Editor’s Corner December 11, 2007
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Nearly 4000 soldiers have given their lives in the war in Iraq. Declared in 2003 in retaliation of the 2001 September 11 attacks on the country, American citizens have mixed opinions and feelings on the war. The reasons we went to war with the Middle East dealt with their known ample supply of nuclear weapons; the threat of Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship; the fear of more terrorist attacks from al Qaeda; and the need to liberate the people of Iraq. However, despite the United States’ good intentions, we are going into the fourth year of the war, and many are growing weary of the ongoing battle and fear of losing their loved ones fighting overseas.
British teacher offends Muslims by allowing students to name bear ‘Muhammad’ December 11, 2007
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This week in Saudi Arabia a teacher was sent to prison for naming the teddy bear at a local school Teddy Bear Muhammad, because the people saw it as an offense against the great prophet, Muhammad. Others however, believed that her actions were highly unforgivable and began to protest in the streets, claiming that the teacher be put to death for her actions. There were also those who believed that no punishment should be taken and that she should simply be excused of her actions. The teacher wasn’t the one who named it though; it was given the name Teddy Bear Muhammad because it was given to it by the class, and however the protesters believed that she shouldn’t have allowed it to be named that.
Smoking: Why Do We Do It? December 11, 2007
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As you all well know, smoking cigarettes is not the healthiest thing, but it is a very popular thing. So, why is that? Well, peer pressure is no friend of ours. It causes us make stupid decisions and regrets half of the stuff we do. Nobody will ever admit that it is indeed peer pressure that got them started. Most people say stuff like, “It is a social thing… I wanted to see why everybody else did it…It just gives me something to do.” Well usually it is going to take a little more than that to take that first drag of that cigarette.
Just Say No December 6, 2007
Posted by susiel in News, Opinion & Editorial.1 comment so far
Drugs are bad. I’m sure that is what people mostly hear from “the man”. Don’t get me wrong, drugs really are bad but most people don’t really know what’s out there. Kids today hear about mostly marijuana, cocaine, heroine, crack, there are a few others but believe it or not there are more popular drugs that are easier to get now and most people don’t know about.
I have a lot of friends that are associated with drugs. Some went to a school downtown called E.B.R.A.T.S. (East Baton Rouge Arts and Technology School). For those of you who don’t know that wasn’t the best school around. It was shut down because of their test scores. There were few rules and the people that went there for the most part were all on drugs. There was only on known straight edge person that went there and the other kids influenced that other wise. Straight edge is “poison free” which basically means you don’t smoke, drink do drugs, anything that alters a state of mind. There are actual gangs of this nature that will “act” upon people that aren’t straight edge. That is really bad in Boston because of the hardcore music scene. To learn more about that watch Boston Beat down.
Anyway, back to my point, now day’s kids have to worry about more prescription drugs. Ecstasy, Lori tabs, Zanibars, and 2ce (If that’s how you spell that). Those are the popular ones. I actually know people that get chemical research drugs that haven’t even been tested yet and take that. Bottom line is that just because it’s not your typical bad drug that you know about doesn’t mean that it’s not a bad drug. For more question about this just come ask me and I will further elaborate why these are bad and what they do to your body.
By Scotty Baldwin
Just not enough time for homework November 30, 2007
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In today’s society students must not only spend around eight hours in school doing work, but they must go home to spend another three or four hours doing homework. Homework is probably the most talked about idea in education today. I
asked senior Quinn Kember how he felt about homework. Quinn said, “Homework isn’t needed. After football practice, I am exhausted. I don’t feel like spending hours on doing homework. Sometimes it is the same things we did in class. I think my grades would be better if we didn’t have homework. Most of us
don’t do it anyway. If we didn’t have it, I think it would make grades better, and make students and teachers a lot happier.”
After being in school all day, the last thing anyone wants to think about is homework. Many students do not have time do to their homework, and therefore don’t do it. Homework is causing many students grades to decline and it is also causing students unnecessary stress. However, teachers continue to bombard us
with this task. Teachers do not seem to realize that it is very hard to balance their after school activities, their sports practices, their chores, their dinner, and their homework all in one night.
Although some students love homework, others feel that schoolwork takes up too much time in our daily lives. Everyday, students spend hours doing it, and teachers spend hours checking it. Homework is sometimes a burden not only to
students, but also to teachers. Students are frequently given homework that takes three or more hours to complete. Sometimes, students do not understand what has been given, and then waste even more time doing it incorrectly. Not
only is that ridiculous, but it does not leave any time to spend with your family or friends. Between school and extracurricular activities, there is simply not enough time in the day for homework.
By Allie Hebert
Remember Both the Man and His Idea November 29, 2007
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Once I discovered that more than half of the St. John student body has neither any ideas nor concerns for the man once named John Lennon, I decided I would step up, take action, and awaken the dreams of this once famous musician and anti-war activist. John Ono Lennon was born October 9, 1940, to Julia and Alfred.
Editor’s Corner November 29, 2007
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This Thursday, a British woman teaching in a Sudanese school was arrested for allowing the children in her class to name a class teddy bear “Muhammad.”
The teacher, Gillian Gibbons, was found guilty of insulting the religion Islam and sentenced to 15 days in prison and deportation back to Britain. The charges were made under Article 125 of the Sudanese criminal code, and according to Robert Boulos, Gibbons got off easy. “She could have had six months and lashes and a fine, and she only got 15 days and deportation,” Boulos told The Associated Press. Both the White House and the British Foreign Office are appalled by Gibbons’ sentence.
Thanksgiving break much needed November 29, 2007
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With the school year flying by, Thanksgiving break was here before we knew it. The week came, and before we knew it, it was over and it was time to get back to the books. All of the students were so ready for a break, to have a week off to do nothing. A break was needed to put the stress of school and everything else aside. The Thanksgiving holiday is always a nice break to spend time with family and focus on the many things we have to be thankful for, and for all that we take for granted each and every day.
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Students feel overwhelmed by homework November 29, 2007
Posted by susiel in Opinion & Editorial.1 comment so far
Homework has been a long-hated tradition of school. I personally hate homework and think it is not right for teachers to assign a large amount. The purpose of school work is to be done at school. Time at home is time that we should have freely to ourselves. Seven hours a day is enough of learning about a lot of stuff that we won’t ever have to use in real life. School takes up 29% of the day, and the recommended eight hours of sleep takes up 33%, which leaves us with nine hours to ourselves. Some kids have jobs and extra curricular activities that take up time after school, which leaves an even shorter amount of time for the student to do their work, not counting possible chores or other personal responsibilities. It is a harder world for teenagers with plenty of responsibilities to take care.
Voice of the People November 29, 2007
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Voice of the People: Veteran’s Day
As you all should know veteran’s day was yesterday. Veteran’s day is a national holiday that we should remember and revere those who served in the military. I’m not sure if we would have got off of school if it was during the week. There were a lot of war movies on yesterday.
