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Local, School Life

SPPS fights

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This past school year has seen an increase in fights in the St. Paul Public School district. Harding High School, Como Senior High, and Central all have had to call police over the recent fights that have been happening, according to Fox News. In the beginning of the school year, a loaded gun was brought to Harding in a backpack along with marijuana. According to Fox 9 news, there was no intent on using the gun.

After the Central High student (name not released) attacked staff member Mr. Ekbald during lunch, the mother of the student said that her child did not know the adult was a teacher. The 16 year old student caused a traumatic brain injury, tingling in his hands and back, and neck pain to the staff member. Mr. Ekbald was choked until he was left unconsciousness and later was admitted to a hospital.

School officials are saying the outbreak of violence in SPPS schools are a result of poverty and lack of parental guidance. In an interview with Fox 9 News, the principal of Central High, Mary Mackbee, spoke about the outbreak of violence, “Our kids are needier they come from families that are suffering, whether financially or for other reasons. There’s just a lot of chaos in this world.”

One of the problems may be discipline. The Pioneer Press reports that many students are disrespectful towards their teachers. That behavior may lead to more violent behavior.

This issue hits Highland Park Senior High hard, because we’re part of the SPPS schools, and we care about our students’ safety. Kennedy McTeague, a ninth grader at Highland, when asked about her safety in school replied, “I feel terrible about what happened at Central, but I don’t think that’ll happen at Highland. We hardly have any fights and we are given alternative ways to deal without violent breakouts.”

Clubs and Activities

Model UN

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http://highlandsr.spps.org/model_united_nations_team.html

The United Nations started in 1942 during World War II, which was an effort to fight against the axis powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan.) However, the United Nations (UN) didn’t officially begin until 1945 when there was a meeting with 50 countries to draw up the Union Charter.

The United Nations is still in action 70 years later. The UN has different committees like the first committee (Disarmament & International Security) and the second committee (Economic & Financial). The UN also works on meeting Millennium Development goals, which addresses things like poverty and hunger.

No school has officially claimed starting the Model UN, however United Nations of America says it’s likely that the first Model UN started at Harvard. Today, Model UN (also known as mock UN), is an opportunity for students to act as delegates for countries. Acting as a delegate requires research for the country and the topic they are giving their opinion on.

Global Studies teacher Ms. Rise is the teacher advisor for our school’s Model UN. Highland Park High School attends several events during the school year, including the annual fall Macalester conference, and the annual spring Metro State conference. Ms. Rise says, “Students learn how to write position papers and resolutions… how to debate, listen, give speeches and interact with sometimes with thousands of other students from Minnesota, the US, and all over the world at our conferences.”

Model UN is a good opportunity to: learn about how laws and actions are produced, meet new people, and construct a plan of action during a meeting. It also helps you think globally instead of just how it is to live in a developed country like the US.

News

The gender spectrum

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Living in the United States, we have a gender binary culture. Meaning that the idea of only two genders (male and female) are constantly reinforced in our society. Non binary can mean a variety of different things: it can be used for someone who is a bit of both genders, someone who is strongly on one gender side but can identify as the opposite, or someone who has no gender.

In an interview with BBC news, Richard O’Brein, writer of The Rocky Horror Show, has spoken about his gender, and being “70% male, 30% female.” O’Brien still goes by the he/him pronouns, but has started taking the female hormone oestrogen.

Cambridge University professor, Melissa Hines, says “There is not a gender binary, that there’s a range of gender, and there are many dimensions of gender and an individual person can be in a different position in terms of how masculine or feminine they are on each of these dimensions.”

Laverne Cox, a transgender woman on the popular show Orange is the New Black, is a transgender activist and says, “We still live in a binary world in which the idea is imposed on us that there are only two genders; we need to change that perception.” Non binary people can be transgender, but male to female and female to male transgender people are not non binary. This distinction is important because transgender is an umbrella term used for people switching their genders, while people like Laverne Cox is strictly transgender because she is within the male/female binary.

Seph, a mathematician interviewed for Transmedia Watch, says, “I often feel like people like me are invisible.” Non binary people deserve to be respected and acknowledged. If you’re not sure what a person’s gender is, it’s recommended you use the pronoun they/them until you’re sure. Their gender should not be erased, and bullying and being hateful isn’t going to change their gender.

http://transmediawatch.org/Documents/non_binary.pdf

https://www.genderspectrum.org/quick-links/understanding-gender/

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-21788238

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/laverne-cox-we-live-in-a-binary-world-it-can-change-9461564.html

http://www.hercampus.com/entertainment/laverne-cox-first-transgender-individual-get-wax-figure

Advice/How To

Should you take a gap year?

The gap year between senior year of high school and freshmen year of college is finding an increase in popularity in the United States, with a 20% rise since 2006, according to Forbes. Gap years originally started in the United Kingdom, but have expanded into an actual life decision. The American Gap Association records gaps as long as two months to two years.

Pros (according to Forbes and Time):

  • Gives students a chance to learn about themselves and increase self-awareness
  • More colleges are offering scholarships for students who want to take gap years, universities include Princeton and University of North Carolina.
  • Can help you re-evaluate what college you want to go to.
  • There are low cost gap year plans, such as AmeriCorps, City year, or WWOOF-USA

Cons (according to Forbes and Time):

  • Because gap years are such a big commitment, it’s not a good idea to only want to only want to commit yourself if you just want to have fun or travel.
  • Many public schools won’t let you take a gap year, if this occurs, try to talk to your school administrator.
  • To avoid colleges, you have to go back to school by the end of the year, so make sure to decide where to go before or during the gap year.

Marah Prpich Grade 12, Highland Park High School, when asked about her stand on gap years says, “No, I want to get college over with, if they want a break from the academics, or a break to find themselves then that’s a good idea.”

Ms. Esso counselor from Highland Park High School says, “I think they’re a good year if students have a plan; if they’re going to volunteer or intern.  Sometimes, it can be harder for students to start school again if they take a year off.”

So, the decision is different for everyone. Just be concerned with what is the best for your future and which career decision will make you happy.

Editorials/Student Voice

Solutions not suspensions

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https://saintpaulbybike.wordpress.com/tag/highland-park-high-school/

“Teachers of color can have a positive influence on Students of Color…especially when teachers and students share the same racial background.” -2012 MNEEP study

With the rising number of ethnic students attending St. Paul Public Schools, there has been a rise in suspensions of students of color.

According to an ACLU study, American Indian, African American, and Latino students are facing an estimated 50% dropout rate because of the inequity they face in the classroom. That same study has shown that there is a connection to increasing suspensions, which can lead to the school to prison pipeline. Zero tolerance policies and stricter rules in school have been proven to be more harmful for students of color.

96% of teachers, in Minnesota, are white (MNEEP Report), which not only misrepresents the diversity we have in the Twin Cities, but also doesn’t give children of color role models to look up to in the classroom.

Annalise Archambault, grade 10 at Highland Park High School, is a student of color that recognizes the disparity students face in the public school system. “I do believe there’s a strong difference in suspension rates, or just discipline in general. I feel like when a white kid does something bad, the staff at school is a little more surprised.. But I feel like with students of color they think, ‘this is going to happen again.'”