Editor’s Note: The Plaid Line publishes editorials that contain opinions that are those of the student authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the the Plaid Line, HPSH, or its staff.
Parents assume that schools are a safe place for their children to go and socialize with friends and be educated but little do they know that some kids are bringing:
Guns
Knives
Drugs
Some kids think it’s O.K. to show off the weapons, drugs, etc. that they bring to school with no consequences. School resource officers (SROs) are not making it any better by putting guns, Tasers etc. on their utility belts, as this can show kids that it’s O.K. to have weapons in a school building.
According to Kare 11, a student at Patrick Henry High School brought a .38 caliber handgun to school with the intention of shooting another student after school. Patrick Henry school administrators are now talking about making a stand, and to make the district a weapon, violence, and gang free zone.
Another Kare 11 report of a student bringing a gun to school was in Hanover, MN, where deputies took a 9th grade student into custody after reports of seen a gun.
According to huffingtonpost.com about 17 percent of American high school students are drinking, smoking or using drugs during the school day. Of 1,003 students ages 12-17, 86 percent indicated they were aware their classmates were abusing substances during the day, and more than half acknowledged there was a place on, or near, school grounds where students periodically go to use drugs, drink, and smoke.
On Wlwt.com a middle school student in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, is accused of bringing two knives to school. Students alerted administrators about a threatening comment made by the middle school boy. The school isn’t releasing the child’s grade or age, but he was pulled from class immediately. That’s when administrator said the child admitted to having a pocket knife on him. The administrator said the knife had a 2 to 3-inch blade. According to the administator the student claimed the knife was left in his pants pocket from the night before.
According to the site Wdrb.com an Osceola County high school expelled two students. The two students attended Pine River High School in Leroy. The district superintendent says both students were expelled. While they’re not giving out names, they are saying one 17-year-old was expelled for having a knife at school during an athletic event. The other 17-year-old student was expelled for criminal sexual conduct on school property. The superintendent says they made the decision in order to keep a safe and orderly environment for their students.
No matter where they go, or what school they go to, students are not completely safe. They may feel that they are, but they don’t know what’s going on in other students’ minds.
It is this writer’s opinion that students deserve a place where they can be safe and be educated and not worry about if they are going to live that day or not.
When students bring harmful things to school, some of them get arrested and get charged. That goes on their permanent record, so maybe they will think twice before they do it again. But then again, maybe it won’t.
College is a huge step most of you will choose to take. It’s no secret that everything that is implied with the word ‘college’ can send a rush of stress down your spine. The cost of this basically mandatory
education has increased 1,120% over the past thirty years, according to Bloomberg Business, a business that delivers market news, data and financial analysis. Tuition costs has increased by 15% since 2008, and these increasing numbers seem to equal a goal only the top 1% may end up achieving; the American Dream.
Many Americans are beginning to question if adding to the $1 trillion of nation wide student debt is worth the nine to five desk job. Education Secretary Arne Duncan told the Associated Press in June that lowering college costs needs to be priority for the whole country. “As a nation, we need more college graduates in order to stay competitive in the global economy,” Duncan said, but that may not be achievable due to the steadily increase of national debt and student loans.
So all of these numbers beg the question, is being thousands of dollars in debt worth the chance at getting an average paying job?
Speaking from a high school student’s perspective, I don’t believe four to five years of digging a hole in my family pocket for a piece of paper that has failed thousands of Americans in the search for a substantial job, is worth the ever-growing debt, and many high schoolers would agree. “I feel like it’ll be hard to pay it off, but once you get a job you can start paying it off…but you’ll spend most of your life paying it off.” says Highland High school student, Cristina Ebner.
I asked another Highland student, Amarah Otto, if the debt that would follow your acceptance of your college diploma would be worth the lack of crucial funds. “It depends on the profession you’re going for. Like if you’re going to be a doctor you can pay it off, but if you’re a teacher you might have have a harder time paying it off.”
Otto also added that “you don’t need to go to an expensive school to get a good education or to get a good job” which is what might’ve been the thought process of a recent Highland graduate. He opted out of attending a four year university in exchange for a debt free education at a community college. He tweeted that he had just paid for his college and the lack of debt feels great.
So ask yourself, is over-paying for a chance at a successful future worth it?
This letter was submitted to us from a HPSH student. They wanted to share their thoughts on the recent homecoming pepfest. If you’re interested in submitting an editorial to us on any topic, please send an email to: hpshplaidline@gmail.com
Dear Highland Park,
I am writing this to express how deeply I am ashamed of the caustic behavior of the majority of the school at the pep fest. Freshmen are students just like the rest of us and we should respect them as such. Almost all of us have freshman friends or siblings, so think about how it would feel to say to their face that they are not worth the school’s time.
Sophomores: You were freshmen only three months ago. The beginning of a new school year does not automatically give you greater respect. You must earn respect, including the freshmen’s, and you can not be respected through bullying someone because of their age. Next year, they will be the sophomores, so set a good example.
Juniors and seniors: It is even worse that the older kids in the school, and supposedly the more mature, would degrade another student based on his or her age. You are almost adults and treating kids two or three years younger than you as was done at the pep fest is petty, bullying, and hurtful to self-esteem. You are also setting an example and what you do is often regarded more highly by the freshmen than what the sophomores do.
Freshmen: I sincerely apologize for the caustic words said by most of your school. Though I myself am not a freshman, the chant hurt me, too. It hurt, because I can not believe that a school, my school, that celebrates it’s respectful and supportive environment could allow this. All of us were freshmen at some point, and just because we were told to “go home” by older students does not mean we have to make it a tradition. An eye for an eye does not create a stable world. Chanting such a thing tells our freshmen that their classmates do not respect them at all.
This letter was not supposed to condemn, but to make you think. I recognize that many students did not chant at the pep fest, and I greatly appreciate that. Please consider my words, and hopefully all Highland Park students will treat their peers, younger or older, with the respect they deserve.
“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.'”
Recently, the Highland Park Student Council held elections for positions on the 2014-2015 school year executive board. The election results for the executive board were as follows:
Mimi Mejia (’15) – President
Maddy Costello (’15) – Vice President
James Farnsworth (’16) – Director of Communications
Ryan Ross (’16) – Treasurer
Tate Bosler (’15) – Logistics
Zenobia Aferworki (’15) – Director of Merchandise
These positions were determined by a vote from members of the Student Council full house. Last fall, full house members presented speeches to an audience of STUCO advisors, school administration, and members of this year’s executive board, and were elected by an executive board vote.
This year’s election has brought to mind the lack of transparency in the election process, both for full house members and for executive members such as the President. The student council itself is not entirely at fault. Because of the inconvenience in interrupting class time for voting, individual students have little say in these crucial elections, despite the fact that the student council representatives are supposed to represent all of Highland Park.
As student council works to become more integrated into the student body, the lack of student voice in the election of the executive board and full house is going to have to be addressed. According to an anonymous person affiliated with Student Council , “I feel that students should be able to pick their representation in student council. As a student council and a body that is representing the students, all students that go to the school should be able to vote on who is serving on it, especially on the executive committee.”
Questions were also raised as to the legitimacy of the elections after the addition of executive board positions that were included after voting, and not included in the initial list of roles. The anonymous source continued: “I also feel that the executive board had pretty straight-forward positions, so why did they create new positions just because individuals lost an election?”
Student Council is a organization that does many great things for the Highland community and is a strong asset to the school, however us students would like more of a say on who represents us and who has a voice in planning important events, representing student interests, and sharing ideas on how to improve Highland.
If you have any comments you’d like to share with us regarding this editorial, please email us at: hpshplaidline@gmail.com
Cosmetics have become a prominent part of American culture, so much that few of us stop to think of the repercussions of constant usage, or even consider what exactly we are welcoming into our bodies. When I surveyed 280 Highland Park students, 79% admitted to not reading the labels before buying or using a cosmetic or beauty product. This is basically condoning the use of potentially harmful chemicals in our cosmetics. Now is the time to get informed and to stop this mindless consumption.
One particular group of chemicals, known as phthalates, have been in the news a lot lately. Of the students I surveyed, 95% responded “no” when asked whether they knew what phthalates were. Many have never heard of them, but everyone is likely to come in contact with them daily. Although these chemicals have been banned from products in the European Union, phthalates are still used heavily in American products. A study by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tested 2,500 individuals and found 97% had molecules of at least one type of phthalate in their bodies.
Phthalates are a group of chemical compounds that are clear and oily, and used in almost everything from children’s’ toys to blood storage bags in hospitals. Phthalates, or “plasticizers”, soften the texture of plastics and cosmetics. They also cling to skin, which allows products to last longer and retain scent or color for more time. A rule of thumb to go by is that basically any product with a fragrance, be it deodorant, perfume, body wash, or lip-gloss, is likely to contain phthalates. Of the students I surveyed, 95% said they use cosmetics or beauty products including shampoo, deodorant, and lotion on a daily basis.
So what could this cost us? Research on phthalates is varied. Phthalates are a possible carcinogen, meaning that research shows that they are related to cancer. They increase the amount of breast cancer cells in women’s’ bodies and they are endocrine disruptors that offset hormone balance, causing early puberty and breast development in girls. Two pediatricians, Dr Shanna Swan, an epidemiologist, and Doctor Howard Snyder, a urologist at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia both studied baby boys and the relation of chemicals to abnormalities in their hormones. Dr Swan found that baby boys that had more reproductive organ problems and low sperm and testosterone levels consistently had mothers with higher levels of phthalates in their urine at the time of pregnancy. These developmental problems relate to reproductive organs, and low sperm and testosterone levels in adult men as well. Dr Snyder links hypospadias, a condition that has tripled in the last forty years, to chemicals, especially phthalates.
On a container, phthalates are labelled as DEHP, DBP, DMP, MEP, and most commonly, DEP. However, even if none of these chemicals are listed on the product, it may still contain phthalates due to loopholes in the law regarding product ingredients. Companies are not required to state ingredients in their trademark “fragrance,” so there is no way of determining if a product is completely phthalate-free.
According to the Food and Drug Administration and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there is not enough solid scientific evidence that points directly at immediate negative outcomes of phthalates to spur legislation. Companies say that phthalates are relatively safe and pose no health risk. A prime concern is that if phthalates were banned, a substitute would have to be developed that would be new and untested, which could potentially be even more toxic. Furthermore, companies insist that phthalates are not harmful unless used in high dosage, and the small phthalate content in their products isn’t truly harmful. However, in 2008, congress passed a bill that outlawed phthalates in children’s toys, which seems to indicate differently. This legislation doesn’t seem to support the notion that phthalates are entirely safe.
The phthalates debate has still not yet been ended with conclusive data. Regardless, it is good to be informed. Because of the controversy, it would be safest to choose products that do not contain phthalates. It falls to the consumer to decided what they do and do not want in a product. Say no to phthalates by not buying products that clearly contain phthalates, at least not until more conclusive research is done.
Also, remember that phthalates are not the only potentially unsafe chemicals that find their way into our cosmetics. As the consumers, we have the power to change this.
To learn about skin products with safe ingredients visit: http://www.ewg.org/
It might seem as though the controversy over proposed sulfide mining plans in the Northeastern region of Minnesota doesn’t directly affect high school students. But in reality, this is the generation that will be feeling the effects of any decisions made, so it is crucial that we are involved in this process.
Recently, PolyMet, a Canadian corporation hoping to begin mining in 2016, released the Environmental Impact Statement of the proposed mine. The environmental review has received over 40,000 comments on a public comment thread. For those in support, the resulting economic growth and job creation are incomparable, while those opposed raise concerns about the environmental impact.
Sulfide mining, also known as hard rock mining, is the extraction of minerals like Minnesota’s vast reserves of copper, nickel, cobalt, and platinum from sulfide ore. Polymet workers estimate that the Duluth Complex in Northeastern Minnesota’s Mesabi Iron Range has 4.4 billion tons of minerals. The plan projected by PolyMet is to reuse existing infrastructure from Erie Plant, a 1957 taconite processing facility.
The proposed mine is in an ideal location of economic need. As stated by Ely resort owner Joe Baltich at a public hearing of the Polymet proposal, “I’m in the tourism industry, and I certainly don’t want to shoot myself in the foot. But we’re losing businesses right and left. We have 360 properties that are for sale, and no one is buying… We’re going to lose our schools, our grocery store. We’re going to lose everything, and it’s my hometown.” Baltich, and many others, support the mining project because they believe it could mean increased jobs and a revitalized Minnesotan economy. PolyMet estimates that mining could generate 360 jobs, and hundreds for construction workers, for 20 years. The University of Minnesota-Duluth calculated the mining would produce over 550 million dollars per year, clearly an economic stimulant.
Proponents of Minnesotan sulfide mining also emphasize the positives in obtaining metals locally, reflecting a problem that the United States as a whole faces: dependence on foreign minerals. Mining nationally has been promoted to reduce international dependence, and allow us to more closely monitor conditions for miners and for the environment where the metals are extracted, which are often unsafe due to few regulations. This Minnesotan mine could be a step away from foreign dependence and towards a self sufficient America.
But it isn’t this simple. The Great Lakes contain 18% of the world’s fresh water, and mining could be a threat to this valuable resource. 99% of the rock that is unearthed is waste rock or sulfides. When the sulfides are exposed to air and water, the waste could be subject to acid mine drainage, which would create sulfuric acid. This acid could be a potential pollutant for water, as well as for wildlife and fish. Water is difficult to contain and to treat, and the interconnected water systems in Minnesota are a concern if any pollution were to occur. Minnesota isn’t the only state that has undergone mining turmoil. “Other states have suffered because their leaders saw dollar signs when they should have seen question marks. Leaders believed promises that the mines wouldn’t pollute, but ignored all the times those promises had been broken,” stated Friends of the BWCA Executive Director Paul Danicic, in a Minneapolis Star Tribune editorial, referring to pollution in Colorado, Montana, and South Dakota mines. According to the project Mining Truth, there has not been a single sulfide mine that has not polluted.
Furthermore, environmentalists claim the PolyMet plan is riddled with gaping holes. The water treatment after the project could last for 500 years or longer in cases of high levels of pollution. Scott Helgeson of Bloomington spoke at a public hearing on January 28, stating, “What prevents [PolyMet] from going bankrupt 30 years from now and saying, guys, we just can’t pay the bills anymore. Are we insane?” Helgeson’s concerns echo those of taxpayers across the state. The cost of cleanup after the mining is complete could thrust Minnesotans into an economic deficit. For some, the risk of a costly cleanup outweighs the prospect of economic thriving for twenty years.
Of course, the economic gain could be very substantial, but here’s the question Minnesotans are asking: is any amount of money worth putting natural beauty at risk? The solution isn’t clear cut. Minnesota is undisputably host to a plethora of natural minerals, something Minnesotans should be able to harness to economic advantage. However, we need to know how to do this correctly, without environmental harm as a stipulation. Mining could leave Minnesota’s next generation–our generation– in an economic deficit. So we need to be involved. Aaron Klemz, communications director for Friends of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, in a personal interview March 10, stated,
“When regulators know that tens of thousands, and hundreds of thousands of people are watching their decision-making process, they make better decisions, because they have to actually know that they will be held accountable for what’s happening. Part of it is about being involved in the process, and part of it too is making sure the DNR understands that Minnesotans want to preserve our water for the next generation, because it is probably our greatest natural resource.”
The Minnesotan debate is bringing to the surface decades of dispute that pit mining against the health of the environment. Japan, Spain, Peru, and Indonesia are only a few examples of the many countries dealing with mining pollution. Our world depends on minerals to make products, and countries need the money from this international trade. Together, we are going to have to work to find a balance to eventually obtain them in a safe manner, or risk trashing our environment.
Minnesota is going to be a leader, but whether for a successful or destructive sulfide mining project or an environmental victory, is a choice that Minnesotans are going to have to make.
(Boundary Waters photos courtesy of Karl Boothman)
I like wearing my class color shirt just as much as any student. It’s fun to get all decked out in green and be proud of my sophomore status. However, when I really think about it, wearing these shirts seems to contradict what we stand for as a school. The message we are sending, that Highland Park is separate, just isn’t right. With class colors, it isn’t about Highland Park as a school, it’s seniors against freshmen, sophomores against juniors, upperclassmen against lowerclassmen. I’m not saying a little class rivalry can’t be fun sometimes, but wearing these shirts ingrains a negative message into our minds.
Our grade differences shouldn’t be such an emphasis, especially during spirit week, when it is time for Highland Park to celebrate our school and show our Scot spirit. It isn’t about freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior spirit. “Instead of working as a school, we work as grades… Eliminating class color shirts could help unify the school instead of individual grade separation,” says Akira Callahan, a freshman. It seems to be contradictory that administration constantly reminds students not to yell the traditional “Go home freshmen!” or participate in marking, and yet grade separation is promoted through class color shirts. Freshmen are bright, yellow targets in their shirts. This sends a very confusing message to students if we are both encouraged to be inclusive, yet are so easily reminded of a difference that drives a lot of negativity.
Another problem with class color shirts is that they become outdated after a year. Most students will buy four shirts that they will never wear again. Jonas Buck, a Highland Park junior, does not buy a class color shirt for this reason. “It’s ten dollars for a shirt that you’re going to wear for maybe nine months. It’s just not worth it for me,” says Jonas.
I looked into the use of class color shirts at some other schools near Highland. The sophomore Jack McKenna transferred to Highland after a year at Nova Classical Academy. Nova does not have class color shirts. At Highland, he notices the grade conflict, especially surrounding freshmen. He agreed that class color shirts could be a contributor to this. Kate Grumbles, a sophomore at Cretin Derham Hall, says that CDH does not have official school-sanctioned shirts. In the past, class colors were a part of spirit week, but they are no longer encouraged by the administration. At Central High School, sophomore Brendan Tickle says there are no class color shirts. Kieran McDonald, a Highland Park sophomore, says his previous school, Saint Paul Academy, doesn’t have class color shirts either. According to Kieran, the school also has less problems with the negativity associated between grades. However, Kieran thinks this isn’t related to the shirts. He says, “I think it makes no difference. SPA and Highland are just different groups of kids.”
However, there are still schools that have class color shirts. Sam Sukar, a Highland sophomore, says the school she previously attended, Eastern Hills High School in Texas, had class color shirts. This leads a person to wonder whether grade barriers are as prominent of an issue, like it is at Highland, at schools that also have class color shirts. According to South High sophomore Izzy Rousmaniere, students at her school are discouraged, and even restricted from wearing class color shirts during pep fest because of the problems they have had with grade conflict in the past. She says, “I think they’re cool and fun and build solidarity I guess. But a lot of people use them to differentiate themselves from other grades, which is just rude and pointless.”
In previous years, we wore the class color shirts at the pep fest during homecoming week. However, similarly to South, the Highland Park Student Council made the decision to change this, so now all students wear red for pep fest. Senior Nguyen Lu, Student Council President explains. “Student Council executive board had a meeting with our administrators and we discussed how we could improve on school unity and spirit… We believed that class color created a barrier between the students. During every pep fest, the classes would be booing one another… After much more discussion we decided to make the first homecoming pep fest a school spirit day. We believed that homecoming pep fest should be about encouraging one another instead of dividing.”
I think that as a school, Highland needs to take the next step forward and rethink having class color shirts at all. Most teachers say these class color shirts have been a part of Highland for as long as they can remember. Maybe, it’s time for change. If we have to designate between classes, let’s just have class color shirts that are all the same color with the class’s graduation year written on the back because they would be reusable. Except, seniors should keep their special customized shirts as they deserve to stand out, and be recognized for their time at Highland.
Remember: we are ALL students of Highland Park! Every senior, junior, sophomore, and freshman make up our student body. We should stand united as a school. Think about this next time you wear your class color shirt.
According to the Saint Paul Public Schools website, National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID) is “a day for parents to come to their child’s school, see what their day is like and to support their child’s educational future.” The goals for NAAPID are:
Promote parent involvement in their child’s education.
Address the serious achievement gap facing African American students.
Promote and provide strategies for parents and students to take full advantage of the educational process at all levels of the educational system (preschool through college).
Now don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the effort by the district in taking serious steps to address the educational predicaments that impact the African American community. I myself identify as an African American and am proud of my racial identity. I was adopted at an early age and raised by middle class white parents in a loving and stable household. I don’t face many of the challenges that my African American peers do, however I am not blind to the factors within the public school system that disproportionally have a negative impact on people of my race. Having things like NAAPID are a good step in the direction of eliminating the achievement gap for African American students.
That said, there is something about NAAPID that is bothering me. When it comes to school lunch, Saint Paul Public Schools has three main menus. One for SPPS elementary schools, one for the middle schools, and one for the high schools. On Monday on secondary campuses, the items being served for lunch are as follows: BBQ Chicken Drumsticks, Corn Bread, Herb Roasted Potatoes, Chicken Corn Dog , Baked Beans, and other offerings. At middle schools, BBQ Chicken Drumsticks w/ Corn Bread is the only option, where at the high schools who have more food serving capacity, the chicken drumsticks is the “Daily Dish” option. On Monday’s calendar square on the menu, there is text on the side that says “African American Parent Involvement Day.” As soon as I found this out, I got an uneasy feeling. As many know, a common stereotype of African Americans, among other things, is that they have a love of chicken and other soul food items such as corn bread. Immediately upon finding this out, I did an analysis of SPPS lunch menus on both secondary and middle school campuses going back to September 2013 and found that this meal has never been served previously, specifically the items cornbread or BBQ chicken drumsticks. “Rotisserie drumsticks” are served often, however I have never seen nor do the menus indicate BBQ chicken ever having been served. As a student who purchases school lunch almost every day, I have no recollection of ever seeing cornbread being served as a meal option, nor BBQ chicken drumsticks.
What makes me wonder even more is the specific inclusion of “African American Parent Involvement Day” on the physical menu. Why place that on a lunch menu alongside food offerings that coincidentally align with common stereotypes of African Americans? May it have been intended or not, the mere thought of racial stereotypes being provoked is something that shouldn’t be happening. During my research for this article, I stumbled upon a very recent case regarding school lunch and Black History Month that happened at a school in California (bit.ly/1bu28DH). The school announced it was planning on serving fried chicken, cornbread, and watermelon at lunch to celebrate Black History Month. Understandably, members of the community stood up and spoke out and as a result, administration apologized and the school is planning on holding a diversity assembly to further address the issue.
My hope is that this either was an oversight by the SPPS Nutrition Department or something that was well intentioned to celebrate NAAPID, however not in my opinion aligning with the spirit of celebrating and promoting African American student achievement. I hope that in the future, the school district continues to recognize African American students in a positive and celebratory fashion without accidentally perpetuating cultural stereotypes.
James Farnsworth is a member of the Class of 2016 at Highland.
You can contact the HP Plaid Line team at: hpshplaidline@gmail.com
Welcome to the new Plaid Line online, the official student newspaper of Highland Park High School.
We are in a transition phase, as we are moving from a traditional paper newspaper to online, so please, check back often, or even better, sign up for updates as we will soon be fully up and running.
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