Party Parents
photos by Sarah Roberson
This scene is a familiar one: a teen comes home, in an indescribable state, unruly, and not realizing the true consequences of their mistakes from the party they’ve just attended. In a split second their actions could have completely ruined their life, the lives of people around them, or innocent strangers. That teen has not realized that their decisions could have left them seriously injured, or their parents receiving the worst possible news they could ever imagine: their child is DEAD. As horrific as it may seem, on average an estimated 3,000 teens die each year because of injuries from driving while intoxicated, according to DrunkDrivingLawyers.com. But who should essentially be put to blame for this recklessness which unfortunately happens every day? The party teen who doesn’t seem to have regard for their lives, or the party-parents who condoned their child’s actions and just wanted their child to have some “fun”? Primarily, fingers can be pointed to both sides, but it all comes down to self control. Plenty of parents allow their teens to indulge in alcoholic beverages and out-of-control parties. Why? Party-parents help support their child’s party-behavior by giving them access to alcoholic beverages, allowing their residence to be a party location, and “turning the cheek” to adolescent alcohol consumption and drug usage at such parties. Party parents help condone sexual and party behavior. These parents don’t allow their children any responsibility, granted all parents, not just party parents can control the actions and decisions their children make at all times. Although all the blame can’t be pointed at the parents, it is the children who need to accept their role in alcoholic and substance abuse that affects their behavior as well. In a 2002 incident in Stuart, Florida, a 16-year-old was involved a car accident where he killed two teenagers. The teen driving was under the influence and lost control of the wheel. Police reports revealed hours earlier the teen attended a party where the host’s parents allowed the kids to engage in underage drinking. A tragedy like this could have been prevented, if that teen hadn’t participated in alcoholic consumption. Drinking and driving, smoking marijuana, and being reckless are a part of the lives of many teens around the nation; but some teens more than others take way more responsibility for their actions when they participate in these events. In their parents’ defense, they can’t manage their children 24 hours a day for 365 days a year. This means teens have to be mature, even if their parents condone their irresponsible behaviors. By being even the least bit responsible, teens can save their lives and the lives of people around them as well. Everyone, teens included, have to remember that just because someone is allowed to do something, that doesn’t mean it should be done. Having self control means that sometimes you have to say no, even if it is to your parents.Yes, sometimes they want us to have a good time, but there is a realization in which too much fun becomes tragic or fatal and lines have to be drawn. Unfortunately when it comes down to it, both sides have to take responsibility for their actions. Parents have to take responsibility in trying to manage, not intrusively control, their teen’s actions in a way they both feel comfortable. At the same time, teens need to learn to have self control and make sense of their actions. In the “real” world you are held accountable for your actions, and no one including your parents will be there to save you. This is unfortunate, but its also reality. By Kia’ Cooper, Campus Affairs Editor
The views of columnists do not reflect the views of the Devil’s Advocate staff or the Stanton administration.
18 / devil’s advocate / opinions
Extraneous Testing Most students who attend any school in Duval County would agree that extraneous testing is something nobody likes. The MAP test, or the Measure of Academic Progress test, is one that students do not take seriously. First introduced in Greenville, S.C., in the 2005-2006 school year, the test was brought to Jacksonville the following year. Initially intended for a group of students in grades 3-5, the MAP test is beneficial for teachers, students, and parents because it helps promote growth in a child’s learning experience three times a year. Although some students think nothing happens to them if the test is not taken seriously, the administration has cracked down on the apathy and has started calling in students because of the poor scores. “It is a waste of my time because I ‘Christmas tree’ the test anyways. Sometimes I don’t even put my name,” said sophomore Gabrielle Lewis. Principal Nongongoma Majova-Seane says it is important to take these tests seriously because it gives students baseline data on what skills need remediation. On the other hand, public schools have now changed the rules about the End of Course exam. “If a student fails an Algebra I End of Course exam, and has made straight A’s during the year in that course, then they will not get credit entering high school,” said Mrs. Majova-Seane. “All students must pass the EOC in Algebra I, and there will soon be an EOC test for every course.” Summative and formative assessments have also been highly debated. By using formative assessments at the beginning of a unit, students are better off because they learn the state’s standards from the teacher.. “A teacher who gives formative assessments are good teachers,” said Mrs. Majova-Seane. ‘Good teachers’ put forth the work ethic to help their students have a clear understanding of the unit. For example, if a math teacher decides to give a formative assessment on unit four, and most students pass the first half but not the second the teacher may need to focus on the second half the most. Most students think it is a waste of time, whereas teachers think this test is efficient enough to decide what they need to focus on for the unit. Furthermore, summative assessments are given at the end of a unit, or at the end of the school year. Some of the assessments include final exams, quizzes, lab reports, and homework. National exams such as the SAT and ACT are types of summative assessments given to students their junior and senior year. The question is should the state make one or the other mandatory, or should we do away with both? Even though Duval County Public Schools can’t do away with formative and summative assessments, other extraneous tests like the FCAT should be cut from our system because it does not help with students and school improvement. By Alexis Brown, Reporter
Mandatory Labor Florida Bright Futures and other scholarship programs have put more emphasis on the community service hours aspect of their requirements.Volunteering is about a person freely offering to take on a task, so increasing the amount of time students have to invest in volunteer activities to qualify for a scholarship, and in some cases to graduate from high school, not only diminishes the purpose of volunteering, but has made it extremely unpopular. The Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution has caused tension among teenagers and their schools in the Supreme Court cases of Immediato v. Rye Neck School District, Herndon v. Chapel Hill, and Steirer v. Bethlehem School District. In these cases the constitutionality of requiring community service for high school students under the threat of withholding their diplomas was called into question. Each case asserted the schools and their officials were imposing involuntary servitude on the students, violating their right to privacy, and infringing on their personal liberty. It was ruled in the U.S. Court of Appeals that using community service as a graduation requirement did not violate the Thirteenth Amendment. Florida school districts have not made it mandatory for its students to complete a certain number of hours before they become eligible for graduation. But the fact that some students would blatantly refuse to participate in community service for graduation purposes shows how they do not feel that it is essential for the school board to extend its reach so far as to what someone does in their free time will dictate whether or not they receive a diploma. On the other hand, programs specific to a particular school may demand a number of community service hours be done in order for a student to continue on in that program. At Stanton, students who have enrolled in the International Baccalaureate program have to fulfill a total of 25 hours before Dec. 1 of their sophomore year to even be eligible for induction and have to complete an additional 50 hours by April 1 of their senior year to meet the requirements for the IB Diploma. In this case, community service is acceptable in order to receive an IB Diploma at graduation. Volunteering has always been about fulfilling a want or need to help others in some way, so enforcing a policy that makes it obligatory to participate takes away from the social and personal benefits students glean from the experience. On a personal level, reaching out in any community is the most rewarding thing that can be done because it lets them see firsthand that their hard work impacts others’ lives. When giving back does not come from an organic place, it takes away from the meaning behind volunteering and reduces it to being another minute obstacle standing in the way of someone and their ultimate goal. Community service provides windows of opportunities that can both benefit and enrich students’ lives when they remain open-minded to the experience. Being forced to do it, however, holds them back from letting themselves be immersed in their surroundings. By Joc’lene Scarlett, Reporter