6
15
perspectives
Does buying textbooks in bulk hinder our education?
entertainment
Choir class prepares for Valentine’s Day singing grams
17
sports
centerspread
Struggling wrestler reaches the top through hard work
hidden dangers vol
february
2006
Winterball takes place with no court named
edition
05
Teaching Tomorrow’s Teachers Today
by Alex Cohn, editor-in-chief
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n Jan. 20 at 8 pm, crowds of gowned and tuxedoed students filed into the Decathlon Club in Santa Clara for Winterball, excited for the dancing and good times to come. Yet, a pall was cast over the night as a long-standing tradition, the naming of Winter Court, was omitted. Rumors have been swirling as to why no Winter Court was named. The most prevalent one is that ASB planned the nomination process poorly and did not leave enough time to name a Winter Court, an allegation that ASB completely refutes. ASB Social Manager, senior Julia Co, explained, “Not all the teachers sent in nominations and thus, there weren’t enough votes to get a top three like we had planned for.” The process of nomination is done in senior Government and Economics classes. Students nominate people from their grade level, with the three people most frequently nominated going on to be a part of Winter Court. Two out of the five senior social studies teachers confirmed that they did not send nominations to ASB, citing a lack of class time and for one period, a lack of student interest as the reasons. Senior social studies teacher Catherine Hambleton, who did send nominations to ASB, said, “My classes just weren’t that into it.” When the time came to nominate students, her classes were reluctant to nominate anyone, in the end only nominating a few students each class. Leadership Advisor Tim Krieger said of the nomination results, “There was no overlap between any of those names. Because there were very few votes it was just a few students [nominated].” Krieger went on to explain that since the votes were so spread out, no majority could be determined, so “there was no clear top three, or top five, or even top seven. At that point, it would be just us deciding [who made it onto Winter Court]. There was no other alternative. We’re not going to decide the students.” ASB decided not to have classes revote. Co said, “Our advisors felt taking more class time for a second nomination would be rude and unfair to teachers.” As a result, Winterball went on without a Winter Court being named. Attendee, senior Michelle Lai, said, “[ASB is] supposed to do it every year, but this year they didn’t, which was kind of weird.” Lai was disappointed as she felt the Winter Court “gives people a chance to be recognized for their contributions to the school, like people other than the ones that were on Homecoming Court.” ASB plans to rework the schedule for next year in order to make the nomination process more efficient so that Winterball Court will be able to return next year.
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XXXVII
Teacher Cadet program gives students the opportunity to switch roles with teachers and gain real world teaching experience in classrooms by Steffi Lau, news editor
Austin Cheng | photo editor INSTRUCTING Junior Monica Ramakuri instructs a Spanish class on Jan. 30 through the Teacher Cadet program. The program allows students to prepare lesson plans then teach in local schools. In addition, students also observe classes and learn about child development.
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unior Aneesha Nilakantan clearly remembers a favorite experience from first semester in which she read a story to a third-grade class. Amidst her hectic schedule of studying for tests and balancing rigorous classes, she found solace for four days a week teaching younger children. “I read a story about teasing,” she reflected with a smile. “I was sitting in the chair and freaking out, ‘I can’t believe [the teacher] is going to make me read in front of the class. What if I mess up and ruin their whole lives?’ But in the end I was completely into it with all the voices and you could tell [the kids] were enjoying it. They were pointing to pictures and saying things to each other like, ‘Hey, did you notice that fish?’ ” Nilakantan is part of the Teacher Cadet program at MVHS in which students, otherwise known as Cadets, obtain hands-on experience through working with students of all ages. Math teacher I-Heng McComb teaches the course. The Cadets each have one free period in the day in which they go off campus to do fieldwork at various schools. They meet once a week after school to learn the curriculum. In the first semester, Cadets focus on exploring differences in development between age groups. They are assigned placements of three different age groups: preschool to second grade, third to fifth grade and sixth grade to
high school. Nilakantan was placed with a first grade and a third grade class at Lincoln Elementary and a Japanese 1 class at MVHS. In the first semester, the Cadets do not actually teach. Instead, they work with kids who need individual attention, assist in activities or simply observe. Each year a few students return as second year Cadets and are able to immediately begin teaching with just one placement. Junior Monica Ramakuri is one such person. In her first year she worked with preschool, kindergarten, fourth grade classes and Kennedy. “It was at a preschool. I was really scared,” Ramakuri remembered of her first fieldwork experience. “I tried to get to know each one, but little kids don’t just come up to you. But by the end of the day I was playing with them. They actually became attached to me.” After the first semester, the Cadets begin advanced fieldwork, choosing one of the three age ranges that they most enjoyed. Nilakantan chose her first grade class. “I bonded the most with them. They probably show the most respect and interest in me,” she said. “That makes me want to help more.” Of the differences that come with the age levels she said, “High schoolers do respect you less because you’re
see CADET on page 20
Duration of provisional driver’s license lengthened 5 am Before these new laws, provisional license holders could drive passengers six eenagers hear this statement all of the months after they received their license and time. “Vehicle accidents are the num- could drive until 12 am, instead of 11 pm. “That’s ridiculous,” said sophomore Nirber one cause of death among teenagran Hebron. “A whole ers.” Because of this fact, year until I can drive my new driving laws seem to friends around. The govget passed every year. ernment isn’t liable for Effective as of Jan. 1, our driving, we are.” new provisional license Legislators believe the changes were put into eflaw will decrease autofect in California. mobile related deaths The changes include among teenagers; acprohibiting provisional cording to the Automolicense holders from carbile Club of Southern rying passengers under the age of 20 during the - junior Connie Lui California, the number of crashes that involve 16first 12 months of their license, unless accompanied by a licensed year-old drivers is 13 percent higher than parent/guardian or a licensed driver over those of 17-year and older drivers between 25 years old. The new law also prohibits 11 pm and 12 am. “For some of my classmates, who I don’t driving between the hours of 11 pm and by Rachel Lui, backpage editor
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I would feel safer if [some of my classmates] were given an early curfew and not allowed to drive other people.
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think are fit to drive alone, much less with any of my friends,” stated junior Connie Lui, “I would feel safer if they were given an early curfew and not allowed to drive other people.” Opponents argue that even with this new law, reckless drivers will continue to break these laws, while careful drivers will continue to adhere to them, but will be punished unfairly. “It’s kind of annoying and all,” said junior Michael Chu, “but the six-month law before this new law didn’t really stop too many people anyway. For the 11 pm curfew.” Since the length of time to drive passengers has been extended to one year, some teenagers argue that they will have to continue driving by themselves, using more money on gas, where before they had the opportunity to carpool. Moreover, it puts a larger burden on fellow family members
who are obligated to transport students. “It definitely affects me negatively because it’s hard for my mom to give me rides all the time,” said sophomore Leslie Kon. “It’s not good because we used to be able to carpool places to save gas to meeting places, but now everyone has to get themselves to wherever we end up. It takes more coordination to tell everyone where to meet if plans change because everyone has to drive themselves.” There are many different opinions on whether it is necessary to have stricter rules or if it is completely ineffective. Although many teenagers may be upset about this new law, a good amount of students are also expressing their support for it. “In any case, a year does seem like a long time,” said junior Gabriel Lam, “but for some kids, I guess you’d want them to have more experience before allowing them to put someone else’s life in their hands.”