Music is everywhere. It is in the streets, our homes, concerts, radios, and our phones. But, why not in school? Schools should be one of the many places where music is allowed and even encouraged.
Music is an integral part of our lives. From riding down the freeway to washing the dishes, we can find music almost anywhere atany time. I have used music my entire life to calm myself and focus on tasks that may be hard or difficult. When it comes to music, it is very important to me and my overall well being to the point where I can hardly focus in class without it.
Did you know that exposure to music can improve learning and increase a positive classroom atmosphere?Active engagement in music promotes how the brain functions. It sharpens and refines language and speech.
Music has also shown that it has the ability to help children learn how to read. In addition several studies have proven that calming and engaging music reduces stress, anxiety, and aggressive behavior. Teachers need to take this into consideration next time they have a student that has trouble paying attention or getting work done on time.
The type of music also matters; students perform better when listening to music they perceive as calming rather than music that is perceived as more aggressive. By considering these elements, teachers can find intentional and responsive ways to integrate music into their classrooms effectively.
Regardless of your prior experience with music, there are many exciting possibilities for having music into your learning environment. Whether it is working to create a calm mood for focused work, liven up a lesson on poetry, or build community, music can be used to positively shape the classroom environment and support student thriving.
Having been chosen as an exchange student, people put high expectations on my adaptability, on my desires to open myself to people and be presentable to my fellow American neighborhood and people of other ethnicities.
It would be a lie to say that this adventure isn’t scary to me, to be all alone in a big English world, a world that isn’t mine nor made to be mine, but from the first time I took the flight to come here I should have known everything wouldn’t be easy.
After more than 24 hours of traveling with a connection to Belgium, in which I couldn’t rest because of the tumultuous plane that kept moving around (answer the call of Gotham was the best part of the trip, as having to binge three DC movies was so much fun). However, eating during the flight was a terrible idea — my stomach ache was my biggest misery of that adventure. But the real difficulty was to say bye to my family and friends.
This exchange isn’t about the school at any point, but if there was something I wasn’t ready for, it’s how American high schools really are.
American high school isn’t like in the movies, but it makes it even more authentic, even more realistic, even more loveable, and I cherish every minute I pass between JHS walls.
Exchange Student Sarah Baloucoune
Are American schools better than schooling in Senegal? Coming from a foreign country, the first thing that had me rolling on the floor was the reality of the American high schools, which are immensely different from how they are in the movies.
All over the world, an image is spread of the “perfect school” where everything is good and sweet with music, dances, and love stories. But in fact, it is much more complicated and different than that – and a lot more stressful, too. This makes it closer to my school in Senegal and the whole Senegalese education system than to the fantasy they want us to believe.
Senegal is a country within Africa that was marked by the colonization of the French empire. As a result, the school organization of that West African nation is inspired by the ancient French school system and modified to accommodate the Senegalese government’s desires, even if some of the lessons we are taught are more than unnecessary.
The differences between the American curriculum and overall coordination and the Senegalese school structure are multiple. One of them is that in America (or maybe just in the United States) the students have to walk through the hallways to get to their next classes. This was very weird and confusing at first because of this school’s immensity and the numerous rooms, making finding my way impossible without help or previous knowledge.
In contrast, in my home country, students are placed in the classroom with people based on their grade, and the teachers move each class period instead of the students. Teachers bring their material and teach their subject, sometimes with bags or nothing. It wouldn’t be a lie to say that the students prefer this format and take great pleasure in staying alone in the classroom when the educator is late or off duty.
Another academic divergence between the two schools is the usage of Chromebooks, which is revolutionary to a student used to writing on paper and can be seen as a blessing as much as a curse to everyone else. The positive side is that it minimizes the number of books and notebooks, and it makes rapport between the teachers and the students easier and the usage of the internet for research more practical than using books. This is pretty much better than the written notebooks, except that the computer needs to be charged to be useful.
To be honest, the usage of Chromebooks gives me “toxic boyfriend” vibes: I want to have it, it’s fancy, fast and looks so professional; however, when using it, I am much slower than with a pen. I need help to learn everything about it because there is nothing to make you understand it and without advice, you don’t learn anything. It’s just a mess to have to learn how to use a computer when people are teaching their subjects.
All those highlights of the not-so-important differences are here to show the actual gap between those two systems, being the whole organization of the schools. The biggest and most internationally known of them are the graduation system and the classes’ curriculum, those two being deeper problems covered by the Senegalese government and school accomplices.
In Senegal, to successfully graduate high school, you must pass an exam named Baccalaureate, just like in the French school system. The funny part is that to get into high school, you also have to do an exam called BFEM (brevet de fin d’étude moyenne); this time passing it or not doesn’t have a big impact on the high school experience but totally changes the university experience.
This exam was my nightmare because even before I started the ninth grade, people started putting pressure on me about it. Being constantly reminded of this left a bitter taste on my tongue, and the real preparation begins when there are 100 days left before the three days of suffering in the exam centers. It is more fierce and stressful than all of the middle school years. I succeeded in that exam, but I won’t forget how badly people put stress in my heart for an exam I was confident about for the whole school year.
The coordination of those national exams is pretty long but relatively simple since in most of the schools you don’t get to choose all your classes. As an example, in high school, you have to make one of the biggest choices of your life that will change your whole school experience, being the choice of the series. Students either choose the series S (in which you get to work more on the sciences and study the reality of the matters), or the series L (mostly turned to literature and philosophy or the study of human civilizations). Once students choose their series, most of the classes are already chosen for them.
I was placed in the scientific side but switched at the beginning of the 10th grade (first year of high school in Senegal); this was the best idea I had in a while. I may not be as good in mathematics as I would have been in series S, but my grades thank me greatly for that choice, and my mind and heart were still at ease by the end of the year. That change made me lose some school classes, but, hey, I did great that year, so that’s fine anyway (that’s also a reason why I am struggling in precalculus even if I had straight A’s my whole grade).
With all those realities, most Senegalese students fantasize about the so-called “main character high school” with all its dramas and romance, but even more because it got the reputation to be easier than in some other countries, not to say most of them. After all this intellectual talk, let me end this comparison with a little emotional note – there are a lot of more differences that I didn’t tell you about like the usage of the phones, which is forbidden in my school; the American cafeteria and its catalog of food that gives the students the choice of what to eat for lunch, which is totally different in most of my home country schools; and the freshmen who are still in middle school in the Senegalese organization.
I really am enjoying school in America, but I miss my home country school. I miss my friends and family even more, but I love this experience.
American high school isn’t like in the movies, but it makes it even more authentic, even more realistic, even more loveable, and I cherish every minute I pass between JHS walls. I will never forget the people I met here (big up to my sweet Senegalese friends all over the states and my incredible host family here).
Having been chosen as an exchange student, people put high expectations on my adaptability, on my desires to open myself to people and be presentable to my fellow American neighborhood and people of other ethnicities.
It would be a lie to say that this adventure isn’t scary to me, to be all alone in a big English world, a world that isn’t mine nor made to be mine, but from the first time I took the flight to come here I should have known everything wouldn’t be easy.
After more than 24 hours of traveling with a connection to Belgium, in which I couldn’t rest because of the tumultuous plane that kept moving around (answer the call of Gotham was the best part of the trip, as having to binge three DC movies was so much fun). However, eating during the flight was a terrible idea — my stomach ache was my biggest misery of that adventure. But the real difficulty was to say bye to my family and friends.
This exchange isn’t about the school at any point, but if there was something I wasn’t ready for, it’s how American high schools really are.
American high school isn’t like in the movies, but it makes it even more authentic, even more realistic, even more loveable, and I cherish every minute I pass between JHS walls.
Exchange Student Sarah Baloucoune
Are American schools better than schooling in Senegal? Coming from a foreign country, the first thing that had me rolling on the floor was the reality of the American high schools, which are immensely different from how they are in the movies.
All over the world, an image is spread of the “perfect school” where everything is good and sweet with music, dances, and love stories. But in fact, it is much more complicated and different than that – and a lot more stressful, too. This makes it closer to my school in Senegal and the whole Senegalese education system than to the fantasy they want us to believe.
Senegal is a country within Africa that was marked by the colonization of the French empire. As a result, the school organization of that West African nation is inspired by the ancient French school system and modified to accommodate the Senegalese government’s desires, even if some of the lessons we are taught are more than unnecessary.
The differences between the American curriculum and overall coordination and the Senegalese school structure are multiple. One of them is that in America (or maybe just in the United States) the students have to walk through the hallways to get to their next classes. This was very weird and confusing at first because of this school’s immensity and the numerous rooms, making finding my way impossible without help or previous knowledge.
In contrast, in my home country, students are placed in the classroom with people based on their grade, and the teachers move each class period instead of the students. Teachers bring their material and teach their subject, sometimes with bags or nothing. It wouldn’t be a lie to say that the students prefer this format and take great pleasure in staying alone in the classroom when the educator is late or off duty.
Another academic divergence between the two schools is the usage of Chromebooks, which is revolutionary to a student used to writing on paper and can be seen as a blessing as much as a curse to everyone else. The positive side is that it minimizes the number of books and notebooks, and it makes rapport between the teachers and the students easier and the usage of the internet for research more practical than using books. This is pretty much better than the written notebooks, except that the computer needs to be charged to be useful.
To be honest, the usage of Chromebooks gives me “toxic boyfriend” vibes: I want to have it, it’s fancy, fast and looks so professional; however, when using it, I am much slower than with a pen. I need help to learn everything about it because there is nothing to make you understand it and without advice, you don’t learn anything. It’s just a mess to have to learn how to use a computer when people are teaching their subjects.
All those highlights of the not-so-important differences are here to show the actual gap between those two systems, being the whole organization of the schools. The biggest and most internationally known of them are the graduation system and the classes’ curriculum, those two being deeper problems covered by the Senegalese government and school accomplices.
In Senegal, to successfully graduate high school, you must pass an exam named Baccalaureate, just like in the French school system. The funny part is that to get into high school, you also have to do an exam called BFEM (brevet de fin d’étude moyenne); this time passing it or not doesn’t have a big impact on the high school experience but totally changes the university experience.
This exam was my nightmare because even before I started the ninth grade, people started putting pressure on me about it. Being constantly reminded of this left a bitter taste on my tongue, and the real preparation begins when there are 100 days left before the three days of suffering in the exam centers. It is more fierce and stressful than all of the middle school years. I succeeded in that exam, but I won’t forget how badly people put stress in my heart for an exam I was confident about for the whole school year.
The coordination of those national exams is pretty long but relatively simple since in most of the schools you don’t get to choose all your classes. As an example, in high school, you have to make one of the biggest choices of your life that will change your whole school experience, being the choice of the series. Students either choose the series S (in which you get to work more on the sciences and study the reality of the matters), or the series L (mostly turned to literature and philosophy or the study of human civilizations). Once students choose their series, most of the classes are already chosen for them.
I was placed in the scientific side but switched at the beginning of the 10th grade (first year of high school in Senegal); this was the best idea I had in a while. I may not be as good in mathematics as I would have been in series S, but my grades thank me greatly for that choice, and my mind and heart were still at ease by the end of the year. That change made me lose some school classes, but, hey, I did great that year, so that’s fine anyway (that’s also a reason why I am struggling in precalculus even if I had straight A’s my whole grade).
With all those realities, most Senegalese students fantasize about the so-called “main character high school” with all its dramas and romance, but even more because it got the reputation to be easier than in some other countries, not to say most of them. After all this intellectual talk, let me end this comparison with a little emotional note – there are a lot of more differences that I didn’t tell you about like the usage of the phones, which is forbidden in my school; the American cafeteria and its catalog of food that gives the students the choice of what to eat for lunch, which is totally different in most of my home country schools; and the freshmen who are still in middle school in the Senegalese organization.
I really am enjoying school in America, but I miss my home country school. I miss my friends and family even more, but I love this experience.
American high school isn’t like in the movies, but it makes it even more authentic, even more realistic, even more loveable, and I cherish every minute I pass between JHS walls. I will never forget the people I met here (big up to my sweet Senegalese friends all over the states and my incredible host family here).
On May 4th, 2023, Governor Eric Holcomb signed the House Bill 1608 into law; this was after the bill got a vote of 65 to 29. Once 1608 was signed, it was put into effect on July 1st of the same year. Some may hear this and think that it isn’t important to mention this specific bill, but to those it directly attacks, well, they would beg to differ. House Bill 1608 was originally written as Indiana’s version of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, yet it was changed once in court and dropped most of its parts that closely aligned with Florida’s original version, specifically changing the necessary consent for a name change. Sadly, that doesn’t mean that members of the LGBTQ community are safe from attack. For now, this bill specifically targets trans youth and their right to a private identity. It has now put children in possible danger, though the publishing group would like to say they only care about keeping the kids ‘safe’, and has even gotten rid of many people’s only public safe space. To numerous individuals, this is a ridiculously unnecessary law which ultimately does more harm than any possible good. And the problem isn’t just for trans individuals, but also people who just prefer to be called a shortened name.
The passage of House Bill 1608 truly shines light on a frustrating pattern of hits against LGBTQ rights and individual autonomy. While the advocates might try and argue that this bill is about child protection and prioritizing their safety, yet a slightly closer look, or even an interaction between these groups of people, reveals a thinly veiled attempt to undermine the personal rights of a vulnerable demographic. When interviewing someone, who would like to remain unnamed, they echoed the same sentiments of many, that since this law was put in place, they have felt more in danger than before because of how the notification of their chosen name being revealed could lead to harmful reactions from their parents (going against the entire supposed purpose of this bill). The publishing group’s claims of ‘protecting kids” ring hollow as their actions take away an essential lifeline for many. By stripping away this seemingly minor act of personal preference, the legislation highlights a bigger concern – the intrusion of the state into the private matters of their citizens.
By targeting trans youth and their right to a private identity, the legislation inadvertently perpetuates an environment of fear and discrimination, thus pushing these young individuals further into the shadows. The impact goes beyond just hypothetical issues, but it directly affects the sense of safety and community for LGBTQ youth in every aspect. The bill’s passage effectively erases what was once a sanctuary of self-expression – a public safe space where these individuals could seek refuge and affirmation, for once one section of the community is forced to take a step back, the others will surely be dragged behind as well. All of the people who were interviewed all stand against what they see as an unjust and harmful measure. The battle line has been drawn, and the discourse with the legislation, heard from people around our school, will undoubtedly shape the future of LGBTQ rights within schools and the state.
In the end, House Bill 1608 stands as a stark reminder that even in an era of progress, there are those who would willingly turn back the clock on personal freedom and equality. The consequences of this bill go far beyond its original intent, sparking debates about individual autonomy, safe spaces, and the fight for justice in a society that should be moving forward, not backwards.
Imagine this: you’re mindfully strolling through life in a cheery manner. All is well until you are met with an unwelcoming memory, a memory from the past that you look back on with regret, cringe, or even resentment.
The negative memory can be a variety of events. Was it about you saying some hurtful things to someone when you were in the heat of anger? Or was it that bitter time of feeling socially rejected by your fellow classmates at school? No matter the situation, it’s something that seems to follow you like a shadow. Frequently, the image pops into your mind and leaves you emotionally defeated.
This incident is, what I call, subconscious trauma, and from personal experience, it’s definitely not an enjoyable time when having its discouraging episodes. Fortunately, through time, I’ve found a solution in how to cope with these negative thoughts.
When feeling an episode starting to come on – i.e. thinking about a memory and sensing my emotions toward the subject: I seclude myself to a quieter room, sit down and close my eyes, turn on meditation music through my phone, and begin talking to myself.
Firstly, I admit the negative emotions I’m feeling and the trauma I’m having. Then, I focus on navigating myself through the situation by talking about a potential solution to the problem and remind the positives about myself.
The sessions of mine are usually a tremendous success with moving forward.
Of course, there are other plentiful methods in coping through such a problem, and this is evident through the several students of Jeffersonville High School I had the chance to interview.
The following Q & A is from my interview with a Jeff High Senior:
Q: Do you have any bad memories that haunt you? If so, would you mind sharing?
A: Honestly, when my dog passed away. It really affected me.
Q: I’m sorry for your loss. What was your dog’s name?
A: His name was Shadrach. It’s a biblical name. He was the best dog I’ve ever had.
Q: How does it make you feel when the memory pops up?
A: It makes me upset and reminisce on the good times we had together.
Q: How do you cope with this bad memory?
A: Whenever I’m upset about the memory, I write. It’s very peaceful and relaxing. Whenever you write, it’s like being in your own world.
In my interview with a Jeff High Junior, the student expressed how there was indeed a negative memory that haunts them in life, and how they feel upset and even humiliated when reflecting back on the moment. In their copings, they found journaling and communicating with another person to be the most therapeutic.
These different techniques of different students show how there is no official “right” way to cope through a personal crisis. Everyone is unique, but we struggle similarly at the same time, and that should be a comforting fact to know of.
Another helpful mechanism that many also look to is seeking mental evaluation through a professional (counselors, therapists, psychologists, etcetera).
If one’s subconscious trauma appears more severely dire, or struggling with unhealthy coping habits, this solution is the most appropriate for that situation.
Mental health still carries a plethora of stigma. It isn’t easy for one to reveal their vulnerability to others or even themselves.
However, today’s climate has become more accepting in acknowledging such problems, and its door is something that will most likely continue to open as time progresses.
June 2022: It was a dark time for many Americans across the nation, as on the 24th of that month, the Supreme Court had issued a decision concerning the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health bill, overturning Roe v. Wade. The protection to the legal right to abortion was eliminated; with this, numerous states had begun to ban the rights and access to abortion.
On September 15th, 2022: The state of Indiana, my home-state, fell victim to this deadly decision of a bill. The mere exceptions of legal access in Indiana are in the the cases of rape, incest, fatal fetal abnormalities, or to preserve the life and physical health of the person who is pregnant before 10 weeks after conceivement.
I vividly remember the time it had all occurred. Ads, social media posts, news segments, and YouTube videos capturing images of those fighting in protest, or in support of this controversial bill. I recall many clinics being ushered to shut down in response, and the unwavering sound of victory at my evangelistic church. In addition, my church has recently implemented a drive to donate infant products and necessities to a pro-life organization for “mothers in desperate need”.
I am here to express my anguish and disgust at such passing of a bill, how morally wrong it is in many ways, and how this option in mind must be the pregnant woman’s decision, not the government’s.
Many opposers will try to express how abortion is the murderous hunting of innocent unborn children. How the women who are proceeding with abortion are selfish, cold-hearted vipers. How clinics such as “Planned Parenthood” are greedy corporations who are unapologetically open about eliminating unborn life.
According to “KFF’s ‘Key Facts on Abortion in the United States’”, data before the Dobbs decision had gathered that a vast 92% of abortions occur during the first trimester of pregnancy. With this knowledge: we know that in the first trimester in a woman’s pregnancy, the embryo or fetus is a clump of biological molecules undergoing chemical reactions. Therefore, this leads us to the idea that this “baby” is not considered truly living.
Those who seek abortion as an option are a whole spectrum. They go through the procedures all for differing reasons. It is an immense injustice to label them and envision them in a negative light. “Planned Parenthood’s ‘Our Abortions, Our Stories’” shares the anecdotes of women from around the US, giving their reasons as to why they chose the path they did. One woman said in the article, “My stepfather abused me from age 8 to 17. At 15 I became pregnant and lied to my mother that it was my boyfriend’s. I had an abortion because the mental and physical abuse continued afterwards…”. Another lady said, “When I was 20 I had an abortion. Being so young and barely getting by financially, I was in no position whatsoever to have a child…”. A third said, “…At age 31, I had a 3 ½ year old son and was pregnant with my second child… My husband and I found that the baby had several heart defects. We went to see several specialists to see if his heart could be fixed after he was born. They told us that he would live and grow in utero, but would die after birth… We decided to spare him the suffering and interrupted the pregnancy at 22 weeks.”
“Planned Parenthood” is a health organization that has a 3% abortion service, with the majority of their work consisting of STD testing and treatment, cancer screenings, infertility services, and offering sex education. To get an abortion through them, the organization has you meet with your doctor, nurse, or health counselor to discuss whether abortion is the best decision for you. Even if one is adamant about going through the procedure, they emphasize that they will halt everything if you change your mind, even as far as the surgical removal. With these facts, it shows how precise and supportive Planned Parenthood is, and always looks to the best interest no matter what one decides.
“Capital B”’s Kenya Hunter gave insight on a reproductive rights group launching a campaign, and also gave how they advocate that abortion bans are racist against the Black community in America. The group, known as “Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity” or “URGE”, had its Georgia organizer say, “We aren’t just strictly coming from a lens of what’s happening with our wombs or with our uterus,.. [Abortion bans] have a trickle-down effect. People with low income have to bring in another child that they can’t afford. The point of the ‘Abortion Bans Are Racist’ campaign is to make sure the conversation isn’t just about abortion… but how does this further create disparities within our communities?”. Additionally, their campaign had researchers who predicted to them that with more people forced to carry out their pregnancy, this will result in increased risks in bad maternal health. As a Georgia-based news organization: Hunter points out how the state’s Black women are already three-times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than White women.
As of 2023, only three US states have the right to abortion in full status. These states being California, Michigan, and Vermont.
I, like many others, find this decision from our Supreme Court to be disappointing and discouraging. This is a reminder that our country still has room for improvement regarding a human’s right.
We cannot change the mind’s of every individual, but if we can show the Supreme Court the dangers to this passed bill, perhaps they can reconsider this injustice.
Fortunately, we are not alone in this protest. As Kenya Hunter had discussed, URGE’s ‘Abortion Bans Are Racist’ campaign is just one of many groups fighting against this ban.
This isn’t based on a viewpoint that is politically-motivated, and with the harms that this ban is capable of as mentioned: it is unavoidable to point out its concerning flaws. Kaelea Lucas, the Georgia organizer for URGE, said it best; “The decision of what somebody does with their body and whether or not they are going to get an abortion ultimately should be between that person, family, and maybe a medical provider if that’s what feels comfortable to them,… But who should not be involved is the government. There should be no political reasoning for anything like abortion bans.” Banning the right to abortion sends the wrong message to so many. It silences voices, gives misinformation about clinics like “Planned Parenthood”, gives ignorance to the idea that “babies” are being “killed”, and drastically affects the Black community in health and finances. With this ban and absurd claims continuing to be established, we are going to do more harm than good toward women and their overall health.
Getting into the arts can be a challenging quest, whether it’s getting the ideas or actually putting said ideas into the world. In this time of confusion, I believe that having a rubric of restrictions can be the support that lifts creativity to its highest form. Having a set of rules to follow can help ideas flow, it can be a more relieving position, and help the artist try new things.
Many can agree that one of the most difficult parts of the arts is creating the idea, yet when you have to work your way around certain things, then it can be an easier way to find the path that will lead you to a fall of ideas. Restrictions put in the building blocks, then the artist can complete the designed task, and after they are able to push certain aspects (that aren’t restricted) to make the piece their own. It can also help cut down on decisions that are put in the artist’s hands, so they don’t get overwhelmed and burned out as quickly by the overflow of creative ideas. As stated by Thomas Oppong in his article about creativity, on Inc., “With constraints, you dedicate your mental energy to acting more resourcefully. When challenged, you figure out new ways to be better.” Having a specific direction for where your energy can go can help you get more ideas and thus the artist goes through a slower decline in their rate of ideas.
Instead of having total freedom and being surrounded by stress from blankness in the creative department, you are able to get a new point of view which can help you get a better understanding of different techniques for a new set of tools. Some may say that with restrictions, it can be difficult to fully shine because of the choices being so limited, and they aren’t entirely wrong. When creative rubrics are too restricting, it can lead to the same amount of problems that having too much freedom contains, extra stress to stay in the lines and lack of related ideas. It’s just like everything else, too much of anything is bad. Yet when these placements are done right, it can be extraordinarily beneficial for the artist. As said by Jason Bell, an Associate Professor of Marketing at Saïd Business School, “When well placed, constraints can force us to step out of our mental comfort zone and connect a schema to something new. This can very often lead to innovative ideas”.
Unclear directions and the fear of experimentation can hold many people back, including the need for near perfection is a craving that many artists, whether new or old, chase after for years. When using restrictions in your craft, it will give you clearer directions, help you be forced to try something new, and it can push you to slowly become ok with not reaching the status of perfect perfection. A batch of restraints can not only force you to try something new, it can also help you focus and create better ideas then you would have before. An article published by the official Harvard Business Review helps to support this claim by stating, “Constraints, in contrast, provide focus and a creative challenge that motivates people to search for and connect information from different sources to generate novel ideas for new products, services, or business processes”.
With all these reasons, it is clear that adding in restrictions can be extremely beneficial. From how it helps increase idea flow, how it leads to less pressure, and finally how it can help artists try new ideas that the artist normally wouldn’t try otherwise. So if you are ever stuck, try adding in some restrictions, and don’t be afraid to try something new.
Jeffersonville High School’s lunch is not the best thing in the world. I have heard many things about their lunch, and many say it’s equivalent to prison or jail food. I believe that JHS can improve their lunches in many ways. So in my article, I will be sharing my, and others, opinions on how they can improve their lunch. I will also talk about the price of lunches and why everyone’s lunch should be free.
One big issue with the food that they serve us students is the overall quality of the food. To start off, the chicken patties that they serve are very dry and bland. Secondly, the fries they serve us are usually half frozen still and undercooked. And the biggest problem, the food is either undercooked or overcooked. Though, not all things are bad about their food, their pizza is one of the better things they serve, and seems to be one of the more popular things amongst students. Finally, we serve the same thing everyday, except for the experimental kitchen line, but they serve the same thing in that line as well.
Now, I’m going to share some opinions of students, and my own on how they could really improve what they do and make. For me, I think if they actually paid attention to how long they keep things in their ovens, the food would turn out a whole lot better. One of the things people told me was to add variety, one of the foods people said they wanted to see a lot more was chicken nuggets and tacos, which I can agree on. Cainen Skaggs, a sophomore said, “Use fresher ingredients and food.” This is a very great idea, since many people complain about the food being bland, adding more seasoning and such would greatly improve the food. A fellow friend of mine, Cooper Pickles, said, “Adding more lines, so food can get to us faster.” One main problem is how long the pizza line can take, and many people on Monday are eager for Papa Johns, so having maybe 2-3 lines for pizza would be amazing. A senior I questioned said, “Letting students sell our own snacks” Letting students sell their own snacks would be cool, it could tie along to having more variety of what you can eat, and students would really like it.
“Lunches are equivalent to gas prices” this quote describes the price of lunches best. A lot of students in the school are enraged to say the least about lunches costing more. For some students in the building, lunch is the only meal they may get to eat, and they may not have money to pay for their food. I know that some students get their food for free, but why can’t EVERYONE get their food for free in school?
2022 was a good year for movies. With “Top Gun: Maverick,” “The Batman,” “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” “Bullet Train,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” cinema was back. Oddly enough, there was one other film in theaters that nobody asked for, nobody expected it to be good, and nobody hated it. That film is “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.” Out of all the possibilities for a sequel, “Puss in Boots” turned out to have one and it happened to be amazing. I was blown away in theaters. I have a good memory of it and I look forward to re-watching it because it may be my favorite Dreamworks film. “How to Train Your Dragon” held that title for a long time.
The best thing about this film is by far the animation. In all honesty, it is the best animation I have ever seen. “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” is well known for its top notch animation, but while its visuals have the highest highlights, I think this film has better visuals overall. The action looks especially good. I love how the frame rate slows down in all the fight scenes. My favorite scene is the fight between Puss in Boots and Death because the color scheme looks amazing. I adore the use of colors and lighting in this film.
Another thing I love about this movie is the characters. I think it’s really important for a film to prioritize its characters if it wants to be memorable; luckily, that’s what happened. I highly enjoy Puss in Boots in this film. I don’t remember anything about the prequel but it doesn’t matter. Antonio Banderas gives the character such energy and he keeps his vibrant personality among the challenges he faces. I like his reunion with Kitty: she gets the job done. Perrito the dog is a funny addition. He brings love and comfort to the story. Goldilocks and the three bears are a delight to see and I didn’t expect them to be so fun. However, my favorite character is the wolf. His name is Death and he is the coolest character in fiction. Every time he’s on screen, he gives me the creeps.
Surprisingly, the themes are conveyed with more depth than I expected. This film explores the fear of dying, which many can relate to. With Puss in Boots being on one out of nine lives, he is running for his life for the first time. His objective in the story is to make a wish for more lives so he can be the legend everyone knows him as. But, in the end, he realizes one life is enough when he gets to spend it with the people he loves. Or should I say animals. Everyone else cancels their wish as well when they learn to appreciate what they have. Having someone to trust, having a family, having friends; there’s a heartfelt message about sticking with what you have in life and it’s done in a rather subtle manner that complements the characterization of our protagonist.
Extra aspects that I enjoyed are the voice acting, the humor, and the music. I don’t know why Dreamworks went so hard on this film, but I am so glad they did. We need more animated masterpieces like these; films that specialize in the telling of a story and the style of animation rather than serving as a formulaic cash grab that intends to sell merchandise and teach kids nothing. You can feel the passion that went into every frame of this film. I cannot feel anything when watching films produced by Illumination like “Minions”. The difference in quality between Illumination and Dreamworks is unreal. By all means, I think it’s safe to say that “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” is the best animated film of 2022 and I am very thankful for its release.
2026 Lilly Endowment Scholarship winner, senior Lizty Rubio, is a significant part of JHS and her community beyond Jeff. She is an active member of the swim team, the Anchor Club, the National Honor Society, and represents the school as a student ambassador.
“Litzy is a compassionate, strong, and dependable person. Because she’s in such high classes and she works for so much of what she has, and her leadership positions just show how dependable she can be, and for each of those, she has to be very compassionate,” stated junior Macyn Jackson.
Rubio is known as a leader in everything she does. In her junior year, she served as the co-president of the Student Council, along with representing the Senior Class as vice president this year.
“I feel like being involved in the school allows me to be better prepared for my future. I used to be shy and kept to myself, but my sports and clubs have allowed me to expand on everything,” explained Rubio.
Senior Litzy Rubio displays leadership and friendship in a number of JHS activities, including the swim team. Submitted photo.
Being a student-athlete can make or break a person. They have to have a strong will and determination to succeed, along with balancing the aspects of school, sports, and life in general. But it can also lead to so much more than just medals and trophies.
“Some of my best memories and friendships have come alongside the sports I have done,” said Rubio. “The people are like a second family to me; we wake up early in the morning for practice and leave late at night from meets. I am with them all the time, even during the holidays.”
These friendships could last a lifetime.
“Litzy truly is someone I look up to. She sets an example for everyone, showing that if you really want to do something, you can,” senior Mari Bush explained.
Rubio plans to potentially attend Purdue University to pursue her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and possibly earn her master’s degree in architecture to become an architectural engineer.
Snow days are supposed to keep students safe, but late cancellations could do the opposite. When schools wait until the last minute to cancel classes, students are forced to wake up early and prepare to travel on icy, dangerous roads. This delay can create unnecessary stress and put safety at risk, especially for students who walk, bike, or ride buses to school.
According to the National Weather Service and local weather stations, winter storms and icy road conditions in southern Indiana are often predicted at least a day in advance. This raises questions about why school cancellations are sometimes delayed until early morning.
We’ve had snow days with asynchronous learning this school year. This is because the night before, there was snow. It was under 32 degrees, and that caused the snow to freeze and the roads to be icy. But Greater Clark County Schools didn’t call off school until the next morning.
This caused students to wake up early and could have caused stress for them, their parents, and people like bus drivers.
Graphic by Liddia Waterbury.
As well as stress, situations like this can also cause major safety concerns. According to Zipdo, there are an average of 10,800 winter weather-related crashes per month in the U.S.
Then the National Weather Service says that 24% of weather-related crashes occur on snowy/icy roads, and about 15% occur during active snowfall.
With this safety risk, driving in bad weather can cause fear and anxiety about accidents, especially for parents and teachers who commute. If the decision comes very late, students and teachers might not get enough rest. Sleep loss can make people more irritable, tired, and less focused.
If people feel the decision could have been made earlier, it may lead to frustration or the feeling that their well-being isn’t being considered. With the loss of sleep, people can also lose focus on homework, grading, or preparing lessons if they are unsure if school will be in session.
When people lose trust in an organization, like Greater Clark County Schools, it creates more frustration and uncertainty. Without trust, communication suffers, and problems worsen.
Late snow day decisions can increase safety risks, stress, and sleep loss for many students, staff, and families. Making earlier, well-communicated decisions can help protect well-being and maintain trust within the school community.
ICE, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, enforces immigration laws and conducts investigations into undocumented immigration and arrests and deports undocumented immigrants. Their mission is to protect America through criminal investigations and enforcing immigration laws to preserve national security and public safety, but recently, this doesn’t seem like the case.
In January, ICE agents shot and killed two American citizens in Minneapolis, Minnesota. One of them was a 37-year-old mother of three, Renee Nicole Good. She was shot when ICE ordered her out of her car and briefly reversed before moving forward. The second victim was 37-year-old intensive care nurse Alex Pretti on Jan. 24. He was shot while he was both protecting a woman who was pushed to the ground by an agent, during a protest, and filming law enforcement. The Department of Homeland Security claimed that he was in possession of a weapon and “violently resisted.” But video analysis and witnesses say otherwise, ICE agents removed his pistol from his holster while he was pinned to the ground, before shooting him in the back. These two people weren’t shot in self-defense; they were murdered.
Graphic by Kaylee Borelli.
ICE hasn’t just been responsible for murdering two American citizens, but they have also detained and deported people with legal documents and no criminal record, even though they claim they are targeting criminals.
According to Brookings, since Donald Trump took office in January 2025, more than 540,000 people have been deported. Along with this, one-third of people who have been arrested by ICE have no criminal record. If they really cared about targeting criminals, they would actually target criminals and not allegedly bust out car windows just to justify arrests. On top of this, a total of 32 people have died while in ICE custody in 2025. This isn’t about making America a “safer place.” This is racism and a complete abuse of power by Trump.
Along with the over 540,000 that have been deported, according to WLRN, as of December 2025, 74% of around 70,000 immigrants in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention have zero criminal convictions. And yet Trump is still saying he is only targeting criminals when ¾ of the people in detention centers aren’t even criminals.
On Jan. 20, according to CNN, 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was detained along with his father in Minnesota while arriving home from his preschool. They were then flown more than 1,300 miles to a family detention facility in Texas. Liam and his family are originally from Ecuador, and in December 2024, they presented themselves to border officers and applied for asylum, but still, the DHS labels them as “illegal aliens.” Also, according to CNN, the Trump Administration has repeatedly said that they are targeting people who are “violent criminals” and the “worst of the worst.” So why are they arresting a 5-year-old boy and a father who were in the process of becoming American citizens? Luckily, on Jan. 30, Liam and his father were released and returned home to Minnesota, but they shouldn’t have ever been detained in the first place.
ICE isn’t just detaining people for no reason, but they are also violating the amendments of the United States.
The Fourth Amendment states that the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. This means that people are protected from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. According to the National Immigration Justice Center, ICE officers will knock on people’s doors and claim they have a warrant to enter and search your house. These “warrants,” though, are not signed by judges; they are forms signed by ICE officers, so they do not allow agents to enter your home without consent. But still, agents are entering homes illegally and detaining people even if they have legal documents or are in the process of obtaining legal documents.
Not only is ICE violating the rights of people to detain them, but once they are detained, the facilities they send them to are disgusting and deadly.
The ICE detention centers are now notorious for both violating the rights of immigrants and for the harsh conditions. According to the ACLU, Fernando Vieira Reyes, who was held in one of these detention centers, faced many problems while there. He tried to get proper treatment for his prostate cancer, which he discovered he had while in the center. He had requested to see a urologist but was constantly ignored, and when he reported pain, they just prescribed him some Vitamin C and Tylenol. The conditions in the facility were also horrible. They were held in small concrete cells that were the size of a parking space, along with being without adequate food, water, and clothing for hours on end.
Even though it is repeatedly said that ICE only targets undocumented immigrants with criminal convictions, pending criminal charges, or those who are deemed as threats to public safety and national security, it has been very clear that this is not how it is. From arresting a 5-year-old who had done nothing wrong to the 74% of immigrants who have no criminal record, it is very clear that this is racism and an assessment of power.
Hopefully, soon this will change, because innocent immigrants and people who have done nothing wrong shouldn’t be getting arrested, being put in centers that neglect their basic needs, and even being murdered in the so-called “Land of the Free.”
High school is a place of education for teenagers. A place filled with opportunities. A place that provides time for self-discovery. And a place to become more marketable for college. However, there are mixed opinions if high school is slowly losing its purpose or not.
Students are focused more on passing classes than actually taking the time to learn. It’s absurd how normalized it is for students to cheat to escape failure instead of using failure as a chance to grow. The real question is “Why do students feel the need to cheat?”
According to story in edutopia, students feel the need to cheat because either they don’t find any value in certain assignments, they have the fear of losing social status, or just finding comfort with being rebellious.
So how can we fix this problem?
We are living in a society that tells us that how we perform in school can determine our whole future. But aren’t we forgetting that there are successful people living among us that didn’t do well in school academically?
Like Richard Branson, who dropped out of school at the age of 16 but is now a billionaire entrepreneur. Or one of the most famous scientists in human history, Albert Einstein. He dropped out of school at the age of 15 and trained himself for the following year.
Graphic by Sanae Ittu.
We would assume that this can be an easy fix. Like increasing strict punishments and surveillance, focus more on grades and testing, and assigning group works. These so-called solutions may sound promising but it will not work in the long run.
Harsh punishments and intense surveillance can make students feel mistrust, leading to secretive cheating.
Harvard University’s website explains,“Students assigned to high-suspension schools are more likely to be arrested and incarcerated later, and less likely to attend a four-year college.”
Focusing more on grades and testing can limit sutdent’s creativity and critical thinking and increase stress and anxiety, leading to more cheating.
According to Queens University, “When students are mainly motivated by getting good grades, they tend to focus on memorizing information instead of deeply understanding new concepts…”
Assigning group work does not address why students cheat or lack passion, students can use it to rely on others to do all the work.
High school senior Yun F. Zheng shared on the Education Week website, “Assigning only individual work outside the classroom removes the risk of group members being overly reliant on others.”
To avoid any of these consequences, administrators should focus more on restorative practice, formative assessment and mastery learning, and structured collaborative learning with individual accountability.
According to PowerSchool, formative assessment and mastery learning have benefits, including defined learning goals, increased rigor, and improved academic achievement.
So take this as a suggestion that education should focus more on genuine learning rather than just passing tests or chasing grades. Success can come in many forms. Creativity, emotional intelligence, and practical skills that matter just much as a test score.
On April 21st 2000, Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 or COPPA became effective, due to parents fearing the growing internet and lack of online safety. That law should have laid many parents’ fears to rest but today over 25 years later we still struggle with children’s guaranteed protection on the big wide web.
Photo illustration by Xavier Bridges.
If you were to scroll on TikTok or Instagram for more than a few minutes past the feel good quotes and useless commentary you would likely find someone talking about a personal experience of theirs; it’s not likely anyone dangerous is going see it, so who cares if someone opens up about their personal life?
Except a dangerous person might.
One third of missing children in 2024 were enticed or lured online. Maybe the creeps aren’t in white vans with “Free Candy” painted on the front, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there. They are the ones liking and saving your videos. The ones complimenting you and asking to be online friends. The ones you trust, posing as innocent.
Other governments outside of America are taking a more headfirst approach to online safety. In Australia children under 16 can’t even access certain social media platforms like TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and Threads, but is this the right way to go? Young teens aren’t babies and are capable of finding work arounds, often by simply changing their age or not listing it at all on these websites.
So if we can’t take the internet from them, then should we just change it for them? However, even if you were to bubble wrap the entire internet, it would never be a totally safe place — it’s simply too big for that. The real major issue is that in the last few years people have stopped seeing it as what it is – full of strangers.
If I had a penny for the amount of times I’ve heard, “You guys are like my best friends” from an influencer, I’d be rich enough to pay someone to give them online safety lessons. They have fostered an environment where parasocial relationships are the norm. Anything outside of that is seen as strange or overtly paranoid.
This mindset didn’t always used to be the case. The world witnessed a great shift during COVID where anything and everything that could inherently be done online would be done online.
Even when the world did start to open up again, those third spaces that were there previously didn’t. So people both young and old were forced to turn to the only available and free one they had, the internet.
So, how should we ensure online safety for teens?
Well, throughout my life I have seen that the simplest ideas work the best. A simple conversation about the dangers of the internet and all the bad situations that can happen there. Check in on your kids and just who‘s following them if they happen to have public accounts and who is following you on yours as well. You never know. The world is full of creeps.
I find that there are very few problems with children that can’t be fixed with a simple sit down and present parenting.
Extracurricular activities offer students crucial lessons in teamwork, discipline, leadership, and resilience, helping develop skills outside of just academics.
High school is full of opportunities. Some of those opportunities are extracurricular activities. Most extracurricular activities are after-school activities, but in some cases they can go on during school.
“Confidence, it helped me through soccer and it made me a better player,” said freshman Jacqueline Escobar, who plays club soccer, not related to school. She added that playing a sport outside of school has helped her with time management with her school work by having to balance practices, games and school work simultaneously.
Senior Kendall Curry agreed that participating in extracurricular events has helped her find balance with not only clubs and school work, but also with working at her job. In all these areas, Curry said that she was around diverse groups of people. Because of this, she learned how to work among a variety of individuals from different backgrounds as hers.
By participating in extracurricular activities, students can also gain insight into fields of interest they may want to pursue in the future.
Curry learned from being a football manager that she will likely pursue a career working in sports.
Freshman Alayla Hickerson learned by being in band that she would like to continue it in college and maybe as a career.
Special life skills can be derived from participation in extra curricular activities as well.
Freshman Eva Harbeson appreciates the marksmanship skills she has learned in JROTC. She said that she likely won’t use those skills in a future career, but she is glad she can protect herself for knowing them now.
Curry, Hickerson, Escobar and Harbeson all described common lessons they learned from participating in extracurricular activities: they gained confidence, time management skills, and the willingness to try new things.
All of these skills are useful in future goals outside of high school, proving how beneficial extracurricular activities can be.
That was a rhetorical question said by Andrew Tate. Rhetorical questions such as this one serve as jabs at the logic or moral fiber of an opponent. With the question of money and cars being used as a moral criticism, the question is based on the idea that money is morality and greed is good. In being based on such an idea, it brings a lot of questions about those who are asking it.
What created this void of meaning that’s been filled by this nasty materialism, who is this void in, and how is it better filled?
To take a look at the father of the aforementioned rhetorical question to get some insight, the phrase was coined by internet celebrity, kickboxer, self described misogynist, and likely human trafficker Andrew Tate. Tate was raised on an estate in Luton, England by his chessmaster father and his catering assistant mother, with Tate gaining television and kickboxing fame; Tate’s fame was short-lived due to a leaked video of him beating a woman with a belt. But Tate clawed out of his exile as the rising star of the online ‘Manosphere’.
An online coalition of disenfranchised men known as the ‘Manosphere’ has raised a myriad of pro-male figures into stardom from Andrew Tate to Jordan Peterson. The members of this coalition dwell in their own world, rejected by all else, that even has its own slang and lingo. These men often cite unfair rejection and mistreatment from others, especially women, for their behavior of sexual harassment and sexism. Whether or not those complaints are valid or a strawman is debatable.
The manosphere often leaves the internet to affect the material world. Elliot Roger, killer of six and self-described “supreme gentleman”, subscribed to these defeatist ideas of loneliness and despair and used them to justify his rampage. However, his behavior as described by himself and others had shown him not as a lonely soul, but one who drives others away while blaming them for leaving him behind. This demonstrates not the state of victimhood these men describe, but a state of hostile misogyny that makes everyone miserable and these men hateful.
However, with all of this in mind, one thing escapes us: how do we solve this?
Andrew Tate, just like the entire subculture he dwells in, spreads via shocking and rule breaking content. They take hold on the minds of men via scandal and unleashing repressed desires. They take hold, but they can be shaken off. We can be better, but we have to do some things.
Just like romance, communication is key in deradicalization. By unsealing the lid on these emotions by normalizing conversations about loneliness as opposed to ‘tolerating masculine solitude’ we may give these feelings an escape valve that isn’t as dangerous as when they come bursting out directed by muscled misogynists. Just as one can be pulled in, one can be pulled out by openness and acceptance of the other. And thus, the other may cease to be so terrifying and the hate may be quelled in the end.
For many years now, students at Jeff High have only encountered climate change through indirect information. We have read about it in textbooks and seen its effects from watching the news. But climate change is no longer limited to distant coastal cities and extreme weather events like hurricanes and wildfires. The effects of climate change are growing, and something must be done to tackle this threat.
In the past, when climate change was discussed in this newspaper, we primarily relied on non-local stories and scientific predictions, but recent weather events have caused us to wonder about the impact of climate change on students at Jeff High. This is a fact that many athletes know all too well considering the number of canceled practices this fall due to extreme heat.
Although the cost of climate change has only resulted in a few missed practices so far, future heatwaves may have more severe consequences for students playing sports at Jeff High. According to The New York Times, temperatures from June to August across the United States were the hottest on record. If we fail to respond to the climate crisis, then these heatwaves will continue into the unforeseeable future.
While it’s hard to attribute any one event to climate change, a recent report published by the Union of Concerned Scientists draws a devastating connection between climate change and an increase in the number of heatwaves across the U.S. Midwest. Unfortunately, these increases are expected to continue as humans pump more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Even under the best-case scenario, in which fossil fuels are curbed quickly, the report claims that “The average number of days per year over 90 degrees Fahrenheit are projected to increase 2-3 times by end-of-century.”
Heat is just one of many changes that we can expect to see until something is done to combat climate change. Although most of our readers are high school students, hoping for a bright future in the face of a global crisis created long before they were born, we can still take action to reverse the effects of climate change in our daily lives by conserving energy, reducing the use of plastics, and recycling, and by reaching out to our leaders, at all levels of government and business, by asking them to do their part to rescue this planet and preserve it for future generations
My mother was a 15 year old Sophomore attending New Albany High School on September 11, 2001. I don’t think that she was ever really worried about anything in the world, especially on that day, except for maybe passing math class so that she could eventually graduate high school. That was the story of most American teenagers living in the early 2000s⸺absorbed in their immediate surroundings and worried only about their own lives. However, September 11 would awaken everyone, including my mother, to the dangers of living in the world and the interconnectedness of everyone.
At 8:46 in the morning, the first hijacked plane flew into the World Trade Center’s North Tower. It was apparent that a terrible accident had happened in New York City. Then, 17 minutes later, the second hijacked plane flew into the World Trade Center’s South Tower. This wasn’t an accident⸺this was deliberate. America was under attack. The Pentagon was attacked not long after, and a fourth plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. Nearly three thousand people died immediately as a result of the attacks…and thousands more died as a result of it. But September 11 had consequences for those who survived as well. For many Americans, the attacks on September 11 awoke the sleeping dragon of fear. Fear about living in a dangerous globalized world that most people had forgotten about since the attacks on Pearl Harbor when President Franklin D. Roosevelt had told us that the only thing we had to fear was “fear itself”.
But now, it’s been twenty years since 9/11, so why should we still remember? Why should high school students who weren’t alive during 9/11, like my mother had been on 9/11, continue to remember this event?
We should remember to honor the men and women who died in the World Trade Center Towers and on the hijacked planes. We should remember to honor the first responders to the attacks. We should remember to honor the survivors of the attacks and the families of the fallen.
We must continue to remember 9/11 to honor the loss, the rescue, the fear, and the hope of that tragic day. You didn’t have to be alive for 9/11 to remember the horror and the heroes. We remember so that we will never forget what happened on that day, and how we overcame it as Americans.
Now, twenty years after 9/11, America is under attack again. The terror of the Covid-19 pandemic has killed and continues to kill innocent Americans and first responders everyday, leaving behind long haul survivors and grieving families. Although Americans may not always agree on politics, when our homeland is under attack and innocent American lives are lost, I have hope that we will put aside our differences, and come together as we did during 9/11 to overcome any existential threat, including a global virus.
Readers: Remember 9/11. For the good it brought, for the bad. For the very ugly. I will always remember and be moved by the fact that this nation could come together on that day, forget differences and pray for each other, remove hate from our hearts and build compassion within our souls. Remembering 9/11 elevates the belief that we can exist as a unified American people, to pass on our love and care to those we hold dear and those we lost. Why can’t we be that country again?
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