February Issue

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NEHS Hosts African American Reading

Guidance Office Temporarily Relocates

harbinger Hereford

Volume IV Issue IV

Hereford High School, Parkton, Maryland

The voice of Hereford High

www.herefordharbinger.org

February 2015

Cow stomach dissected

Photo by Samantha Preston Davis cuts into the main section of the stomach.

By Samantha Preston spreston.harbinger@gmail.com

Blood, guts, and gore, that’s what the students in Ag teacher Christopher Davis’ Animal Science class faced on January 19. They learned about the digestive systems in animals and the way they work.

Davis acquired a calf’s stomach to teach the class through a first-hand experience about the ruminant stomach, which is broken into four compartments: the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and the abomasum.

When walking in, students covered their noses with their hands and/or shirts. Davis even had to get “cheap cologne” from his office so the students would smell it instead of the stomach.

“It was very cool to see the reading material become hands-on,” said Shelby Sheats (’16). “It was nice to see how the digestion process works.”

Many animals that have ruminant stomachs include: cattle, sheep, goats, and deer; their stomachs allow them to digest their diet of grain and grass.

Keller receives recognition

Photo by Sophie Seaman Principal Joe Jira interacts with students during Enrichment. “He is the perfect choice for principal,” said John Bereska, former principal.

IT’S OFFICIAL

Board votes Jira principal

By Maggie Gutberlet

mgutberlet.harbinger@gmail.com

Photo by Maggie Gutberlet Tom Keller reviews AP Biology student projects.

By Joe Patti jpatti.harbinger@gmail.com

Science teacher Tom Keller has been recognized as a Nationally Certified Teacher, which means that he is able to teach in any state in the union.

Keller had to meet certain standards to receive this honor, including being committed to his students, having a solid knowledge of his subject, and monitoring student learning according to the National Board.

Keller is one of 110 thousand teachers in the United States to be certified by the National Board.

“The whole certification process involves creating a very large portfolio, so if you get started early in the school year, and work consistently on it, you can complete it by May,” said Keller.

Continued on page 3

Index 2-3 4-7 8-9 10-13 14-15 16

News Sports Spotlight Features Opinion In Focus

Joe Jira was officially named principal on February 3. After five months as acting principal, Jira was recognized by the Baltimore County Board of Education in an appointment ceremony.

As students travel from class to class, it is almost impossible for them to ignore Jira’s boisterous greetings — he routinely makes students feel noticed and appreciated, and many students are thankful for it.

“He’s the man,” said Jamal Cody (’15). “He’s involved in everything, and we’re pretty close because he’s nominated me for some different awards. It’s cool to see him get the head job.”

Jira tries to go out of his way to make things work for his community. His open door policy gives students the opportunity to bring up questions and concerns, and he says that he takes those comments into account when making decisions.

“The kids here aren’t afraid to talk to me,” said Jira. “I am blessed. I go home every day and have to pinch myself.”

“He makes me feel special,” said Caitlin Katchmar (’15).

“Principals don’t usually know everyones’ name.”

“He’s been really active with following up on rules,” said Jacob Price (’16). “I saw him with about a hundred backpacks the other day.”

Jira said he has been a strong advocate for keeping the policies that make Hereford special, and that he has a positive relationship with the Parent Teacher Association. He said he has

Inside

worked hard to ease students into the many changes that BCPS has introduced.

“It’s important to have a balance between what the county wants and what the school needs,” said Jira. “We have good test scores, and fantastic teachers who like kids. I’ve been in this position for a few months and the school works the way everyone wants it to work. It’s not like other schools.”

When it comes to special circumstances, Jira makes sure that his students are getting what is most important for their future.

As assistant principal, he spent six years sitting down with almost every student to make schedules work, and he spoke with many parents to make sure their children’s needs were met.

Alicia Kozlowski (’16) recently moved out of the Hereford Zone. Typically, this move would have required her to transfer schools, but Jira made sure that she was able to stay and continue her high school career here.

“He’s really easy to talk to, and really easy to trust,” said Alicia.

Jira has also boosted morale, according to some staff and teachers who feel the school possesses a positive atmosphere.

“As an administrator, [Jira] has a way of interacting with students and staff that makes the school a welcoming environment,” said Counseling Secretary Jackie Bowersox who started working here in July. “He makes it a place where I want to come to work.”

Continued on page 2

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2 | Hereford Harbinger

NEWS

February 2015

Language and Ag Departments team-up to donate Heifer

By Maggie Gutberlet

mgutberlet.harbinger@gmail.com

In many places across the world, food and money are scarce.

According to Global Issues, at least 80 percent of the world lives on less than $10.00 a day, and many families have no source of income.

Hereford’s World Languages and Ag-Science departments are teaming up to raise money for Heifer International, a nonprofit organization started 70 years ago by Dan West. Heifer provides livestock and other animals to impoverished families.

Heifer’s intention is to end world hunger and provide families with a reliable source of income.

Heifer works with families so they can produce agricultural products such as milk, eggs, and honey that can be traded or sold at a market.

“We have a history of agriculture,” said Foreign Language Department Chair Peggy Kopp. “This project mixes that aspect of Hereford with international issues.”

The students and teachers in these departments have come together to raise awareness for this charity, and their goal is to raise $500.00 by holding a penny war.

If the World Language department raises the most money, Ag-Science department chair Jean-Paul Bibaud will have to dress up as a Heifer for a day. If the Agricultural department raises the most money, World Language teacher Brett Baier will have to dress up as a Heifer for a day.

“The World Language and Ag departments both have fundraising weeks during the month of February, so they decided to team up with some friendly competition to raise money,” said Spanish teacher Colleen Duggan.

This money will provide a needy family with a heifer they can then breed. They are then expected to pass on the gift — the first female born to the heifer will be given to another family in the community, and so on. This extends the impact the original gift has on the community.

Bibaud said that this fundraiser will “raise awareness of the importance of agriculture in developing countries.”

The fundraiser will be taking place throughout the month of February, which is Discovering Languages Month and includes the National FFA Week. A Penny-War will be the in-school source of income for the fundraiser, but students have the opportunity to donate through Hereford’s fundraiser page on the Heifer website.

If you are interested in the cause you can: Donate: by giving your change or going to Heifer@HerefordHighSchool. All donations are tax reductible.

Share: the goals with friends and family to encourage them to donate, too.

Create: a poster advertising the fundraiser in the hallways.

Sign up: with your teacher to help collect change during the week if February 21-28.

Photo provided by Heifer International A woman in Nepal feeds her village’s Heifer. The World Language and Agriscience departments will be raising money from February 21-28 for Heifer International.

Principal Joe Jira aquires new title, pursues same role

Continued from page 1 “He welcomed me with open arms,” said English teacher Meg Hamilton, who is also new this year. “It’s been a pleasure working with and for him, and he makes it easy to come to work.

He has his priorities straight.”

Many teachers have been working with Jira for years.

“His first year as assistant principal was my first year here,” said English teacher John Raduazzo. “He has made a good, strong effort to get to know the community, the students, and the teachers. He just knows Hereford.”

Science Department Chair Jean-Paul Bibaud said he and Jira have been good friends for a long time.

“He is the hardest working, most caring person I know. He is a passionate advocate for the community said Bibaud. A great injustice has been corrected — he’s deserved this job for years.”

It takes a true leader to empower a diversely talented student population, and Jira said he has an extremely loyal staff that has helped him tackle many challenges.

“He is one of the best leaders I’ve ever worked for,” said English teacher Lisa Sopher. “People will follow a good leader anywhere. If Mr. Jira decided to leave and go teach at a dangerous, high-risk school, and asked me to be on his staff, I would go.

I would follow him into the most difficult of situations.”

This year has been an exceptionally challenging year due to policy changes and complicated construction activity. Despite any inconveniences, Jira said he is looking forward to the new additions and that he has been very involved with the process.

“There’s construction all over,” said Jira. “It’s going to be everything I want it to be. I’ve even picked out the colors. The new cafeteria is going to be awesome, with picnic tables and large windows so that there will be a view of the Gunpowder River.”

Jira has helped the architects design many projects, including a new blackbox theater where a stage will be in the middle of the room so that the audience will be able to surround it.

“The most important thing about Mr. Jira is that he offers

stability during this construction,” said School Resource Officer Michael Snyder. “Construction is a big deal. Without his continuity, the place would be a mess. He can communicate what needs to be done in a fair and equitable way.”

“Jira’s number one guiding philosophy is to do what is right for the students and their futures,” said Bibaud. “He’s the perfect person for the job.”

Photo by Will Wilkinson Joe Jira converses with students during period three. “Mr. Jira is a student centered educator who likes and respects students,” said John Bereska, former principal of Hereford High School.

NEWS

February 2015

Hereford Harbinger | 3

Ibuprofen abuse can negatively affect kidneys

By Brady King

bking.harbinger@gmail.com

It is a drug that can be found in thousands of households across the United States, and could be considered an athlete’s best friend — ibuprofen. Better known as Advil or Motrin, ibuprofen is a popular over-the-counter pain-reliever and fever reducer. Despite its positive effects, it can be harmful when used incorrectly.

The abuse of pain relievers is often seen with athletes who experience injuries in their sports. The pain of a twisted ankle can easily be treated by popping some Advil, and then it’s back on the field.

“During soccer season, I used Ibuprofen a lot to help with the pain in my legs,” said Jaxon Frasier (’15). “I would usually take three or four 250mg pills at a time.”

Many students do not realize that four pills are more than the amount suggested by doctors. There are guidelines on the labels of ibuprofen bottles that instruct children to take no more than 400mg, and adults to take no more than 800mg at a time, or 3200mg in one day. It is recommended that consumers wait eight hours between uses.

But the guidelines may not apply to everyone — there is no specific amount of the drug that researchers say will cause an overdose. Similar to alcohol, Ibuprofen can affect people differently, depending on their body.

Some parents are concerned that if their child uses these pain relievers often, they will struggle with signs of addiction like withdrawal. However, people cannot get addicted to these drugs because they do not cause highs and do not result in physical dependence.

Despite the lack of addictive qualities, Ibuprofen can have harmful long term effects.

“Too much Advil can have very negative effects, especially on the kidneys,” said Dr. Cyrus Hamidi MD. “I haven’t seen any cases of overuse, but it’s a possibility.”

There are other issues that arise besides overuse by athletes and girls on their periods. Some teens have been using ibuprofen and similar pain killers to experience a high similar to marijuana. But many people do not realize is that one cannot get “high” from taking any amount of Ibuprofen.

In order to feel any pleasurable effects, a person must take a combination of medicines along with the Ibuprofen. For example, a combination of Advil and pseudoephedrine can give the

abuser a feeling of euphoria or stimulation, rather than a “high.”A rising issue with abuse of Ibuprofen is its availability. Most people can walk into their kitchen or bathroom and grab a bottle full of Advil or Motrin. Out of ten randomly selected students, nine of them said that they have Ibuprofen readily available somewhere in their home, and according to the Food and Drug Administration, approximately 30 billion capsules of Ibuprofen are purchased each year.

School nurse Leslie Perry says that Ibuprofen is by far the most frequently dispensed discretionary medication. “I have given out nearly 2,000 tablets in the 2014-15 school year,” said Perry.

“I don’t think that pain relievers like Ibuprofen should be sold under the counter, but I do think that parents need to pay more attention to who uses it and when,” said Colton Kenney (’15).

Many parents do not expect kids to abuse Ibuprofen, which is why it is so easy for them to take it undetected.

Over the counter drugs are unexpected problems, considering they are defined as drugs that require no prescription and are readily available for consumers. The number of abusers is rising, which could be an issue for generations to come.

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Keller earns national teaching certification Continued from page 1 “I can’t imagine even coming close to getting it done if I did my usual procrastinating.”

Keller put almost 100-150 hours while going through the process. It truly was a learning experience for him. He learned a lot about teaching, and way he can improve.

As a McDaniel College graduate, Keller decided to pursue such recognition five years ago when talking about the process to a friend who teaches in a different county.

“He also convinced me that he never did any professional development that was so meaningful,” said Keller.

To Keller, he feels as if he has taken another step towards becoming a better teacher, and improves his network through all the teachers he has met and worked with throughout the process.

The biology teacher started his career working with Molecular Biology and Radiation for Cancer research. While attending college he was also working with Medical Research in a Oncology Lab at Johns Hopkins University. That was until his Academic Adviser convinced him that he could switch aspirations to education. He started this process his senior year of college, through taking education courses. Then, Keller attended Johns Hopkins Graduate School for Biotechnology.

“It turned out to be a wonderful experience that helped me be a better teacher,” said Keller.

Photo by Sophie Seaman Randi Jones assists students during groupwork in her ninth grade American Government class. “This position is truly my dream job, so there was lots of jumping up and down and celebration,” Jones said.

Social Studies department welcomes new teacher, Randi Jones

By Hugh Lory

hlory.harbinger@gmail.com

“

I feel like he’s a really great guy not only as a teacher, but he’s like a father figure to me. He really been an influential person in my life.

Craig Worpell

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Government teacher Randi Jones started at Hereford on December 21. Jones attended two local colleges for her Bachelors and Masters degrees. Jones attended Towson University for her Bachelors degree, and attended Loyola University for her Master’s degree.

“I went to college originally wanting to be a history teacher.

Once I got there I became very involved in on-campus activities and thought about getting involved with student organizations at the college level.” Jones said, “ultimately, I didn’t want to leave behind my love for history and politics so I decided to revert back to my plan of being a teacher.”

“She’s cool” said Meagan Loosmis (’18) “she’s a good teacher, very fun, and not boring at all.”

Connor Hillary (’17) said “Ms. Jones is clutch, she’s exquisite, and she likes me the best.”

Jones said that she is very excited to start her teaching career at Hereford, and activities outside of school. “I’m looking forward to getting involved in the school community.” Jones said, “I like that Hereford has such a strong sense of community. The students take pride in their education and school. It makes for a successful learning environment. I hope to contribute to this in my time here.”

Jones said, “I did not see myself teaching in middle school. I was convinced my band would make it. Maybe when I retire we will make a comeback.”

“I have already learned so much in my short time here. The entire faculty has given me so much support and help over the past few weeks. As for my students, they are helping me learn some patience and improve on my multi-tasking skills,” said Jones.

Drew Matriccinani (’18) said “she’s pretty good, and has been doing a good job.”

4 | Hereford Harbinger

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February 2015

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sports

February 2015

Stats at a

Glance

Hereford Harbinger | 5

OUT OF THE ZONE

Competitive rower leaves his Mark

By Amanda Hammersla

ahammersla.harbinger@gmail.com

Girls Varsity Basketball

Emma Reider (’17) leads the team with both 10.17 points per game and 4.38 steals per game.

Maddie Hoover (’15) leads the team with 7.86 rebounds per game.

Cori Beck (’16) leads the team with 3.5 assists per game.

Varsity Wrestling

Overall, the team is 11-1 in the regular season.

Patrick Meadowcroft (’15) is 25-7.

Collin McNicholas (’16) is 24-6.

Jimmy Cavin (’17) is 20-2.

Khalil Rich (’17) is 20-3.

Nick Blake (’16) won the Franklin Tournament at 160 pounds.

Mens Varsity Track & Field

Lucas Spencer (’15) has the season record for the 300 meter race with a time of 40.74 seconds.

Shawn Gmurek (’16) has the season record for the 800 meter race with a time of 2 minutes 15 seconds.

Zach Lang (’15) has the season record for the 1600 meter race with a time of 4 minutes and 56 seconds, also a personal record.

Matthew Kingeter (’15) has the season record for the 3200 meter race with a time of 10 minutes and 23 seconds, also a personal record.

Girls Varsity Track & Field

Alexandra Butz (’17) has the school record for the high jump at 5 feet.

Hannah Boliek (’15) has the school record for the pole vault at 10 feet and 6 inches.

Julia Zemanek (’18) holds the season record for the 300 meter race with a time of 44.99 seconds.

Catie Denz (’15) has the season record for the 500 meter race with a time of 83.02 seconds.

Alicia Kozlowski (’16) has the season record for the 800 meter race with a time of 2 minutes and 30 seconds.

Sarah Coffey (’16) has the season record for the 1600 meter race with a time of 5 minutes and 18 seconds.

Emily Willard (’16) has the season record for the 55 meter hurdles race with a time of 9.66 seconds.

Photo provided by Mark Couwenhoven Mark Couwenhoven (’15) rows in a river off of the Chespeake Bay. He started participating in competitive rowing in the sixth grade.

Mark Couwenhoven (’15) first began rowing competitively in the sixth grade after he watched his sister compete in the Youth National Competition and then continue on to college as a National Rower.

Now, six years later, Mark is hoping to continue to follow in the footsteps of his sister.

Mark has been recognized many times for his rowing, including his four qualifications for the Youth Regional Competition and his single trip to Youth Nationals in California last year. He said he hopes to attend again this year in Florida.

Mark rows in the lightweight division, meaning that he cannot weigh more than 160 pounds and the average weight of all the members in the boat cannot be more than 155 pounds. He said he will continue into college under the lightweight classification.

Being in the lightweight division does not restrict him from any position in the boat; although, he is often placed at the flyer position, located in the front of the boat. All team members participate in all positions in order to make a better well rounded team.

In order to become proficient in all positions, Mark and the rest of his team, Baltimore Rowing, practice six times a week in the Brooklyn, Maryland area.

“It doesn’t really bother me to practice as much as I do because I like it,” said Mark.

“

I think when you have a group of kids that are determined and willing to work hard, it will pay off in the end.

Mark Couwenhoven

Not only does he have to give up the majority of his free time to practice, but the regat-

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tas, or competitions, take a lot of preparation to get shells and oars to a destination, which

is almost never in Maryland.

There is no off-season for Mark and his team. Each rowing season just entails a different distance race. In the fall, rowers prepare for the long distance races, in the winter they prepare by doing indoor training and conditioning, and in the spring and summer they prepare for the sprinting races, or dashes.

“I think when you have a group of kids that are determined and willing to work hard ,it will pay off in the end,” said Mark about his team.

They have recently begun performing much better in regattas due to the hard work they have put in and a better coaching staff.

The hard work and determination has paid off for the team. They are now being recognized on a more prestigious level than they were before.

This improvement in team performance and Mark’s individual performance is what took him to the Youth National Competition and helped him to be scouted by colleges.

“I’m still undecided [about college],” said Mark.

“But I am really interested in Delaware and Oklahoma.”

Mark said he plans to continue his rowing career in college, and then after college, compete in higher levels to eventually earn a spot on the U.S rowing team.

Follow Mark Couwenhoven and his season on the Hereford Harbinger Twitter page, @HHarbinger, to see his progress with rowing.

Photo provided by Mark Couwenhoven Mark Couwenhoven (’15) prepares for a regatta, a race, by utilizing various rowing exercises.

He has competed in several regattas across the United States including his trip to the Youth National Competition held in California last year.

6 | Hereford Harbinger

sports

February 2015

OUT OF THE ZONE

Erin Sistek takes Pride in the puck

By Emily Palumbo

of girls, travel and a high level of commitment is essential. Pride holds four, one to two hour In Hereford, it is customary to hear about practices a week, which are about an hour and the latest lacrosse victory or the newest track a half away from Hereford. The practices are record. Many other talents often go unrecog- similar to any other sports practice; the team nized. works on skills, agility, and team work. They This is the case for ice hockey player Erin also hold “off-ice” practices where the girls lift Sistek (’18). weights and work on cardio.

Erin has been an avid ice hockey fan all Along with weekly practices, the team her life. Living with a family very much im- frequently travels to play in tournaments over mersed in the ice hockey community, she the weekends. They travel all over the northern would often watch her dad and older brother area for varying levels of play, from a casual Tommy Sistek (’16) play the sport that soon tournament in Connecticut to nationals in Wiscaptured her interest. The siblings started play- consin. ing when they were about five years old.

This physically taxing schedule can take Initially, its toll on Erin played Erin’s school for an allwork and boys team for the way she a more serimanages her I have to schedule school and ous and chaltime. As a lenging envifreshman, all homework around [ice hockronment. of this could ey] to make sure everything “I played be extremely with [the overwhelmfits, but I think it’s worth it. boys] because ing, but she it was much makes it better comwork. petition and it “I have was more agto schedule gressive [than school and the girls’ teams],” said Erin. “It was a lot more homework around it to make sure everything fun and there just weren’t very many girls fits,” said Erin. “But I think it’s worth it.” around to play.”

The busy weekends also make it a bit In 2013, during her seventh season, Erin more difficult for Erin to make plans with her found her way to the Washington Pride ice friends, but they are very understanding of the hockey team, an all-girls team based in the commitments Erin has chosen to make.

Washington D.C area. She ultimately made “If there is a social event with all of our the switch for her safety, as the boys inevitably friends, she knows ice hockey is her priority,” grew stronger and more aggressive. said friend Danielle Maggio (’18). She said But, Erin does not see the switch as much that Erin knows how to leave time aside to of a loss. On the girls’ team, close-knit friend- spend with friends. ship has replaced the fiercely competitive naAs for her future, Erin has yet to decide ture of the boys, without having to sacrifice whether or not she will be continuing with the the high skill level she appreciated about her sport through college. She also has a love for previous teammates. lacrosse, so choosing between the two will be “If you can pull together a good group tough. But, for now, she is enjoying the time of girls you can definitely play good hockey,” she gets to play the sport she has grown to said Erin. “Everyone has such good skills.” love.

In order to play with such a talented group epalumbo.harbinger@gmail.com

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Erin Sistek

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Photo provided by Erin Sistek Erin fights for the puck against her defenders. Many of Erin’s friends have said that she is a very successful athlete. “She shows great athletic traits in [lacrosse and field hockey] that would make her a great athlete on the ice”, said Kylie Nause (’18).

Photo provided by Erin Sistek Erin goes for the goal. Erin and her brother Tommy have supported each other’s ice hokcey careers since the start. “She has always played with a lot of heart and is very unselfish [as a player]”, said Tommy Sistek (’16).

february 2015

Winter sports teach lessons

sports

Hereford Harbinger | 7

Winter season cools down

Interviews and photos by Amanda Hammersla ahammersla.harbinger@gmail.com

“Track and field helped me to gain new friendships and push myself [to be better].”

-Kara Schmidt (’18)

Photo by Meghan Anderson Jessie Cornwell (’15) warms up for an intense practice. The team won Counties and Regionals.

“Varsity wrestling has taught me to never give up, no matter what situation you’re in, even if you feel like you’re pinned.”

-Carlos Gonzalez (’15)

“Varsity wrestling has taught me many lessons like hard work and sacrifice.”

-Collin McNicholas (’16)

Photo by Meghan Anderson Gabe Ceribelli (’15) dribbles the ball towards the basket. The team beat many tough opponents including Franklin, Dundalk, and Perry Hall during the regular season.

“On varsity basketball, we’re together everyday and we’ve become a family, even the coaches and the fans. This year we’ve had the closest team out of my four years being a part of this program.”

-Vanessa Hogan (’15)

“Varsity track and field pushes me to my limits and challenges me to be mentally tough in any situation.”

-Catie Denz (’15)

The varsity wrestling team gets ready for a match. The team beat Dulaney 37- 28.

Photo by Will Wilkinson

8 | Hereford Harbinger

Spotl

By Alicia Moreira amoreira.harbinger@gmail.com

Whether washing your hands in the bathroom in the morning, filling “I do not drink the water at school,” said Allison Lee (’15). “I only up the team cooler for basketball practice, or going for a quick drink at the know one water fountain that works.” water fountain, just about everyone knows about the odd qualities of our “I’d rather bring my own water from home that I know is safe water. rather than drink the brown school water,” said Emma Vicchio (’15).

Many students complain about the water having a metallic taste or It seems that students would do anything to avoid drinking school smell. water, regardless of whether or not they think the water is safe.

“It tastes like the way a penny smells,” said Jeremy Cain (’18).

“I only drink it if I have to, [but] I think it is safe to drink,” said This may suggest that there is some source of copper in our pipes that is Jeremy. being absorbed into the water that we drink.

“I actually bring a Nalgene and drink out of that, [and] I bring a

Many plumbing materials are constructed from copper, and when back-up water bottle in case I run out because I really don’t like the school this metal is found in water that we drink, precautions need to be taken water,” said Ryan, who also believes the water is safe. because of the possible health effects.

Principal Joe Jira claims many students should not be concerned

Long-term exposure to water containing about the safety of the water. copper could cause liver or kidney damage in

“The water is tested every morning some people. for chlorine content and pH,” said Jira.

There are, however, regulations that state “Frequently it undergoes additional testing When you turn the water back on,there is that a certain amount of copper in water is conto look at contaminates or anything that build up of erosion; there’s build up of parsidered safe. This could be the case at Hereford, might not be appropriate in the water.” ticles on the sides of those old pipes and... and students may only taste that small allowed

Before students and teachers arrive that’s what you see as the brown water. amount of metallic substance. at school every morning, representatives

Whether the water contains unsafe levels of Baltimore County come at around 5:30 Joe Jira of copper or not, many students still say it’s the or 6:00 to look at the gauges in the water taste that matters. tower and chlorinate the water if neces “It tastes kind of metallic and hard if you sary. know what I mean,” said Ryan Rudy (’15).

“Every time we shut the water off, the pressure stops, and basically

“It typically has a brown tint to it, a mineral heavy smell, and leaves the water just kind of sits idle,” said Jira. “When you turn the water back many people grabbing for their own water bottles,” said Tyler Hill (’15). on…there is build up of erosion; there’s build up of particles on the sides

“It tastes like metal sometimes…like blood,” said Angela Shriver of those old pipes and...that’s what you see as the brown water.” (’17). This could mean there is also iron making its way into our water These 50 to 60 year old pipes that cause the water to be discolored somewhere between the water tower and our faucets. do not pose any health risks or concerns.

Iron can enter the water supply in two ways. It can seep in by “In my seven years here there has never been a kid who got sick means of the soil which contains iron, or corrosion can cause the iron to because he drank the water,” said Jira. He also addressed the reason for deteriorate from the pipes into the water. the metallic taste of the water.

Iron is only dangerous to consume at extremely high doses. It is “Water to Hereford is provided by springs,” said Jira. “The wells highly unlikely that a person could drink enough water to consume hazard- send the water up from below the ground…and the water sometimes is ous levels of iron. hard; it doesn’t taste real soft, [because] it hasn’t been treated as well as it

So, even if the water tastes metallic, this does not necessarily mean could be if it was coming through city water or something like that.” that the water is unsafe to drink.

Although many water fountains in the school are not functioning at

It is not uncommon to see students carrying their own water bottles the moment, part of the renovation process involved replacing every single around school. However, it is fairly uncommon to see any water fountains water fountain in the school. in use.

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February 2015 | 9

light Once more fountains are replaced, fewer students will be forced to bring water from home or buy water bottles from the vending machines.

“The addition of the new water tower certainly didn’t help the problem,” said Tyler. However, the new water tower was never intended to fix these issues in the first place.

“It was not for the water quality at all,” said Jira. “It was because the tank that was out here was pretty badly rusted, it was leaking, it was in the way, and there were kids who could climb up to it pretty easily.”

Even if the water tastes metallic, smells odd, or has a slight discoloration, our principal is certain that it is safe for his students and faculty to drink.

“This is treated water; this you could swim in, you could drink in, you could do whatever you wanted to, and that’s the water that comes down into the building,” said Jira.

“There’s no way it could be contaminated,” he said.

“The last thing that Dr. Dance or the Baltimore County School would want would be to have a whole bunch of Hereford High kids go home [sick] and they find out that it’s because of the water or something that was in it.”

REVISITING RYAN: TASTE TEST TAKE TWO

By Lucy Reider lreider.harbinger@gmail.com

In the October 2012 issue of the Hereford Harbinger, shortly after the new water tower was built, columnist Ryan Abbott conducted a taste test of the school’s water from various locations, as well as using bottled water as a control. Ryan also conducted pH tests on the water. The Harbinger staff has conducted a new taste test, in order to see if the taste of the water has improved. English and Engineering teacher Charlie Lidard, Biology teacher Nancy Dinkins and Government teacher Jon Shinnick were the test subjects for this experiment.

Sample A came from the water fountains located in the main hallway.

“There’s no aftertaste at all.” - Nancy Dinkins “It tastes pretty normal... maybe like a Deer Park or something.” - Charlie Lidard “It almost has a salty taste.” - Jon Shinnick Sample B came from the water fountains located in the gym hallway.

“There is a slight coloring to B. And there is a slight after taste.” - Nancy Dinkins “It’s kind of earthy.” - Charlie Lidard “That one tastes fine.” - Jon Shinnick Sample C is Dasani bottled water, which was bought from school.

“There is a metallic taste, almost a bite.” - Nancy Dinkins “Metallic, that’s right. It tastes kind of like the Terminator, kind of bitter. ” - Charlie Lidard “This one definitely tastes the best.” - Jon Shinnick

THE VERDICT:

Lidard and Dinkins thought that Sample A (the water from the gym) tasted the best.

Shinnick disagreed, and thought that Sample C (the Dasani water) tasted the best.

Photos by Sophie Seaman Graphic by Alicia Moreira Design by Maddie McGee

10 | Hereford Harbinger

Features

february 2015

Students debate pros and cons of AP classes

By Alicia Moreira

amoreira.harbinger@gmail.com

Everyone seems to know the hardest classes the school offers. It is clear from the drained faces and massive stacks of papers that AP students are beyond stressed. Although these four courses featured below involve a large workload, many students say it is worth the pain. These late nights doing lab reports, reading sheets of music, and writing outlines all seem to pay off in the long run.

Graphic by Alicia Moreira

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Features

february 2015

Hereford Harbinger | 11

GSA button sale opens door to discussion

By Maggie Gutberlet

mgutberlet.harbinger@gmail.com

The Gay Straight Alliance began selling pride buttons in the main lobby on January 13. They raised $120, $50 of which will be donated to the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network which supports GSA clubs in schools around the country. The remaining money will be kept in the GSA’s fund.

The sales experience was mostly a positive one, according to students who manned the table.

“I was pleasantly surprised by how many people bought buttons and

wore them,” said Chessie Rodman (’15). “It’s one thing to donate anonymously, but it’s another to show your support.”

Science department chair JeanPaul Bibaud bought five buttons.

“I care about people of all sexual identities,” said Bibaud. “And awareness of various sexual orientations is a good thing because not everyone is born the same way.”

Bibaud also said that labeling people is a result of small mindedness.

“If somebody is a good person, others should realize that, and eventually people will realize that we’re not all that different.”

There were moments when students working the table had not-sopostive experiences. A few people told them they did not support gay rights.

“One student asked me what ‘GSA’ stood for, and when I told him, he told me to [explicitive] off,” said Chessie.

Despite this, GSA advisor Sam-

Photo by Emily Palumbo Members of the Gay Straight Alliance sell buttons to raise money fot the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network. They raised $120.

uel Tillman said he is proud of the members that ran the sales.

“It’s a form of coming out as a member of the club, which is a brave thing to do,” said Tillman.

Steve Schwartz, son of guidance counsellor Cathy Schwartz, spoke to the GSA on January 20. He said he was surprised by how large the meeting was, where about 15 members came to listen to his story.

“I’ve been out of the closet for 10 or 11 years,” said S. Schwartz.

“I realized I was gay at a time when gay issues were starting to be talked about, but it was still taboo.”

He also discussed the differences between college and high school when it comes to acceptance.

“I came out fully in college. I lost a few friends, but gained new ones.

In high school, you’re kind of forced to be around people of all different backgrounds. But in college, it’s easier to surround yourself with supportive people,” said S. Schwartz.

He also said that coming out is a situational ordeal — it differs for everyone.

“I came out to one of my best friends in high school by making a fake email. I sent him a message saying that one of his good friends was gay, but that he was worried to come out. He responded and said ‘Well if you’re my friend, it doesn’t matter if you’re gay,’” said S. Schwartz.

“I confronted him at one point. I told him, ‘It’s okay. We can talk about this, I still love you.’ He finally admitted it and I told him I thought it was great,” said C. Schwartz.

“Hereford is not a very diverse community,” said C. Schwartz. “As [people] choose a college or a career, they will experience more diversity and less prejudice.”

The GSA has many upcoming events that will be used to spread awareness and acceptance.

“There will be another opportunity to buy buttons in April for the day of silence,” said Tillman.

The national Day of Silence, which started in 1996, is a day to call silence to anti-Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender bullying. It will be on April 17 this year.

There will also be a meeting on Tuesday February 3 to discuss a recent Supreme Court case regarding gay marriage.

“The case is an end-all, be-all type case,” said Tillman. “It will allow gay marriage in all states, and will be used as a precedent case when it comes to fighting for other rights. There are already many states that have allowed gay marriage, but there’s a pocket of states who need this case to propel them forward.”

Tillman said that he believes marriage equality will pass and soon become a non-issue, and the LGBT movement will begin to advocate more strongly for transgender equality.

If anybody is dealing with any difficulties regarding their sexuality, C. Schwartz said that she is available as a confidential source of support.

“I’m here right now as a mother, not just a counsellor,” said Schwartz.

OPINION

Teen’s suicide draws national attention

By Abby Laporte

ers don’t have to go through their discovery alone like Leelah did.

High school students are in the stage of life “Hopefully LGBTQ kids learn from where they develop the most. They learn to be- [Leelah’s suicide] and realize that it truly does come individuals and they grow to become their get better,” said Katie Ferguson. true selves.

Even after Leelah had passed away, Carla The first step to knowing oneself is to rec- Alcorn, Leelah’s mother, still used only male ognize his/her gender. Is the person a boy or a pronouns and referred to her daughter by her girl? This is a question that some people don’t birth name Jousha Ryan Alcorn. have to hesitate to answer while others try to “I love my son unconditionally,” said Alpurposely avoid the question. corn in an interview aired on CNN. One transgender This statement has teenage girl finally many misinterpretarealized who she was tions. Leelah’s mother despite her biologiloved her but to refer Hopefully LGBTQ kids learn from cal appearance. She to the love as “uncon[Leelah’s suicide] and realize that knew who she was ditional” and continue better than anyone claiming Leelah as her it truly does get better. but resistance from son clearly shows that her family to accept the statement isn’t true. her true self lead to a “Unconditional tragic suicide. love is hard to get,” said In Kings Mill, Ohio, 17 year old Leelah Al- Guidance Counselor Cathy Schwartz when talkcorn(*)committed suicide on December 28 as a ing about fully accepting her son’s sexuality. public statement about the general treatment of C. Schwartz comes from a very religious transgender teenagers in modern day society. background, but when her son Steven Schwartz, She posted her suicide note on her Tumblr blog, a college student, came out to her, she was very walked out in the middle of the street, and was accepting of him. Steven kept denying his sexurun over by a truck. ality but eventually, when his mother confrontAlcorn came out to her parents and school ed him, he admitted to her that he was gay. as a transgender female when she was 14. Her “That’s great. I really think you should sign school was very welcoming to her coming out, up for karate,” Schwartz said as a response. but her parents, conservative Christians, could C. Schwartz said “[Most parents] can’t not possibly believe their son was their daugh- wrap their head around the idea of their child ter and assured her that it “was a phase” and that being gay or transgender.”

“God had made her a male so she could never “I think it’s hard for parents to realize that be a woman.” their children have identity issues and [parents] According to Leelah, coming out as a understand how to respond to that.” said Katie. woman to her parents caused them to panic Steven was fortunate to belong to an acand as a result, she was not allowed to attend cepting family, but there are still many gay and her high school and she was cut off from social transgender people struggling to come out to media for five months. She also had to attend their friends and family. therapy sessions that, supposedly meant to help Kyler Watts (’16) is a transgender boy who her depression, but only reinforced how “sin- went through similar phases that Leelah went ful” she was. through. He told his friends before talking to his Katie Ferguson (’15) and Joe Donatelli mother about his true gender. When he finally (’15), leaders of Hereford’s Gay Straight Alli- talked to his mother about it, she didn’t talk to ance, hope that struggling transgender teenag- him for a few weeks. alaporte.harbinger@gmail.com

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“It took her a while until she told me that no matter what, she loves me and that she’s proud of me,” said Kyler. “However, she still feels that it’s only a phase and that it will slowly go away.”

Kyler felt that Leelah’s suicide impacted many homosexual and transgender teenagers and that “she did not die in vain.”

“If you’re a trans-male, you’re a male. If you’re a trans girl, you’re a girl. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise,” said Kyler Watts.

As 2014 came to an end, 41% of transgender and transsexual teenagers and adults in the United States have committed/attempted to commit suicide.

Leelah’s suicide isn’t the first and it won’t last. Despite this, the impact that she made on

society so far has been incredible and various petitions were influenced by her as well as presidential recognition for the protection of transgender people. So Leelah’s plea to “fix society” is on the path into becoming a reality.

“The only way I will rest in peace is if one day transgender people aren’t treated the way I was, they’re treated like humans with valid feelings and human rights,” said Leelah stated in her suicide note. *To respect Leelah’s true gender, she will be referred to in female pronouns. To clarify, transgender girls are biological boys transitioning into girls and transgender boys are biological girls transitioning into boys.

Graphic by Abby Laporte

12 | Hereford Harbinger

features

Valentine’s Day plans start here

By Noelle Funk

nfunk.harbinger@gmail.com

february 2015

Let it show

By Amanda Hammersla

ahammersla.harbinger@gmail.com

Music.

Poetry.

Dancing.

Jokes.

Applause.

These are all elements of this year’s Variety Show, February 5 and 6. Theatre teacher Chris Rose has sponsored this event every other year for 11 years.

The show allows students with unique talents to perform. The only requirement is that

“

I have never seen so much talent in my life and it gives us a lot to work with.

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each act must go through one round of auditions, that were held on January 13 and 14.

Every act will make it through auditions and to the Variety Show stage if Rose agrees that the piece is entertaining and interesting.

Rose selected two student hosts to emcee

the show: Kirsten Herman (’15) and Julia Wagner (’15).

This year they plan to incorporate more classic comedy and jokes that are directly related to Hereford students, which is very different compared to the humor relayed by the hosts in the past.

“Our job [as hosts] has been made incredibly easy with the lineup of amazing acts,” said Julia. “I have never seen so much talent in my life and it gives us a lot to work with.”

The preparation by each act is not just during the two days of auditions and the three weeks leading up to the show, but during the weeks prior to auditions.

“We’ve practiced about twice a week for three months now,” said Alex Cave (’19), drummer in the band The Untitled.

The acts in years past have brought audiences to their feet, and Rose hopes this year the crowd will be amazed again.

“My favorite part of the show is when the audience sees a talent that you never knew a child had and everyone just stands in amazement,” said Rose.

Come to the Variety Show!

February 5 and 6 Tickets are $5 at the door

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Without them, we could not produce the Hereford Harbinger, the voice of Hereford High!

Graphic by Alicia Moreira

Hereford Harbinger | 13

Opinion

february 2015

Catty girls spur unwarranted drama

By Katharine French

kfrench.harbinger@gmail.com

From a very young age, girls are naturally raised to compete with their female peers. Unless you’ve won the genetic lottery and happen to be outlandishly tall and skinny, chances are you’re average in the eyes of our culture, which more often than not tends to promote an unattainable beauty standard. So when a girl sees another girl who has desirable qualities and traits, she instinctually lashes out—sometimes verbally, other times physically.

While girls have come to understand this unspoken relationship, boys attribute our malicious behavior to our hormones, more specifically the female menstrual cycle. According to Tommy Purdie (16’), every problem a girl starts stems from her period. We, the females, know this to be wrong.

Along with materialistic envy comes competition for the affection of others, specifically from the opposite sex. Why are girls wired to feel as though they need a boy’s attention?

The answer is simple; through the ages, women have been sexualized by men and made out to become props rather than actual human beings in our world. Similarly, when women don’t get the reaction they want, they feel inadequate and try even harder to gain approval from males as a result from subjective treatment since birth.

In this modern age, we only have ourselves to blame for letting men get away with what they do. You would think that as women, we would come together and fight the double standards that past societies have created. Unfortunately, however, this is not the case. Women pit each other against each other, and for what? A selfrighteous sense of superiority? Who knows?

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I ask myself what effect the Hallmark holiday will have on the vying hearts of females.

“I wouldn’t say Valentine’s Day brings about competition; I think it’s more about jealousy,” said Meaghan Manna (’16). “Single girls, like myself, can either take the holiday

in strides and do something as a group and just have fun. Or you could sulk and watch Netflix in bed while eating massive amounts of food. I support either option.”

Jealousy is feeling resentment against someone because of that person’s rivalry, success, or advantages. The act of competing can be a product of prior jealousy, formed by one’s own insecurities.

“I think girls get jealous of other girls over Valentine’s Day for two reasons,” said Emma Herrmann (’16). “First reason is simple; you’re single and wondering why you’re not in a relationship. This leads to over-thinking and negative self-examination. The second reason goes for single girls and even girls that are taken. Some people are just jealous of others actual V-day plans, which seems absurd.”

With jealousy, comes sabotage. The most common form of sabotage among females is saying bad things about other girls. It appears that some think that these verbal attacks are most popular when a man is put in the mix.

“Girls are mean,” said Paige Hawkins (’16). “They say nasty stuff about the other girl to the one guy in hopes of taking attention away from her. Girls think all other girls are the enemy. All of us girls have done it at some point.”

So why do women treat the same sex with such contempt? Is it a biological trait or a learned manner? Surely, we are not born with the capability to disrespect others. Humans are creatures of habit.

“I think it has to do with moms who start the drama,” said Emily Beltran (’16). Their daughters see it and it rubs off on them. Sometimes we can’t help it. We were raised that way, and it stuck with us.”

“The world would be such a better place if girls could just get over themselves and be friends,” said Emma Jacobs (’16). Girls need to stick together more and not be so rude. No one gains anything from being catty.”

Graphic by Joe Donatelli

Gender stereotypes suppress personal expression

By Abby Laporte alaporte.harbinger@gmail.com What do you think of when you hear the word boy? Most likely it’s the stereotypical biological male who is interested in sports and penis jokes? Now try it for the word girl. It brings thoughts of a stereotypical biological female who is interested in makeup and shopping.

Do these ideas about what is a boy and what is a girl truly identify who they are? No. Should girls be allowed to crack in a few penis jokes during the Super Bowl while boys can experiment with foundation to make their cheeks all perky?

The answer to the last question can be answered with another question: Why not?

Stereotyping to help determine what establishes someone’s gender has been reoccurring throughout the years. Colors (Pink for girls and blue for boys), clothing, activities, interests, and many more factors are used to put the genders on opposite spectrums in society.

It’s understandable to assume someone is a boy or a girl based on their appearance. The expectations of where they stand in society, however, shouldn’t be set in stone based on that gender.

Being in a progressive time, there isn’t an excuse as to why these ideals about each gender still exist. There shouldn’t be men objectifying women on what they wear or women judging men on their intellect.

If a man was interested in makeup and shopping, then he

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The expectations of where they stand in society, however, shouldn’t be set in stone based on that gender.

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would be labeled as a fag. If a woman disliked wearing makeup and would rather play video games on her Friday nights, then she could be labeled as a dyke. It’s very close-minded that if these

genders were interested in opposing hobbies, they would be called homophobic derogatory terms.

Sexuality shouldn’t interfere with what someone likes or doesn’t like. Unless the man wearing makeup is making out with a man, there shouldn’t be any assumptions about his sexuality.

There is no particular group to blame for this. Adaptation is perfectly natural in society and once something sticks and it works, there’s no reason to change it. But as soon as someone steps out of those norms society has created, they are negatively judged and condemned for their choices.

Considering this separation of the genders has been going on for years doesn’t mean that it can’t be changed. There should be more examples of people going against their gender roles to eliminate general ideals about how each man or woman should act.

More importantly, there needs to be people willing to take action.

The next time you see a boy expressing his snazzy eyeliner or a girl choosing to not wear a dress but a suit; don’t go directly to your instincts and shame the person. Instead, accept them or pay no attention to them. Simple actions like this can greatly impact their life and the lives of others who go against the stereotypical boy and girl definitions.

Advocacy club for children seeks high school adviser

By Maddie Turner mturner.harbinger@gmail.com CASA, a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization, works with abused and neglected children. These Court Appointed Special Advocates mentor children in the foster care system with the hopes of finding them a permanent, loving home.

Lisa Turner, volunteer with CASA of Baltimore City, spent three and a half years working with a child and recently found him a home.

She currently works as the volunteer coordinator who trains and assists mentors.

My mom first started mentoring Barry when he was twelve. He was abused and given

up by his parents.

Throughout the time that she has mentored him, he has been in six different homes and schools. The chances of Barry finding an adoptive family were slim, but she found him a home when he was 17.

For many foster care children, their mentor is the only constant adult in their lives. In many cases, the adult is present throughout the child’s life, and even into adulthood.

There are more than 950 CASA’s throughout the nation. Last year, CASA helped nearly 238 thousand children find homes.

“The volunteers act as parents to many of the kids,” said my mom. “They spend a lot of time getting to know the child.”

The mentors not only spend time with the children, but they attend court to tell the child’s story. “[The mentors] are [the children’s] storyteller,” said Turner. “They know the child on a deeper level than anyone else.”

Funding through the federal government and donations is not sufficient enough. CASA of Baltimore holds galas, auctions and dinners across the country to benefit the local chapters; however, locally, there are not any fundraisers that include the children.

Training and supporting the mentors and paying for rent mean that money is a constant concern at the CASA of Baltimore. With more funds available, more volunteers can pair with foster care children to support them.

The Superhero Run has been held at many CASA other locations around the country. The kids, their mentors and the community come out to support this cause.

There have been fun-runs, 5k, and 10k walks and runs in Texas, California and many other states. All ages are encouraged to participate and dress as their favorite superhero.

The run raises awareness for needy children and serves as one of the major sources of funds for the year. The CASA of Baltimore has

planned to hold a run locally for many years.

I am aware that there are a lot of clubs here for many different causes and organizations, but I am hoping to start a club to benefit CASA next year. My hope for the club is to find sponsors, raise funds and plan a run for the spring.

“This club will be great,” said Cameron Bibaud (’16). “I think it would be a big success here and I would definitely join.”

“It seems like a fun club and I would get my friends to join,” said Erin Collins (’17). “I think that the community would come out to support it.”

I would like to find a teacher who would be interested in running this club. I plan to hold an informational meeting later this year so that the club can be started next school year. So if you’re looking for a new club to join, consider joining the Superhero Club!

For more information, or if you have any questions, please contact me at Mturner.harbinger@gmail.com.

14 | Hereford Harbinger

harbinger Hereford

Informing and entertaining the Hereford Zone Hereford High School 17301 York Road Parkton, MD 21120

410-887-1905 Volume 4 Issue 4 ADVISER Mary Beth Stuller EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Maddie McGee Meghan Anderson BUSINESS MANAGER Lisabeth Stewart ILLUSTRATOR Joe Donatelli

PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPHER Will Wilkinson EDITORS Peyton Butt Samantha Preston Emma Reider Lucy Reider Caprice Roché Sophie Seaman Alex Toma

opinion

february 2015

Smoke-free rules apply to everyone on campus EDITORIAL

Every school in Baltimore County has signs that read “No Smoking Zone.” This policy applies to any person on school property, but cigarette butts found on campus show that the rule is being broken.

The smell of cigarettes resonates in many places in the school. Students have reported the odor in the following locations: the art stairwell, the gym stairwell, and the stairwell that leads to rooms 1 and 2.

This blatant disregard for county policy is not only environmentally offensive, but it tarnishes the image of the school.

And who is responsible for the cigarette smoking? Many students have noted that construction workers may be the culprits.

If students and faculty are expected to follow school rules, then shouldn’t contractors hired by Baltimore County Public Schools also be held to the same standards?

Perhaps in honor of American Heart Month, we students should be vocal in supporting our anti-tobacco stance. If you notice cigaPhoto by Will Wilkinson rette smoke or evidence of smoking on school Cigarette butts litter the railing of Trailer 9. The perpetrators failed to respect property, report it to the administration.

BCPS smoke-free policy.

Does censorship have a place in school?

By Julia Wagner

jwagner.harbinger@gmail.com

Students and faculty are encouraged to submit letters to the editor in Room 207 or e-mail them to hhsharbinger@bcps.org. They may be edited for length and punctuation.

“To my home girls here with the big butts, shaking it like we at a strip “Little Game” promotes gender equality and anti-bullying without club,” said Miley Cyrus in her song “We Can’t Stop.” a single use of sexual innuendos, racial slurs, curse words, or explicit “You never really understand a person until you consider things from content; however, when Rose tried to bring up the video on his personal his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in BCPS login, the video was blocked. it,” said Harper Lee in To Kill a Mockingbird.

I was shocked and beyond furious when I saw this. There is not a One of these works is banned in some schools throughout the United single legitimate reason for that video to be blocked. But then when you States, and it is not the one depicting women in promiscuous positions. It search a song like “Anaconda” by Niki Minaj, it is there for everyone to is the book that contains strong educational elements that can be utilized watch. in the English classroom to better educate students.

Because apparently there is nothing wrong with learning that a boy’s In some places, it has been “anaconda don’t want none unless banned because it uses the “N” you got buns hun,” but help me if I word. If every book that made somelearn that I can use my brain instead one feel uncomfortable was banned of my breasts to go far in life. there would be no History or EngThis is not the only case of inapI understand it to an extent but it makes lish books in the curriculum. Elie propriate, if not unnecessary, censorno sense why almost every single link that Wiesel’s “Night” depicts the horrid ship of Internet content. If a student acts against the Jewish community, goes online to research any sort of I need to use on a daily basis is blocked- I going in depth about how the Nazi’s medical-related subject, she is met can’t even check my email! would use infants as target practice. with a barrage of blocked pages, Sophocles’ “Oedipus the King” conmost of which are “.org” websties Erika Shook tains incest and Laura Hillenbrand’s and extremely educational.

Unbroken goes into detail about the Yet, if you pick up any health torture the prisoners of war were put book in school you can open it up through. and see a child being pushed through a vagina or see a penis which is All of these subjects will make some or all of its readers feel uneasy, infected with an STD. One gruesome image showed a male who had all as they should. A sign of a good book is that it moves one emotionally. the skin peeled off of his genitalia in a paramedical biology book.

If it takes foul language and graphic details then, so be it. It seems that “I understand [censorship] to an extent, but it makes no sense why some people would have us reading Doctor Seuss books until we graduate almost every single link that I need to use on a daily basis is blocked — I high school. can’t even check my email,” said Erika Shook (’16).

How will students learn and grow if they are shielded from everyWhile Kirsten Herman (’15) said, “I think it’s ridiculous that sites thing ugly? The bad in the world is part of history and we should not be such as YouTube are banned, when we can use that for an educational deprived of learning from the past just because a few people get upset purpose, and when you look up a hot girl in Google Images, pictures of over content. We are constantly told to “grow up” or to be more mature, women wearing almost nothing come up.” but then we are shielded from information that could help us grow as a The school system needs to realize that we are exposed to 90 percent person. of what they are trying to censor on a daily basis. They also need to check This flaw in the censorship of content in public schools was brought their reasons on what they censor because I can watch a woman twerk to my attention when I went to show Chris Rose, theatre teacher, a video half naked on YouTube in school, but I cannot watch an educational video called “Little Game” by Benny. that tells male teenagers do not need to play a sport to succeed in life.

Each issue, Hereford Harbinger distributes over 1000 papers to the school’s 1315 students and 110 faculty, local businesses, and the Hereford Zone community.

Letter to the editor: Proud to be a farmer

STAFF WRITERS Katharine French Noelle Funk Maggie Gutberlet Amanda Hammersla Kirsten Herman Brady King Abby Laporte Alicia Moreira Emily Palumbo Maddie Turner A member of the National Scholastic Press Association Rated First Class 2013-2014 Online herefordharbinger.org E-mail hhsharbinger@bcps.org Twitter @HHarbinger Instagram @HHarbinger Facebook Hereford Harbinger

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“Redneck, hillbilly, racist, dumb, inbred, uneducated and a barn slut.”

At one point or another, I have been called these names, along with many others. I say it’s time for the stereotyping to stop. I don’t mean just for people who are “country” or “farmers.” I mean for anyone who has been called a nerd, jock, or other degrading group name kids have bestowed upon them from an early age. Ignorance is ignorance whether it’s related to skin color, gender orientation, or culture. It serves no purpose other than to make one seem small minded; we are better than that. We are Hereford!

I was born and raised on a farm. My mother is a dairy farmer and my father is a crop farmer. Because of the work we do, many families have food on the table, clothes, and other things you would never think came from a farm. To think that people are making my family and me out to be something that they are not is very disturbing. We are judged on our clothes, appearances and jobs. It’s not cool to pigeon-hole anyone just by taking a glance at them, or where they hang-out in the mornings.

I am the “basement,” yet I am not the “basement.”

I am more than that. If you see me in the hallways I don’t look like the textbook farmer. I look like any other girl; because I found out long

“

ago to fit in I would have to dress different, not in the stereotypical jeans and boots of my hard-working brethren. I am well educated and I plan to do something else with my life other than farming; although, I’d be proud to follow in my parents footsteps. I have met people that have no agriculture background make a living working in the fields and offices that drive our country. Agriculture is the number one industry in the state of Maryland, you too can be a part of it if you have the gumption and drive to work hard and ignore the stereotypes. I do and I have.

I’m not racist. I don’t drive a truck because I think it’s cool. I don’t get drunk every weekend in a field. I judge people by the content of their character, their morals, and work ethic. The other “country” people or “people of the basement” are some of the best people I know. I have never been told to get in the kitchen, but rather been begged to fix dinner for my brothers who worked in the field and barn from 5 am till 9 pm.

Next time, you meet someone…anyone, try to look past their clothes and first impression and get to know them, because who knows, you just might be calling someone “uneducated” when they have seen more of the world than you. And those people who work out in the field all day, well you have them to thank for your food, clothes and so much more.

-Santana Mays (’15)

february 2015

opinion

Hereford Harbinger | 15

MADDIE’S MUSING

Should students choose the novels they read in school?

By Maddie McGee

mmcgee.harbinger@gmail.com

When I was taking a practice ACT last year, the essay question read, “Should students choose the novels they read in school?” During the course of writing my essay, I was a bit conflicted. I could easily see both sides of the debate. Students should be given the opportunity to read novels they enjoy, but do students lose something when they don’t read classic novels.

Reading novels (that have been chosen by the powers that be in the BCPS offices) in a group setting, where they can be discussed and detested by an entire student population is perhaps the whole reason for taking English courses.

Think about it: you sign up for English classes, expecting a list of novels—most of which could be considered classics. You expect to hate these novels. After all your teachers don’t know what’s good for you. They haven’t spent years teaching the material or anything.

I can identify with this hypothetical student.

I’ve hated some of the novels I’ve been forced to read during my schooling. If I even so much as have to look at a page of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter” ever again, I may go insane.

Same goes for “The Odyssey” by Homer, or, even worse, a novel by my own personal enemy, Charles Dickens: “Hard Times.”

On the flip side, I’ve loved some of the novels that I’ve been assigned. Often these novels come on the heels of books I’ve loathed.

Receiving a shiny new novel after finally turning the final page (or skimming the last Sparknotes summary) of a horrible novel is like Christmas morning. I finished reading Chinua Achebe’s terrible, pain-inducing, yam-loving “Things Fall Apart” and began reading “Night” by Elie Wiesel, which is one of the best books I have ever read in school.

In ninth grade, John Knowles’ “A Separate Peace” and “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee were books that could actually hold my attention, and encourage me to complete my English homework (freshman me wasn’t so Type A about grades as senior me is).

AP English 11 brought “The Great Gatsby” and “The Catcher in the Rye” (which my class didn’t have time to read, so if this happens to you, I suggest that you read it!). Teachers often say that students enjoy reading the books taught in AP English 11 because they embody the American Dream, something that we obviously enjoy reading about.

So, if I’ve enjoyed reading many of the novels I’ve been given in school, why would I even consider joining the other side, where students can read books of their choosing? Have you ever taken a look at some of the students in this school? The majority of us, myself included, are not dying to read Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” or “In the Time of the Butterflies” by Julia Alvarez.

Many students would enjoy foregoing their English classes or the process of cracking open a book in general. I mean, who reads these days?

Literature isn’t on the forefront of most students’ brains. Students would rather watch Netflix or sleep in than read a novel for pleasure.

The students who would put time and effort into reading a novel of their choosing are the same students who will put time and effort into reading a novel they have been assigned. It doesn’t matter what novel the student is reading.

Students who are grade-conscious will work hard no matter what the material.

We also read these novels in order to put everyone on a similar playing field in college. AP students in Maryland often read the same novels as AP students in California. Choosing your own novels may mean that when a college professor brings up Oedipus, you have no idea what he’s talking about because you spent high school reading a slew of vampire novels.

The alternative to this conundrum is the IRP project. Students in AP Literature complete the IRP or Independent Reading Project, which allows students to choose the novels they wish to read. However, the catch is that students must compare it to a novel they read in class that year.

Of course, this perfect substitute includes writing a paper, but we do walk these hallowed halls in order to learn.

Those who complain about the novels we read will always complain. It’s inevitable. If you’re going to do the homework and be prepared for class, you’ll do it no matter what book you’re reading.

Cartoon by Joe Donatelli

Selfies: Narcissism or just confidence?

picBy Maggie Gutberlet ture-posting times. Post a selfie at 1 a.m. on a Tuesday, and your like-tomgutberlet.harbinger@gmail.com time ratio will be lower than if posted at 5 p.m. on a Sunday. According Selfies are a great way to show off a cute outfit, a new haircut, or to BufferSocial, the best day to share a picture is on Sunday, although rippling muscles after a few hours at the gym. They can be posted permost posts are made on Thursdays. manently on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or can be sent as a seven Some teens will delete their pictures if the number of likes is not second snapchat to your best friends. sufficient.

Being comfortable with oneself is often considered a motive for “I have friends who delete selfies if they don’t get enough likes,” posting selfies — people enjoy how they look, and they want to show said Madeleine Palumbo (’18). other people. Often, these people are labeled as self-centered or narcisAccording to PsyBlog, a study run by psychologist Jesse Fox found sistic. that men who post selfies are “more likely to have narcissistic and psyEzra Keonig, lead singer of Vampire Weekend, stated in a Rolling chopathic personality traits,” and that those who use filters score even Stone article that “anybody who is anti-selfie is really just a hater. Why higher when tested on narcissism. Although the test was specifically shouldn’t people post pictures focused on men, “follow-up studies suggest of themselves? There’s only the same is true of women.” one you.”

“I don’t think that the disorders But there may be a probare gender related. The only reason lem with the source of desire girls post more selfies is because sofor posting pictures of our ciety has made them more inclined faces. Do we post these pictures to worry about their self image,” said Mike for ourselves, or do we do it for Bailey (’15). affirmation from others?

Other studies have found that selfies are It comes down to the much more dangerous than we think—they person. can be linked to mental health issues and sui“I think some people do it cidal tendencies. Body Dysmorphic Disorder because they feel good about is a mental illness where the afflicted person themselves,” said Julia Baier develops an obsession with their flaws, con(’16). stantly worrying that they do not look good.

“A lot of people post selfIt can interfere with everyday life, as seen in ies because they want people to cases like Danny Bowman’s. think ‘Oh, she’s pretty,’” said According to psychologist David Veal, Photo by Will Wilkinson Emily Beltran (’16).

Maggie Gutberlet (’15) takes a selfie to send to her friends Bowman “allegedly spent up to 10 hours a Regardless of reason, what through social media. Many were responses to received selfies. day taking hundreds of selfies in a futile atharm could these pictures have tempt to capture the perfect photo.” His obsession had him staying home on individuals? from school, fighting with his parents, and eventually trying to attempt For those posting because they feel good about themselves, selfies on social media can have an adverse effect. They present the opportunity suicide. Although Bowman’s situation is an extreme one, more and more psychologists are beginning to consider obsessions with selfies as “a for the dissection of our self-image; it’s one thing to look in the mirror serious mental health problem,” according to TIME. and feel good, it’s another thing to have a hard copy that you and all Regardless of whether you love selfies or hate them, post three your followers can scrutinize. a day or don’t even know how to use your front-facing camera, it is Dissatisfaction can be even worse for those posting for others’ apimpossible to ignore that they have had an impact on societal norms and proval. expectations.

Many people post with the expectation of likes and complimentary The key to having a healthy relationship with yourself is loving comments. When they don’t get the desired response, their self-esteem who you are regardless of what others think—so when you want to post may decrease. A lot of thought goes into choosing, editing, and picking your next selfie, ask yourself why. If you like the answer, post away. a time to post. How much time is too much, and how much should we If you don’t, try taking a step back from your social media and find an care? activity that makes you feel good about yourself.

Ask any Instagram expert and they will tell you there are optimal

16 | Hereford Harbinger

In Focus

february 2015

Photo by Mia Navarro (’16) A yellow custodial cart juxtaposes a blank canvas in a New York City art gallery. “The white wall represents starting anew,” said Mia Navarro (‘16). “It is a mop, so with the canvas it is, like, cleaning up your act.”

Photo by Ali Jones (’16) A glass windowpane frames a staircase in New York City. “It was an old train track, just broken down, and artist came in and, just, revamped it pretty much, and made everything new and modern,” said Ali Jones (‘16), who snapped this shot on an Art Department field trip.

Photo by Danielle Masters (’15) Three bean plants grow from the roof of a New York City building. “This image shows a stark contrast between the new life of the leguminous plant and the historic New York City,” said Danielle Masters (’15).

NEW

The images featured were submitted after the Harbinger challenged student-artists to submit pieces that related to this month’s “In Focus” theme: NEW. The Hereford Harbinger invites submissions of photography or poetry based on our monthly theme.

The March theme is: LUCKY. Email images (.JPEGs) or poems to hhsharbinger@bcps.org.