High school politics: A social minefield

In today’s politically charged society, it seems like everything is up for debate. From the smallest comment to the biggest decisions, politics infiltrates every aspect of our lives. As a high school student, I’ve seen firsthand how this division affects our daily interactions.

While most students seem to fall on one side of the political spectrum, the ideological makeup of high schoolers is far more diverse than it may seem. Unfortunately, fear often prevents students from expressing their true beliefs.

In a world where cancel culture and political correctness reign supreme, voicing an unpopular opinion can be social suicide. For many, the safest option is to stay quiet and avoid the conversation altogether. But for me, I’ve never been able to keep my mouth shut, and that has provided me with some of the biggest learning opportunities of my life despite the vapid prejudices that come along with being a conservative in high school.

For many conservative students, they fear the backlash and the labels that will be attached to them: Nazi, bigot, racist, homophobe, and all the -ists and -phobics you can think of. These fears are warranted as through my four years as an outspoken conservative and the president of the Millard South High School Republicans, I’ve heard them all. Most strikingly, I’ve heard them from students that have never even spoken to me. There seems to be a pattern of the less someone knows me, the more likely they are to believe these labels. Frequently, when political topics arise and I give my honest opinion, these students are surprised that I’m not actually a Nazi. However, many of the students who believe these labels will never hear my true beliefs and will continue to view me as such.

Not only do conservative students face social pressures from their peers, but also from positions of authority. While my overall experience within Millard Public Schools has been positive, there have been some instances of political discrimination. Most teachers do an amazing job and are able to hide their political bias, but all conservative students know to be cautious or silent around others who might not share their beliefs.

Ben Jackson Online Editor-in-Chief

I have experienced trouble only a few times in my career. Most of the experiences that I can point to are small occurrences that wouldn’t raise many eyebrows, but certainly they were enough to give me a reputation. I admire my social studies teachers for challenging my ideas and making me think about my positions, but this challenge tends to come only towards conservative perspectives. Liberal student opinions are more readily accepted during class discussions. The more egregious instances happen outside of the classroom with teachers who don’t have me in a class. Such as for clubs, the hallway, or any teacher that hears something through the grapevine. As I have moved through high school, the run-ins that I have had with antagonizing teachers have become increasingly contentious.

Reflecting on my high school years, I realize that my political views had a more significant impact on my relationships with teachers than I had anticipated.

During freshman year, I was not vocal about my opinions, but as the 2020 election approached, I found myself in more confrontations. However, it was not until my sophomore year, when I ran for student council, that I faced the most significant backlash.

As a part of my campaign for student council, I created a poster modeled after the iconic Obama “Hope” posters. This proved to be controversial in the teacher’s lounge as many of the teachers I was close with began to warn me that the poster might not be well-received. Later, after the campaign, I gifted a poster to one of my favorite teachers. However, this teacher was strong-armed into taking the poster down to avoid further confrontation. Some teachers were upset that I had used an Obama style poster when I clearly was not an ‘Obama fan. This was surprising to me because while I wasn’t an Obama supporter, I certainly wasn’t a die hard Obama hater either. I find it

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Common Sense is a monthly publication produced in Room 130. Common Sense uses desktop publishing hardware and software: Apple computers, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, and Google word processing software. Printing by White Wolf Web in Sheldon, Iowa. Letters to the editor are encouraged. All letters must be signed with the student’s first and last name, grade, then submitted to Mrs. Kaldahl. Unsigned letters will not be published. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for grammar, length, and clarity. Letters of profane nature or other infractions of school or district policy will not be published.

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Sports Editors Dylan Wiese Olivia Ellison unfortunate that some teachers would be so caught up in political division that they would deem a seemingly innocuous poster dangerous due to the conflicting views of the student and the political figure who used it.

As a result, in my junior and senior years, I learned to be more cautious about expressing my political beliefs to certain teachers. Some educators seemed to hold grudges or biases against students who did not share their political ideology. While I respect the right of teachers to have their own opinions, I think it is unfair and unprofessional to let those opinions affect their treatment of students. High school should be a place where students can learn to think critically, explore diverse perspectives, and develop their own voices, without fear of retaliation.

My experience has not been all doom and gloom though. In fact, I have had numerous positive conversations with teachers and students in and around Millard South, where we have managed to find common ground and understanding. This has taught me a valuable lesson about the real world: not everyone will agree with you. I have also learned how to adapt my thoughts and ideas to different audiences, as well as appreciate diverse perspectives. While some students may not share my views, I have successfully made friends with those who hold opposing viewpoints, which has allowed me to broaden my understanding of the world.

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Will “Best Option” Cameron

Why did you apply to Mr. Millard South?

“‘Cause I like performing on stage, which I’ve done throughout all of high school. Also, I think it’d just be funny to be able to get up there and do something stupid.”

Favorite song from the early 2000s and why?

“I don’t listen to that era. Probably some Green Day song. Yeah. Just ‘cause that overlaps with the music I listen to now.”

What do you want the people to know about Will Cameron?

“I’m quite possibly the best option for Mr. Millard South. Yeah. That’s all. I’m the best option.”

Ty “Father Nature” Leriger

Why did you apply to Mr. Millard South?

“To be honest, at first I just applied because my pride time teacher and a friend told me that I could be shirtless in front of an audience, but then as I learned more, I just wanted to win.”

Favorite song from the early 2000s and why?

“‘Pump it Harder’ by Black Eyed Peas or ‘Hey Ya’ by OutKast.”

What do you want the people to know about Ty Leriger?

“Everyone that knows me knows pretty much everything about me because I’m a pretty open book. But if you don’t know me, Hi, I’m Ty, but you can call me Mr. Millard South or Father Nature. A good thing to know about me is I’m a happy person that always wants to have fun. And, if you just need someone to talk to, hit me up, I got you.”

Matthew “The Underdog” Qualseth

Why did you apply to Mr. Millard South?

“While originally a ginger was pushing me to apply and I wasn’t budging, the last second I decided that would be a really fun thing. Totally Also, I thought that I’d have great chemistry and work really well guys. I just wanted to get better at getting out of my comfort zone myself out there.”

Why do you think you should be Mr. Millard South?

“I should be Mr. Millard South for the same reason that Jacob Sunde crowned by Joel Adams; he was the fan-favorite homecoming king. underdog. I mean, all the contestants are great guys, but I think bring a level of uniqueness to the stage. My performance will be something that the crowd has never seen before.”

“I got to go with 2008 ‘Coldplay’s Viva la Vida’. It’s a song that motivates to keep moving forward while also being a song that makes me reminiscent

Aiden “Most Effort” Robert

Why do you think you should be Mr. Millard South?

“Because I can be Mr. Millard South. I will put the most effort into it. I will put my body on the line, okay?”

Favorite song from the early 2000s and why?

“‘Fireflies’ by Owl City is a good song because it talks about sleeping. I like sleeping.”

What do you want the people to know about Aiden Robertson?

“Look, I got the dog inside me.”

Will “Superior Man” Vargas

Why did you apply to Mr. Millard South?

“You see, there comes a time in a man’s life where he needs glory, where he needs power, where he needs to feel superior. So, I feel like being a part of a male beauty pageant and winning, that’s something I could do.”

Why do you think you should be Mr. Millard South?

“I think I should be Mr. Millard South for a variety of reasons. For starters, my stunning good looks. Also, my strength and power as a man. I’m just better than other people, you know? I have that energy to me that just makes me better than the rest of the candidates.”

What do you want the people to know about Will Vargas?

“I want people to know that Will Vargas isn’t just a name, but it’s a lifestyle. You know, doing hard work. You see I’m a day laborer, being a man and taking advantage of the moment, and being a star. That’s what I think Will Vargas means.”

Mr. Millard South is a mock beauty pageant that encourages the spirited and exuberant to compete for a final high school opportunity: being dubbed Mr. Millard South.

The purpose of the event is to fundraise scholarships that will go to Millard South students. Despite the common assumption and the “Mr.,” all genders are allowed to participate in the contest. Mr. Millard South is set on finding the most outwardly confident contestant. The winner should be a senior, have a prominent comical sense, a unique talent, and most importantly, be willing to do pretty much anything to earn the title.

Contestants must go through a series of challenges including formal wear modeling, a swimsuit show, a performance of their unique talent, a video of the “Craziest Thing” the contestant would do to win, and finally, the Q&A session. In order to participate in the pageant, students must fill out an application. Then teachers decide who makes the cut of the usual 10 participants. Lastly, a panel of teacher judges alongside the previous year’s winner add up each score from every section of the pageant. The contestant with the highest number of total points is crowned “Mr. Millard South” of the year.

Gretchen I wouldn’t tell anyone that she is the one who told me. I’m glad Gretchen told me cause Regina wanted to hang out. I’m a good actress though. I was sick. Guess what? I wasn’t actually sick. Neat right?”

Qualseth

budging, in my own idea. well with other zone and putting

Sunde was king. I’m the that I just something motivates me reminiscent of

Sat. April1st

@7:00 P.M.

Sam “Young Padawan” Hunt

Why did you apply to Mr. Millard South

“I applied for Mr. Millard South because of Travis Cloyd. Last year, he kind of raised me. It was kind of like a Yoda and Luke Skywalker type of thing. He did Mr. Millard South, and I wanted to follow his footsteps and be just like my dad, Travis Cloyd. “

Why do you think you should be Mr. Millard South?

“I should be Mr. Millard South because nobody knows The Patriot Way like I do. I have that thing memorized. If you ask any of the other Mr. Millard South candidates, do you think they could recite the Patriot Way? No, I don’t think so. I absolutely do not think so. “

Favorite song from the 2000s and why?

“‘Umbrella’ by Rihanna. She performed at the Super Bowl and it was just- it was just too much for me. I had to turn it off actually, cause it was too good.”

James “Band Kid” Benson

What are you involved in at MSHS?

“I am currently involved in every single type of music thing you can think of, and some of them you can’t think of. Like, I understand that like you can’t even comprehend all the music things that I’m in, but I am drum major for the Millard South marching band. So, I’m basically the leader of that and I’m also in every other little band section that was ever created. I was there, and I’ve been there the entire time.”

Why did you apply to Mr. Millard South?

“I applied to Mr. Millard South to show off my creative ability and to show how hot I can be while performing some of my greatest hits.”

What do you want the people to know about James Benson?

“What I want people to know about me is that I am going for that title and I don’t think anyone is going to stop me. And, I think that I’m gonna put on the greatest show out there.”

Tranq “Clueless” Queral

What are you involved in at MSHS?

“I’m involved in show choir and drama. Not the good kind, though. I spread rumors for fun.”

Why did you apply to Mr. Millard South?

“Uh, I applied because I thought we were actually getting married to the school. I found out, sadly, that that is not what this is for.”

What do you want the people to know about Tranq Queral?

“I want the people to know that I’m allergic to peanuts.”

Wesley “BIG Plans” Earhart

What are you involved in at MSHS?

“I’m the coolest guy in Congressional Debate. Don’t write that down. Also, I’m SCB vice president, that’s senior class board, for the uninitiated. Cut that out, that makes me sound rude.”

Why do you think you should be Mr. Millard South?

“Because I’m a whimsical little guy through and through. Frankly, I think my whimsiness, silliness, and wackiness are really gonna carry me to the top. Huge untapped real estate of potential here.”

What do you want the people to know about Wesley Earhart?

“You know, you should go see Mr. Millard South. The haters will try to sabotage me, but I have BIG plans, all right? I was told that several of my wacky ideas were ‘unethical’ and ‘too dangerous to be performed’. So I had to tweak my schemes, and now they are better than ever before. For Mr. Millard South, I’m gonna carry out my silly goofy plans. At end of the day, they just can’t keep a guy like me down. You know, ‘cause I’m 6’3.”

Ben “Regina” Jackson

What contestant are you rooting for to be your new “You know the one I’m rooting for is really gonna be Ty whatever his last name is. I can’t pronounce it. Ty’s just got that aura about him and he’s like a little bowling ball. I love him.”

Any drama you want to share?

“I just don’t like how Gretchen says fetch all the time. I don’t know what that means. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was like some dog whistle or something. It’s really scary and, like, I feel really bad for her when she does that.”

Mikah “Gretchen” Saub

What contestant are you rooting for to be your new plastic and why?

“Definitely not Matthew. He got in my way in the hallway and I had to smack him with my bag. Honestly, I wouldn’t pick any of them. None of them are fetch

Any drama you want to share?

“Did you see that pink shirt that Regina was wearing? Oh my God, it was so ugly. I could never tell her to her face because she would rip my head off but OMG!”

In December of 1983, in promotion of their new album “Speaking in Tongues,” the band ‘Talking Heads’ put on a concert at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles. The concert was put on for three nights and it was filmed by director Jonathan Demme. It was then spliced together to create the greatest concert film of all time.