OP-EDS

District must do more for mental health

As a person who they feel sad. In both the middle and high has been deal- If the schools had been doing some- schools, students are encouraged to ing with men- thing like this when I was in elementary go talk to a counselor if they are expetal health for almost as school, I know that I could have been riencing symptoms of depression, but long as I can remem- saved from a lot of pain and suffering, many find it embarrassing and don’t ber, I feel very strongly and hope that, by instituting a similar go. Even with the new social worker, that the district as a policy, the district can prevent other which is a huge step forward, the lack whole should be doing students from going through what I went of education regarding mental health

AMELIA HAVILL more to support its students. through. At the middle school, students take a leaves many students with the idea that having issues with their mental Even starting at the sex-ed course, and two courses about health is the result of something being elementary school level, the district can substance abuse. Yet there are no cours- "wrong" with them, when, in reality, it and should be instituting a curriculum es on mental health. If the school finds just proves them to be a person. regarding mental health, which can be as that middle schoolers are mature enough If the schools just started talking basic as a counselor spending a day with to discuss topics like sex and drugs, why more openly about mental health, each class, doing activities as simple as shouldn’t they be taught about their own they could save many of the children having students turn to the person to mental health? After all, mental health is from a lot of suffering, especially by their left and sharing something they like something they will most likely experi- starting at an early age. about that person, or talking about the ence long before they start having sexual importance of going to an adult when intercourse.

Don’t forget that black lives still matter

Iattended a BLM doesn’t mean that black lives don’t lives still matter. Just because they have protest where I matter anymore. We shouldn’t go silent, done wrong in the community doesn’t walked around if anything, now is the time to speak up mean that they should be punished by my community in and demand a change. Now is the time to death. No one deserves to die by the Maryland and passed get loud about the matter. Everyone has hands of the people who are supposed the courthouse and gone silent, we should get loud. to protect us. We should feel safe to go police station. It was People who tend to go against the BLM to the cops even if we have done wrong. very moving for me movement, often make erroneous argu- They should help us not hurt us. ALYSHA WALLACE because I could feel ments that I would like to address. “I don’t see color.” We want to be how serious everyone “All Lives Matter.” All lives can’t mat- seen and we want to be heard. Just bewas about wanting change. I could feel ter until there is justice for all lives. All cause you don’t see color doesn’t mean how strong the emotions were. People lives still matter, but not all lives are fac- that others don’t see color. It doesn’t were crying out for change to our police ing adversity right now. If a house was on mean that it is not there. We tend to emstation. They were chanting demands for fire and the firefighters showed up to put brace our race and culture, all we want is justice on behalf of all black people. The it out, they aren’t going to spray every to feel safe while doing so. cool thing was that, not everyone there house in the neighborhood with water Just because there is an increase in was black. There were white people, because “all houses matter,” they are black on black crime rates, doesn’t mean Asian people, Latinos and so many more. only going to hose down the house that that police can kill black people. That People of all races came together for the is on fire with water because that is the isn’t going to stop the crime rate and it sake of black people. For the sake of our house that needs help at the moment. isn’t solving anything. If anything, it is society and community as a whole. For Black people need help at the moment. causing more problems. the sake of our future. “Blue Lives Matter.” You can choose No justice for black people should feel

Students should be more involved in your occupation. You can’t choose the like an injustice to all people. No justice the BLM movement in the community to color of your skin. Cops decide that they for black people IS an injustice to all stop police brutality against black people want to be cops. Black people can’t people. by using their voice and taking a stand. decide that they want to be black. Cops White people standing up for black

Being a police officer is a choice, but signed up for their job and they are people doesn’t make them weak, pathetbeing a person of color is not a choice. expected to do it right. If they don’t do it ic, hypocritical or racist. It makes them The movement is a great opportunity for right, lives are lost and that is on them. strong, courageous and brave. It shows people to stand up for what THEY believe “They were a bad person anyways.” that they are recognizing the injustice in and NOT what society tells them they Bad person or not, they didn’t deserve in our community and they are wanting should believe in. to die. Police shouldn’t kill people even to do something about it. They want to

Just because BLM isn’t trending any- if they are bad. They should just arrest make a difference. more them without using excessive force, their You should, too.