The Sting Vol. 1, Issue 1

Table of Contents Page 2

News Story of the Semester Photos of the Semester

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Ediorial: Noteworthy Changes

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Masthead Featured Student Photojournalist of the Semester

F e b . 2 5 , 2 0 1 9 V o l .

B R Y A N T M I D D L E

1

I s s u e 1 S C H O O L

THE STING

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News story/photos of the semester

Incentive days Motivate Kids

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ids just want to have fun, and Dustin Dearman and Katie Madey, teachers, know this. At the end of every quarter, Dearman and Madey as well as several other teachers prepare an incentive day, which is an hour of the day for students who make the honor roll, as well as have no major write ups, to play games and relax.

Dearman started doing incentive days during the 2016-2017 school year. Isiah Lasker-Hayes, 8th, plays tug-a-war during Roughly half of the the second incentive day of the year. students in the school next year and the 8th separating, Dearare eligible to participate in the incentives. Aaman still plans on carrying out incentives liyah Martin, 8th, was one of whom attended. and bringing them to the junior high school.

“I feel that incentives help [motivate “I think anytime you give students somestudents to do well] because they get thing to look forward to--anytime that a reward not from just trying hard, but students are rewarded--for not just doing from achieving their goals,” Martin said. what they’re supposed to do, but doing it Although not all of the students parexceptionally, I think that motivates stuticipate, the incentives, to Cole Gipomdents to achieve. I think that it’s generally poletti, 7th, can be considered motivaoverall better for the school,” Dearman said. tion to improve for the upcoming one.

The next incentive day is scheduled “Other students who do get it or don’t get it, for after the third nine weeks. Every nine students who do will feel as if they’ve been reweeks is a clean slate for a student. Stuwarded and they’ll be like, ‘oh we did a good job’, dents that would like to participate should and the others who didn’t are like ‘well next time work towards making Bs or higher in class we might want to try harder’,” said Giompoletti. as well as avoid bad behavior choices.

With the inclusion of the junior high -Chelsea Nwankwo

Opinion/Entertainment Are explicit lyrics responsible Noteworthy Changes: for influencing young minds?

Photo: Peyton Johnson Photo: Peyton Johnson

ounds of synthesized drum beats ital Music News in an artical published and piano keys filled the gym. A in March of 2016. Arkansas’ crime rates rap song blared through speakers, would suggest it’s music scene to be its explicit lyrics marinating through similar to that of Chicago. This means ears. The song was filled with gaps, that the music itself can’t be what’s or parts of the song that were bleeped out as predominately influencing people. a result of those lyrics. I looked beside myObjects are only powerful if you self to see kids dancing to the song, singing choose to let them be. If one puts muit, and an older woman to the other side of sic above all else, and they only listen me, who I assumed to be a mother due to the to gory tunes, then chances are they presence of a child next to her. Part of me are going to emulate what they listen could only wonder what her thoughts could to. However, if music to someone else be as she sat listening to the lyrics, the same is just leisurely, then their musical taste ones that her assumed child was also hearing. may reflect nothing of their actions.

It’s not hard to find a kid in America Music can be a very powerful tool yes, who knows lyrics to a Cardi B song due but that’s in the hands of powerful to her constant radio and media presor weak-minded people. Powerful ence. What was once censored is put meaning people meaning one’s who into mainstream media and one can only have control over their thoughts, and wonder it’s affects on the youth of today. weak-minded being the exact oppoFor some, it may be easy to assume site, so people who’s minds are easy the music must play a role in maturing the to change. Weak-minded people may youth -- that music can influence the minds be easily swayed from the sounds of the younger generations and mature Antonio Cage, 8th, listens they absorb throughout the day. An them too early. Although music is a powerful influential person can use music as tool, music is not solely to blame for mind to music while on the bus. their tool, much as James Brown did warping. The exposure to the media may to stop riots in the 1960’s, or as Aretha be playing the biggest role in all of this, but with music at Franklin did during the Civil Rights Movement. one’s disposal, pointing the finger at it is the simplest option.

Music is a way of self-expression--an art form created For example, Chicago developed it’s own genre of music centuries ago that’s evolved, it’s influential capabilities evolvcalled drill. Drill is a sub-genre of trap music, but with more ing also. Music is a powerful tool, but music has yet to reach gory and violent lyrics, as well as several illegal innuendos. a capacity in which one can solely blame the way they act. In Even with this being a popular genre in Chicago, it’s violent the end, music is not the problem, the sound and lyrics are not crime rates are lower than that of Little Rock according to the problem, but rather the listener and their reasoning behind 2016 crime data published by CBS news. In Arkansas, country choosing the song. After all, sound is only just that- sound. music is one of the most listened to genres according to Dig- --Chelsea Nwankwo

Olivia Sharp, 8th

Student Photographer/Masthead THE STING 1105 Woodland Drive, Bryant, AR 72022 501-847-5651 Editor: Chelsea Nwankwo Page Designer: Chelsea Nwankwo Writers: Lydia Payne and Kenzie Robertson Adviser: Meag Abo

“I like to take artistic shots because it makes me realize the real beauty of the world, and how amazing the world really is.

Instead of just being stuck inside the house on my phone, I like to go outside and take pictures of nature.�

- Olivia Sharp, 8th, student photographer of the semester

The Sting is bi-annual publication produced, edited and maintained by yearbook students at Bryant Middle School. Opinion pieces are the reflection of the student writer, not the staff or school. The Sting is a member of the Arkansas Scholastic Press Association.

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