12
opinions
the
blueprint
Hagerty High School 3225 Lockwood Blvd. Oviedo, FL 32765 Telephone: (407) 871-0750 Fax: (407) 871-0817
The Blue Print is a student-produced newspaper in which the student editors make all content decisions. The newspaper belongs to the Columbia Scholastic Principal Sam Momary Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association and the Florida Scholastic Press Association. Adviser Opinions expressed within the newspaper do not represent the staff’s views as Brit Taylor a whole (except for the Our Take), the views of Seminole County Public Schools, Editor-in-Chief or Hagerty High School’s administration and staff. Sarah Casagrande For more information about advertising in the paper, please contact the staff via one of the above methods. We reserve the right to reject any advertisement.
Managing Editor Matilda von Kalm Business Manager Lexi Rossow Photo Editor Isabelle Sarnek
News Editor Darbi Filliben
Graphics Editor Ben Sorkin
Lifestyles Editor Lexi Rossow
Staff Reporters Ellie Bonck Keith Clowney Adeline Davis Jessica Jeffers Lauren Lee Brianna McGuire Winnie Meyer Ryan O’Connor Daniella Parcell Spencer Thompson
Sports Editor Sean Donovan Reviews Editor Daniel Neveras Opinions Editor Haley Gaeser Student Connection Ben Sorkin
Our�take: Arming teachers not an option
C
ell phones, inappropriate attire and repeated tardies are scorned as distractions in the classroom. But imagine what a distraction it would be to students to know that there is a loaded gun in their teacher’s possession. In the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary massacre on Dec. 14, where 20 children and six staff members were killed, both local and federal governments have pressured schools to tighten their security. According to ABC News, Delaware has proposed a ban on guns within 1000 feet of schools and President Barack Obama announced on Jan. 16 that he wishes to take action to reduce
gun violence. Amidst fear and controversy, a new proposal has formed–the idea that teachers should be allowed to carry guns at school. Several schools in Texas already allow their staff to pack concealed weapons for defensive use and proposed bills in Alaska and Oklahoma could allow their teachers to do the same. However, the idea to arm teachers seems a bit extreme when the true statistics of school shootings are considered along with the actual events. According to Poynter News, school violence has been in steep decline since the 1990s, yet when rare cases such as Sandy Hook or
the Virginia Tech massacre make the news, people worry about an issue that is actually very rare. Teachers who are armed with guns in Harrold, Texas, are required to obtain state permits and undergo crisis intervention and hostage situation training to insure that they properly know how to use the weapons they are given. But such extensive measures for all teachers could be a significant financial and liability cost to schools that already have a limited budget. In addition, opponents claim that armed teachers who do not handle crime on a daily basis could lead to more injuries and deaths. School staff
members are not police officers, and if a shooter does appear on campus staff members are likely to be just as scared as the students. No amount of training could account for such a real-life or frightening situation. While school violence is a threat, it is a small threat and less drastic measures such as increased school police officers and improved security measures such as locked gates and a well-planned Code Red system should be enough to keep schools safe. The idea of 50 or more additional guns on campus would not make students feel more secure or safe while at school–it would do quite the opposite.
Athletes missing out on PE waiver rule Daniella Parcell
T
Staff Reporter
he school’s star athlete enters what he believes to be his required PE class, prepared to relearn basic sports skills for an excruciating 90 minutes. As soon as the bell rings, his mood turns around as he excitedly makes his way to varsity football practice, prepared for hours of sweat and hard work. Because guidance counselors, teachers and coaches have not informed him of exemption possibilities, it is almost as if he takes two PE classes a day. With what athletes think is a required semester of PE, along with after-school practices and games, athletes devote a large portion of their in-school and after-school lives to athletics. According to the Florida Department of Education, students who have played at least two seasons
of a junior varsity or varsity sport and passed a written competency test given by the Department of Education may be exempt from the half credit of a PE class and a Personal Fitness class. However, this rule tends to go unnoticed, which is unfair. In order to give teens every available option, coaches, teachers and counselors should emphasize this rule. As they register for the next school year and look at graduation requirements, athletes often complain that people enrolled in marching band, dance and ROTC for only a semester are exempt from PE but athletes are not, even if they have played a sport throughout high school. Counselors put so much emphasis on the options that involve band, dance and ROTC, yet students who participate in interscholastic sports are usually unaware that there are options for them as well. The waiver available for students
involved in junior varsity and varsity sports has only two requirements– students must participate in two full seasons of the sport, and students must complete a personal fitness competency test given by the DOE. Many students do not have time for a sport, so students who do choose to join a team are dedicated to it, which makes the two season requirement an easy one to fulfill. This leaves just a grade of C or higher on a personal fitness competency test for athletes to get out of both PE and Personal Fitness. The exam is available for students in grades nine through 11, and students can study the textbook used for the Personal Fitness course. This test is available and has the potential to get athletes out of unneeded and unwanted courses, but because few people know of it, pass rates are low. If guidance counselors expressed that this option is available and
pointed students toward proper study resources, awareness would be raised and pass rates could be higher. Even at this year’s assemblies for course selection, counselors told students that there is no way to be exempt from PE through interscholastic sport and that the only available waivers are for students in band, dance and ROTC, which is misleading and untrue. Although this information is present in the student planner, it is often overlooked and needs to be explained to students as they select their courses for the following year. This allows them to take extra courses they are interested in, rather than packing their days with PE and sports. As next school year approaches and students continue to select their classes, it is crucial that not only counselors, but also coaches and teachers emphasize the availability of PE waivers for student athletes.
barks
& bites
Haley Gaeser Opinions Editor A BARK to the French Honor Society for volunteering to clean up Brumbly Road on Feb. 22. The society cleans up the road four times a year and 10 to 20 kids show up each time. The cleaning takes from one to two hours to complete and once the group is done, people will come out to collect the bags of trash that have been collected. Not only will this improve road cleanliness, but it will allow the members of the club to put effort into something meaningful. A BITE to anyone who believes that teachers should be allowed to possess a gun while on a school campus. Would any of you students trust any of your teachers with keeping a gun in their classroom? Not only would it be scary to be in the room, but the thought of gun theft is even scarier. A BARK to Mrs. Foley for making World History enjoyable. She clearly understands the pressure we are in as students and always make sure to give help whenever needed. Her laidback attitude makes any difficult assignment easy to endure. After leaving her class at the end of the year, she will have successfully prepared all of her students with the necassary skills they needed. A BITE to students who feel the need to stand in front of or lean on other people’s lockers. The whole point of a locker is to get your stuff out for class and then go, not stand there and talk to your friends. Not only does it make it more challenging for other students to use their own lockers, but it makes hallways even more crowded than they already are.