Category Archives: Editorials/Student Voice

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.

Editorials/Student Voice

The importance of Greta Gerwig’s ‘Little Women’

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By: Kate Tabor

Image created with ChatGPT

The movie ‘Little Women’ by Greta Gerwig has been my favorite movie since it came out in 2019. At the time, I would’ve been 11. I’m not sure exactly what it was that made me originally fall in love with the film, but I do know why I continue to love it.

I’m not really sure how many times I’ve seen the movie, but enough times to be able to recite almost every scene. In case you aren’t familiar with the story of ‘Little Women’ The story follows four sisters in the years after the Civil War, and goes back and forth between them then, and their childhood.

In a way, I believe the story encapsulates the spectrum of what it means to be a woman. Each sister has their own passions, and their own way of going about them.

Jo, the “main character” has dreams of being a writer in New York, and hates everything “feminine.”  She goes about the notion that women don’t need a man, or love, in order to be fulfilled, and she claims she doesn’t want love. She goes on to marry Professor Friedrich Bhaer, who she met and has grown close with in New York. The reason I find this very interesting isn’t because I think what she believes is any less true, or takes away from her point, but rather it amplifies it. It shows that yes, women are their own people, with their own dreams and passions and brains, which Jo argues herself in the movie, but yet you can still yearn for love while being all that and more.

Oftentimes, without even meaning to, women and girls give up pieces of themselves for the men that they love, or the men who claim to love them, and though we live in our modern society, this still happens, though in smaller and unnoticed ways.

However, this all begs the question, is it wrong for women to yearn for traditional love? Of course not. Meg, the eldest sister, had a dream to marry a wealthy man and to live a life of comfort. She wanted to be a mother, and a wife, by the standards of back then. She wanted to embody that traditional mold of a woman. I find there’s nothing wrong with that, and it even strengthens Jo’s original point, too. At the end of the day, a woman should be able to choose her passion, whatever that may be.

Amy, the youngest sister, and my favorite, has dreams of being a successful painter. She’s oftentimes underlooked. She strives for greatness, and won’t settle for average. Maybe she’s my favorite becaus she reminds me the most of me, but I think it’s also because she has big dreams, and isnt afraid to chase them. She knows what she wants, and won’t settle for less, and I really admire that about her. Especially for those times, it wasnt common for women to be supported in pursuing their own passion in a work environment.

I could say much more about this movie, and go into even greater depth, but to summarize this all, Greta Gerwig showed the side of women that often gets overlooked, especially in the media. She shows the real side, a side that doesn’t revolve around men, but doesn’t neglect the idea of love. So, if you haven’t before, go watch her version of ‘Little Women’.

Books/Art, Editorials/Student Voice, Movies/TV/Theaters

Reasons why books are better than their movie adaptations

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By: Fletcher Pike

Image created with ChatGPT

If you’ve ever watched a movie adaptation of a book, like ‘The Hunger Games’ or ‘Divergent’, you might wonder about the differences or similarities between the book and its movie adaptation. In this article, I will list several reasons as to why books are better than their movie counterparts.

For one, reading a book allows your mind to create your own interpretation of the story. Your brain creates your own version of the characters using descriptive words within the book that seems to make it more personal and creative. However, most movies might not correlate to your personal interpretation of what you thought characters or places looked like. This can lead to some dissatisfaction as some things might not seem as familiar to you.

Another reason is that movie adaptations usually leave out details from the book. As reading a book can usually take longer than watching a movie, the movies might leave out some interesting details or information about the plot or characters. The average film is only about 2 hours long, but books can have hundreds or even thousands of pages of descriptive words and details that can take several hours to read.

Another reason is that books help build your vocabulary. When you read a book, your brain is actively progressing in grammar and spelling. Reading several books makes you an overall smarter person as you are continuing to build your reading level and vocabulary.

Some might think that movies are more interesting than books, but books allow you to immerse yourself further into your own interpretation of the story.

Overall, I think that books are much better than movies as they provide a creative outlet for the endless stories that books contain.

Editorials/Student Voice, Science/Nature

Empty nets and a dying ocean

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By: Maya Vossen-Nelson

Image created with Canva

The ocean absorbs large amounts of heat without a large increase in temperature. Given this property, the ocean has always played a central role in stabilizing Earth’s climate system, but in the past 100 years humans have created a climate that produces heat at an intensity that has overwhelmed the ocean. According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the most telling sign of the overworked oceans is that over the past 100 years, the average global sea surface temperature has increased by approximately 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit each decade. This is significant because a large amount of heat needs to be absorbed by the ocean for water temperatures to rise even slightly.

According to NASA, 90% of global warming is occurring in the ocean. The ocean is not able to keep up as efficiently as it used to and is creating devastating consequences. 

When the ocean temperatures begin to rise, this is an indicator of extreme levels of carbon and methane in the atmosphere that are trapping solar rays and damaging the ozone, thereby trapping heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. The levels of carbon dioxide dissolving from the atmosphere into the ocean have become so high that the water has become acidic.

Fisheries and fishing boats are reporting more frequent marine heat waves and whole fish community die-offs. At the very least, in response to the warming sea temperatures, many fish populations are migrating to colder waters. This has become so noticeable that many fishing businesses are being forced to change their fishing strategies and some are even considering calling it quits.

A perfect example is the seafood industry on the east coast. Boston NPR station, WBUR, reports that “The Gulf of Maine is warming faster than most of the world’s oceans. As a result, iconic New England species like cod and lobster have shifted north or moved deeper into the ocean in search of colder water.”

Without any interventions, it will only be a matter of time before the world’s fishing industry is turned on its head.

Editorials/Student Voice

The impact of having a sister

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By: Kate Tabor

Image created with ChatGPT

Having a sister isn’t always easy. Having multiple sisters can be even worse. As the youngest to two older sisters, I can vouch for this. Even so, I have to admit that I would be lost without them.

Even though sisters can easily annoy one another, I think that a sister bond can be one of the strongest relationships a girl can have. Now, of course it has its flaws, such as stealing clothing, and passive aggressive insults being thrown at one another at the dinner table, but those things are easily overcome. One moment, two sisters could be screaming at each other till their throats are sore, and five minutes later they’re best friends again.

I think that’s what makes a sister bond so special; the knowledge that even though we can get frustrated with each other, we’re always gonna come back to each other and be friends. Some may say that not talking about an argument may not be the healthiest thing, which in some cases I agree, but I think in most sister fights it’s okay, and those feelings can be trusted to be acknowledged and validated through future actions.

As for heart to heart moments between sisters, I find those happen in the moments that matter the most. I can’t count how many times my mother has told my sister to get in here and help comfort her, which oftentimes leads to an awkward pat on the back that lacks what’s really important. That’s not to say that sisters can’t be vulnerable with each other though, I just think that those are rare moments where you and your sister can truly see each other, and that’s when you really need each other.

In a lot of ways, having a sister is like having your best friend also be your enemy, but in the best way possible. You can trust each other to call each other out when needed, but also to have each other’s backs and stick by their side when they need it most.

And even though I hate to admit it, my sister is my best friend. Though right now, I’m extremely annoyed by her.

Editorials/Student Voice

The impact of owning pets

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By: Sylvia Yannsdottir

In the United States today, an estimated 90 million families own some kind of pet. This is nearly 70 percent of households in the country. This included a wide variety of animals, the most popular being dogs, followed by cats, fish, and birds. The number of pet-owning households in the United States has been steadily increasing over the past few years.

The most popular pets in the world are dogs. There are endless options of diverse breeds of dogs, and they are commonly referred to as “man’s best friend.” Dogs have always been known for their loyalty, and playfulness. Aside from that, cats are another very popular pet, which are known for their calmer energy and self sufficiency.

When it comes to the impact of owning pets, I think it’s more of a personal topic rather than a general topic. Almost everybody you know probably has some connection to a pet, and each in their own way. For some people, they may recall gentle memories from their childhood with their first dog, others may look forward to laying with their cat after a long day, some people might even think of their last hamster from time to time.

If one thing is for certain, it’s the fact that the connection you have with a pet is an irreplaceable bond. It varies from person to person, but overall I’d say that having a pet is a very special thing that can be super beneficial for emotional wellbeing, and brings you to inevitably practice better habits. For example, learning how to be patient with your pet, taking care of them, or going out of your way to take them out for a walk can be ways that you practice better habits without even realizing it.

Overall, I believe that owning a pet has a very good lasting impact on someone’s life, and it’s honestly irreplaceable. I also believe that it’s a great thing how popular it’s become to have a pet as part of a family now, and would hope that it stays that way.

Editorials/Student Voice

History of the Alien Enemies Act

By: Maggie Hong

United States Alien Enemies Act notice issued on April 18, 2025; obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union and filed in A.A.R.P. v. Trump. Via Wikimedia Commons and the United States Department of Homeland Security

Over the past few months, the Trump administration claims to have deported over 100,000 illegal immigrants from the United States. Among them are 130 Venezuelan men, accused of membership with a Venezuelan gang, designated by the US government as a terrorist organization. However, the men were given no chance to dispute these accusations, and many of them live and work legally in the US. So, what gives Trump the power to deport them with no evidence of gang affiliation?

In 1798, a law called the Alien Enemies Act was passed by Congress. It was intended to protect the United States in the event of a war with France, a possibility which seemed likely at the time. It granted the President the power to detain or deport any citizen of an enemy nation without evidence of a crime or a hearing in their defense. It was created as a wartime authority; something only to be used when the US is in a state of war or enemy invasion. However, only Congress, not the President, has the authority to declare war on another nation.

Since its creation, the Alien Enemies Act has only been used three times: during the War of 1812, World War I, and World War II. Notably, it was used to intern Japanese Americans in prison camps during World War II. Many of them were native born American citizens, making them not considered alien enemies under the law. However, they were still interned along with the rest of the Japanese American population.

Trump has invoked this act for the fourth time in US history, the first time not during a major conflict or state of war. This is backed by the opinion that the US is being invaded by illegal immigrants, largely from Mexico and other Latin American countries. This could justify a use of the Alien Enemies Act, as it does provide for enemy invasion. However, this opinion is not backed by any evidence of ill intent or antagonism against the US. And, as Congress has not declared a state of war, this invocation is highly questionable.

The Supreme Court has ordered that one of the immigrants, here legally, be returned to the US. When Trump met with the president of El Salvador, though, he refused to return him, saying the US has no jurisdiction over his prison. As this case continues to develop, it sets precedent as to the power of our executive branch and the other branches’ power to check it.

Editorials/Student Voice

The reductionist’s approach to climate change will be our downfall 

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By: Maya Vossen-Nelson

To fight climate change, the world is shifting away from gas only cars and turning to electric vehicles. The alternatives to gas only cars are hybrid cars, which use a combination of electricity and gas to fuel the car, and electric cars, or EVs, that run on only electricity. Electric vehicles are essential to limiting the effects of climate change, but the shift to electric vehicles must be done smartly. Right now, the reductionist’s approach is creating climate crisis solutions that lack the very instrument that they are trying to achieve: sustainability.

In practice, reductionist thinking analyzes complex problems by breaking them down into more simple parts. The solutions that arise from this thinking lack complexity and they negate how change to an isolated part affects the system as a whole.

Reductionist solutions often show up in politics as a quick solution to a large problem, and yet are dysfunctional.  In 2022, California announced that by 2035, all new passenger cars, trucks and SUVs sold within the state will be zero-emission vehicles. This absolutism policy fails to address how the world’s current production of EVs cannot support such a rapid shift while upholding ethical and climate obligations. 

EVs and hybrid cars use rechargeable lithium ion batteries to power the vehicle in place of gas. Lithium and cobalt are metals that make battery subunits that are essential components to the efficiency and operation of these lithium ion batteries.

Unfortunately, the acquisition of lithium and cobalt used in the production of electric vehicles is not sustainable or humane. Nearly 70% of cobalt is mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo where workers rights and laws are nearly non-existent. The relaxed worker regulations enable child labor in dangerous mines and without safety equipment. The children who are forced to mine with their hands are constantly poisoned by cobalt and many are killed from mining accidents. Mining cobalt also produces hazardous tails and slags that can leach into the environment causing further negative impacts on nearby communities. These issues will increase over time without intervention especially given that according to the Washington Post, cobalt mining is expected to increase 2,000% by 2040.

Without lithium ion battery recycling there is not enough mineable lithium to supply all electric vehicles, phones, and other products. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the Earth has 88 million tons of lithium but only ¼ is available to mine. That number may change as technology advances. There could be 2.8 billion EVs produced from 22 million tons of lithium and there are 1.4 billion cars on the road as of January 2023. The growing population and growing amount of other products that rely on lithium and cobalt needs to be considered.

With the extensive use of lithium ion batteries and the attached humanitarian issues with cobalt mining in the Congo, the world cannot stop producing gas-only cars until there are plans in place to prioritize resource diversification to rely less heavily on lithium ion batteries. A more holistic approach must be part of the discussion surrounding the electrification of the automotive industry for EVs to make a sustained impact on the course of climate change.

Editorials/Student Voice, Science/Nature

Does it bring harmony or destruction?

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By: Maeve Brady

Lying. It is something we all do despite whether you’re aware of it or not. Lying is the substance that is used as a tool in order to avoid getting yourself and/or others in trouble, as well as being used for people’s own personal benefit. For years and years one big question has been asked: Is lying a good thing?

Well, many may consider the adverse effects of lying and disagree. And, besides lying in general, there is also something known as white lying. In our society, people also passionately debate upon whether white lying is ethical or not. Today, I will be giving you both sides of the argument and give you some insight on how it relates to psychology.

To be more specific, white lies are defined as small and trivial lies which people use in order to avoid hurting someone. For example: Imagine your friend comes up to you and asks you if you like their haircut. Let’s say that you indeed do not like it, yet in order to avoid hurting your friends feelings and make them self conscious about it, you just tell them that you love it, despite thinking otherwise. This demonstrates the act of you white lying in order to protect your friend from receiving any sort of mental hurt. But, many would argue otherwise.

There are many people who believe that a white lie does not “protect” someone from hurt, and in fact, that contradicts itself. Many argue that a white lie causes more harm than good, and instead of shielding someone from the dreadful grasp of truth, it only exposes them to more pain.  And, despite it being in “good nature”, many consider that lying is still lying, and will only generate more distrust and hurt to the person who thought you were being sincere.

As well as this, because white lying is a form of lying, there is a possibility that it could become a bad habit. And, when more serious situations come about, this habit may have dire results. According to an article written by researchers Elena Svetieva and Leanne Ten Brinke, “Each time someone chooses to lie, no matter how small or seemingly inconsequential, a thread unravels. No big reveal that deception has occurred is necessary, no treachery named, no betrayal felt, no punishment to the deceiver doled out – it is the act itself that harms.” This demonstrates that although white lies have the intention of being “harmless”, the action of white lying will only ignite the fire of chaos.

But, on the other hand of the spectrum, there are many people who think otherwise. Like I have mentioned before, white lying has the intention of being “good natured”, and despite the adverse effects of it, many consider that white lying can improve relationships and in some cases, save people’s lives.

While although white lying can create this sense of distrust, it is also a way to maintain a sort of social harmony and always telling the truth can be more hurtful. They say that white lying does have the word “lying” in the term, yet it is far different from that. It has the intention of helping people avoid hurt, not steer them towards it.

In fact, under certain circumstances, white lies are just supposed to just overall bring peace and ease to someone. For example: Imagine your kid has cancer, and they are due to die soon, and they ask you one simple question, “Am I going to heaven?” Whether you believe in it or not, many would white lie and say yes. This overall brings ease to the child rather than telling them that you don’t know and or they are not. This sort of response may only drive them deeper down into the rabbit hole of depression, leaving them fearful for the rest of their days.

Now, to talk about how white lying relates to psychology. First of all, psychologists believe that besides some other factors that cause white lying, white lying may stem from a person’s own self-consciousness. In fact, it is derived from the factor of justifying oneself, also known as “Deceiver’s distrust”. According to the APA Dictionary of Psychology, “Deceiver’s distrust presumably reflects the assumption that interaction partners are similar to oneself; thus, one’s own deceitfulness leads to the inference that the other is, has been, or will be similarly deceitful. By assuming that others are also untruthful, deceivers can feel less guilt about having lied to them.” This demonstrates that someone may tell a white lie because they believe that others may also be telling lies, therefore justifying their actions of being unhonest to someone.

And, like many other crucial cognitive functions, whenever someone white lies, it is said that this may occur in the prefrontal cortex. More specifically, the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC). According to JuYoung Kim and Hackjin Kim, researchers for the National Library of Medicine, “An increase in selfish motivation for Pareto lies was associated with higher mean-level activity in both ventral and rostral MPFC. The former showed an increased pattern similarity to selfish lies, and the latter showed a decreased pattern similarity to altruistic lies.” This suggests that the MPFC, which is responsible for processing emotions, values of behaviors,  and  lying, may have something to do with white lies of selfish intentions.

Thank you so much for following me along as I explain white lies! I hope you learned valuable information about what are white lies and a further analysis of the debate of whether they are good or not. What do you think, should white lies be allowed?

For more information, please go to:

Editorials/Student Voice, School Life

The differences between private and public schools

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By: Jooney Freddison & Aalovely Lor

Picture generated by Canva AI

There are many differences between a private and public school. Both schools aim to provide education, but sometimes it’s hard distinguishing how they’re any different besides the cost.

There are key differences in class size, curriculums, teacher quality, extracurriculars, funding, and education experience.

Funding and Cost

Public schools are funded by the government through taxes, allowing students to attend for free within a specific district. The government provides fundings based on the student enrollment number and district property taxes.

Private schools however are funded by tuition fees which are paid by attending students’ families. Tuition cost can range from a few thousands to as high as $50,000 per year, depending on what institution. A friend of mine (Jooney) went to a Catholic private school and she paid $25,000 per year.

Private school’s tuition costs make them less accessible to families with lower financial status but scholarships and financial aid are possible.

Because the students’ families are more involved, there’s more regular/comfortable communication between teachers and parents compared to public schools.

Requirements for Enrollment

Public schools require no entrance exams or interviews and are typically obligated to accept students within the school district.

Private schools have a selective admission process containing interviews, academic performances, and entrance exams.

Previous report cards, teacher recommendations, and test scores/records are often required in many interviews as a part of the application process.

Class size and student ratio

According to Usnews.com, private schools have smaller class sizes, typically having a class size of 12-20 students. Public schools have bigger classes, typically consisting of 25-30 students.

The average student to teacher ratio in public schools can typically be 20:1 or 30:1.

Larger classes can make it harder and challenging for teachers to give individualized attention to students.

Private schools are smaller with a student to teacher ratio as low as 10:1 or 15:1.

This allows teachers to allocate individualized attention to students. It also allows teachers to get to know their students’ learning ability/challenges better as well as build a better relationship.

Smaller classes also tend to help students achieve better academically and have greater engagement in class.

Diversity and Accessibility

According to Nces.ed.gov, another difference is diversity.

Public schools have a more diverse student body because they’re open to all students of the local community, leading to a greater diversity in ethnicity, race, learning ability, and social class.

Diversity helps students learn more about different cultures and social skills.

According to Foothillcds.org, public schools are required to provide services such as gifted and talented programs to meet student needs. They also have teachers who help with one-on-one support for students with disabilities.

Private schools have less diversity due to their tuition cost and selective admission process; they often select and only admit students with certain backgrounds of specific academic successes.

A huge difference between the schools are the dedicated special education teachers. Private schools typically do not provide these services because of their limited spots.

Curriculum and Educational Choices

Public schools use a regulated curriculum for all their students and they are obligated to follow curriculum guidelines set by the state or the educational institution board.

Public schools are also required to administer standardized tests which measure student’s academic performances.

The core subjects like Math, English, Science, and History are mandatory which limits the flexibility of curriculum.

According to Nca.school, private schools aren’t obligated to follow mandatory programming, funding, and services. This gives them the freedom to adopt curriculum that go beyond the standard public school.

Private schools may offer curriculum that focus on specific values, such as religion/belief, arts, or a foreign language.

Private school teachers are often stricter in terms of academic expectations. There are higher expectations for class participation, homework completion, and behaviors.

Dress codes also tend to be more strict; many private schools require a uniform and a student may face consequences for getting a dress code violation.

After acquiring knowledge about the difference between public and private schools, the right choice depends on a child’s individual needs and a family’s educational wants/values and financial capacity.

Editorials/Student Voice, School Life

Is social media hurting or helping students?

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By: Teagan Mack

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Social media has a huge place in student’s lives today. Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat provide the opportunity to talk with friends, update people on their life, and stay up-to-date on the latest news. Whether reading posts or watching videos, social media is now an important part of the daily routine. Is it helping or hurting students, though?

On one hand, social media can be a really useful tool for learning and personal growth. Many students use YouTube to watch tutorials, watch educational videos, and even learn about new tips and tricks. Instagram and TikTok even have educational accounts that love teaching students new topics or skills. You can learn anything from historical data to math tricks. Students can also get involved in online study groups, connect with classmates, and be engaged in discussions that help with schoolwork.

Social media also allows people to stay in touch with friends even when  they are occupied or cannot meet physically. These connections can provide emotional support, especially during periods of stress such as during exams or when there are deadlines for projects.

Social media, however, has its dark sides. One of the most common problems with social media is that it can negatively impact one’s mental health. Spending too much time viewing social media can lead to depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Watching others who share their “perfect” lives can leave you feeling inadequate or not good enough.

Social media also exposes students to cyberbullying, where nasty comments and negative interactions can affect a person’s emotional well-being.

Of course, there is the issue of misinformation and fake news being shared, which can confuse students and affect their understanding of important topics.

So, is social media ultimately helping or hurting students? The answer is that it depends on how we use it. If we use social media to support our learning, stay connected with our friends in a positive manner, and engage in helpful discussions, it can be an excellent tool. But if we allow it to distract us from our studies, drain our energy, or damage our mental health, then it may do more harm than good. We have to find the balance and also notice how we are spending our time online. If we recognize that social media is causing more stress than it is good, then taking a break can be the best thing that we can do for our minds as well as our studies.