OPINION
14
The Paw Print February 2013
Kylie Coppola S p o rt s E d i to r
At the beginning of this school year, many new policies were reinforced. The hallway pass policy, open end, and even entering the school now is more regulated. The one huge policy that always existed, but was never truly enforced up to par (according to the teachers anyway), was the cell phone policy. As of this year, our new school principal Reginald Roberts established a reputation of frequently taking away cell phones. This took the student body a while to adjust to since it was not reinforced in the past. From a student’s point of view, most students take it as a challenge accepted.
Photo Credit: Nicole Dunsmore
Kylie using her cell phone in study hall.
This policy has not motivated students to keep their phones away; instead, it made students develop different techniques as to getting away with using their phones. There are little differences between the cell phone policy last year and this year though. The same rules apply, but now in today’s generation, students will do anything in order to keep their phones in their possession. Last year there was no problem with the way the cell phone policy was handled.. Personally, I think it is the student’s choice as to whether or not they use their phone in class. As long as they are aware their cell phone usage will negatively affect their grade, why should our administrators and mind molders be concerned about it? If the student is being disruptive with the device than it would be appropriate for it to result in confiscation. Otherwise, students should be allowed to peacefully use their cellular device as of the past years. Since that would be highly unlikely to happen, there are certain elements that should be considered with the new no nonsense phone policy. Allowing students to use their cellphones during lunch or study hall would make them less likely to risk using them during class. This would make the day go by faster for students, instead of feeling like a six hour detention. It is a work in progress policy that would not do harm to the school and how it runs if it were to be tweaked a little bit. The school would benefit as a result since there would be both less drama in the classroom and less complaining- a win/win situation!
The Mail that Decides the Future of a Student Christina Deblasi R e p o rt e r The mailbox seems as if it is the one place that holds the response to a senior’s future, makes them more impatient each day as it leaves them empty handed, and their mind races as they approach it thinking of all the possibilities it may hold. The college application process is one of the most exciting yet stressful times for high school seniors. Seniors are anxious to find out the admission decisions of their top choice colleges. When the news finally arrives in the mail, it is well known that acceptance letters are typically large, thick envelopes, while rejection letters are small and thin. The New York Times released the 2012 college admissions statistics in an attempt to reveal to curious students and parents how a “seemingly qualified candidate” could be denied to their top choice colleges. For example, the University of Southern California released that in 2012 they received 46,030 applications, while more than 36,400 applications were denied. Most Ivy League schools have acceptance rates lower than eight percent. Cassidy Curnyn (’13) reflected upon receiving her first acceptance letter, “I felt a sense of relief and accomplishment when I received my first acceptance letter. I finally felt like my hard work in high school was worth something. A big weight was lifted
off of my shoulders after endless months of the college application process. It is finally over and I can look forward to starting a new chapter in my life.” Daniela DeJesus (’13) stated, “I screamed on the phone when I received my first acceptance letter. The college called me and I was in pure shock. My first thought was; I am going to college!” Many seniors get their heart set on a certain college that they feel is the only college that will allow them to succeed in the future. Whether students are accepted or rejected, students will make the best of their college experience and education because the end result will be the same no matter what school they attend.
Photo Credit: Matt Brown
The Cell Phone Policy We Determine the Seems to be Ineffective School’s Appearance
Garbage left on the floor at Norwalk High School.
Jeanette H a m i lt o n R e p o rt e r Norwalk High School students need to take better care of their surroundings. The school is in bad condition, but it would improve if students would simply respect it. The stairwells might be the biggest problem in this situation. Food and water are so commonly thrown down the stairwell during the lunch period that students often avoid the inside railing by instinct. Chocolate milk frequents the C-House stairwell, while one B-House stairwell has been toting an egg on the 3rd floor wall for weeks. Water is also commonly poured down the stairwells, but at least water does not leave a sticky mess. Still, it can be a hazard if someone slips and falls. The gum may not even be worth mentioning. It is stuck on the walls, stuck under chairs and desks, and spit out onto the floor with such prevalence that it is
hardly noticeable by one’s senior year. In addition to the edible items, students litter the Norwalk High floors with garbage. Food wrappers and scraps of paper can be found in almost every classroom, left behind by teenagers who evidently could not locate the garbage can. Such papers can also be found in the hallway; these papers, however, are more often than not posters that have been ripped down for no reason. While they are intended to provide information to students who need it, they end up being trampled by the masses. In addition to the posters, students recently ripped down an Ally Chain (chain made of strips of paper in various colors with uplifting messages) that the GayStraight Alliance put up in A-House. After several weeks, only one lonely strip of paper remained on the wall. Students of NHS must learn to respect their surroundings. They must use the proper waste receptacles for their garbage, and stop creating more out of posters. If they can do this, the school will be cleaner, and most likely smell better, making it more pleasant to attend.
The More is Not the Merrier in Classes Samantha N o rt h ro p R e p o rt e r The reason students are not participating in class may not be due to the fact they are too tired from watching Youtube videos all night, but because the class may be too large. Norwalk High could offer a higher quality education if they can keep class sizes fewer than twenty people. A majority of my class was absent one day because of a field trip. Immediately I noticed the positive effect the absences had. Students were more engaged into the lesson than when the entire class was present. People were also more comfortable to ask questions and voice their opinions. Large classes are simply more intimidating. With more people comes along more pressure to stand out, to participate, and connect with the teacher. These three ingredients are vital to being successful in a class so better understanding of the material can be established and the teacher will recognize the effort the student puts into the class. The best way a student can absorb information from a lesson is to not only ask and answer questions but to build a
conversation with the teacher. If a student feels unable to grab a teacher’s attention, they cannot be expected to do well. Recent studies performed by researchers apart of Parents Across America suggest that increasing a class size to 45 students had a negative impact on the amount of critical thinking required in a business classes and the quality of presentations. There are also benefits to smaller class sizes for teachers as well. One of the most common complaints students have towards their teachers is about receiving their work back late. With fewer students in a class, teachers do not have to spend as much time grading papers. They would also have more time to individually help students. It would be easier for a teacher to compile a list of lessons and activities that match up to all of the students’ interests. It is understood that in college there will be classes known as “lecture halls” that will be attended by hundreds of students. Norwalk High School does not necessarily need to worry about encouraging their students to get used to learning around a lot of people. According to college students, the key to mastering a lecture hall is good listening skills. If students are used to paying attention because of the affects of smaller classes, they will already be prepared.