Dear editor,
I would like to address how in the English classes the teachers take up the phones of the students at the start of class and lock them away. What if something happens where we need to evacuate quickly? Last year, I was in English during the bomb threat.
– Chase Allison

Chase,
As silly and cliché as this is about to sound – They wouldn’t take them up if they didn’t need to. Do I agree with taking such a valuable emergency tool away from students during an evacuation? Not at all! I was lucky enough not to be in English last year and could tell my mom that everything was okay… But the problem isn’t with evacuations; it’s with regular old class work. So to answer your question: Stay off your phone in class, and maybe teachers won’t have a reason to remove the temptation for you.
– The Editor

Dear Editor,
An idea of mine for a new school club is fashion marketing or something along the lines of fashion. By introducing this club or class whatever it might be I feel like it might help guide people’s career. If it was available at this school I would without a doubt sign up for it.
– Krissy Diaz

Krissy,
Then by all means, start one! It isn’t too difficult to start a club at this school. All you need is a teacher to be your sponsor, and to get it cleared with administration. If you’re that interested in attending such a club, it shouldn’t be too much work for you and your friends to put one together. Good Luck!
– The Editor

Dear Editor,
I’d like to bring up the topic of religion. I know you’re not supposed to talk about religion in school but I believe we should be able to because if we can respect somebody else’s religion why can’t everybody respect other people’s religions. It says in our pledge “one nation under god”, so why don’t we base schools and the nation under god like it says. I’m happy that in school we have bible study and stuff we can worship god even through school.
– Allison Love

Allison,
I’d like to answer your letter with a letter I got from junior Sarah Pfrenger:

Dear Editor,
I completely understand that during the holidays everyone is all hyped about Christmas and presents. We put up this huge tree right in the middle of the school and have “Santa” pass out candy canes – but what about the kids who are Jewish and don’t celebrate Christmas.
I don’t feel like we should be putting all our emphasis into the holidays when some of us don’t celebrate it. I’m personally Jewish and when all I see is Christmas trees and Christmas everything it makes me feel different and out of place. I know that I’m a minority I would greatly appreciate it if sometimes you could put up a menorah or the Star of David to show that you actually care about other religions.
Also on that topic, I am constantly noted that I have to read many books for English now and in the past that has to do with constantly and the bible and it makes me feel very uncomfortable to read it. I know very well that there is probably not much you or I could do to change that but I would greatly appreciate it if maybe sometimes just get away from the aspect of Christianity and go to a more Jewish idea if not a neutral idea.
This is a long shot I know but I would feel a lot better if we could change this. Thank you for your time to read and listen to my letter. I really appreciate it.
– Sarah

So to answer your question, Allison, it’s because even though it says “one nation under God” that doesn’t mean that everybody believes in God or that everybody believes in God the same way. As somebody who doesn’t practice Christianity like the majority of people at our school do, I understand where Sarah is coming from. However, instead of trying to put every religion’s symbol up around the holiday season, I think it would be best if we all just accepted that there are many different opinions and went with a more neutral winter theme. Thank you for your letters, and have a happy holiday season!
– The Editor

Dear Editor,
The subject that I am addressing today is facial hair requirements and punishments. I believe that the male student body should not be forced to shave, if the student’s facial hair does not exceed half an inch. Many of our students are missing valuable class time due to “distracting” facial hair. It’s silly to think that facial hair is distracting students from doing class work or to think and having all males shave. We can’t indicate whether or not someone is an “intruder” because they have facial hair. Let’s not be so strict with rules that are nothing but nonsense, and keep our students in class for the only reason we are here, and that is to learn.
– Stephen Bonnain

Stephen,
I agree. I think it’s silly that there are so many bodily requirements at school that are mostly useless and often result in kids missing valuable class time for dumb reasons. As my dad always said “School is for reading, writing and arithmetic, nothing else!”
-The Editor