Zach Esskew Opinion Editor
Page 6
November 2010
Esskew’s Edition
Under your desk, holding it by your side, in your sweatshirt, and holding a notebook up so the teacher can’t see it. These are the ways students at South Pointe High try to text without the teacher seeing their cell phones. Some things never change, although this year there was a change to the new cell phone policy. The new cell phone policy allows you to have your cell phone in the cafeteria during the morning before the bell rings and during lunch when you are in the lunch room or outside on the patio. As of press time, 203 cell phones had been taken, according to administrative assistant Kathleen Cole, way more than at
this time last year. The new policy was supposed to give students more time on campus to use their phones, but it seems as though students more than ever try to get away with inclass or in-hallway use. Assistant Principal Toussant Kennedy wants to know, “Why can’t we use the phones in the cafeteria, and on the patio only,” referring to the approved places for cell phone use. “I’ve seen most of the cell phone conflicts in the classrooms before the new policy has taken place, and now since the new policy has taken place, I see more cell phone conflicts taken place in the hallways,” stated Kennedy, assistant principal in charge of freshmen. Junior G’ruma Smith does not take his phone out during class; he is scared it is going to get taken. “I think the new cell phone policy is great, it gives the students more freedom and space,” said Smith. Smith has had his cell phone taken
once because it rang out loud in class. “I have gotten my cell phone taken about 10 times last year, for texting in class,” stated junior Zachary Taylor Taylor thinks we should be able to text at all times, because everyone does it anyway. Senior Quanisha Agurs has never got her cell phone taken because she is sneaky and knows how to hide it. “I still text during class. I’m just smart enough to know how to hide and when to text and when not to text,” stated Agurs. Senior Jared Hunter thinks the new cell phone policy is dumb because people are going to text no matter what, and people are still going to get there cell phones taken either in class or out in the hallways. Assistant Principal Anthony Thomas thinks the new cell phone policy is good, because it gives the students time to talk on the phones during school. Personally, I think the new cell phone
‘Where is it???’ Students ponder addition of live mascot or admirable statue to South Pointe campus Due to the school spirit sky rocketing this year, the following question arises; “Why don’t we have a live mascot or a statue of a stallion on our school property?” Maybe even a beautiful live stallion galloping across the field before games or maybe during halftime. “The live mascot we can’t have because it would damage the field,” said Principal Al Leonard. Although Leonard thinks the idea of havJalen Williams ing something Reporter majestic as a live stallion or statue would be a great way to portray our school spirit, there are some negatives to the idea other than damaging the fields. My idea is that maybe we could march the live horses on the track. I’m sure if football players are able to walk with cleats on the track then horseshoes should be no problem. Other than the idea of a live mascot, a statue would be very expensive. Leonard researched the cost and information about the statue and the minimum price would be $5,000. “We have talked about it, but it would take a fundraising effort,” explained Leonard. The statue would be made out of bronze and be located in the middle of the roundabout, and would be lit up. Leonard also explained how the Rock Hill District 3 Operations did a drawing of how the statue would look in the designated area planned for it. Not only is the statue costly but also there is a fear that vandals would harm the expensive steed.
“It’s a newer school so we have some things that older schools don’t have, but at the same time being a newer school we should have one,” said geometry teacher Daniel Clausing. Clausing also thinks that donations at sporting events or a jar at lunch to collect loose change in would be a nice effort towards supporting funds for the statue. “After a while those pennies add up,” said Clausing. Vandalism is not a worry to him, because of his idea that there are better, creative ways to draw the vandals’ attention away from the horse. “We have the rock to paint,” said Clausing. Sophomores Mary Campbell Kellett and LaBrica Hall think that the vandalism fear may be plausible but also think that school spirit and pride can overcome any bad intentions. “I think people might try to vandalize it, but I think people would be less childish than that,” said Kellett. Hall explains how immaturity exists in every school and admits there is bound to be someone who would sabotage a statue. “There are people that are haters,” Hall said. But both students also think that it would have a positive effect on the rest of the students.
“It could generate more school spirit and could be an icon for South Pointe,” explained Kellett. “People would respect that.” Hall also thinks the positive side of having a statue would do the same. “It would represent us more than that big, ugly rock,” said Hall. Though the rock may be big and unappealing, it just may have to stay put until a financial effort is made to erect a stallion statue in front of South Pointe High School.
policy is great. We get a lot more freedom and we have a chance to text or use our phone during school.
Zachary Esskew/SPiN
(Left to right) Sophomores Kyndell Cook, Courtney Smith and Sammy Parks are in gym class texting when aren’t supposed to be, hiding it from the teachers.
S.P.i.N.
South Pointe in the News
SCSPA 2010 Palmetto Award Winner 2010 SCSPA Swipestakes Award Winnner STAFF Editor-in-chief...................Taylor Snyder Managing and Features editor...................Jessie Fields News editor..................Zandrea Frazier Assitant New editor....Whitney Robinson Opinion editor...................Zach Esskew Centerspread editor.......Megan Benson Sports editor..............John Penyak Assitant sports editor.....Spank Williams Photography editor........DeNarius Allen Reporters............................Ciara Burris Michael Phillips Alex Culp Ellen Cannon LaSharra Barber Designers........................Jalen Williams Lindsey Hinnant Morgan McKoy Adviser.................................Cindy Koon Principal...............................Al Leonard, 2009 Journalism Education Association Administrator of the Year Business Manager.......Emma Hampton Contributors........Jimmy Chrismon Lukas Faris Logan Moore Scottie Turner