by Lauren Mulkern
One thing that I have been looking forward to during junior year is being able to drive to school. I would no longer have to drag my sport team bags into school. Also, I would not have to wait until the late bus comes in between sport seasons for when I stay after. Another advantage of being able to drive is that I would be able to drive myself home after my sport practices.
However, none of this matters. Although I will be a junior next year, I will not be able to drive to school because of the amount of incoming seniors. I am quite upset by this. The juniors were able to drive this year along with the seniors. Unfortunately, they will be preventing me from driving to school.
I understand why our school does not have more parking but it upsets me because I will not be able to drive to school.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
History MCAS Blog
by Katie Jochems
On March 29 the junior class had to take a pilot MCAS US History exam. I, for one, thought it was a complete waste of a day. I took the AP US History exam a few weeks ago, and I had to endure a few hours of random, and sometimes embarrassingly easy questions by the state of Massachusetts just because they wanted to see how well we would do. Massachusetts, if you are listening please do one thing for me, go back to the times when only the fourth, eighth, and tenth grades took MCAS; Where it was only the core subjects and not things like US history, biology, and chemistry.
The only reason I slightly tried to do well is because Mrs. Lynch, whom I greatly respect, asked us to, not only for her, but for the entire history department. More than half of the students in my classroom finished far before the half way time was called, wasting most everyone’s time. I could have definitely used those three periods to help prepare for my finals in those classes. Instead I was stuck in a classroom with nineteen other kids who couldn’t care less about the silly MCAS US History test. Thanks for making me spend one of my last eight days of school doing something that will never count.
On March 29 the junior class had to take a pilot MCAS US History exam. I, for one, thought it was a complete waste of a day. I took the AP US History exam a few weeks ago, and I had to endure a few hours of random, and sometimes embarrassingly easy questions by the state of Massachusetts just because they wanted to see how well we would do. Massachusetts, if you are listening please do one thing for me, go back to the times when only the fourth, eighth, and tenth grades took MCAS; Where it was only the core subjects and not things like US history, biology, and chemistry.
The only reason I slightly tried to do well is because Mrs. Lynch, whom I greatly respect, asked us to, not only for her, but for the entire history department. More than half of the students in my classroom finished far before the half way time was called, wasting most everyone’s time. I could have definitely used those three periods to help prepare for my finals in those classes. Instead I was stuck in a classroom with nineteen other kids who couldn’t care less about the silly MCAS US History test. Thanks for making me spend one of my last eight days of school doing something that will never count.
Darfur
by Ryan Hennigan
Immediately following Christmas Vacation, Ms. Sauders, an English teacher, came up with an idea. She was aware of the violent on goings in Darfur and proposed to her period 3 class to help make a change after she educated her students on the issue. The students made posters and took direct action to attempt to make a positive change.
Many months later President Bush has finally taken action on the issue. He spoke of the issue and made a promise.
"I promise this to the people of Darfur: the United States will not avert our eyes from a crisis that challenges the conscience of the world," the president said.
He followed this up with fact.
"The world has a responsibility to put an end to it," Bush said.
Proposals have been made and they will be decided upon at a latter date. But one thing that is for sure is that the U.S. will no longer let the genocide that is taking place in Darfur continue.
Immediately following Christmas Vacation, Ms. Sauders, an English teacher, came up with an idea. She was aware of the violent on goings in Darfur and proposed to her period 3 class to help make a change after she educated her students on the issue. The students made posters and took direct action to attempt to make a positive change.
Many months later President Bush has finally taken action on the issue. He spoke of the issue and made a promise.
"I promise this to the people of Darfur: the United States will not avert our eyes from a crisis that challenges the conscience of the world," the president said.
He followed this up with fact.
"The world has a responsibility to put an end to it," Bush said.
Proposals have been made and they will be decided upon at a latter date. But one thing that is for sure is that the U.S. will no longer let the genocide that is taking place in Darfur continue.
Sex in sports
by Ryan Hennigan
The other day I was watching an ESPN program that was looking into the factor of sex appeal in sports. The program was interesting and it made me realize that sex and sports are more related than one would originally believe to be. This is true maybe even more so than most other professional jobs.
The program talked in-depth about the clear fact that old fashion knowledgeable man television sport reporters are disappearing. These men who are good at their jobs and know their facts about sports are rapidly and entirely being replaced by attractive young women who read what they say off of a screen behind the camera. And what ESPN found was that not only does what they say happen to be frequently wrong, that when they say something wrong the men do not really care. For example, at a game if there are two men who spot an attractive reporter, most likely they will not listen to what she is saying, rather just look at her.
This is a problem in sports, but the issue does not involve just women. Good-looking professional men who play sports usually make a lot more money than unattractive men with the same talent if they sell themselves. This is true as their faces and bodies are all over the marketing business such as in commercials. This can be seen with men such as Alex Rodriguez, Andre Agassiz, and Tom Brady. The worst case is when players who are not that good make a fortune just because of the fact that they are attractive. This is evident for Anna Kournakova who has made a lot of money just from marketing herself.
A further issue in sports is the reluctantcy of men sport players to admit that they are gay while playing. The first player to do this was David Kopay and there has not been an additional player to admit to being gay while he was playing ever since him. This may be due to the image of sports players as lady’s men, as there have been many to come out after they retired, but all were too proud to admit when they were playing.
Although most of these issues aren’t of great importance to high school sports, they are important to the high school sports players who have dreams of sports for their futures. High school players that go on to become sports reporters or players will come to know and deal with all these issues.
The other day I was watching an ESPN program that was looking into the factor of sex appeal in sports. The program was interesting and it made me realize that sex and sports are more related than one would originally believe to be. This is true maybe even more so than most other professional jobs.
The program talked in-depth about the clear fact that old fashion knowledgeable man television sport reporters are disappearing. These men who are good at their jobs and know their facts about sports are rapidly and entirely being replaced by attractive young women who read what they say off of a screen behind the camera. And what ESPN found was that not only does what they say happen to be frequently wrong, that when they say something wrong the men do not really care. For example, at a game if there are two men who spot an attractive reporter, most likely they will not listen to what she is saying, rather just look at her.
This is a problem in sports, but the issue does not involve just women. Good-looking professional men who play sports usually make a lot more money than unattractive men with the same talent if they sell themselves. This is true as their faces and bodies are all over the marketing business such as in commercials. This can be seen with men such as Alex Rodriguez, Andre Agassiz, and Tom Brady. The worst case is when players who are not that good make a fortune just because of the fact that they are attractive. This is evident for Anna Kournakova who has made a lot of money just from marketing herself.
A further issue in sports is the reluctantcy of men sport players to admit that they are gay while playing. The first player to do this was David Kopay and there has not been an additional player to admit to being gay while he was playing ever since him. This may be due to the image of sports players as lady’s men, as there have been many to come out after they retired, but all were too proud to admit when they were playing.
Although most of these issues aren’t of great importance to high school sports, they are important to the high school sports players who have dreams of sports for their futures. High school players that go on to become sports reporters or players will come to know and deal with all these issues.
Stupid rule
by Ryan Hennigan
What bitter man died and made the absolutely ridiculous rule that students can’t wear hats to school. Honestly, I don’t see the harm in them. And what good comes out of this rule? If anything, principals and teachers snatching off the hats of students and keeping them in the office is invasion of privacy and theft.
Although most regard the rule as clear-cut dumb, let’s consider the opposing point of view on the subject. The guess as to why the rule was put into place is that some older people regard hats being worn in school as disrespectful. Others say that they are distractions, causing students to snatch them off each others heads and doing other inappropriate things with them. Another obscure theory is that students may by accident hit each other with the bills of their hat when they are walking in the crowded hallways.
The last statement is downright out of the question, but the others are in need of some consideration. The myth that hats are irrespective is bogus. The people that believe this are usually old fashion and they don’t understand that that kind of child stuff is out of date. The spectrum of items that one can wear without being considered disrespectful has increased way beyond hats. Students can now be seen in school wearing clothes with fishnets, minnie-skirts, chains, and spikes. A lot of them even die their hair colors such as pink or green and put their hair into mohawks. These things now symbolize personality, no longer disrespect. As for hats being distractions, this is also a weak argument. Although it is true that some immature students trying to cause trouble can always snatch a hat and play a game out keep away, there are two strong arguments to go against this. The first is that if one was to attempt to steal something off a student as a joke, one could go to by other means also. One could, for example, snatch a barrette or a hair band off a girls hair or take a pin or sticker off someone’s shirt. Hair bands and shirt pins are both acceptable items to wear to school as decided by the school’s authoritative figures, yet they both could be disruptive just as much as a hat could be. Also, we are in high school, and to not trust us by suspecting that we would do these immature deeds is saying that we aren’t the young respectful adults as the majority of us are. To take away our right to wear hats because of a few immature derelicts is irresponsible of the school.
Others schools around Pembroke allow their students to wear hats, such as Whitman-Hanson and Marshfield, and they don’t have a problem with it. This, and all the other reasons, proves that it would be a good idea with a positive effect if students were allowed to wear hats here at Pembroke.
What bitter man died and made the absolutely ridiculous rule that students can’t wear hats to school. Honestly, I don’t see the harm in them. And what good comes out of this rule? If anything, principals and teachers snatching off the hats of students and keeping them in the office is invasion of privacy and theft.
Although most regard the rule as clear-cut dumb, let’s consider the opposing point of view on the subject. The guess as to why the rule was put into place is that some older people regard hats being worn in school as disrespectful. Others say that they are distractions, causing students to snatch them off each others heads and doing other inappropriate things with them. Another obscure theory is that students may by accident hit each other with the bills of their hat when they are walking in the crowded hallways.
The last statement is downright out of the question, but the others are in need of some consideration. The myth that hats are irrespective is bogus. The people that believe this are usually old fashion and they don’t understand that that kind of child stuff is out of date. The spectrum of items that one can wear without being considered disrespectful has increased way beyond hats. Students can now be seen in school wearing clothes with fishnets, minnie-skirts, chains, and spikes. A lot of them even die their hair colors such as pink or green and put their hair into mohawks. These things now symbolize personality, no longer disrespect. As for hats being distractions, this is also a weak argument. Although it is true that some immature students trying to cause trouble can always snatch a hat and play a game out keep away, there are two strong arguments to go against this. The first is that if one was to attempt to steal something off a student as a joke, one could go to by other means also. One could, for example, snatch a barrette or a hair band off a girls hair or take a pin or sticker off someone’s shirt. Hair bands and shirt pins are both acceptable items to wear to school as decided by the school’s authoritative figures, yet they both could be disruptive just as much as a hat could be. Also, we are in high school, and to not trust us by suspecting that we would do these immature deeds is saying that we aren’t the young respectful adults as the majority of us are. To take away our right to wear hats because of a few immature derelicts is irresponsible of the school.
Others schools around Pembroke allow their students to wear hats, such as Whitman-Hanson and Marshfield, and they don’t have a problem with it. This, and all the other reasons, proves that it would be a good idea with a positive effect if students were allowed to wear hats here at Pembroke.
Summer is here
by Ryan Hennigan
If one were to look up and down the school hallways, it would seem, as we approach the end of the school year, as if summer has made an early arrival. This is apparent as there has been an evident transformation of morale around the school that has most all its occupants acting differently. The same change seems to happen every year at about the same time, and it seems to have hit hard this year.
For some unexplained reason, at the end of the school year at a certain point the school atmosphere changes from gloomy to celebrative. Maybe this date is after Memorial Day long weekend, or perhaps preceding the final MCAS testing. The pattern seems to be that it starts around this time at a small level and gradually increases in level of happiness as the days unwind. Currently, Memorial Day has just passed and I have heard several teachers even boasting about the end of school and the arrival of summer.
“Ahhh, summer’s here, baby! No denying it,” proudly exclaimed Mr. Turley as he stretched out in joy.
And Mr. Turley is not the only teacher consumed in this near reality.
“Just a couple more days and it will be all over. It’ll be over sooner than we all think,” explained Ms. Saunders.
For whatever reason, a switch has been flicked and now we all seem to be on the easy cruise to the end of the year.
If one were to look up and down the school hallways, it would seem, as we approach the end of the school year, as if summer has made an early arrival. This is apparent as there has been an evident transformation of morale around the school that has most all its occupants acting differently. The same change seems to happen every year at about the same time, and it seems to have hit hard this year.
For some unexplained reason, at the end of the school year at a certain point the school atmosphere changes from gloomy to celebrative. Maybe this date is after Memorial Day long weekend, or perhaps preceding the final MCAS testing. The pattern seems to be that it starts around this time at a small level and gradually increases in level of happiness as the days unwind. Currently, Memorial Day has just passed and I have heard several teachers even boasting about the end of school and the arrival of summer.
“Ahhh, summer’s here, baby! No denying it,” proudly exclaimed Mr. Turley as he stretched out in joy.
And Mr. Turley is not the only teacher consumed in this near reality.
“Just a couple more days and it will be all over. It’ll be over sooner than we all think,” explained Ms. Saunders.
For whatever reason, a switch has been flicked and now we all seem to be on the easy cruise to the end of the year.
A Shock for Anti-Life Jacket Wearers
by Nicholas Papadopolous
Patriot’s Defensive Lineman Marquise Hill was found dead yesterday following a Jet Ski accident on Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans. Hill and a fellow woman were riding Jet Ski’s after dark without wearing life jackets when they encountered difficulties and they fell off the Jet Ski into the water.
The woman was rescued that night (Sunday) and when the rescuer went to save Hill, he had disappeared into the darkness because of the strong New Orleans’s current. Hill’s family reported that Hill was a good swimmer, but the girl couldn’t swim very well.
Why weren’t they wearing life jackets?
Since the woman wasn’t able to swim well, I think they were being rather careless by not wearing life jackets. I think of Jet Ski’s as motorcycles on water, they are both exhilarating and highly dangerous…And much like motorcyclist, some Jet Skiers refuse to wear the necessary safety equipment.
I think it should be a law in all states that anybody riding a jet ski must wear a life jacket. If that law was in effect, Marquise Hill’s life might have been sparred.
Patriot’s Defensive Lineman Marquise Hill was found dead yesterday following a Jet Ski accident on Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans. Hill and a fellow woman were riding Jet Ski’s after dark without wearing life jackets when they encountered difficulties and they fell off the Jet Ski into the water.
The woman was rescued that night (Sunday) and when the rescuer went to save Hill, he had disappeared into the darkness because of the strong New Orleans’s current. Hill’s family reported that Hill was a good swimmer, but the girl couldn’t swim very well.
Why weren’t they wearing life jackets?
Since the woman wasn’t able to swim well, I think they were being rather careless by not wearing life jackets. I think of Jet Ski’s as motorcycles on water, they are both exhilarating and highly dangerous…And much like motorcyclist, some Jet Skiers refuse to wear the necessary safety equipment.
I think it should be a law in all states that anybody riding a jet ski must wear a life jacket. If that law was in effect, Marquise Hill’s life might have been sparred.
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