Issuu

{reporter}

THE

volume 92 issue 4 april 2017 paola high school 401 angela street paola, ks 66071

In this issue {3} organ donors {6} cutting out clutter {8-9} the amazing race {12} netflix reviews {15} sports superstitions

labels on race, religion, looks and many other things discriminate

The Reporter april 2017 Editorial

like this. Just because some people strike you a certain way doesn’t mean that everyone is the same as them. People may be looked at as a “waste of height” if they don’t play basketball or volleyball, “full of themselves” if they’re confident and talented or “soul-less” if they’re a redhead. Others may be thought of as a druggy, jock, prude, liberal, conservative or jerk all because of some of the people they hang out with. Although they may be affiliated with some of those kinds of people, doesn’t mean that “they” are just the same. The next time you use the word “they,” stop and think if you are using this word to discriminate against a group as a whole. Are you sizing someone up according to someone’s physique or ethnicity? if so, then you might just be the “dumb blonde.” Labels separate, they don’t unite, instead they divide.

“I feel people are judged for acting nice, because people think they’re fake.”

“People are often judged based upon their actions and words.”

Managing Editor Karly Hoskins

Online & Social Media Editors

Mariah Sullivan & Moorea Long

Ads Manager Amanda Meeks

Photography Editor Natasha King

Senior ads managers Bre Allen & Abby Winterscheid

Reporters

Kalyn Bell, Erik Brakner, Stephanie Castillo, Jenna Collier, Claire Cox, Emma Cox, Lainey Dent, Breuana DuVal, Joey DuVal, Macayla Enman, Paige Fleming, Jacquee Hecker, Makayla Hughes, Skyler Hughes, Kelsey Lester, Hannah Menefee, Matthew Troutman, Ethan Palsmeier, Cali Seck, Gracyn Shulista, Abbie Upshaw

Adviser

BriAnne Chayer

It is the policy of the Paola Reporter to provide a forum for student expression, voices in the uninhibited, robust, free, and open discussion of issues. The Reporter encourages students to write letters to the editor or submit articles for the editorial page. We reserve the right to edit content. Material that contains libelous or obscene information will not be published. Material that will cause a disruption of school activities is also prohibited. Authors must provide their full name. No articles will be published with an alias.

Volume 92 Issue 4 mission statement

james wilson Sophomore “I feel people are judged by who they hang out with and their appearance.”

Ashley Everhart

the reporter editorial policy

“Because I am blonde I think that a lot of people assume that I am not as smart.”

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If I’m blonde am I automatically dumb? Little do people know that I got a letter from multiple Ivy League schools to participate on their track teams, I still have my 4.0 and I’m in National Honors Society. Look at Reese Witherspoon, a Stanford graduate. But since I’m a blonde, I’m just stupid and illiterate. I would beg to differ. It’s time to ditch the labels people. Why do we need to label one another by things such as height, weight, race or religion? Imagine a world without labels. The word “they” may seem harmless, but when it is used to lump a group of people together and shed negative light on them, it hurts. Labels are a form of discrimination. Although the labels on my height aren’t harmful to me, they have raised my awareness of the down side of labeling. The experiences I’ve had with this have led me to question why we, as humans, feel it necessary to categorize other humans. “They” do this, “they” look like this or “they” dress

Michayla canfield freshman

hall talk

I’m tall, actually just shy of six feet. No, I don’t play basketball or volleyball. That’s the very first thing people say to me anywhere I go. Hardly a day goes by that I’m not asked that question. Upon telling people I don’t play either sport, they continue to explain to me why I should be playing. I applaud the girls who do play these sports as literally I’m one of their cheerleaders, but my interests lie elsewhere. I never get the chance to tell people I became a national figure skating champion this summer or that I’m a two-time state medalist in the high jump because people are too busy telling me why I would be better at the sports they think I should play.

Editor-in-chief

Absent: 0

annie mae kelly senior

Against: 1

eric lester junior

For: 28

2016-2017

pride and prejudice staff list the Reporter

The Reporter is for the students, by the students. The goal of The Reporter is to give the students a voice, and provide an open forum of ideas while maintaining an ethical publication with unbiased coverage.

You’ R e Someone’s BLOOD Type donors save lives Saves lives {kalyn bell} {abbie upshaw}

Senior Maddie Hunter said she encourages other students to be a part of blood drives around the community. Her mother and grandfather opened her eyes to the blood donation experience. Hunter’s grandfather, who needed several blood transfusions, had a rare blood type. Her mother has had this experience. Hunter said she feels weak after she donates blood, but that does not affect the amazing feeling that she is saving lives. The KAYs blood drive is today at the high school. Stuart Ross, KAYs sponsor said 100 people volunteered at the September blood drive with 87 people donating.

reporter

Senior Cierra Achey said she feels physically drained from donating at the blood drive. She said she gave blood, knowing she was saving lives. According to a study on 3,000 men in Finland, donating blood not only has physical benefits for others but for the person donating. Senior Annie Kelley said her first experience donating blood was different from her second.. “Physically, the first time I felt lightheaded when I donated blood but felt perfectly fine the second time,” said Kelley. Kelley said she felt good knowing she could make a positive difference in someone’s life.

including yours Uncovers health problems and many physical health issues may be discovered.

#3 #2 #1

reporter

Reduces risk of heart attacks by 88%. Depleted iron in blood vessels gives room to work.

ABOVE: Senior Annie Mae Kelley donates blood at the KAYs September blood drive on Sept. 28 in the multi-purpose gym. Today is the spring KAYs blood drive at the high school. {Photo by Ethan Palsmeier} FRONT COVER: Sophomore Payton Sheldon plays her violin as she sits on a ladder at the beginning of Fiddler on the Roof March 31. This was Sheldon’s first time appearing in a play. {Photo by Skyler Hughes}

Reduces risk of developing cancer. Screens for extra iron in blood linked to risk of cancer.

{Source: American Journal of Epidemiology}

The Reporter April 2017 features

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are you smarter students test their intellectual might

From his first two years teaching in Sante Fe, to the six years he has spent in Paola, science teacher Ryan Oshel has noticed and praised the hard work and commitment his students have shown in his courses. From Anatomy and Physiology, Oshel sees nothing but excellence. ”I think that my students in A&P are the ones who really want the information and pay attention at a very high level,” Oshel said. “Then I think I’m pretty lucky here with Biology. I’ve got some really good kids right now that are focused and really working hard for me.” Oshel said he recognizes the sciences are not every students’ forte, as the material can be quite difficult, yet commends the students who have used what he has taught them in their college educations, careers and their lives in general. “I’ve had multiple kids throughout the years come back and tell me they’ve used stuff from my class to help them in college,” Oshel said. “During the Alumni Panels, I had somebody from last years’ Anatomy class tell me what they learned in my class actually put them so far ahead they get to be a teacher’s aide in their college anatomy class.” The basis for what students learn in high school, Oshel said, is established in elementary and middle school. But it can be difficult to remember everything they have been taught.

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”[Students] don’t retain the entire set of information or the entire concept of what they were taught previously, but they remember part of it, which helps us move along when we go over it,” Oshel said. “If information is not used consistently, it tends to be forgotten.” Oshel said while the information students are taught in high school my seem arbitrary, a lot of it goes toward building life experience down the road. In his experience, even in math, each student reaps some reward. ”Now, advanced math isn’t something I use right now, but I use basic math skills each day,” Oshel said. “All of the subjects help you in life. I can’t think of a single class I took in high school I didn’t get something out of because I went to school.” Though the school system seems set up for the benefit of students heading off to university, Oshel said he recognizes those students headed toward other goals, and encourages them to figure out how they learn best for their lives after graduation. ”Everybody needs to figure out what works for them,” Oshel said. “Is it reading the book? Is it writing our notes down? Sitting and listening? Finding a video on the internet or coming up with flashcards? Everybody’s different, so everybody needs to figure out what type of learner they are.”

The Reporter april 2017 academics

Than a Fifth Grader? { } { } ethan palsmeier reporter

With your Hosts

cali seck reporter

Did you get them all right? Check your answers at the bottom of the page.

Tyce allen

JAVEN CHURCH

Alexis Clark

1. The thigh bone is also called what?

“The Stringham.”

“Tibia.”

“I have no idea.”

2. True or False: Africa is a country south of Europe.

“True.”

“False.”

“True.”

3. How many syllables are in the word “Mississippi”?

“Four.”

“False.”

5. How many feet are in 75 yards?

“225 feet.”

“6 feet.”

6. What element is represented by “N” on the Periodic Table?

“Nitrogen.”

7. Is 3/7 Greater than or less than 7/10?

“Less than.”

8. The frontal lobe of your brain controls what?

“Your eyesight.”

“Your right and left side of your body.”

“I don’t know.”

9. True or False: Albany is the capital of New York State.

“True.”

“False.”

Florida and Texas Called?

“The Atlantic Ocean.”

“The Gulf of Mexico.”

“I don’t know.”

FINAL SCORE

60%

80%

40%

CONTESTANTS

4. True or False: Columbus discovered America in the fourteenth century.

10. What is the body of water between

fifth Grader

freshman

senior

1. Femur; 2. False; 3. Four; 4. False; 5. 225 feet; 6. Nitrogen; 7. Less Than; 8. Your Learning and Decision-Making; 9. True; 10. The Gulf of Mexico

classes build life skil s for success, Oshel says

Take your leader Me To

club presidents carry unique responsibilities {

Senior Maddie Olson has been involved in Student Council since elementary school, she was president her eighth grade year, a member her freshman year, secretary her sophomore and junior year, and President this year. Olson said she worked with with many amazing presidents but, Taylor Williams, class of 2016 graduate, previous Stuco president, pushed her to become the president. “She thought that I would be the best candidate for the job, so I ran and I got voted in by the school,” Olson said. As Stuco president, Olson oversees six different committees that work on different projects throughout the year, I oversee all the committees and go to all of the committee meetings,” Olson said. “Almost any big project goes through me.” Stuco tries to meet twice a month to discus what they need to get done, Olson said. Olson said one of the main goals for StuCo this year was to increase student involvement. “I really want to make an impact in the school,” said Olson. Olson said being a club leader has shown how to connect with all different kinds of people. “It’s been a great opportunity for

}{Mariah sullivan}

Macayla enman

me to really intertwine with different students and faculty members,” Olson said. “Through Student Council I have been able to connect with every teacher and a lot of the students.” Senior Austin McDaniel said the

maddie olson, senior

Art Club meets in Deanna Morgan’s art room every other Wednesday to discuss the second Family Art Night, announcements and the upcoming trip to Arkansas. “As the Art Club President, I help organize public events and get meetings scheduled,” McDaniel said. Since this is the first year of Art

online editor

Club, McDaniel said he was unsure how to lead. “It’s a little nerve-racking at first, but I learned that people look up to you,” McDaniel said. McDaniel said a big part of being a club leader is to be confident and unafraid. “You really need to be passionate about pursuing and leading,” McDaniel said. “You’re going to run into things, but you’ll get over them.” Drama Club is run by 13 board members, rather than one club leader said senior Kaitlyn Anderson. Anderson started selling box tickets, but worked her way up to board member. “Coats chooses who gets on the board; it’s based on hours involved, your involvement level and leadership quality,”she said Board members discuss announcements and plan the meetings the day before a meeting with Drama Club. Anderson said being a board member taught her to be a better leader. “I have learned to be a person that someone else can come to if they have a question,” Anderson said. “If they are scared about getting involved in the department or nervous about a show, I’m usually they person they come to.”

{} “It’s been a great opportunity for me to really intertwine with different students and faculty members Through Student Council I have been able to connect with every teacher and a lot of the students.”

reporter

{Art by Paige Fleming}

Top: Senior Josh Tegarden paints a childs face at Family Art Night March 15. The face painting station was one of the children’s favorites. {Photo by Jaquee Hecker} Center Sophomore Brendan Ohlmeier dances with a bottle on his head in the play Fiddler on the Roof March. 30. {Photo by Natasha King}. Bottom: Banners hang from the ceiling in the commons Feb. 3. Student council held a banner contest,. {Photo by Natasha King}

The Reporter april 2017 clubs & organizations

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Cutting out clutter students organize their lockers and rooms to get clean for spring {

} {stephanie castillo}

kelsey lester

Q&A amelia dawdy junior Would you consider yourself an organized person?

No. I can never keep track of something I tried organizing, and when I do it ends up turning into a mess. Do you have a messy bedroom or locker? My locker is a mess, and I try not to keep my room a mess, but I have a lot of clothes everywhere. Do you feel it is important to be organized? Yes, because you have to keep track of stuff that is important like homework. Kenzie Gray, sophomore, said she usually has a messy locker. Since cleaning it out, Gray said it is not as messy as it was, but has not stayed completely organized. “It was messy in the first place because I’m not focused on keeping anything clean,” she said. {Photo by Kelsey Lester}

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The Reporter april 2017 entertainment

l c x

where. Gray said. Senior Thomas Ryckert is like Gray in the fact that his locker is unorganized, but when it comes to how things are laid out Ryckert is particular about how they look. Ryckert said “I like things to be straight or symmetrical, I’m not sure why, it just really bothers me when they aren’t straight or symmetrical”. According to Ryckert he also believes it is important to be organized. “It helps you accomplish tasks much easier” Ryckert said.

reporter

l c x

From candy wrappers to textbooks sophomore Kenzie Gray’s locker is a little unorganized. According Gray it is difficult to keep her locker organized. Gray said “I cannot keep my locker organized, because the lockers are just too small” Though Gray struggles keeping her locker organized she believes it is important to keep it organized. “Yes I feel it is important to be organized it helps to keep you on track with your homework and stuff instead of having it every-

reporter

during before After 8 Steps to cleaning out your locker 5 1 6 2 3 7 4 8 Take everything out of your locker and separate it into three piles. Trash pile, keep pile, and take home pile. Put the keep pile back in locker.

Put the Books towards the bottom spines facing out. Invest in a locker rack and place your binders on it. Maximize space by alternating the direction binders are facing.

Place notebooks on same locker rack as binders.

Invest in containers to hold pencils and other items and put on top shelf of locker along with excess notebook paper. Hang jackets or backpacks on the hooks in the locker. Keep locker clean by throwing trash aways and taking things home.

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WWW.PHSJOURNALISM.COM The Reporter april 2017 advertisement

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senior Tanner Moala

Growing up in Paola, senior Tanner Moala said he feels as if he has always fit in, but knows he is a minority since he is Samoan. “If I hear people being racist, it does make me mad and I question why they would even think like that,”Moala said. “I tell them it’s not cool to talk like that or act that way.” Moala said he has never been judged by his race or had a harder time in school. “I know a little bit about my background and I take pride in being Samoan,” said Moala. “I like to rep my Hawaiian sweatshirt all the time.” Moala said since days of segregation society has made many accomplishments.

“I can’t even describe how far we’ve come just because back then we couldn’t even use the same bathroom,” said Moala. “Today black people can vote and that is a very big thing. There is still room for improvement, so just keep changing.” Moala said he has many role models. “God! God is one of my biggest role models,” said Moala. Moala has heard people say racial slurs, many of which he says aren’t derogative; they aren’t usually said to be rude. Being a part of a minority within a small town comes with many obstacles. “Yeah people are cautious around me, but I don’t really surround myself with people who would talk like that,” he said.

ThE AmAZ

students deal with different forms of discrimin

PHS

Demographics

white 65% 400 students other 8.8% 49 students hispanic 19.2% 117 students African american 7% 43 students

freshman timeline of discrimination Miranda carette

{Source: Reporter survey of 20 percent of student body- 120 students}

At only 15 years old, freshman Miranda Carette’s grandmother traveled from Mexico to the United States alone. Upon arrival, she got a job in a sewing factory until the rest of her family arrived and eventually founded local restaurant El Tapatio which stayed in business for more than 30 years. “I look up to my grandma a lot because she never stops working,” Carette said. “When she gets home from work, she goes straight to the kitchen. She is in the kitchen more than she in her own bedroom. We tell her sit down, but if she didn’t have a job she wouldn’t know what to do.” Carette said her mother and uncles faced bullying growing up because they were the Hispanic minority. While Carette has grown up in the same environment, she said she doesn’t allow it to affect her. “It doesn’t bother me what race I am; I love being Hispanic, I love the food, I love the language, I just love it,” she said. “It just bothers me when other people speak badly of it, like when people use stereotypes or make judgements before they

{8}

even know me” Upon the election of President Donald Trump, Carette said she believes people say anything without considering the consequences and think they can speak their minds without hurting someone else. “I feel like now people who are of different race are going to be more self-conscious and more people may get hurt,” she said. “I have family down in Mexico and I don’t know if I’ll ever see them again.” At the high school, 65 percent of students are white and 19.2 percent are Hispanic.While Carette said she has not faced a lot of bullying because of her race, she said she does often feel like she doesn’t belong when in large groups of people. “If someone says it about me of course it hurts, but when they say it about my entire culture, it, really hurts because I am a part of that race” she said, “you are speaking badly of that race. So it doesn’t just bother that one person you are speaking poorly of, it affects the whole race.”

The Reporter april 2017 Features

Black & white KKK belief in white jim crow Barack Obama trump bans muslim slavery superiority elected plans to builds wa laws

1650 1860 1950 2008 2017

{Source Racism in America Over Time website}

Q&A with justin elliott

Do you think there is racism in our school? Yes! I have a tough time gaging how big of a problem it is though. What do you do when you witness racism in the school? Every situation is a little bit different. Obviously I intervene in what I think is the most appropriate manner for the situation. How do you think society could improve on its racist tendencies? Well the easiest statement is don’t judge a book by its cover, but getting their is the hard part .

ZInG race

nation because of their race {

} {claire cox}

jacquee hecker reporter

reporter

Evan phillips freshman

Freshman Evan Phillips said although he doesn’t feel like a minority, he said he still feels people don’t always accept him as they might someone of the opposite race. “I don’t feel like a minority, but sometimes people don’t really accept me as one of them or they exclude me from certain things, I’m just treated differently,” he said. Phillips said bullying and name calling can only make him stronger. He learned through the years when people are just being casual they actually mean

what they say, such as racial slurs. “I find racial slurs and names funny,” Phillips said. “It just makes me better. They are all stupid. I can definitely tell the difference when people are casual and when they are actually serious,” he said. Phillips said he believes people need to see others as equals. “I think we’ve come far since the days of segregation, but I feel like things still could change. Bullying and name calling needs to stop; we need to be equal,” he said.

As junior, Emily Taylor grew up, she said some days she felt out of place, and wasn’t always accepted. “Some people call me ‘chocolate’ or ‘Hershey’. It’s kind of OK , then you just have to brush it off,” Taylor said. Taylor said in history class hearing about slavery makes her want to learn more about the history of it all. “I am very interested in history, I really like looking into what put me here,” she said. By talking to family, Taylor said she found

more out about her culture and heritage. “I’ve talked to my mom and how she kind of grew up. My dad has a white grandma, so I talk to her and see how things were for her too,” Taylor said. Taylor said she knows how different it was for her parents’ generation and she is thankful things are becoming better. “My grandma grew up with a very strict family, where interacting with blacks was bad. But I it’s changed a lot since then and I’m glad it did,” Taylor said.

Sophomore, CJ Shell, has only lived in Paola for three years, but he has already seen and heard racism. “Racism is centered around certain cliques, but it’s everywhere,” Shell said. Shell said that even though he’s been exposed to racism all his life, it still hurts him to see people bully others just because of their background. “It’s something that doesn’t need to be brought up in school, I’m here to learn not get picked on because I’m black,” Shell said. Shell said he struggles with racism. “I usually go to a counselor and talk

about it or report it,” Shell said. He said he believes the world has come very far since days of segregation, but there is still a ways to go. “We’ve come far, but there will always be racism and there is a ways to go,” he said. In order to get rid of racism and move forward, Shell said that everyone should get to know each other. “We just need to get to know each other. Instead of seeing someone as white or black, people just need to see each other as people. we are all the same. It’s as simple as that,” Shell said.

Emily taylor

ms & wall

Junior

sophomore CJ shell

{Photo Illustration by Ashley Everhart}

The Reporter april 2017 features

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Lifeguard

protecting those who can’t protect themselves

housewives deceive viewers with fake explicits

“Any death caused by abortion is one too many and can be

“More gullible viewers are liable to believe the exploits of

solved if the mother chooses life... I’m proud to say I’m prolife and support human dignity...”

their favorite housewife are real, and set unrealistic goals for their own lives.”

-Senior abbie upshaw

-Senior ethan palsmeier

I’m an 18 year old, Catholic, pro-life woman. Abortion strips away the dignity of human life. I’m not here to spread hate towards differing opinions, but instead show why abortion is wrong. 1. Abortion goes against the Ten Commandments. The Seventh Commandment states we shall not kill; abortion is murder and directly violates the seventh commandment. Abortion is wrong because we as humans do not, or should not have the right to decide who lives or dies. 2. Life begins at conception. At the moment the baby is conceived, a new life has begun. Dr. Alfred M. Bongioanni, professor of pediatrics and obstetrics at the University of Pennsylvania, says he does not consider the early stages of a child’s development in the womb to be any less of a human than a child who has yet to undergo the dramatic effects of puberty. He says human life exists at every stage of a pregnancy. 3. Thousands die everyday. According to the US Abortion Clock almost 60 million abortions in America have been performed since 1973 when the Supreme Court ruling, Roe vs Wade, legalized abortion. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, roughly 3,652 abortions are performed every day: which is more than half of Paola’s population. Any death caused by abortion is one too many and can be solved if the mother chooses life. 4. Abortion is unsafe. Having an abortion increases the risk of developing breast cancer; a study from the National Cancer Institute, led by Dr.

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Unreal Reality

Janet Darling, found women who have an abortion have a 50 percent higher risk of developing breast cancer. Also, according to the British Journal of Psychiatry, women who have an abortion have an 81 percent increased risk of mental trauma. 5. Two wrongs don’t make a right. Some women choose to have abortions because they have been raped. Logically, they don’t want a constant reminder of the rape. However, two wrongs don’t make a right. Rape is an act of violence and abortion is an act of murder. Combining the two in attempt to make a right, doesn’t work. An article on Life Site interviewed women who were impregnated from rape and chose life over abortion, like Rebekah Berg. She understood a child is still a child no matter their conception and every life is a gift from God. The other interviewed women said having their babies helped them rise above rape and gave them a chance to heal in a selfless way. Opposing abortion in the case of rape is not only to help save babies but to help mother’s rise above their past. I choose life. Raising a child, is a lifelong commitment and if you do not have the means to support a child it is best to give the child to a family that can; adoption is a loving alternative to abortion. Another way to prevent unwanted pregnancy is to wait to have sex until you’re truly ready for a child, it’s simple but effective. Both options are successful in protecting human life and dignity. I’m proud to say I’m pro-life and support human dignity before, during and after birth.

The Reporter april 2017 opinion

As we struggle through our daily lives, Americans turn increasingly to mass media to soothe our woes. Listening to music on the radio calms our emotions and watching the television quiets our minds. Absorbing the information they offer, numbs the aches and pains we earn from a tiring day’s work. Yet, how numb is too numb? Minutes can quickly turn into hours sitting in front of that flashing screen; a submissive brainwashing allows the information we take in to replace our personalities and degrade our intelligence. Certain channels and genres are worse than others; it is much more preferable to lose one’s mind in a documentary than a slapstick cartoon. Yet none are more abhorrent, repulsive and absolutely brain-killing than so-called reality television. To be fair, the definition of reality television is a loose one, and many shows find themselves unfairly labeled as such. However, it is precisely because of this lax nomenclature the original purpose of the genre has been lost. As the name suggests, these shows were intended to broadcast the lives of ordinary people muddling through their ordinary troubles to show viewers they are not alone in their strife. The stars were supposed to be relatable everymen, with dreams and goals the viewers could root

for and understand. But the television executives realized that model would never make enough money to satisfy their egos. They quickly adulterated the genre, replacing the blue-collar working class hero with ultrarich, spray-tanned, melodramatic, emotionally stunted, scantily clad middle-aged men and women desperately attempting to convince the audience -and themselves- they are still teenagers. It is a wonder anyone thought these overgrown toddlers would make for decent entertainment. More gullible viewers are liable to believe the exploits of their favorite housewife are real, and set unrealistic goals for their own lives. It is natural for people to strive for wealth, yet the constant backstabbing, screaming matches and parties are a reality found only on screen. To be clear, I do not think such a lifestyle is unobtainable, but would it really be worth it? Rather than fill our heads with nonsense like wondering how many gold chains we can sport on our tri-deck yachts, let’s change the channel. Engaging in more stimulating media, and other television programs, will reap far more benefits than wondering how intoxicated a 60-year-old grandmother can get at her granddaughter’s graduation party.

Top 6 shows with more Brains than Reality Television

1 Rick and Morty 3 The Walking Dead 5 Archer 2 Mythbusters 4 The Chase 6 Futurama

the google effect allegiance to the flag i pledge

education level is rapidly dissenting the pledge has lost its meaning “America is no longer No. 1 in math, reading, science or any other subject. As an entire nation, we’ve grown lazy in our search for understanding.”

-senior ashley everhart Is “funner” a word? Who invented pizza? When is “American Idol” on? Who should I vote for? What is quinoa? Did Jay-Z cheat on Beyonce? According to Daily Mail’s website these are just a few of the most popular questions googled by Americans each year. Every time you need an answer to something -- homework, crossword puzzles, or age-old questions such as “how are babies made?” -- you turn to the internet to help find the answer. You no longer waste your time with things such as encyclopedias and libraries when it’s far easier just to type your question into a little box and find your answer within seconds. Thanks to technology you no longer have to remember frivolous things such as phone numbers, passwords or trivia. You have all the information you need right at your fingertips. While this has made everyone’s life easier -- except maybe your technologically challenged grandma --it has also made us simple-minded and forgetful. According to the Kaspersky Lab, the reasoning behind this amnesia is because our minds know how accessible information is so they don’t commit the information to memory.

This can not easily be overlooked. Humans remember things they make connections with -things they know and feel. When you lose that element, you lose the knowledge that forms from it. Instead of continuing to improve in education and knowledge, we have begun to dissent. America is no longer number one in math, reading, science or any other subject. As an entire nation, we’ve grown lazy in our search for understanding. It’s scary to think about what will happen to future generations if America continues down this path. While you may feel as though there is no solution to this problem because we can’t change the billions of other people occupying our country - everyone can change themselves. It seems like a pain to go to such great lengths for information you could obtain within minutes, but the more you challenge your mind, the stronger it will become. And the stronger each individual mind becomes, the stronger our nation becomes. Next time you are doing a research paper for Government, instead of googling an article on Theodore Roosevelt, take the time to go to the library and find a book on good-old Teddy.

“It doesn’t really have true meaning for most people.”

-sophomore claire cox I’ve said it everyday, of every week, of every school year, since I was 5 years old. It has become a habit, a simple part of my daily routine just like brushing my teeth. Each morning, the entire class stands up, recites the pledge, and then starts the day. But is that all the pledge should be? It is a memorized habit recited because students are expected to. It doesn’t really have a true meaning for most people. Even though we could legally sit down during the Pledge, peer pressure and fear of judgment make all of us stand up - whether we want to or not. Students should not be forced to say the Pledge of Allegiance. They should have the right to choose, and teachers and administrators should respect that decision. If you choose not to recite the pledge, do so peacefully and respectfully. Many religions exist in America, and even though Christianity is the majority religion, 30% of Americans practice different religions. 22 of this 30 percent are atheists or ‘unaffiliated”. Therefore, the phrase “One Nation Under God” may not be appropriate for someone who practices atheism to say, therefore they should not be forced to say it. Some might also feel their allegiance is not for America, but for their home country. According to the 2016 US census, out of more than 300 million people who live in America, 37 percent or more than 5 million people are immigrants, and the numbers are growing everyday. If these students feel this way, they should not be forced by a teacher to stand up and say the pledge. Others might disagree, saying that if you live in America, then you are obligated to pledge your allegiance to the country, no matter your back-

{Art by Paige Fleming}

ground. They think that since the pledge is a long -lasting tradition it should be upheld by every American citizen. But this is untrue, just because you live somewhere does not mean that your allegiance is for that country, therefore saying the pledge would come out as just empty words. Some people also believe that once you become an American citizen you are automatically agreeing to be loyal and faithful to America. In other words you have already pledged your allegiance to the country. This is unfair. Just because you live somewhere does not mean it’s your home. . If your loyalty is not for America, then what’s the point of saying the Pledge? If you don’t believe in God, then why say “One Nation Under God.”? It’s just empty words if you don’t truly believe in what you’re saying. However, if you are an American citizen then you should uphold your duty to be a good member of American society, but this doesn’t mean you have to agree with everything America does. This is another reason students might not want to say the pledge. If a student doesn’t agree with or support America, if they are not proud to be Americans, and if they don’t feel like the pledge holds any truth for them, they should not be obligated to say the pledge. In the end, it all comes down to respect. Respect for everyone’s opinions and beliefs. If a student chooses to sit down when the Pledge of Allegiance is being said, then that is their right. They should not be judged or ridiculed for it by staff, administration, or fellow students.

The Reporter april 2017 Opinion

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show stoppers Stranger things

students review top tv shows {jenna collier} {erik brakner}

fruitvale station

What is your favorite genre of movie?

There is nothing like letting a show or movie give you the chills and this show is perfectly capable of it. It is the type of show you could binge watch all day and you’d never get tired of it.

Junior, Tyler Molina said, she love “Stranger Things” so much, because it’s suspenseful and exciting. “The show always had me on the edge of my seat.” Molina said.

This is an emotional movie based on a true story. This movie did an amazing job of sharing Oscar Grant’s last days before he was killed Jan. 1 2009. His incidence started a revolution between the people and police officers across the United States.

I really liked how they used the station name where Oscar Grant was killed for the name of the movie. It felt like I was actually witnessing the whole encounter. The actors did an amazing job in their roles, especially Ryan Coogler who played, Oscar.

If you have a free weekend, grab a bag of chips and a juice box and get comfy to binge watch season 1. It’s impossible to turn off the next episode. They always leave the episodes at a cliff hangers. “The 100” has to be my favorite

series because it’s a science-fiction, futuristic and post-apocalyptic show. These characteristics of the series makes me think about the future of our world and what it holds for us.

Hacksaw Ridge was a wellmade World War II movie with love, action, suspense and gore. This helped to make this movie what it is now according to New York Times “The Best War Film Since Saving Private Ryan.” War movies fascinate me be-

cause I wasn’t born in the era to see what it was like and Hacksaw Ridge retells the battle. The movie showed me the true definition of bravery. The gory scenes added a new level of action to the movie. The story had a cohesive idea.

the 100

hacksaw ridge

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The Reporter April 2017 entertainment

reporter

horror 20% comedies 27.2% romantic 8.8%

dramas 5.6% action 16.8% scifi 6.4%

how long do you spend watching tv? 3-4 hours 16% 5+ hours 5.6%

none 16% 1-2 hours 52.4%

{Source: Reporter survey of 20 percent of student body} {Photos courtesy of Creative Commons}

1 in 615

a series providing a glimpse into the life of one out of the 615 unique students at PHS

loss love Learn Laugh fahey looks back on the positive after losing mother {ashley everhart} {gracyn shulista} editor-in-chiEf

At only 11 months old, freshman Taylor Fahey was adopted from China by Sean and LuAnn Fahey. “We knew there was a baby girl in China who needed us as much as needed to be her mom and dad,” Sean said. To help Fahey assimilate into American culture Sean said they often attended Chinese dances and cultural events as a family. “We explained to Taylor she had 2 sets of parents that loved her very much; her birth parents in China and her mother and father,” he said. Despite her parents best attempts, Fahey said she struggled with fitting in. “They told me I was adopted when I was very young and I got teased for it by other kids at school,” she said. “They said ‘your p a r ents don’t love you, they Freshman Taylor Fahey laughs at a joke with friends on March 30. Fahey tries tog ave you up.’ My parents told stay positive after the loss of her mother.me to ignore it, but that didn’t {Photo by Gracyn Shulista}

always work.” Fahey said she was able to overcome the bullies with the help of her mom. She grew closer to her mom as she helped her through the harsh treatment and spent time shopping and getting their nails done together. “She wanted everyone to have a chance and to not see people on what they look like, she told me that all the time,” Fahey said. They continued to grow closer until her mother passed away unexpectedly Nov. 9. “I miss the fact that I can’t talk to her or hear her voice anymore, and I miss the little things like her sticking up for me when my dad is giving me a hard time,” she said. Fahey said although many people from school, the community and her family have helped her cope with the loss of her mother, she has still had a hard time opening up to others. “I kind of fake it through school and I tell my friends I’m OK, but I’m not inside,” Fahey said. Macayla Enman, freshman, has seen this change in Fahey after her mom’s passing. “She was always so happy and cheerful, and she still is, but it’s dialed back a little. She’s not as perky as she normally is, she’s more relaxed,” Enman said. After LuAnn passed away, Sean said Fahey took it hard.

reporter

“We’re still feeling the loss and dealing with it day to day,” he said. “There are emotional bubbles that sometimes unexpectedly surface and pop, and we grieve all over again. We lean on each other, and draw strength from each other.” Despite the tragedy, Sean said Fahey has still managed to maintain a positive outlook because of the many people in their lives. “What gets us through this is our family, friends, and community,” he said. “We’re blessed to have so many supportive family and friends to lend us aid and comfort while we learn to cope with our loss.” Fahey said she learned a lot from the occurrence and has had many changes in her life. “I learned that something can happen in an instant no matter what time,” she said. After the loss of her mom, Fahey and her father will move to a new home soon. “We’re moving and when we move we’ll leave behind all of the memories we had with her at the house,” she said. Although they are taking a big step forwards, Sean said neither one of them will ever forget the impact LuAnn had on their lives. “I remind Taylor that her mother is still with her, in her heart, and that she goes wherever Taylor goes,” he said.

The Reporter april 2017 Features

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Springing sports in to {

spring athletes work hard to prepare

Baseball

Trevor Boehm, senior

Senior Trevor Boehm said he hopes to keep the baseball team going strong this year. He has played baseball for 13 years and plans to keep playing. “We have lost a big impact on our team/coaching staff when we were told that Scott Dreiling wasn’t able to help us out after six years of him putting his free time into our program.” As of press time, the varsity baseball team was 3-0.

} {paige fleming}

makayla hughes reporter

javelin

reporter

alexis kuehl, junior

Junior Alexis Kuehl broke the school record in javelin last year during the regional track meet and is looking to best her past performance. Kuehl has thrown javelin ever since the halfway mark of track her freshman year. Her personal record is 134’ 4.’ “My hopes for this season are pretty high,” she said. At Kuehl’s first meet she threw 122’ 6.”

Sophomore Colton Muckelbauer runs around the track to warm up before throwing Feb. 28.. Paola won the March 31 meet at Eudora outscoring all other teams in almost every event. {Photo by Ethan Palsmeier}. Junior Tom Smets prepares to hit the ball in tennis practice March 9. Despite this being Smets practiced with the varsity. {Photo by Ashley Everhart}. Junior Elizabeth Pomatto pulls her arm back to throw the javelin at track practice. Pomatto placed first in javelin March 31 with all Paola javelin throwers placing in the top five. {Photo by Erik Brakner}.

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The Reporter april 2017 sports

read more profiles on golf, tennis and swim online @ Phs journalism.com

Court is in Session tennis hosts varsity tournament {

} {Breuana Duval}

Skyler hughes

The paint lines faded, puddles formed after rainstorms, weeds diverted bouncing tennis balls from their natural course. The largest complaint: the cracks At the start of a new tennis season on new courts, Todd Weaver, tennis coach, is glad his team doesn’t have to face the same obstacles every day at practice. New tennis courts were a must have for the tennis team and were approved by the administration at the cost of nine hundred thousand dollars. “They are a thousand times better; there are more of them and, best of all, no cracks,” Weaver said. With the bonus of a new court to play on, the high school will be able to host the first varsity tennis tournament ever. “It’s great, we get to show off our new courts and our kids are excited about it,” he said. Returning player, junior Kelley Colwell said she’s excited

about starting a new tennis season with the recently added courts. “I think they’re so much nicer,” Colwell said. To Colwell, it’s not about the new courts. She said that she also loves the atmosphere of

reporter

school and started to play with us,” Graves said. “Then my older brother and I played with him and loved it.” Graves said playing on the old tennis courts was difficult. “The courts had some cracks where the ball would hit it and go different directions,” he said. He said he believes the new courts were an improvement because of the concrete. “I think they’re beautiful,” he said, “I play with my brother on the courts and I just find it fun.” Junior Matthew Bevis is returning for a new tennis season at the high school. He said that he enjoys tennis because he is surrounded with friends that he enjoys playing tennis with. When it comes to practicing outside of school, he said that he came to the new courts once they were built. “They’re really nice and a big step up from the old ones,” he said.

{} “They are a thousand times better; there are more of them and best of all, no cracks.” todd weaver, coach

being on the tennis team. She never dreads going to practices. This year will be senior Peyton Graves’ fourth year playing tennis for the high school, which was encouraged by his dad. “My dad played in high

reporter

Q&A

phil bressler principal

What was the purpose of building new tennis courts? First of all, we couldn’t host our own tournament, but the biggest problem was the old courts were built on a ground with a water source beneath it. Due to the water source it was damaging the courts. Rather than repairing them, it was just easier to replace them. What did you find was the hard part about planning this? Finding a location to build them on. How much money was put into the new tennis courts? It was right at $900,000 Do you feel like the money spent on building new tennis courts was well spent? I do. I think the tennis courts are not only going to be used by the tennis teams, but by the classes and community. I also feel it’s unfair to ask our players to play on substandard facilities when our other players have top-notch facilities. Juniors Maddie Timpe and Jacob Weaver take turns serving the ball to the opposite side of the court on March 7. Timpe and Weaver play together as partners during tennis practice. {Photo by Ashley Everhart} Freshman Miranda Carrete runs across the court to hit the tennis ball before it hits the ground on March 30. Carrete was competing against Bonner Springs in her match. {Photo by Kalyn Bell} Malia Czepcinski, sophomore, returns the ball to her competition in a match against Bonner Springs on March 30. Czepcinski and her partner sophomore Brendan Ohlmeier both lost their single matches and won their double.s {Photo by Kalyn Bell}

The Reporter april 2017 Sports

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Or numbers In Out Trends Q&A ross finds unique clothing for daily wardrobe { } cole decker 15 by the

fashion

# ##

Emma Cox

22 percent

said they care about their appearance

39.6 10percent out of

spend

less than

$20 on clothing

base what they wear off of brands

stephanie ross sophomore

{Source: Reporter survey of 30 percent of students}

Joseph smith freshman

clothing per trip

different from everyone else,’” Ross said. Current styles and fashion do not interest Ross. She said what she sees in the halls is almost boring. Her favorite outfit, she said, she feels most people would not normally wear; overalls with clear boots and mismatched socks. “Everyone has the same style and I feel like your personality shows through your style of clothing but I can’t tell because everyone dress the same,” Ross said. Name-brand clothing is not a big factor when Ross goes shopping. She said most of her clothes are actually off brand. However, Ross does want to keep up a good image of herself when in public and she said her appearance does matter. “I really do care about my appearance because I feel like I have an image and I don’t want to let people think I don’t care about my image,” Ross said. Ross said that she is usually ridiculed in the halls for what she wears, and she never lets any of the negative comments to get to her, she said that she takes them as a compliment rather that an insult.

Mary peuser junior

spend $100+ on

cole decker senior

out of

Reporter

Stephanie Ross, 10, said she feels as if she stands out in the halls because of what she wears. Ross said she believes she shouldn’t have to dress like everybody else because she prefers to stand out from the crowd. “I feel like I shouldn’t have to wear the same stuff as everybody else,” Ross said. Fashion has been ever-changing and very in high schools for decades. Some students are picky about what they put on in the morning, while others throw on whatever is clean and within reach. With thousands of brands to choose from and countless styles to wear, some find their clothes in department stores, while others go to thrift stores to buy the latest fashions. FInding most of her clothes at Gordman’s or thrift stores, Ross said that she first developed her style in sixth grade when she started to wear neon colors and styles. “I went to Gordman’s for the first time and I saw a lot of neon. I bought a bunch of neon stuff and then I started dressing

What is your style type? It varies. It depends on whether I want to look nice or not. Do you care about what you wear to school? Yeah, I like to look nice. . When did you develop your style? The end of last year and this one. What is your favorite thing to wear? Probably my khakis with my brown dress shoes and my short sleeve button ups. Are influenced by the people around you concerning what you wear? No.

What style do you typically wear? Casual 26.7% Fancy 2.7% Athletic 16%

The Reporter april 2017 Entertainment

Comfy 10.2% Hipster 2.7% Varies 41.7%

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