When situations like this occur they need to be reported to an administrator, who then has the authority to decide the next course of action.
ReplyDeleteMy attendance does not conflict with my intelligence
By: Jamila Jenkins
Finishing High School is one of the biggest milestones of your life. School cannot be completed sufficiently without coming to school. Or so we thought; coming to school is just not on some people's agenda.
In 2016 7 Million students has admitted missing 15 days or more in a school year. That is 1 out of 6 students out of the US school system.
“I don’t like school, because it doesn’t help me what I do in life and what I learn is useless in real life so why would I need to come to school. Everything bad thing that happens in my life always starts from school. ” Says a 2020 soon graduate from Monroe
“I come to school late because I don’t want to it’s just because I am tired I stay up until 2am to finish assignments because I have a lot of school work.” Says A senior from the 2020 class
“ I have all my credits to graduate everything up till now is unnecessary to me. I don’t need or see the value of going to school anymore.” Says 2020 graduate
Teachers If you feel like students have a valuable reason for not coming to school you’re wrong. In reality students are just tired and doesn't see the reason to go to school anymore. Students are having trouble finding the strength to come to school anymore.
College is not the only option
ReplyDeleteBy Maeve Kehoe
Many students today are expected to attend college regardless of their GPAs, but experts disagree on whether this is beneficial to society or even the students.
College often is sold as the only path to a stable and well paying career, and tution as a sort of investment in your own future. This cost what is most sceptics see as the problem,
CNBC reported in 2018 that Americans owed 1.5 trillion cumulatively in student debt alone.
Some experts believe that the problem is bigger than that. Research director George Leef from the pope center compared our current system to the housing bubble.
“We caused a resource-wasting higher education bubble.” Reef said “Large numbers of people have gone to college and obtained degrees costing a great deal of money and time, only to find that there aren’t nearly enough of those good jobs to go around.”
He also argues that the quality of the degrees have decreased, as colleges try to push their bloated student bodies through the programs.
However other experts such as economist Peter Sacks stand by the push towards higher education and even say we need to be doing more.
“We are producing too few BA degrees and advanced degrees relative to the skill sets employers actually need and will need.” Sacks said.
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ReplyDeleteCultural appropriation at school of the arts
ReplyDeleteThe definition of cultural appropriation is the adoption of elements of one culture by members of another culture. Some students of color at School of the Arts feel like there is a degree of cultural appropriation at the high school. Weather the appropriation is knowingly or not students are not feeling the subtle disrespect.
Many students don’t know how to deal with this, Jamila a senior at the school says she doesn't want to face backlash if she comes out and speak against what she sees; she also said that people have different views on what cultural appropriation is so she does nothing to address the issue at hand. Another senior Raeona said she feels like her culture is being colonized, when one ethnicity does what another has been doing for all this time and they get glorified while others get called names isn’t alright. This just shows that you have to be self aware of what you’re doing, especially in today’s day and age.
This conversations exceeds the walls of School of the Arts you hear many stories of people from minority groups expressing their worries of cultural appropriation they see. As humans we have to know each other and the history our fellow Americans, educate people and put a stop to cultural appropriation.
Appropriation of Asian Culture
ReplyDeleteBy Joshua Phonharath
Although cultural appropriation is definitely not tolerated in today's society, it seems like in some cases, it is overlooked and not taken as serious as it would be if the cultures were different. Cultural appropriation is generally defined as a phenomenon where one culture uses another culture's words, clothing, and hairstyles while attempting to pass it off as their own. It is typically accompanied by the one's misunderstanding of the item's significance and historical connotation. Most prominent cases in modern America take place involving non-black people using black hairstyles and vernacular. The appropriation of these hairstyles is so volatile because actual black people are denied jobs and called "ghetto" for embracing their culture, while non-black people do the same thing and are praised for being unique and stylish. So, seeing a white person wearing dreadlocks would spark controversy because black people are told that they need to change their hair due to it looking unclean or unprofessional. Cultural appropriation is such an issue because the people who are actually from said culture are often not allowed to embrace it.
In an article by Janelle Griffith, yet another black teenager in Texas has been told to cut their dreadlocks or else he would not be able to walk the stage. The school's policy against hairstyles that "gather or [be] worn in a style that would allow the hair to extend below the collar, earlobes, and eyes when let down." It took until 2019 for states to begin banning hair based discrimination. The natural hair movement that was started by black women who had 4c hair (a texture that is characterized by tight coils and shrinkage) has been infiltrated by women with wavy hair. The presence of these women in the movement is controversial because they would never be denied jobs or told to change the hair that grows out of their head naturally. -->
(Part 2) But not all cases of cultural appropriation are seen as hurtful. The appropriation of Asian culture is often misunderstood and downplayed. Asian appropriation usually involves misused Japanese language characters, the sexualization of the qipao dress, and the fetishized “exotic-ess” of asian culture. Many stars in recent years have unknowingly contributed to cultural appropriation. Nicki Minaj’s track Chun-Li calls upon the asian video game character from the Street Fighter franchise. In the music video, she features japanese characters and a voice-over of her speaking in the language. She uses motifs of twin buns and chinese bangs, and for a live performance of the song, she wears a sexualized traditional chinese dress. A white high school student wore a red qipao to her prom and insisted that nothing was wrong with it because it was, “just a dress.” The qipao was initially a conservative, shapeless dress worn by Chinese women for housework. But as it was introduced to the public , it was turned into a form fitting garment made more for fashion. The qipao signifies the chinese woman’s liberation from a patriarchal society, and it does not bode well for other cultures to begin wearing variations of it just because it is “pretty.” If you start to see the dress as it simply being that, a dress, then you are ignoring centuries of fetishization faced by asian women, patriarchal abuse, and overall culture.
ReplyDeleteI asked other asian people how they felt about the appropriation of the various cultures. In my conversation with Jenna Le, a Vietnamese-American student, she told me about an instance last year where Kacey Musgraves (White country singer) wore a traditional ao dai to which there was no backlash. The ao dai is similar to the qipao but has different connotations, it is only meant to be worn on very special occasions like when you get married. Kacey Musgraves wearing the ao dai is problematic because it is clear that she does not understand the purpose of the dress or when it is appropriate to wear one. Her version of the ao dai was highly sexualized which disrespects a garment that is supposed to signify pride at one’s wedding, celebrating Vietnamese New Year, and only be worn when the situation calls for it. I also asked my mom and my sister on their opinions on wearing traditional clothing while not respecting the culture. There is a Laotian dress worn by women called a sinh and it typically only worn for special occasions like funerals, the new year, weddings, and our version of church. I asked my mom how she would feel if she saw a non-Lao person wearing the sinh and she said she would be confused as to why they would feel the need to wear one. She could understand if it was at any of the events specified above, but she would not like it if it was simply worn for fashion as not even Lao people wear it for that purpose.
Cultural appropriation is a slippery slope, yes, but it is easy to avoid situations of taking someone’s culture if you educate yourself on the background of clothing and hairstyles. Even then, sometimes you cannot wear clothing or hairstyles because of the discrimination faced by people of that culture for embracing it.
Akhiyar Abdi
ReplyDeleteMs. Parker
Journalism
27 January 2020
Snacks on Lock Down
By: Akhiyar Abdi
Vending machines on school campuses has become more common in recent years, gathering differing opinions from the public. Michelle Obama has made her concerns vocal in the past arguing that vending machines “promote unhealthy eating habits”. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “students can consume almost half of their daily calories when they are at school.” This is under the condition that the food in the machines meet the nutritional requirements that have been put in place.
There are three vending machines located in the Commons at School of the Arts with several other water dispensers dispersed throughout the building. When students enter the Commons for breakfast and lunch, they are immediately met with the vending machines that are lined consecutively against the brick wall.
Many of the students think that installing the vending machines was a good idea. “The amount of money they could make would help our budget,'' said senior Jenna Le. Students were able to freely visit the vending machines during their lunch periods or in between classes and it proved to be an alternative to school lunches, providing students with broader options.
Until recently these machines have been available for use throughout the school day. However, sometime in the last three years the schools administration made the decision to lock down all vending machines, besides the ones containing water, until the end of the school day. This was due to concerns that the school was influencing children and allowing them to make unhealthy food choices.
This garnered response from students such as Senior Isobel York, who expressed her concerns on the topic, “nobody has time to use them after school.” Despite any responses this new policy has remained in tact for years and the vending machines remain lined up in the commons filled with snacks that are available after school hours.
Madeline Newsome
ReplyDeleteParker
Journalism 3
27 January 2020
School, Safety. No Correlation
The Rochester City School District(RCSD) does everything in its power to keep the schools of the distric safe. However many things slip under the eyes of the “Big Man” and “Little guy” suffers. School of the Arts is no different.
When asked the same quesions, various grade levels of students at School of the Arts’ answer changed drastically.
Where 7th and 8th graders typically said they don’t feel safe at school because of the natural middle school drama, others blame it on the lack of staff doing their jobs properly.
When upperclassmen were asked the same questions, some of the answers were virtually the same. Though the blame was placed in the district itself and not necessarily in the school building.
When asked to scale how well they felt the securiy guards did their jobs most of the answers where a 5 or lower.
“5 because sometimes they let fights happen and watch. An incident happened where a boy was choking this girl and she was clearly tellng him to stop and 2 security guards just watched and smiled a little bit. But they do sometimes do thier job and stop fights.”, a ninth grader stated after seemingly contemplating her answer.
However a 2017 alumni gave a 7 stating, “ I feel they act within reason given their resources, although I do wish they were more present and less choosy on when to intervene.”
As in many schools, Bullying happens. When asked about it the students claimed they don’t see much bullying. But the issue was that most responses were, “Wait, we have a bullying policy?”
A senior stated, “ Those are just fancy words. Yes some schools take their bullying policies seriously enough to make a change. This school isn’t one of them. People don’t know about the bullying policies because in reality they don’t exist.”
However many alumni feel differently.
A 2018 alumni stated, “There aren’t really proper resources availble to really implement a serious bulying policy. The faculy( mostly teachers) strive to make everyone feel safe, I’ve never felt in danger in school the entire time I’ve been there.”
When asked if they had ever feared their well being or someone else’s at the hands of the school setting, answers varied the most.
A seventh grader stated, “ No I’ve never felt in danger at all. I like School of the Arts because this places makes me feel like I can become a better version of me, not a bad version of tearing people down and becoming bitter like I see in other schools.”
However ninth grader stated, “I have thought a shooter would come one day in our school and start killing so yeah at times. I’m also not scared but like suspicious about the guards because they look at you in a way that would make you uncomfortable.”
She then went on to talk about an issue that had happened with a friend and a security guard where the bathroom door was open and he was sitting in the hallways right across from the bathroom and was trying to talk to her. This was not the only incident that was brought up as many girls felt the same and ultimately after a senior had girls get together and sign a petition against the same security guard, he was fired. Being in a similar situation with the same security guard, who insisted I take the elevator with him instead of walking up the stairs to the office and then cornering me in the elevator and making me feel very uncomfortable, I can also say I was glad the school had done something about it.
To make any type of difference in making the school a safer place though, everyone that was asked the same questions said that having security guards that don’t make them uncomfortable and actually do their jobs would really help.As well as learning how to coexist between upper and lower classmen and teachers understanding that students go through things outside of a school setting that could affect the seting inside the building.
Harsh Reality of Senior Year
ReplyDeleteBy Maria Ogando
Students in their senior year of high school often face numerous hardships including transitioning into the world after graduation, leaving memories and friends behind, and facing challenged expectations of what they thought being a senior would contain.
Senior students all over the world are facing the same troubles of highschool. It’s found that seniors tend to get overwhelmed during their final year in highschool, resulting in patterns of skipping classes, forgetting to study, mismanaging time, and excessively thinking about their future.
When asked if senior year was preparation enough to be transitioned into the real world Hunter Reed, a senior student, stated “No, because I feel like during senior year in highschool we put too much focus on finishing our time in highschool rather than preparing for what's after highschool”. This demonstrates how seniors sometimes feel as if they have no choice but to excessively envision their future because they feel that they are not prepared well enough to handle life after graduation.
Graduation is also a very hard time for seniors as they experience heavy goodbyes to highschool friends and leaving a place that they have familiarized themselves with. Senior Naimah Coleman answered that the hardest part of senior year for her would be, “Realizing that the people that you see almost everyday probably won’t be in your life anymore once you cross the stage”. She explains that even though it’s a scary time to go through she’s “...excited to know what’s out there”.
Recognizing the hardships that students go through during their senior year is important because it could prevent future seniors from going through the same problems. Even though the reality of senior year can impact a student in a negative way, it can also drive them to discover what the future holds for them.
High school girls basketball
ReplyDeleteby Eysha clarke-desouza
It’s remarkable to say that women's basketball has came along way since James naismith invented girls basketball in Springfield Massachusetts in 1891.Less than hundred years later women's basketball has evolved to where their compared to men.
Minnesota state association reported that 49% of high school participants are girls.[all combined sports].Male rates are higher in all sports.
I’ve interviewed my fellow teammates and coach from school of the arts and got their opinions on this topic.but they’ve all made it clear that girls basketball is underrated and unappreciated.
Question1- me:“Why is playing basketball important to you?”
India-“because if I can't play it doesn't feel right”
Question2- “Does playing a sport help u with your academics?”
india-“yes. It helps me stay on top of it so I can continue to play basketball”
Question3-”what do you think needs to change in women's basketball or womens sports?
india- ”get the same level of respect as male athletes”
question 1- Why is playing basketball important to you?
kayla-i”t’s an outlet to relieve stress it makes me happy “
Question 2- “Does playing sports help u with your academics?
kayla-“yea cause u have to stay eligible”
Question 3 - “what do you think needs to change in women's basketball or womens sports?
kayla-“we should get the same amount of attention as the boys”
Question 1-Why is playing basketball important to you?
Coach ny-”play is important to me because the variety of new experiences , with new people with life and going to different and new places”
Question 2- “As a coach do u think sports helps kids with their academics?”
Coach ny- “So if they work hard in school that effort would translate to the court.it also holds people accountable ,and also everybody doesn't stay young so they need something to fall back on”.
Question 3 - what do you think needs to change in women's basketball or womens sports?
Coach ny-“publicity, we need to be given more opportunity to present themselves so people can watch it”.
Many can argue that women’s basketball isn’t as historical as men’s basketball but has changed the game. As the world evolves hopefully these challenges would chsnge and evolve too.
Electronics play big role in current generation’s school lives
ReplyDeleteJared Jones
As time progresses, humans have become more reliant on technology. According to Pew Research Center, in 2011 only 35% of Americans used smartphones. Now, that number is up to 81%. Although the numbers have been raised, there is also a generational gap. According to the same studies, 96% of Americans aged 18-29 own smartphones, compared to the 53% of Americans aged 65 and older who use smartphones.
This generational gap has caused a misunderstanding about smartphones and Gen Z. At SOTA and other RCSD schools, smartphones have been banned, and chromebooks were given as an alternative. This helps fulfill their cell phone policy, however, this doesn’t do much for the students. As stated before, Gen Z is heavily reliant on technology and can take advantage of the chromebook features. Some teachers argue that the chromebooks have just became a complete replacement of smartphones, and have become more of a problem.
Some students may use the chromebooks to do exactly what the RCSD staff didn’t want them to do. They can use these chromebooks to play games while they’re supposed to be working, or while they’re supposed to be learning about what the teacher is teaching. This is a problem because you can tell when a student is on their phones playing games, but not all teachers can always tell if a student is off task on their chromebooks. Chromebooks are being more accepted than smartphones, although they both fulfill the same tasks and can be exploited by our Generation in order to be off task.