Special Edition - December 2020

December 2020

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On the outside, looking in

Written by: Skyler Gayden and Emma Finnegan

Perception is extremely important to some, especially when someone has to worry about keeping up a reputation.

When two adults meet in any area of St. Louis, they will often ask which school they went to. For some it can be a way to link friend groups and make connections, but for others it is a key question for people to judge one another on where they grew up and it may appear to be a window into that person’s personal life.

Ritenour openly advertises its many groups that encourage diversity, which includes Game Changers, the social justice club, and GSA, the Gay-Straight Alliance, who both have active voices on campus. These groups encourage and embrace different types of people to come out of their shell and speak out on things that they believe need to be fixed or changed.

Some St. Louis area students who live outside of the Ritenour area said they have a GSA club, but not anything even remotely close to Game Changers, whose goal is to bring awareness to racial issues in the school and community.

Hannah Montgomery, a junior at Timberland High School, believes her school does not have a club that speaks on racial issues due to their student population.

“I think it’s because the school is a lot less diverse than Ritenour. The majority of the students are white, so they believe it’s not their place to speak out on those types of issues,” Montgomery said.

That’s one way that Ritenour’s

Photo by: Jordan Fritzsche Students gather together at the Homecoming Assembly of 2019 (the last assembly to be held inside due to COVID). Students of many races and cultures make up the population of Ritenour, and that is often misunderstood by outsiders.

diversity shows up to outsiders.

Students at other schools think the only reason Ritenour is vocal about current issues is because it has to be. Since the students have such varied backgrounds, it lends itself to them speaking our rather than staying silent.

Ritenour High School has been around for longer than some may have realized. Starting in 1911, Ritenour High opened its doors for the first time. Ritenour is one of the oldest schools in St. Louis, being a minimum of 20 years older than surrounding schools such as Pattonville and Hazelwood. Due to this, the school has experienced many different eras, each with its own personality.

Although the high school may have opened in 1911, the school district originally started in 1867 and was the first district in the

metropolitan area to serve African American students. Though the school district began with a separation of schools, in 1968 Ritenour joined both schools together and accepted Saint Louis County’s desegregation plan.

“I graduated in the class of ‘86, and I believe the demographics were about 50/50, and everyone had a place,” said Dorris Finnegan, a Ritenour alumni who went to Ritenour for all 13 years of her academic career.

Finnegan believes Ritenour also was a place for everyone and “had always been a very diverse place.”

Today, athletes at Ritenour are people who constantly interact with students from other schools, which means that they might hear more opinions from different schools than others. Senior tennis player Veronica Booker says that she has

Due to the fact that it is much more diverse than most other schools in the state, Ritenour is often misunderstood by outsiders in a city that seems to care a lot about where people went to high school not experienced any comments directly related to the tennis team, but believes that those comments do exist in other sports.

“I do not believe I have heard a school talk about our team as a whole, but each sports team is different within our school. Our reputation is a mix, because I have heard other schools say we are ‘ghetto,’ but my tennis teammates and I use sportsmanship and manners and we usually receive it back,” Booker said.

Everyone has different experiences, especially based on who they surround themselves with. For example, Coach Kyle Wagner, Ritenour’s new football coach, says that from an outsider’s point of view, Ritenour often gets burdened with a reputation that he has not seen as being true since he was hired. “(Ritenour is seen as) a place where the kids are not very disciplined, where there are a lot of behavior issues, and where academics are not important, but once you are actually involved with the school, you can see that it is not the students that are the issue, it is the adults around them and the expectations that were so low that were placed on them, because of Ritenour’s reputation,” Wagner said.

Because of its reputation to outsiders, Ritenour is sometimes viewed in a negative light and Wagner does believe that the diversity of the school is at least a factor in that assessment.

“People from other schools always assume that Ritenour’s students are undisciplined, just because we have more black and hispanic students than

other schools. If our school does well, it is not because we are disciplined, but because we lucked out, or the students have a special skill. It is never because we are a good, disciplined district,” Wagner said.

The staff and students both have very different experiences on how others view Ritenour.

That shows just how unique the district is. It is sometimes shined in a negative light because other districts are scared and intimidated by the diversity, but others praise the school for it.

John Teoli graduated from Ritenour in 2017, and said that as he looks back on his time at the school, there was a difference between his actual experience in the school and what he heard from people outside he Ritenour community.

“Now that I am out of high school I look back and think that Ritenour wasn’t a bad place even though what I heard throughout high school was the opposite,” Teoli said.

“The teachers got to know everyone regardless of socioeconomic status.”

Marvin Elementary School teacher Lakisha Fouche’ says that when she first considered coming to teach in the Ritenour School District, back in 1999, she received reactions from others that were “unsatisfactory” but that it has changed over time.

“People have not responded that

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Illustration by: Kayley Norman

way in a long while,” Fouche’ said.

As time has passed, Ritenour’s reputation has changed and it will continue to change as time goes on.

The district’s diversity will always play a role, either positively or negatively, on outsider’s views, but what’s most important is how the school seems to the people that attend every day.

SPECIAL EDITION STAFF Editor in Chief: Lizbeth Hernandez Special Edition contributors: Michelle, Everett, Emma Finnegan, Jordan Fritzsche, Skyler Gayden, Kayley Norman, Kaylyn Riggs Front Cover Art: Michelle Everett Back Cover Art: Skyler Gayden

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Behind the scenes: Creating a protest

Written By: Lizbeth Hernandez During the summer, the death of George Floyd sparked many protests throughout the country to fight injustice. Ritenour’s social justice club, Game Changers, became involved in a plan to create a protest in order to make change.

Many current students and alumni came together to plan this event, which took place on June 20.

At the event, protesters marched from the football field, onto St. Charles Rock Road, and then gathered back at the field to listen to guest speakers.

Reese Sherman - 2018 Ritenour graduate - “It was the summer after my sophomore year in college, so I had been away for a while, but this protest allowed me to connect with my old high school and it allowed the current voices who are attending there now to have

a platform and be heard. I think the effect that it had on me was bringing me back together with my community in my hometown. ” Senior Trinity Williams - “The death of George Floyd and the recent protests to end police brutality have impacted me emotionally. It was an extremely hard time for me as a black person; life was already hard as a black woman in America, and the recent sparks of racist remarks made life extremely difficult.”

Reese Sherman - “My part in planning was contacting my old Game Changers group to see if it was something they were interested in. As an alumni, I wanted to make sure I stayed back and allowed current Game Changers to make a plan for what they wanted this protest to look like. Once we set up meeting times and got a plan together, my job was

to simply contact the Saint John Police station and contact one of the performers.”

Sophomore Jayden Bock - During the protest I passed out masks for those who did not have one to make sure everyone was safe.

Trinity Williams - “My part in the protest was to recruit students to have their voices heard throughout the protest as well as helping lead the protest.”

Hope Houston, 2019 graduate -I think (the protest) made me feel a higher sense of community. I saw teachers at the protest that I would not have guessed to be there. I was immensely proud of the hardworking students who put it together as well. I participated in the protest as an alum and also a community member.

Photo courtesy: RHS Game Changers Protestors kneel in a moment of silence for those who have been killed. The protest took place on St. Charles Rock Road, in conjunction with the St. John Police department, who helped clear the area of traffic.

Jayden Bock - “The protest really affected the community by it being super impactful! Just walking up St.Charles Rock Road I could just feel so many different emotions,

On June 20, a group of alumni and current students got together to plan the United We Stand, Divided We Fall protest; the following is is an oral history of the planning and execution of that event

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and it made me realize that I am using my voice and right to make a difference!”

Reese Sherman - “I think the protest was just one of the starting points in allowing Ritenour students voices to be heard not only within their school but within their community as well. There is a lot of change to be done within the education system and the local systems to make sure people of all backgrounds are represented and advocated for!”

Trinity Williams - “I do believe we as Game Changers made a small impact on our community, I believe that we have created a small domino effect around our community to speak up against the racial injustices that go on in our community.”

Photo courtesy: RHS Game Changers The protesters who gathered on June 20 start to March towards St. Charles Rock Road. The protest was planned by current students and alumni of Game Changers.

Hope Houston - “I believe I did make an impact on being there for my community, but the students who put it together made such a greater impact — there is power in young voices.

the generations after me because I know that in my time of oppression many communities (not just BIPOC’s) will not get justice and that we will have to continue to fight for change.”

Jayden Bock - “I definitely believe that I made an impact because just being there and showing up showed that I am very passionate about the injustices in America and that I want to see change. Also, I believe I made in impact by encouraging my peers and family members to come and use their voice.”

Hope Houston: “I am fighting for a more equitable life, a new justice system, representation, and more community based efforts and support. I’m fighting for black lives everyday.”

Reese Sherman - “I am fighting for equity, unity, and a place where all can feel welcome.”

Trinity Williams - “I fight for the

Jayden Bock - “I am fighting for the injustices in America and systematic racism! I know that I am an African American woman in America who doesn’t feel comfortable around police officers and I want to get to the point where I do not have to feel that way, or any

African American male or female will have to live in fear of their lives.”

Photo courtesy: RHS Game Changers Members of the community gather in the football stadium to listen to guest speakers share their experiences and their vision for a better future.

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Understanding the meaning of privilege

Written by: Kaylyn Riggs Ritenour is a school with very few rivals in terms of the diversity that exists within the student population.

Because of the sheer number of minorities that walk the halls of Ritenour, the district is no stranger to inequalities people have to face on a daily basis outside of campus.

Students have been outspoken about the things that make them unique and are not afraid to say Photo by: Ron Steinschriber how they feel about many political While COVID has prevented it from happening this year, the Game Changers normally discussions. would do a privilege walk as seen here in this photo from 2018.

The discussion that caught wind aggressively lately in the media is individuals need to understand is addressing the issue of the theory of “privilege” what it is and how it can affect representation in the classroom What exactly does that mean? others,” Jones said. has been through the new Privilege is a special right, The term “white privilege” has curriculum that is being written advantage, or immunity granted or become a buzzword that people by the English department. The available only to a particular person have used, and it has caused teachers have made it a focus to or group. arguments from those who include more literary works that Game Changers sponsor Tavonda believe people should take it more feature authors and characters that Palmer works with the school’s seriously and opposing thinkers more represent the diversity of the social justice club to talk about the who believe that it does not actually student body. role of privilege in society. exist. However, privilege exists Privilege can affect people on “When I think about privilege I within people due to society’s many different levels, from wealth think about societal advantages one norms for gender, race, sexual and race as referenced earlier, has. Whether they are advantages orientation, and other factors. to things like culture, language, you receive from being white, or “Privilege affects students every gender, and sexual preference. able-bodied, or if you speak the day and in different ways at RHS. In terms of gender, privilege can dominant language of the country Some students have the privilege be seen in the average salaries you live in,” Palmer said. of being able to be their whole of men and women for working Senior Game Changer officer self in classroom settings without the same job. According to the 78 Londyn Jones has been working judgment and some students do cents project, white women make with the social justice club since not. Some students also get to an average of 78 cents for every her freshman year, and has learned see themselves in the curriculum Learning about privilege from Palmer about how privilege where other students do not,” takes root in the country, and what also sets you up to Palmer said. “Psychologically, that can be done about it. is damaging for the students who educate others and even “People have to understand that do not have those privileges and use that privilege to be an privilege comes in all different causes harm to them that can have types of forms, which comes from ally.” long term effects.” a place of power. So privilege is One of the ways that Ritenour - Senior Kamaryn Kirk important to learn about because

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The term “white privilege” has caused consternation because it has often been misunderstood, and the Game Changers not only speak about the actual meaning of privilege, but also how it can affect students dollar that a white man makes for the same job. In addition, race factors into this privilege as well, as black women only make 64 cents for every dollar that a white man makes in the same job, and Latina women only make 56 cents.

Senior Game Changer officer Kamaryn Kirk believes that educating people about privilege can lead to a better understanding and more help to those who have challenges because they lack certain privileges.

“It’s important to learn about privilege so that you can recognize your own privileges, and be conscious of your actions. Learning about privilege also sets you up to educate others and even use that privilege to be an ally,” Kirk said.

The idea of privilege is not supposed to imply that people with said privilege have perfect lives and never have had a hard day in their lives; they simply do not go through the same struggles depending on race, gender or sexual orientation.

This is just another piece of the big issue; inequality.

“I’m a black woman in America.

A white person will never be denied an opportunity or success because of their race, but I will.

That is called white privilege. It’s not something for white people to get offended over or to defend themselves about how hard they work for the things they have gotten in life because I’m not saying that they didn’t work hard, I’m saying they have never been hindered for being white. They live in a society that’s systematically in their favor,” senior Game Changer officer Kaila Anderson said.

Acknowledging and preventing

privilege by getting rid of stereotypes can have a positive affect on how people perceive and treat each other. Palmer hopes to continue having discussions with students about privilege and how it might affect people’s daily lives.

“While virtual, we are reading about privilege in the book “This Book is AntiRacist,” and taking time to examine in what ways do we all individually have privilege and how to recognize it and use it to help others individually and collectively,” Palmer said. “While in person, we would do the Privilege Walk Activity. All students would line up in the gym on the same line. Then a series of questions would be read that students would either need to take one step forward or one step back based on the statement and if it applies to them. The exercise is a great visual to show that everyone has some privilege, even as some people have more privilege than others.”

PRIVILEGE: A special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group.

This does not mean that the people with said privilege have perfect lives and never have had a hard day in their lives, it just means they will simply not have the same problem as someone without their privilege, Privilege comes in many shapes and forms. The most common ones seen in society are racial privilege, gender privilege, sexual orientation privilege, and wealth privilege.

80%

IN NEW YORK CITY, 80% OF THE POLICE STOPS WERE MADE TOWARDS BLACKS AND LATINOS, AND 85% WERE FRISKED, COMPARED TO THE 8% OF WHITES.

0.78

$1

CENTS

DOLLAR

WHITE WOMEN MAKE 78¢ FOR EVERY DOLLAR A WHITE MAN MAKES.AND BLACK WOMEN MAKE 64¢ TO EVERT WHITE MAN'S DOLLAR.

26%

OF THE UNITED STATES EMPLOYERS WOULD NOT PROMOTE A QUALIFIED GAY INDIVIDUAL.

10,000

14.3 CENTS

EVERY DAY 10,000 PEOPLE DIE BECAUSE THEY LACK ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE.

BLACK PEOPLE WHO LEAVE SCHOOL WITH ALEVELS TYPICALLY GET PAID 14.3% LESS THAN THEIR WHITE PEERS.

10%28%

RECEIVED A NEGATIVE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OR WERE PASSED OVER FOR A PROMOTION BECAUSE THEY WERE GAY OR TRANSGENDER.

Resources: https://www.nccj.org/what-privilege https://www.thenewprogressive.net/ultimate-white-privilege-statistics https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/news/2011/06/02/9872/gay-and-transgenderpeople-face-high-rates-of-workplace-discrimination-and-harassment/

Infographic by: Michelle Everett

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COVID and its effects by race

Written By: Emma Finnegan As the American death toll continues to rise and is now over 300,000 COVID-19 related deaths, statistics are beginning to show major consequences for Americans who live in low income communities. The surge in cases in these communities suggests that the aftermath of having COVID will result in serious illness due to underlying health conditions and the socionomic challenges.

While looking at which households fall below the poverty line, in 2018, 11% of white families fell below the poverty line, 23% of black families, and 19% of hispanic families. In non-COVID time periods, an illness that is seen annually, like the flu, causes rates of flu related hospitalizations in low-income neighborhoods that are nearly twice that of highincome neighborhoods. With a lack of resources in these communities, there is already a high chance for pre-existing conditions. With less healthy food options, fewer ways to get active, and high violence rates, it makes the people living there much more susceptible to infectious disease.

Ritenour has 6,477 students enrolled in the district. Ritenourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s demographics show that currently, 39% of students are black, 34% are white, 16% are Hispanic, 8% are mixed race, 2% are Asian, and <1% are American Indian and Pacific Islanders. While there are individual economic levels that vary amongst students, the cities that make up the district have a combined rate of 21% of children under the age of 18 living in poverty,

which is more than 1.5 times the rate in the county and over 10% more than the Missouri average.

The inability to fight off COVID and the lack of resources to take care of themselves if COVID is caught means that the individuals in these communities are living at a much greater risk than normal Americans.

In most areas of the United States, black, hispanics, and other POC are 4.5 times more likely to die from COVID than non-Hispanic whites. Outside of the community aspect, employment factors may also play a role in the disparity of cases. With less opportunities for high education, black and hispanic Americans are working jobs that demand their presence or were deemed essential. This meant that they had to put themselves at risk to stay afloat and afford to pay bills.

The decision had to be made for many people to decide whether a healthy life is more important than a home, a car, or dinner.

Although the government took action with one stimulus bill of $1,200, it was a check that only covered a tiny fraction of what was needed to rent, food, or bills. That same stimulus bill also was found to go out to middle class white households by late May, while black & hispanic households were waiting until July. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Adults were less likely to receive the payments if they had family incomes below 100% of [the Federal Poverty Line] or if they were Black or Hispanic, and particularly if they were Hispanic and in families with noncitizens,â&#x20AC;? Janet Holtzblatt and Michael Karpman of Urban Institute said.

Information from the CDC