SEPTEMBER 29, 2006
features5
100 new
Not just yourspace
By Erin Hagen
staff writer
By Joe Hennen
What to do?
staff writer
This year Mounds View students opened their schedules with eager faces to see what classes they would be enjoying and what classes they would be dreading. Some expressions, however, quickly became puzzled when they realized their schedules were filled with errors. Along with the scheduling mistakes were some overcrowded classrooms, and it became clear that both students and teachers would be affected. The source of these scheduling problems occured during the Aug. 22 School Board meeting. Cabinet members presented status reports that included an update on 2006-07 enrollment estimates, and it became clear that MV had 100 more students than expected. The School Board authorized funding to hire 10.9 additional classroom teachers. Mounds View further alleviated the problem by paying several staff member to teach during their prep hour, helping lower class sizes. Most of the teachers added were assigned to the freshman class. Not only did the freshmen not receive their schedules until the first day of school, they also had changes that were made continuing into the school year. “A few kids moved out of my Algebra 1 class because a new math teacher was added,” said Amber Tellefson, 9. More teachers were also added to the English department.
“Another teacher was added, but it only reduced the size of my first hour class,” said English teacher Shawn Burback. “My fourth and fifth hour classes are so large that I don’t have enough desks. Some students have to sit at my desk.” The number of students that enrolled was higher than the budget’s original assumptions and more teachers were hired to match the new numbers “Mounds View High School was estimated to have 1,859 students over the spring and summer, however currently there are about 1,960 enrolled,” said Principal Julie Wikelius. Teachers and students alike were eager to voice the repercussions they were seeing. Dr. Kay Schaffer saw especially sizable numbers in her AP Psychology class. “The College Board would prefer only 20 students per class, but my largest class is 36,” said Dr. Kay Schaffer. “Students who have trouble don’t get enough
photographic by Ben Messerly
attention in a class this size.” Although there were some negative consequences, like the schedule errors, some see the positives of more students enrolling outweighing the negatives. “It does create some mixed feelings as well since we had a limited time to change schedules,” said Julie Wikelius. “But it speaks very highly of Mounds View and is a compliment to our schools.”
We can do it! Gym class structured specifically for girls
By Amelia Narigon staff writer
In previous years, elective physical education classes such as Weight Training and Competitive Sports had on average only two girls per class. This year, the physical education department tried to address this problem by offering a new class for girls, Advanced Fitness. “I had a lot of highly athletic female students ask about having a female oriented advanced gym class because they just didn’t want to take classes that were basically all boys,” said Ross Fleming, physical education teacher and boys cross country and track coach. In an all girl gym class many find it easier to enjoy the sports they’re learning. “It’s a lot easier to relax and just get to know each other without photo by Nick Cairl boys around,” said Kelsey The new all-girl class generates a unique atmosphere in the gym. Kilander, 11. In order to take Advanced girls don’t have to, as LaFleur, 12, said, “get Fitness you must have already taken the stuck doing an activity you don’t like for a prerequisite, Fitness for Life. And though whole week.” boys are allowed to take the class, its aim is Alli Hammerly, 12, said, “Had I know to pique senior and junior girls’ interests in about this class, I would have definitely staying healthy for a lifetime. signed up for it.” “I wanted this class to be interesting, Advanced Fitness has even encouraged have variety so that there’s no chance for female staff members to participate. In an the girls to get bored,” said Fleming I also upcoming razzle-dazzle football game, each wanted it to be relevant so that the girls can team is required to have one female staff apply it to life after high school. It’s a novel member. experience; there is no other class like this Tess Koepcke, Girls Cross Country at Mounds View.” coach, dean, and razzle-dazzle football playOne student of Advanced Fitness, Alexis er said, “This class is a good idea because it LaFleur, 12, said, “It’s different everyday; aims at getting people interested in being fit we get to do Pilates, yoga, exercises that throughout the rest of their life; through you’re actually going to use in life.” activities they enjoy.” With various activities everyday like dance, yoga, and razzle-dazzle football, the
Kids view the blog world as a haven, a place they can go to gripe about parents, homework, friends and life in general. But with no consequences, what’s to stop teenagers from posting inappropriate photos or comments involving drugs or alcohol on their Myspace account? Well... one of the very thing teens complain about: school. According to the Chicago Tribune, Community High School District 128 of Chicago recently decided to discipline students participating in extracurricular activities for any and all “illegal and inappropriate” behavior seen on a blog/social networking site. District 128’s view of illegal or inappropriate behavior includes, but is not limited to, theft, fighting, vandalism, lying to school officials, falsifying signatures on permission forms, or bullying. If a student posts pictures or comments involving any of these things on their Myspace, Friendster, Xanga, or other accounts, they will face the consequences just as if the act had occurred directly on school grounds. Mounds View’s stance on this issue is less intense. “Mounds View High School personnel don’t intend to monitor myspace.com pages,” said Principal Julie Wikelius. “However, things have come to our attention from other individu-
als as a result of things that have been posted. Once that happens, we are obligated to investigate.” Particularly concerned are MV’s sports coaches. At the Boys Soccer drug awareness meeting, Head Coach Gavin Pugh cautioned players to watch what they put on their social networking sites. “Coaches are concerned that their teams and team members represent Mounds View High School well,” said Wikelius. Students’ response to Myspace checking is mixed. Many believe schools should not be able to enforce their rules outside of school grounds. “What you do with your time is your own business and right,” said Ryan Mulvaney, 9. Others remarked on how personal freedoms were being jeopardized. “It’s your freedom to say whatever you want,” says Raleigh Morgan, 9. Still, some are not so sympathetic. “Anything you wouldn’t want your parents knowing, don’t put it on your site,” says Nicole Swanson, 12. Although Mounds View’s stance on the issue is less severe than that of District 128’s, the topic may be addressed more seriously in the future. “Pictures of parties and harassing remarks and comments clearly don’t reflect well on individuals and/or a team or our school,” said Wikelius.