by Kerry Richards
Pembroke High School has been criticized by some students for spending too much money on the arts. Students gripe that the school spent so much on a perfect auditorium, but a faulty gym. They complain that the drama club always has so much money (most of it from PAPA), while other clubs and sports can barely support themselves. Many even suggest that Principal Lynch would rather donate practically the entire B building to the Art department and neglect sports.
Is this worth it? How important are the arts to a high school education?
Our drama department is obviously benefiting as "The King and I" was recently selected to be part of the North Shore Community Theatre Spotlight Awards. They were nominated for Best Choreography, Best Technical Crew/ Execution, Best Leading Actress- Meghan Haskins, and Best Supporting Actor- Matthew Foster.
Jono King and Meghan Haskins will be performing at the Finale production number during the awards presentations.
This is a huge honor and means a lot to Pembroke High School. However, it raises the question of the importance of arts.
Art is no longer a requirement of graduation at Pembroke High, although it is at many others, and many students go through high school with out it.
Perhaps, this should not be the case...
- Secondary students who participated in band or orchestra reported the lowest lifetime and current use of all substances (alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs). — Texas Commission on Drug and Alcohol Abuse Report. Reported in Houston Chronicle, January 1998
- The very best engineers and technical designers in the Silicon Valley industry are, nearly without exception, practicing musicians. — Grant Venerable, "The Paradox of the Silicon Savior," as reported in "The Case for Sequential Music Education in the Core Curriculum of the Public Schools," The Center for the Arts in the Basic Curriculum, New York, 1989
- In an analysis of U.S. Department of Education data on more than 25,000 secondary school students (NELS:88, National Education Longitudinal Survey), researchers found that students who report consistent high levels of involvement in instrumental music over the middle and high school years show “significantly higher levels of mathematics proficiency by grade 12.” This observation holds regardless of students’ socio-economic status, and differences in those who are involved with instrumental music vs. those who are not is more significant over time. — Catterall, James S., Richard Chapleau, and John Iwanaga. “Involvement in the Arts and Human Development: General Involvement and Intensive Involvement in Music and Theater Arts.” Los Angeles, CA: The Imagination Project at UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, 1999.
- Physician and biologist Lewis Thomas studied the undergraduate majors of medical school applicants. He found that 66% of music majors who applied to medical school were admitted, the highest percentage of any group. 44% of biochemistry majors were admitted. — As reported in "The Case for Music in the Schools," Phi Delta Kappan, February 1994
- A University of California (Irvine) study showed that after eight months of keyboard lessons, preschoolers showed a 46% boost in their spatial reasoning IQ. — Rauscher, Shaw, Levine, Ky and Wright, "Music and Spatial Task Performance: A Causal Relationship," University of California, Irvine, 1994
All research points to music and arts having a positive impact. It broadens horizons and even helps students in other subjects. Perhaps, Pembroke should reinstate fine arts requirements. Can it really hurt with all of the courses offered here?
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Save Darfur! Veronica Mars and Gilmore Girls!
by Mary Polleys
Speculation about the cancellation of long running Gilmore Girls and the relatively new but unbelievably clever Veronica Mars both on the new CW has fans, such as myself, panicking about where this will leave the characters they have gotten to know so well over the years, and what they will do with the two hour time gap on Tuesday nights.
Even though Veronica Mars is still in its infancy, on only its third season, the show has caught the interest of many viewers by telling the dramatic story of a teenage girl who doubles as a private investigator. From her cases that often put her in danger, to the sordid events of her, and other various characters, love lives, the show promises action packed episodes every week. So why would they want to CANCEL such a show?
Currently in its eighth season, the hit television series Gilmore Girls is speculated to be coming to its final hour on May 15, 2007. The show, which tells the story of Lorelai Gilmore and her daughter Rory, was a unique show from season one. Its original writers, Amy Sherman, and Dan Palladino began the legacy of quick witted characters and obscure pop culture references, but have since left the show, their departure having a major affect on the quality of the show. However, the show has survived and is on its second season without the pair, who originally planned to end the series with Rory’s graduation from Yale University, which is upcoming in the story line. While it’s understandable for the actors to want to move on to new things and, as much as I hate to admit it, for the series to end, where will the writers leave the characters? Will Rory and Logan get engaged? Are Lorelai and Luke meant for each other? Or will they leave us open-ended, driving fans crazy for the rest of time?
A survey taken by E! online where people can vote for one show they’d like to see return for the 2007-2008 season revealed the two shows at places 1 and 2 on the favorites list, Gilmore Girls just ahead with 36% of voters, and Veronica Mars with 32%.
Other shows on the fence include Supernatural, One Tree Hill, and Scrubs.
Speculation about the cancellation of long running Gilmore Girls and the relatively new but unbelievably clever Veronica Mars both on the new CW has fans, such as myself, panicking about where this will leave the characters they have gotten to know so well over the years, and what they will do with the two hour time gap on Tuesday nights.
Even though Veronica Mars is still in its infancy, on only its third season, the show has caught the interest of many viewers by telling the dramatic story of a teenage girl who doubles as a private investigator. From her cases that often put her in danger, to the sordid events of her, and other various characters, love lives, the show promises action packed episodes every week. So why would they want to CANCEL such a show?
Currently in its eighth season, the hit television series Gilmore Girls is speculated to be coming to its final hour on May 15, 2007. The show, which tells the story of Lorelai Gilmore and her daughter Rory, was a unique show from season one. Its original writers, Amy Sherman, and Dan Palladino began the legacy of quick witted characters and obscure pop culture references, but have since left the show, their departure having a major affect on the quality of the show. However, the show has survived and is on its second season without the pair, who originally planned to end the series with Rory’s graduation from Yale University, which is upcoming in the story line. While it’s understandable for the actors to want to move on to new things and, as much as I hate to admit it, for the series to end, where will the writers leave the characters? Will Rory and Logan get engaged? Are Lorelai and Luke meant for each other? Or will they leave us open-ended, driving fans crazy for the rest of time?
A survey taken by E! online where people can vote for one show they’d like to see return for the 2007-2008 season revealed the two shows at places 1 and 2 on the favorites list, Gilmore Girls just ahead with 36% of voters, and Veronica Mars with 32%.
Other shows on the fence include Supernatural, One Tree Hill, and Scrubs.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Could massacre have been prevented?
by Kerry Richards
In the past week our nation has suffered a tragedy that is virtually incomparable to any past events. Virginia Tech suffered the loss of thirty-three of their students. Thirty-two innocent students and one crazed gunman. This event is the worst act of school violence in memory.
In the past week our nation has suffered a tragedy that is virtually incomparable to any past events. Virginia Tech suffered the loss of thirty-three of their students. Thirty-two innocent students and one crazed gunman. This event is the worst act of school violence in memory.
Could this event have been prevented? I believe it could have been. There were plenty of warning signs. This student was clearly mentally deranged. As seen from papers and skits he wrote and passed in. Teachers should have made a bigger deal of this then what was made. Yes, this work was reported, but more steps should have been taken. As seen from Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, this work does indicate things that may come. When these two boys handed in a video project revolving around murder in their high school, nothing was done to remove them from schools. The same occurred in this case. The administration in schools needs to become more sensitive to this kind of cry for help. It's a lesson schools should have learned by now.
This was a student who exhibited many warning signs of potential violence. He was reported as stalking two female students. He appeared suicidal, and was even committed at one point. However, this care was listed as outpatient and thus Seung-Hui Cho was allowed to buy firearms.
It appears as if so much could have been done to prevent this tragedy. After Columbine, it seems many actions were taken to increase school security. However, it wasn't enough to stop this incident. What will be done now? School has yet to resume from April vacation, but when it does what's in store could be a much greater increase in how closely students are watched. A massacre like this one should be preventable by now.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Saw 3, The Hills Have eyes 2, is this really necessary?
Chelsey Monks
Why do people like to watch gory movies?
I don’t see any need for watching someone get hung , or watching a mutant rape someone. Really I don’t think there is any need.
Why do people like watching these things? Recently I saw "Saw 3" and honestly I shut it off in the middle where it got way to gory and gross.
Who thinks these things up?
Who sits down and writes a screenplay all about killing people, dismembering people of their limbs , or like Hannibal, eating people?
These movies do lock in to one persons emotions and make their biggest fears come to a reality , well in some sense.
My question is what drives people to be violent?
Could it be the raunchy movies that people watch where killing people in gross ways is a thrill? Or could it be that to us, being scared for some reason make our adrenaline rise and we keep going back for more?
Personally I think people who watch completely gory movies like saw and the hills have eyes and hostile have some viewers that belong in the Loony bin.
Who comes up with those bloody story lines…I don’t know , I guess the old babysitter watching the kids and there’s a stranger in the house and she doesn’t know who he is , is a thing of the past.
Why do people like to watch gory movies?
I don’t see any need for watching someone get hung , or watching a mutant rape someone. Really I don’t think there is any need.
Why do people like watching these things? Recently I saw "Saw 3" and honestly I shut it off in the middle where it got way to gory and gross.
Who thinks these things up?
Who sits down and writes a screenplay all about killing people, dismembering people of their limbs , or like Hannibal, eating people?
These movies do lock in to one persons emotions and make their biggest fears come to a reality , well in some sense.
My question is what drives people to be violent?
Could it be the raunchy movies that people watch where killing people in gross ways is a thrill? Or could it be that to us, being scared for some reason make our adrenaline rise and we keep going back for more?
Personally I think people who watch completely gory movies like saw and the hills have eyes and hostile have some viewers that belong in the Loony bin.
Who comes up with those bloody story lines…I don’t know , I guess the old babysitter watching the kids and there’s a stranger in the house and she doesn’t know who he is , is a thing of the past.
Respect in Our School
Nicholas Papadopolous
It seems that there is very little respect in this school from the teachers or from the students.
With the latest crime of the boy’s bathroom incident, it seems that the students are purposefully trying to deface the school. However, this is only the latest of offences of respect towards the teachers and school that students have committed.
Many students, myself included, wear their hats inside the school day in and day out. This is not a serious offence, however so many student wear their hats that Ms. Szostack has taken it upon herself to collect hats from students, only returning them at the end of the day.
Another offense is the vandalizing of the school building with drawings on the walls. I’m sure everybody remembers the time last year when every hallway had “Lynch *****” or “Ruthless”. Even now, there are stupid drawings of penguins outside near the senior parking lot.
The teachers and principals aren’t completely blameless. The tardy police are insanely harsh, with no room for error. Also, some teachers feel the need to lash out at every student who put a toe out-of-line.
To fix all these problems, I think that students should be more respectful to the school and administration of the building.
In return, I think that the administration should give students more leniency on the tardy policy and don’t yell at every little mistake we make.
It seems that there is very little respect in this school from the teachers or from the students.
With the latest crime of the boy’s bathroom incident, it seems that the students are purposefully trying to deface the school. However, this is only the latest of offences of respect towards the teachers and school that students have committed.
Many students, myself included, wear their hats inside the school day in and day out. This is not a serious offence, however so many student wear their hats that Ms. Szostack has taken it upon herself to collect hats from students, only returning them at the end of the day.
Another offense is the vandalizing of the school building with drawings on the walls. I’m sure everybody remembers the time last year when every hallway had “Lynch *****” or “Ruthless”. Even now, there are stupid drawings of penguins outside near the senior parking lot.
The teachers and principals aren’t completely blameless. The tardy police are insanely harsh, with no room for error. Also, some teachers feel the need to lash out at every student who put a toe out-of-line.
To fix all these problems, I think that students should be more respectful to the school and administration of the building.
In return, I think that the administration should give students more leniency on the tardy policy and don’t yell at every little mistake we make.
Pembroke facts at a glance
Jennifer Bayliss
· Pembroke is located 26 miles southeast of Boston, 16 miles north of Plymouth, and 14 miles east of Brockton.
· The current population is 18,270.
· Pembroke has experienced what can be described as spectacular growth over the seventy-year period 1930 to 2000. During that time the town has increased by over one thousand percent, from a population level of 1,492 in 1930 to 16,927 in the year 2000.
· Most of the growth occurred during the 1950’s when the population almost doubled from 2,579 to 4,919 and from 1960 to 1970 when the population more than doubled again, increasing from 4,919 to 11,193.
· Pembroke is only 23.48 square miles, but only 21.85 miles of land area.
· Pembroke has traditionally been an agricultural and industrial community, but since World War II has become primarily a residential community providing housing for persons working in the greater Boston metropolitan area.
· The Town of Pembroke was formerly part of Duxbury and was established in the year 1712.
· Earliest known settlers of Pembroke were Robert Barker and Dolor Davis in 1650.
· Native Americans settled along the North River to grow crops.
· Most notable of the town’s resources are its water resources which include the North River and Indian Head River; its ponds, Oldham, Furnace, Great Sandy Bottom, Little Sandy Bottom, and Stetson Ponds; and Silver Lake.
· The Town’s ponds, streams and marshes are the home of herring that were prized so much that in 1741, the Town began regulating the taking and preservation of the fish.
· The herring are celebrated each year at the Town’s annual “Grande Old Fish Fry.”
· The ponds and streams also provided power for various mills, including grist, flour and sawmills. Later, shipbuilding and box manufacturing became important factors in the development of the town.
· The Pembroke Iron Works was established in 1720 and used iron dredged from the bottom of the ponds. Ice was cut from the ponds, stored in icehouses, and used in the summer months for food preservation.
· Because of its proximity to timber and location on the river, the Town in its early years was known for its ship building industry. The North River was the location of five shipyards – Brick Kiln Yard, Seabury Point, Job’s Landing, Turner’s Yard and Macy’s.
· Between 1678 and 1871, 1,025 vessels were produced on the shores of the North River. The Brick Kiln Yard was where the Beaver was built; it was one of the ships involved in the Boston Tea party.
· Other famous North River Ships include the Columbia, the Bedford and the Maria. The Columbia was the first ship to sail around the Cape of Good Hope and the Columbia River is named after it, the Bedford was the first ship to sail into a foreign port flying the American Flag, and the Maria is depicted on the Town Seal.
· By 1924 there were 17 cranberry growers in the Pembroke directory, with 14 producers listed as having Bryantville addresses.
· In the same year there were 14 poultry farmers listed indicating that by that time poultry raising was well established in town.
· In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, the ponds became an attraction for summer vacationers seeking relief from the heat in the cities. The Brockton and Plymouth Railway co. initiated trolley service from Brockton and facilitated the development of Mayflower Grove in Bryantville as a popular summer recreation venue.
· The attractiveness of the ponds for summer recreation led to the development of numerous, dense cottage colonies built along their shores.
· Pembroke's school system has adapted to reflect the population shifts and changing educational goals of the community.
· Pembroke has expanded to an independent PreK-12 school system to best meet the needs of an enrollment that is expected to increase by 17.32% over the next ten years.
· The newly established Pembroke High School and Pembroke Community Middle School as well as the recent expansion and renovation of the elementary schools are evidence of the community’s personal and financial support.
· The Pembroke Public School System consists of three elementary schools: North Pembroke Elementary, Hobomock Elementary, and Bryantville Elementary.
· In addition, there is a middle school and high school: Pembroke Community Middle School and Pembroke High School.
http://www.townofpembrokemass.org
http://www.pembroke.mec.edu/
· Pembroke is located 26 miles southeast of Boston, 16 miles north of Plymouth, and 14 miles east of Brockton.
· The current population is 18,270.
· Pembroke has experienced what can be described as spectacular growth over the seventy-year period 1930 to 2000. During that time the town has increased by over one thousand percent, from a population level of 1,492 in 1930 to 16,927 in the year 2000.
· Most of the growth occurred during the 1950’s when the population almost doubled from 2,579 to 4,919 and from 1960 to 1970 when the population more than doubled again, increasing from 4,919 to 11,193.
· Pembroke is only 23.48 square miles, but only 21.85 miles of land area.
· Pembroke has traditionally been an agricultural and industrial community, but since World War II has become primarily a residential community providing housing for persons working in the greater Boston metropolitan area.
· The Town of Pembroke was formerly part of Duxbury and was established in the year 1712.
· Earliest known settlers of Pembroke were Robert Barker and Dolor Davis in 1650.
· Native Americans settled along the North River to grow crops.
· Most notable of the town’s resources are its water resources which include the North River and Indian Head River; its ponds, Oldham, Furnace, Great Sandy Bottom, Little Sandy Bottom, and Stetson Ponds; and Silver Lake.
· The Town’s ponds, streams and marshes are the home of herring that were prized so much that in 1741, the Town began regulating the taking and preservation of the fish.
· The herring are celebrated each year at the Town’s annual “Grande Old Fish Fry.”
· The ponds and streams also provided power for various mills, including grist, flour and sawmills. Later, shipbuilding and box manufacturing became important factors in the development of the town.
· The Pembroke Iron Works was established in 1720 and used iron dredged from the bottom of the ponds. Ice was cut from the ponds, stored in icehouses, and used in the summer months for food preservation.
· Because of its proximity to timber and location on the river, the Town in its early years was known for its ship building industry. The North River was the location of five shipyards – Brick Kiln Yard, Seabury Point, Job’s Landing, Turner’s Yard and Macy’s.
· Between 1678 and 1871, 1,025 vessels were produced on the shores of the North River. The Brick Kiln Yard was where the Beaver was built; it was one of the ships involved in the Boston Tea party.
· Other famous North River Ships include the Columbia, the Bedford and the Maria. The Columbia was the first ship to sail around the Cape of Good Hope and the Columbia River is named after it, the Bedford was the first ship to sail into a foreign port flying the American Flag, and the Maria is depicted on the Town Seal.
· By 1924 there were 17 cranberry growers in the Pembroke directory, with 14 producers listed as having Bryantville addresses.
· In the same year there were 14 poultry farmers listed indicating that by that time poultry raising was well established in town.
· In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, the ponds became an attraction for summer vacationers seeking relief from the heat in the cities. The Brockton and Plymouth Railway co. initiated trolley service from Brockton and facilitated the development of Mayflower Grove in Bryantville as a popular summer recreation venue.
· The attractiveness of the ponds for summer recreation led to the development of numerous, dense cottage colonies built along their shores.
· Pembroke's school system has adapted to reflect the population shifts and changing educational goals of the community.
· Pembroke has expanded to an independent PreK-12 school system to best meet the needs of an enrollment that is expected to increase by 17.32% over the next ten years.
· The newly established Pembroke High School and Pembroke Community Middle School as well as the recent expansion and renovation of the elementary schools are evidence of the community’s personal and financial support.
· The Pembroke Public School System consists of three elementary schools: North Pembroke Elementary, Hobomock Elementary, and Bryantville Elementary.
· In addition, there is a middle school and high school: Pembroke Community Middle School and Pembroke High School.
http://www.townofpembrokemass.org
http://www.pembroke.mec.edu/
The messy situation: a story of, well, feces…
Ryan Hennigan
“PHS is sexist,” were the first words that escaped freshman Matt Glancy’s mouth following the announcement on Wednesday, April 11 concerning the closing of numerous male restrooms. Glancy had been waiting patiently in study for his turn to go to the bathroom, but upon hearing the message he decided to wait as to not be falsely accused of “bathroom misconduct.”
As disgusting and serious as the incident is, one can not help to hold back a chuckle or two when thinking about it. The rumors created by students (some disturbingly may be true) range from feces smeared on the wall by hand to them being found in the urinals and the sinks to the culprit creating a paper-towel-and-toilet-paper nest in the middle of the restroom and defecating into the middle of it.
Although some of these possible occurrences may have been forged by the use of one’s imagination, it is also difficult to not imagine the perspective of the janitor or authoritative figure when they first entered the bathroom. The very thought makes one feel sick, however, there are even grosser perspectives to imagine. What if someone, presumably a student, had walked in on the culprit smearing feces on the walls with his hands or crouching down to deliver the deed into the paper nest?
…Enough with the nightmares for a minute, as long as low IQs and rebellious natures exist there will always be disturbed derelicts that want to stick it to the man…with poop. On a more serious note, the questionable matter at hand is how the school handled the incident. They closed every boys bathroom except for one, announced to male students that they could not go to the bathroom without first using a sign out sheet, and took all the male student suspects for interviews with the principals.
The first of several flaws with these actions is that the culprit could have been any disturbing male teacher or janitor or any adult looking to create chaos. If nobody saw the event taking place (which is rather odd seeing as how it is common to have up to four boys in the bathroom at once), this could even mean that girls are not exempt from being suspects. With the bathrooms usually being visited every several minutes by a different student, the chance of the guilty person having enough time to do his dead and leave without being caught is very low. Therefore, since the scene was discovered early in the morning, it could have been done the night before or before school started. Also, if it was performed when school was in session, there could have been an intricate plan with possibly more than one student involved.
Another problem with the actions taken by the heads of the building was the closing of all the boys bathrooms except for one. His clearly does not help the problem; rather it just increases the chance of innocent students wetting their pants in class. It is not like there were feces discovered in the other closed bathrroms or that the feces problem had been a reoccurring one. The action is all the more ridiculous with the fact that girls are allowed to go to any girls bathroom at any moment of the day without signing first.
“PHS is sexist,” were the first words that escaped freshman Matt Glancy’s mouth following the announcement on Wednesday, April 11 concerning the closing of numerous male restrooms. Glancy had been waiting patiently in study for his turn to go to the bathroom, but upon hearing the message he decided to wait as to not be falsely accused of “bathroom misconduct.”
As disgusting and serious as the incident is, one can not help to hold back a chuckle or two when thinking about it. The rumors created by students (some disturbingly may be true) range from feces smeared on the wall by hand to them being found in the urinals and the sinks to the culprit creating a paper-towel-and-toilet-paper nest in the middle of the restroom and defecating into the middle of it.
Although some of these possible occurrences may have been forged by the use of one’s imagination, it is also difficult to not imagine the perspective of the janitor or authoritative figure when they first entered the bathroom. The very thought makes one feel sick, however, there are even grosser perspectives to imagine. What if someone, presumably a student, had walked in on the culprit smearing feces on the walls with his hands or crouching down to deliver the deed into the paper nest?
…Enough with the nightmares for a minute, as long as low IQs and rebellious natures exist there will always be disturbed derelicts that want to stick it to the man…with poop. On a more serious note, the questionable matter at hand is how the school handled the incident. They closed every boys bathroom except for one, announced to male students that they could not go to the bathroom without first using a sign out sheet, and took all the male student suspects for interviews with the principals.
The first of several flaws with these actions is that the culprit could have been any disturbing male teacher or janitor or any adult looking to create chaos. If nobody saw the event taking place (which is rather odd seeing as how it is common to have up to four boys in the bathroom at once), this could even mean that girls are not exempt from being suspects. With the bathrooms usually being visited every several minutes by a different student, the chance of the guilty person having enough time to do his dead and leave without being caught is very low. Therefore, since the scene was discovered early in the morning, it could have been done the night before or before school started. Also, if it was performed when school was in session, there could have been an intricate plan with possibly more than one student involved.
Another problem with the actions taken by the heads of the building was the closing of all the boys bathrooms except for one. His clearly does not help the problem; rather it just increases the chance of innocent students wetting their pants in class. It is not like there were feces discovered in the other closed bathrroms or that the feces problem had been a reoccurring one. The action is all the more ridiculous with the fact that girls are allowed to go to any girls bathroom at any moment of the day without signing first.
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