The Shield 2021

Volume One

Menlo School, Atherton, California

August 2021

Menlo School Journalism Workshop, by The Coat of Arms

Students Discuss Second Hand Fast Fashion’s Sustainability

by AVA HUA

Workers in a textile factory outside Dhaka, Bangladesh. Photo by Mona Mijthab

Fast fashion is a term used for low priced and low quality clothing that is focused on mass production. It’s based on catwalk trends and highend fashion designs which appeal to young, trend-conscious consumers.

“I think buying from fast fashion brands directly is a thousand times different than buying it second hand. I don’t think fast fashion is very ethical based off of the procedures they use in terms of using child labor and a bunch of methods

that aren’t good for the environment just because it’s cheaper,” Menlo sophomore Madison Brown, who makes sustainable clothing, said.

Fast fashion is an issue recently talked about on social media as it uses child labor, has poor working conditions, doesn’t pay fair working wages, produces a lot of waste and uses a number of non-eco-friendly methods, according to the Treehugger. “I actually think the majority of the population doesn’t really under-

Menlo Families Watch “Ted Lasso”

by ASHER DARLING Season Two of “Ted Lasso” is now streaming on Apple TV with new episodes coming out every Friday. The comedy show, starring Jason Sudeikis, made its debut on August 14, 2020, and quickly built popularity during the pandemic. Menlo parent Lynda Halprin immensely enjoyed the first season after watching the show with her family. “It can universally appeal to everyone,” she said.

According to several Menlo parents and students, Ted Lasso conveys an optimistic and positive message. Eighth grader Stevie Halprin is excited to watch the second season. “The show does a really great job of incorporating the fact that

even if you don’t know anything about soccer, it is still easy to follow along and super funny,” he said.

Despite its strengths, the show also often contains foul language and displays mature topics. Weighing the pros and cons, is Ted Lasso appropriate for Menlo Middle School students?

In the first season, Sudeikis plays Ted Lasso, a small-time college football coach from Kansas. He is hired to coach AFC Richmond, a professional soccer team in England, despite having no experience coaching soccer.

When he arrives in Richmond,

Ted Lasso, Page 2

stand what fast fashion is and if they do, they may not really understand in depth what they’re doing when buying fast fashion,” Brown said.

According to Business Insider, fashion production makes 10% of global carbon emissions, is the second most water-intensive industry using enough to meet the consumption needs of 5 million people, and 20% of water pollution originates from textile-dyeing and chemical treatment processes.

Even more, 85% of those textiles go to the landfill each year and just washing clothes pollutes the ocean with thousands of microfibres.

Fast fashion is popular because it’s cheap and fast to produce along with consumers wanting these ontrend styles for cheaper prices according to Investopedia, however, people have recently begun changing their shopping habits such as thrifting or resale. Thrifting has always been a more sustainable way to buy affordable clothing but according to OneGreenPlanet and the news outlet re/make, as of late there

Fashion, Page 4

Instagram Activists Reflect on Infographic Industrial Complex

by RUCHI MANGTANI Everyone’s seen them — the light pink squares on your Instagram feed with colorful graphics and pleasing fonts, giving a brief explanation of the model minority myth or another social justice topic. It’s impossible to go onto Instagram without seeing at least one of the slide-show style infographic posts, sharing snippets of information made easy to read for the aspiring activist.

This phenomenon is referred to as the “Infographic Industrial Complex.” This expresses the sharp rise in popularity of social justice infographics, or “instagraphics.” In a 1080 by 1080 square, creators briefly describe an issue to Instagram users. Since the increasing awareness of police brutality last year catapulted many into a fight for social justice, social media has taken a key role in giving people a platform to prove

Instagram, Page 3

This is What Happens When Unsuitable Items Go in the Compost

by SABRINA TERMAN Many people of all ages are not deliberate about where they put their waste. They don’t wonder where their waste is going and what effects could come from where they put it. Composting is a way to put food waste to another purpose.

Menlo eighth grader Jade Yoo admits that she has thrown her lunch away all in one bin. “I feel embarrassed about it,” she said.

“Sure,” a 49-year-old adult named Alex said, admitting that he had done it also.

“I have thrown everything away without thinking about it,” Sophia Artandi, a senior at Menlo, said. “Just don’t tell the Climate

Coalition,” she added jokingly.

According to StopWaste, after compost is thrown away, it resumes in its cycle. The start of the cycle begins with a seed, then a stem, and eventually food. It then is either consumed by a human being or an animal that is eventually to be slaughtered and eaten. There are leftovers and scraps after consumption.

Compostable items are then transported to a facility and are eventually sold to farmers after being placed in a bin, according to StopWaste.

The farmers will use the compost to help fertilize the soil that grows the

Composting, Page 5

Page 2

The Shield

Actress Scarlett Johansson Sues Disney Over “Black Widow,” Exposing Conflict Between Disney+, Movie Theaters

by ANANYA GOEL Scarlett Johansson, who plays interview participants were able Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow to agree on the fact that Disney in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, was in the wrong, and Johansis suing Disney over a violation son was right to sue Disney. “I of her contract with them. A sig- think you definitely need to hold nificant part of her salary depend- companies accountable,” Mened on the box office performance. lo ninth grader Rhea Nandal said.

Her contract stated that she would Menlo parent and alum get a cut (though the amount was Pooneet Goel agreed. “A connot revealed) of the box office funds tract is a contract,” Goel said. from her movie, “Black Widow,” Johansson claims that Disney and that if the movie was also re- never renegotiated her contract. leased on Disney+, then they would She claims that she repeatedly tried renegotiate her contract. However, to get in touch with them but they they released the movie in theaters ignored her emails, according to and on Disney+, but never renego- CNBC. Once Johansson learned tiated her conthat “Black tract — despite Widow” would All interview participants be simultaneher repeated atwere able to agree on the ously released tempts to have them renego- fact that Disney was in the on Disney+ tiate it. As a wrong, and Johansson was and in theaters result, Scarlett on the exact right to sue Disney.

Johansson lost same day, she out on a lot tried to neof money, as two million people gotiate with Marvel and Diswatched the movie on Disney+. ney. They didn’t respond, acThis topic was met with a va- cording to Johansson’s claims. riety of responses in the Menlo In a statement released by Discommunity. “I support it, honest- ney, they rejected the validity of Joly. It was a contract, and if you’re hansson’s filing. “Disney has fully going to be a big, major company, complied with [Johansson’s] conyou’re not going to get away with tract, and furthermore, the release scamming people to give your- of ‘Black Widow’ on Disney+ with self more money, and you’re defi- Premier Access has significantly nitely not going to do it without enhanced her ability to earn addithe press hearing about it,” Men- tional compensation on top of the lo eighth grader Ally Kiang said. $20 [million] she has received to However, others had different date,” Disney said in the statement. views. “I don’t particularly supJohansson has many people port it or oppose it. On one hand, supporting her, as well as sevDisney is pretty bad for not rene- eral pieces of evidence that her gotiating the contract and keep- contract was never renegotiated. ing money that was meant for Disney has not responded yet to Scarlett Johansson. On the other the refute made by her lawyer. hand, Johansson already got a lot With no court date set, it is hard of money from Disney. [...] But, I to judge when this issue will be do support her coming out and ex- resolved. Ultimately, Johansson posing Disney about this,” Men- still received a lot of money from lo eighth grader Lilla Halasz said. the movie, so if the lawsuit fails, Despite opposing views, all she will not leave empty-handed.

Pandemic Affects Wildlife in Both Positive and Negative Ways

by GINA LIM COVID-19 became known as a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. Since then, we have been in lockdown. But, while indoors, we were left to wonder what has the wildlife been doing? Is this pandemic helping animals or making them suffer more?

When we went into lockdown, fewer cars went about the streets and factories shut down temporarily. Because of this, air and noise pollution dropped, giving a huge benefit to animals. Vacated areas are also a plus for animals. This is proven by the Kentish Plover, which

August 2021

Ted Lasso, cont. everyone despises him due to the team’s lack of success. Rebecca, the owner of the club, secretly hires Ted to get back at her ex-husband, Ruppert, who cherished the premier team but lost it due to their divorce settlement.

As the season progresses, Ted goes through tough challenges in his life but impresses everyone with his cheerful and optimistic attitude.

Ted Lasso is known for his positivity and captivating message of optimism, according to Common Sense Media, a website that reviews movies and other media gives the show a five out of five ratings in terms of positive role modeling and representation. Common Sense Media also states that the show is packed with positive themes including perseverance, teamwork and defying the odds.

Sixth grader Elise Darling gave her opinion. “The positivity is amazing,” she said.

Menlo parent Amy Darling also added her thoughts on the topic. “The positivity almost outshines the language,” she said.

According to Common Sense Media, there are also constant instances of foul lan-

guage and sexual innuendos.

Many Menlo parents and students concurred. Amy Darling and student Elise Darling were both shocked by the language and topics included in the show. “I was surprised when I realized how much the language was not really appropriate,” Amy Darling said after watching the first season., “For my family, we hear it. If there is an s-word here or an f-word there, we know to just not repeat it,” Elise Darling said. Amy Darling believes that the show’s language and adult content allowed her to have good conversations with her children about these topics.

Several Menlo Middle School parents highly tout Ted Lasso because of its positivity and optimism. However, they acknowledge that there is some inappropriate language and advanced topics for middle schoolers. So, does the language make Ted Lasso inappropriate for middle schoolers?

Amy Darling gave her thoughts on this controversial topic. “After watching the first season, I realized the content was so positive that I looked beyond the language and towards the optimism,” she said.

is nesting in areas where it wasn’t for all the other species. Scientists recorded in recent years. With the assume this is because of the lack lack of ships in the ocean, hump- of hunting. In fact, the geese’s curback whales are also able to com- rent state resembled that of geese municate without being interrupted. before Canada allowed hunting.

However, this isn’t all peachProfessionals are trying to achieve es and cream. When we went their goals of animal conservation. into quarantine, some conserva- “There are several ways people can tion and research efforts were help professionals achieve their disrupted. This means that inva- goals of animal conservation, and it sive species have been left un- can start with minor changes to legchecked. For example, the inva- islation. For example, loggerhead sive mice around seabird nesting sea turtles lay their eggs on beaches grounds could result in a loss of in Florida at night, but they have two million chicks this year itself. struggled to do this when people Some qualities of the pandem- are on the beaches. If the beaches ic may benefit a certain species, were closed at night, turtles would but take away resources for other have more successful breeding species, namely the Snow Geese. rates,” junior and Menlo BeekeepSince 1999, Canada has allowed ing Club member Alea Marks said. the hunting of Snow Geese because “Similarly, in Kenya, it is difof evidence suggesting they are ficult for cheetahs to communicate overgrazing. In over the loud 2020, a group engine of safari Some qualities of the of students led buses. If routes pandemic may benefit

by Pierre Lewere changed gagneux of the and fewer busa certain species, but Laval Univeres went out at take away resources sity studied once, it would for other species, such whether these be easier for as the Snow Geese. geese carried cheetahs to procoronavirus. tect their young They found that the geese were fat- because they could hear better,” ter than usual, meaning they were Marks said. Not only will this regueating more grass. While this is late the number of animals per spegood for the geese, they essentially cies, it would give scientists a benreduced the amount of vegetation efit in researching these animals.

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The Shield

August 2021

Public School Students Start Getting Lunch in New Ways Amid Pandemic

by RHEA NANDAL The COVID-19 pandemic dra- you want to do?’ and I said, ‘I want matically changed California’s to go mobile. I want to take the food public school lunch system. “[Pre- to the people,’” Hot Lunch ProCOVID-19], most people brought gram Specialist Debbie Rice said. their own lunch. Obviously, there Rice loaded up six vans with food are kids who are in situations where and took them to the families. they can’t make lunch at home so “We delivered food for quite some they’d usually eat school lunch,” time, especially during those reSilvana Schmidt, a freshman at ally challenging first few months Menlo Atherton High School, said. of COVID,” Rice said. Access to According to NPR, federal laws food is especially important for MPCSD. “It’s pre-COVID-19 a priority for “He looked at me and provided a us to make sure baseline ansaid, ‘What do you want that our stunual income to do?’ I said, ‘I want to go dents are able to of $34,000 to qualify stu- mobile. I want to take the learn, and part of that is makfood to the people.” dents for free ing sure that lunch but failed to consider high costs of living, they have their needs met, which taxes and inflation in California. includes having a healthy lunch.”

Schools across the nation were Principal of Oak Knoll Elemenstruggling to ensure that kids in need tary Alicia Payton-Miyazaki said. had their lunch when the pandemic MPCSD then shifted to a carbegan. The Menlo Park City School pool system due to the drop in District (MPCSD) switched to a COVID-19 cases. “Families come delivery system after the shutdown and pick up a box every Monday in March. “I literally sat down with that has seven breakfasts and seven my superintendent Eric Burmeister. lunches, along with fruit, vegetaHe looked at me and said, ‘what do bles, snacks and milk in it that gets

them through the week, including carpool system. Meanwhile, the the weekend,” Rice said. Accord- Thursday program will continue ing to Business Insider, California regardless of state laws. “It’s a suspassed a policy on July 9th investing tainable program. It will be there $54 million to give all public school long after I’m gone” Rice said. students free lunches. Now anyone The local community has respondcan sign up to receive these boxes. ed positively to the new policies.

The pandemic has brought atten- “It’s been hugely successful and tion to issues such as food insecuri- very well received and appreciated ty as a whole, causing local corpo- by the families. Whether they’re rations to help out. Rice partnered families in need or not it’s just a with Facebook and Grood Roots in very difficult time in our world and order to supply and distribute 100 with inflation rising and prices goboxes of food every Thursday to ing up, everybody’s very appreciafamilies in need. “It is super [good] tive of the food and the program,” for our families because it’s a beau- Rice said. Food services lead Maria tiful organic box that has eggs, Vilchez along with Schmidt spoke cheese, rice, fruits and vegetables positively about the new program and it’s just as well.

“Whether they’re families in an amaz“ W h e n ing box need or not, it’s just a very diffiyou’re in from local cult time in our world, and with charge of vendors,” something inflation rising and prices going Rice said. like this MPCSD up, everybody’s very appreciative you just all is planof a sudof the food and the program.” ning to den realize that there are just so many combine the in-person aspect of pre-COVID-19 lunch systems people relying on you, you just with the all-school aspect of the have to go to plan B,” Rice said.

Instagram, cont. that they are an ally of change.

Instagram infographics have recently faced heat from the public for being performative and misinforming. The viral Instagram infographic account @so.informed, previously known as @soyouwanttotalkabout, was criticized for copying Ijeoma Oluo’s best-selling book, “So You Want To Talk About Race,” and not giving adequate credit to contributors in her posts. Jessica Natale, the owner of the account, was additionally denounced for using a slur in a post about the history of immigration. The post is now deleted.

“I just want my peace. And I want Black people to get credit where credit’s due, and I want white people to stop stealing,” Oluo said on Instagram TV. Instagram infographics have been criticized for condensing decades of research into a few generalized sentences. Critics argue that there is often a lack of transparency about who the creator behind the infographics is and what sources are used in making the posts. With the potential danger of “woke” Instagram users taking every infographic they read at first glance with no check back or further research, some worry about the dangers of people using this to spread fake

divergent (a term used to describe news and misinformed opinions. a person with a neurological difJiJi Wong, one of the co-founders ference) individuals who have of the Zīn Shēng Project, or @zin- a short attention span. They are shengproject on Instagram, spoke also helpful for those who are unto how Instagram users, a lot of the able to access the technical jargon time, feel the need to be constant- commonly used in research papers ly advocating for something, often and books that may have the nuat the cost of not taking the time to ance Instagram infographics lack. understand what they are advocat“I just try and ing for. This is seen make sure that I’m with infographics People want to help, posting stuff the asking viewers to but they’re not way that is as accall a number for thinking about the cessible and incluU.S. intervention sive as possible … I consequences of as well as the viral put slide text in the their actions. posting of the black comments [and] I square last year. make sure to put image descrip“In the end, people want to tions for people who may be hard help, but they’re not thinking of seeing. I’ve taken [various about the consequences of their other measures] to ensure that as actions, nor are they thinking critmany people who want to access ically. They just are starting to the information I put out can do mindlessly consume media onso,” said Nic, also known as @ line to the point that it’s so easy to theangryblackboy on Instagram. push false narratives,” Wong said.

In comparison to the mainGrace Fang, also from the Zīn stream media, Instagram infoShēng Project, added that with sographics are often a key alternative cial justice being intertwined with in showcasing more marginalized social media, the trauma of marvoices and education that may ginalized communities has been not be provided in schooling. commodified for likes and reposts.

Most Instagram accounts have Conversely, many infographa less financial incentive in their ic creators contend that the conwork, unlike a news outlet, which cise sharing of information is may not talk about a certain topmore accessible for some neuroic due to concerns that it won’t

be “newsworthy” or profitable, according to Sunnie Liu, a co-founder of the Zīn Shēng Project, and Nic. One of the creators behind the account @neurodivergentfairy who goes by “Rebecca” said there may be greater fact-checking in a professional publication compared to Instagram infographics.

When it comes to making progress in the social justice issues covered in infographics, many creators are less hopeful. Wong said Instagram infographics are able to provoke thinking and sometimes shift the political view of viewers, but always at the risk of accidentally absorbing misinformation or getting into an echo chamber.

Rebecca said that she probably hasn’t made copious amounts of tangible change through her account, but has gotten quite a bit of positive feedback from her neurodivergent followers that have thanked her for the representation.

Instagram infographics are a double-edged sword in regards to making easily accessible, less biased information, while also facing the issue of misinformation and co-option.

“I think we all have our place in our advocacy, and this is the place I’ve chosen to occupy, and I’m comfortable with where I’m at,” Nic said.

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The Shield

August 2021

Students and Coaches Discuss Team USA Men’s Basketball in 2020 Olympics

by WILLIAM BEESLEY As the 2020 Tokyo Olympics came to a close on Aug. 8, USA ended first in the medal count with 39 gold medals and a total of 113 medals. One of those is from the USA’s win over France in Men’s Basketball, winning their fourth Olympic gold in a row. But, instead of the usual dominance over the other countries, this year, they only won by five points in the finals. They also lost their Olympic winning streak of 17 years to France, along with losses to Australia and Nigeria throughout the exposition and group stages. So, what happened? Both students and coaches expressed thoughts around the USA Men’s Basketball team’s performance this year.

One of the main problems they addressed was teamwork. “Everywhere in the world, all these na-

tional team players have played didn’t surprise me at all that they together since they [were] 12 years struggled,” Larsen said. Larsen old. Everyone has a national team: highlighted a clear struggle in the Australia, France [and so on]. With USA’s program, but why wasn’t America, we don’t have national this a problem in earlier years? teams,” longtime Menlo basketball This problem mainly arose becoach Keith Larsen said. Larsen cause of other countries’ developwas an experienced player at Ore- ment. “The world is catching up,” gon with many years of coaching Larsen said. Four of the top 10 NBA experience, including at Stanford. players right now, Luka Doncic, Larsen also highlighted the lack Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic and Giof team play and passes. “So, the annis Antetokoumpo, are all of forissue is that eign descent, you have these [The NBA is growing more according to great playESPN and diverse and] more players ers who have other sources. from more countries are never played This shows getting better and better. with each oththe diversity of er and who the league and have played almost 100 games in how more players from more counthe NBA, and then all of a sud- tries are getting better and better.

Team USA did not realize this. den they have to get with four or five different coaches. So, it “I think we have a history of dom-

Fashion, cont.

methods and it generally has affordable prices. It reduces waste significantly since fewer clothes need to be produced. According to the World Wildlife Fund, it takes 2,700 litres of water to produce a single cotton t-shirt, enough to fill the water requirements of one person for 900 days.

Buying fast fashion second hand may reduce the guilt one has for their purchases, but the products are still non-eco-friendly. It is essentially a sustainable way to purchase unsustainable clothing. “I think it definitely does take away some of the harms of fast fashion and I think even if it is a small impact, it’s better than no impact,” Menlo Middle School student Jade Yoo said.

Second-hand fast fashion is still fast fashion although it’s one less

has been a surge in fast fashion showing up at thrift stores. People have been discarding their clothes left and right and donating more than what thrift shops can manage, resulting in most of the donated clothing ending up at landfills. “I think everyone feels good about donating clothes to thrift stores and they’re like, ‘Oh, we’re helping the environment by not throwing it directly away,’ but it’s actually sometimes doing the opposite [as most of the clothes aren’t being reused or recycled],” Brown said.

Thrifting is still a significantly more eco-friendly way to shop for clothes compared to other

The Community Closet Thrift Store Oakland, CA. Photo by Sparklingdawg

carbon footprint. It can still fall apart easily leaving the consumer wanting more and more similar to the customers buying straight from the source. There are still other sustainable ways to access trendy clothing if the idea of purchasing fast fashion, second hand or not, doesn’t sit well with the buyer.

“I think there are definitely a lot of small businesses that use sustainable equipment, which is definitely beneficial to the environment and small businesses do make really pretty clothing. Another solution is making your own sustainable clothing but I feel like that’s really hard and I would probably mess up. I think especially because small businesses are closing a lot because of COVID-19, I definitely think it’s good to support small businesses and especially those that support the environment too,” Yoo said.

There’s a lot of fast fashion out there and buying it second hand means a start to a more sustainable life, but the pieces still leave big carbon footprints and have a huge environmental impact. The clothes were also created in poor working conditions and have a short lifespan.

“I think that all people can do is just try and learn more about it. Just trying, not like stop shopping for fast fashion 100% but maybe trying to lessen how much you’re contributing to it. And maybe try to look on Depop [a social shopping platform] or if you can thrift it or even look at any of those online second-hand shops that probably have it and also for a lot cheaper,” Brown said.

inance, and maybe [we’re] not always blowing people out, but we have a history of winning. It’s not often that you see Team USA go out there and lose, especially to start,” Team USA starter and NBA All-Star Damian Lillard said in an interview with ESPN after Team USA’s loss against France in a preliminary match, hinting at how Team USA was unprepared to face France’s talented roster, including seven-footer and NBA defensive player of the year Rudy Gobert.

“They were unprepared. They overlooked the other teams,” eighth grader and avid basketball player Asher Darling said. Darling also talked about how some players, coming off of the NBA postseason, did not play with as much intensity until it came down to single elimination, causing sloppy turnovers and both bad offense and bad defense.

About The Shield The Menlo School Journalism Workshop is a one-week summer program for middle schooolers run

by Menlo’s student newspaper publication, The Coat of Arms. During the workshop, students learned about the basics of journalism: news and feature writing, interviewing, news media literacy, and more.

2021 is the first year of MSJW. Middle schoolers from Menlo and other schools joined; this year’s program included 15 students. The program was led by four TAs from The Coat of Arms and the Menlo journalism advisor.

Students participated in daily activities and interactive workshops on various journalism-related principles. They also had a chance to take two short electives. Students also met three guest speakers who have been involved in the journalism field beyond middle and high school.

As their final project, each student worked on writing a full journalistic story. This involved brainstorming, interviewing, researching, writing and editing. The Shield is a publication of all their work.

Page 5

The Shield

August 2021

Pandemic Changes Many Students’ Social and Academic Lives

Research Tells Us What Meats We Should or Shouldn’t Eat

by WENDY ESPINOZA

by ZACHARY TERMAN

The COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine, remote learning didn’t quarantine has made certain stu- allow them to socialize with their dents feel alone. Some students ar- friends like they did face-to-face. en’t socialising with their friends, “It definitely made [my mental and aren’t doing as well in school health] worse,” Carpio said. They as they did before. “I felt really found that they were distancing lonely [during quarantine]… my themselves from their friends. “I parents were working and I didn’t no longer had the energy to have a [have] a lot of friends at that time,” single conversation,” Carpio said. freshman Darika Osorio said.

Most students preferred school The pandemic has affected ev- in-person rather than online school. eryone around the world. Some lost “I would say [I prefer] regular loved ones, others lost jobs and school; it has always been like that,” some lost all of Osorio conthe above. Many firmed. “I feel “I couldn’t concentrate students have more comfortor pay attention [to] felt stressed able with that.” what I was doing.” and pressured “[I prewhile studying fer] in-perat home. Remote learning is just son school, it allows me to focus not the same as in-person school, more,” Carpio explained. “[I preand students have expressed their fer] in person because it’s easier feelings about online school. to ask questions… and it’s just a Osorio felt that online school better vibe,” an anonymous freshwas more difficult. “The teach- man said. Some other students ers assigned a lot of homework,” felt that they preferred online Osorio said. She isn’t alone, oth- school. “I’d actually prefer oner students also felt that online line school, since it doesn’t stress school was harder. “It has made me or my parents [out] as much,” [me] stress way more than I usual- an anonymous eighth grader said. ly do,” an anonymous ninth gradEven though most students were er said.“I found it much harder to stressed by remote learning and answer questions and participate quarantine in general, they learned due to the fact [that] it was online,” valuable lessons from it. “It was eighth grader Yoselin Carpio said. a hard time, but there is always a “When you turn your mic on, ev- solution,” Osorio said, “I learned eryone’s attention goes to you.” to appreciate the little things.”

“I couldn’t concentrate or pay at“Life goes on,” Osorio said. tention [to] what I was doing,” eighth “I learned that sometimes grader Samantha Canchez said. things come unexpected, Students were also affected but everything will be good mentally by the pandemic. During [in] the end,” Canchez said.

Many people of all ages ar- those interviewed didn’t know en’t aware that the foods they eat the specific amount. When Alex impact the environment in many Terman, Nadine Terman, Ananya ways. Most people consume some Goel, Parina Patel and more were form of meat in asked how much their daily lives It takes 1,800 gallons methane gas one and are partly uncow emits per [of water] to make aware of the efyear? Some peofects it will have. only one pound of beef, ple would give For example when answers as low which is 800 gallons asked questions away from the closest as 10 and others about different as high as 4,000. kinds of meats and answer, 1,000 gallons. A few people got their relation to close to the anthe environment, some didn’t know swer 220 pounds per year though. how to respond. “I don’t know,” Here it is shown that people don’t seventh grader Gina Lim said. really know how the meat they eat When a group of students and affects the environment they live parents were asked about how much in. So they also don’t know what land cows take up out of all land meats they should eat to help the used for agriculture, they gave a environment. Some people assume wide range of answers, going from that fish is the most environmen20% to 77%. The correct answer to tally friendly meat. However, conthis question was 60%. Some peo- trary to popular belief, most fish are ple got pretty close, but with more farmed in very bad conditions and than eight people interviewed, even can actually be worse than meats if the answers were all random- such as pork or chicken. There are ly generated some would still get still lots of places where you can get close. Similarly, the students were fish that are really good for the enunsure of how to respond when vironment compared to other meats asked about how many gallons of but most of the fish you will find in water it takes to produce a pound grocery stores will be bad for the of beef. No one was remotely close environment. Poultry like chicken because it takes 1,800 gallons to and turkey are good sustainable make only one pound of beef, solutions compared to beef. If evwhich is 800 gallons away from eryone substitutes even just 25% the closest answer, 1,000 gallons. of the lamb and beef we eat for Many people know that cows chicken, it could have a huge posemit lots of greenhouse gases, but itive impact on the environment.

change’s drastic ramifications.

“If a load of compost is too contaminated with wrong items, the composting facility could raise the cost of taking back contaminated loads of compost. This will ultimately affect the people [i.e. resithe Outreach and Communications dents and businesses] paying the Coordinator at Rethink Waste, said. garbage, recycling and compost If someone rates,” Rosales places glass in said. People in If someone places glass the compost, it the area of low in the compost, it will will eventually income would be distributed have a hardeventually be distributto the commuer time paying ed to the community in nity in places these high taxes. places such as schools such as schools According and community gardens. and commuto Stark, develnity gardens. oping aware“Adding wrong items to the com- ness is important. “Learning about post is similar to a human eat- what items go into a city’s indusing things that aren’t food,” sixth trial compost helps produce better grade science teacher Jacqueline compost soil, decreases the cost Stark said. This can eventual- and slows down climate change. It ly lead to the plant dying, which also teaches us that our individual leads to a waste of space and ma- actions are part of collective acterials like water which are import- tions and their effects,” Stark said. ant especially considering climate According to Glacier FarmMe-

Composting, cont. crops. Then the process will repeat.

If one anti-compostable objects in a bin, it still can follow the cycle, and is harmful by eventually going to an animal’s or human’s stomach.

Adding trash or recycling to the compost has harmful side effects.

For example, when food that is compostable goes into the trash, it can result in not being compostable in landfills. This can lead to the landfill catching on fire, therefore emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which enforces climate change. This causes temperatures to rise because carbon dioxide traps heat which can cause glaciers to melt and the sea levels rising. It also backfires on oneself. “What we put into the compost is what we will get in return,” Joanna Rosales,

dia, compost is vital to farmers and the planet. It creates happy healthy soil, while keeping the earth contempt also. Without compost, growing plants and food becomes much more difficult, people are affected economically and the environment is harmed. Others should adopt a mindfulness of their actions to help avoid negative outcomes, so it can benefit the environment and help transform our society into an earth caring community. To start, one can begin a healthy compost bin that can be used in a backyard garden or a local farm. Most importantly, one should take just a few seconds more to divide the scraps.

“Learning about what items go into a city’s industrial compost helps product better compost soil, decreases the cost and slows down climate change.”

Page 6

The Shield

August 2021

Menlo Staff Discuss Harmful Stereotypes That Disney, Barbie Place on Children

by JADE YOO The Walt Disney Company was started in 1923. The Barbie doll was introduced by Mattel, Inc. in 1945. Mattel has worked with Disney since 1955, making Disney dolls. However, the media has been criticized for enforcing stereotypes on children unconsciously and invisibly which disregards equity, diversity, and inclusivity on numerous occasions. Many people also stopped buying barbies because it’s believed that they don’t represent girls correctly, aren’t a positive role model to young girls and don’t represent diversity.

“My wife and I don’t feel really strongly that Barbies are a good representation for young women about what body shape is supposed to be [...]I want their role models to be powerful people, people who are outspoken, who are able to have an opinion and hold powerful positions in the world, and not be chained by society’s expectations,” Menlo School Head Than Healy, said. Healy has three daughters who always received Barbies from their grandparents for their gifts, so everytime he moved, he donated them and told his daughters the Barbies got “lost” to prevent his children from being negatively impacted by the doll.

He added that the dolls are also harmful to boys. “If boys look at that representation of women, they could conclude ‘oh, that’s what women are supposed to look like.’ But, I know no woman who looks like that,” Healy said.

Barbie has an unrealistic figure, with size three feet that can only fit in heels, an unattainable hourglass figure and blonde hair with blue eyes. Critics, like Teen Vogue, have said that putting the Barbie dolls into the hands of children teaches them that they need to look like her: seemingly perfect. This affects a child’s self-confidence, body positivity and insecurities.

Recently, there was a new collection of dolls released by Barbie

that aimed to promote inclusivity in tant Director of the Middle School ple who lived in his era were. They honor of the Tokyo Olympics. How- said. “[However] my daughter is were rehashing what was the culever, many were quick to realize all about Disney princesses, she ture at the time.” He then goes on to that there was no Asian represen- said that she wants blonde hair explain what the impact of this is. tation within the collection, which which upsets me… I want her “When you were four, you weren’t lit a flame of criticism on social to be happy with what she has.” thinking about the representations media. The Olympics is supposed Tripp Robbins, who teaches jour- of gender and how they were into be a worldwide event, but the nalism and moviemaking at Menlo, fluencing your life, but they were Barbie representation surely proves compares his childhood to society influencing your life. You were otherwise. “If today. Robbins looking and drawing conclusions, you think about described that whether you were conscious of it “Our job is to help stuthe larger Asian when growing or not.” Just like Takemoto said, dents understand the context in our up in the ‘60s “It was a window of the time era.” world, missing and ‘70s, the inPeople are left to wonder, if invisible forces that are [Asian reprefluence of someDisney and Barbie have detriacting on their lives.” sentation] in the thing like a doll mental effects on a kid’s mind as Tokyo Olymon a kid’s de- it grows, should it be better to not pics is sadly ironic,” Healy said. velopment and self-esteem wasn’t give them any Barbies or forbid This leaves a detrimental effect on often discussed. “A lot of stuff them from watching Disney movequity, diversity, and inclusivity. was considered OK by mainstream ies. However, Bishop and Robbins According to Insider and Mic, thinking in the ‘60s when I was think otherwise. “It’s just so commany unnoticed scenes of Disney kid,” Robbins said, citing Dumbo plicated, but, yeah, that’s a good have resurfaced and been to the as an example. “I don’t have an an- way to put it that that would be a public’s attention. “Pocahontas’ ‘ swer about how we judge people learning opportunity for a parent to ignores the millions of oppressed from a different time in a different talk about with kids,” Robbins said. and killed indegeous people. culture. Thomas Jefferson owned “Our job [in Menlo] is to help stu“Aladdin” portrays the Middle East slaves. Is he a bad person? It wasn’t dents understand the invisible forcas barbaric. “Dumbo” has faceless good to own slaves. But do we re- es that are acting on their lives, their African American circus workers ject everything about him because concepts of sexuality, gender, race, who sing, “we slave until we’re of that? In mainstream culture con- and economics that are influencing dead.” Snow White is kissed with- sciousness is at a higher level now.” you right now. We try to give you out consent. This is just a few of the Regarding the so-called true the lens to see those invisible forces countless times kids have been ex- love’s kiss that happens while the and then you decide about how you posed to stereotypes unconsciously. princesses, such as Snow White want to have them act on your life,” Director of Admissions and Fi- and Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) are Healy said. Bishop added that these nancial Aid Beth Bishop agrees unconscious, Healy discusses the stereotypes aren’t just perpetuated in Barbie and of with the sentiment that Disney is concept but perpetuating stereotypes. “The consent, and “The heroines of recent Dis- Disney, that they’re drawings of Disney characters are how it barely ney movies are a lot stronger everywhere. existed while always skinny and white and they and not the same as Snow “What is the reinforce a lot of the other stereo- he was growdiversity of the types that our society is putting ing up. “We White or Cinderella. people they’re out there,” Bishop said. However, weren’t taught she believes that progress is be- [about consent], we didn’t talk meeting and how much are their ing made. “But, the heroines of about it. There were constants of parents working to help them unrecent Disney movies today are being polite and respectful. But no- derstand how diverse the world can a lot stronger and not the same body questioned the prince’s kiss be and what are they being taught as Snow White or Cinderella.” in Sleeping Beauty while she was by their parents about what their “Disney movies are all about sleeping. So things are changing for family values in terms of people,” being saved by a prince. In more the better, but it’s complicated. The Bishop said. It’s not about Disney, recent times, Elsa and Moana, ideas of difference are really subtly it’s not about Barbie. But mostly, where it wasn’t the guy and the conveyed in our culture and the so- it’s about how the people who are true love of Elsa was with her sis- ciety, and obviously Disney is one affected choose to act. It’s not only ter, so I think Disney has come a of those ways. Walt Disney himself Disney and Barbie, it is embedlong way,” Mima Takemoto, Assis- wasn’t racist, anymore than the peo- ded in our daily lives and media.

YouTube Trends Impact Lifestyles in the 21st Century

by JACKIE LARIA As an online video sharing and social media platform, YouTube allows users to interact with each other by creating channels to like, share, subscribe, comment on videos or channels and so many more features. In addition to having a lot of features, YouTube is popular because users can access any

kind of video they wish to watch.

Many types of YouTube videos are trending nowadays. Those videos include movie trailers, sports highlights, technology, TikTok, music videos, pranks, vlogs, dances to songs, shorter videos, 24-hour challenges, animations, ASMR, and more. Why

are these types of videos trending?

One aspect of why these videos are trending is the popularity of YouTubers and is popular with lots of people. Rising eighth grader Ally Kiang said that there’s always some sort of entertainment and nothing ever is just blank on the screen, in addition to the creators

are already super popular. Rising eighth-grader Ava Hua said that people are coming out with similar content because they know it’s popular. As a result, if other people create the same kind of content then they themselves will become popular too. Rising eighth grader Devon Tussing-Adkinson said that YouTube trends apply to a lot of people and they’re entertaining.

YouTube, Page 7

Page 7

The Shield

August 2021

The Coat of Arms Offers Unique Opportunities for Staff Members

Lack of Knowledge Shows Teaching Climate Change is Critical

by SACHIN SANDHU & SOHUM BERRY

by LEO TERMAN

As the 2021-2022 school year the first to know,” Chief of Innovabegins, so does The Coat of Arms, tion and Marketing Emily Han said.

Menlo’s student publication, but Furthermore, the staff is in an inthis year things are different. Un- tense and professional atmosphere. fortunately, The Coat of Arms had Staff members get to feel what it’s to see some of their staff move on like to be a real journalist because to college and the now they are one. next part of their Being surroundStaff members are lives. Big roles often the first to get ed by editors and such as the Phoother writers will information about to Editor are imimprove staff’s school events and have portant to the pawriting and inper, but the spot the ability to hear both vestigating skills, remains empty. and will improve sides of the story.

The Photo Edstaff’s critical itor helps lead the photojournalism thinking not just for journalism front, a significant part of Menlo’s but for school and life beyond. newspaper. They produce photos Lastly, being a part of the Coat representing Menlo’s athletes and of Arms staff, students become reveal the diverse culture of the stu- involved with a community. Students, staff and Menlo community. dents may not have had the chance The pictures taken in the 2020 spe- to meet and really get to know, cial edition of The Coat of Arms by whether that be alumni, other stuformer Photo Editor Sadie Stinson, dents and professional journalists. are just a few of the great examples Journalistic skills can be very of photojournalism at work. This is good to have, because of how well type of work the photo editor does. journalists have to convey their Any high schooler at Menlo has message to others in ways such as the opportunity to join Menlo’s Coat talking, writing or even photos and of Arms.Whether oneself is an edi- art. “Journalism has taught me about tor, writer, photographer or report- better email etiquette, better orgaer, there is a position that suits their nization, being able to have better interest. Staff members can cover conversations and logistics which is what they believe is important and pretty underrated,” Han said. It will relevant. Staff members are often make oneself think smarter next the first to get information about time they watch the news or read school events and have the ability the paper, because now they underto hear both sides of the story. “For stand the process they went through every piece of breaking news, I am to get the information for that story.

First of all, what are greenhouse low income are much more likely gases? “Greenhouse gases are to be affected by climate change. harmful to the environment,” Men“Communities of color are dislo seventh grader Zachary Terman proportionately victimized by envisaid. “They cause climate change,” ronmental hazards and are far more Menlo seventh-grader Bess Shubb likely to live in areas with heavy said. Greenhouse gases are gases pollution. People of color are more that let light go through the atmo- likely to die of environmental caussphere to Earth, but trap heat inside. es, and more than half of the people When more and more of these gases who live close to hazardous waste are set into the atmosphere, it causes are people of color,” according to the greenhouse effect. “The green- the Princeton Student Climate inihouse effect is the natural warming tiative. Additionally, developing of the earth that results when gases countries feel the brunt of climate in the atmosphere trap heat from change and the disparities, but they the sun that would otherwise escape contribute the least to the Global into space,” according to NRDC. GHG. Students who learn about Many middle and high school climate change are more motivated students seem to understand what to be more cognizant about climate greenhouse gases cause, but not change. Being able to understand what they actually are, which these disparities will help students can be detrimental to reduc- take a more equitable approach ing their own carbon footprint. to their daily life. 22% of the US Terman and Shubb both had an population is school children. By understanding of possible methods motivating them, a big difference for reducing their can be made. carbon footprints.

Students tend Students are taught “Turn off the lights about climate change to have a decent more often and grasp on how and greenhouse gases, eat less meat,” they can help to but there isn’t enough Terman said. reduce their car“Use less water,” emphasis on actually bon footprint, but Shubb said. These doing things about it. are not motivated are effective ways enough and don’t to lower one’s carbon footprint; understand the topic and imporhowever, both Shubb and Terman tance of it enough to take action do not do these things actively. steps. Being able to have a more Why? Students are taught about cli- progressive approach to teachmate change and greenhouse gases, ing students about climate change but there isn’t enough emphasis can make a big difference in the on actually doing things about it. students’ lives and communities One of the big issues with cli- around the world if enough tracmate change is how it dispropor- tion and teaching happen. Havtionately affects low-income areas ing climate change implemented and people. “I do not know,” Shubb more into school curriculums is a said. In truth, people of color and step towards educating students.

YouTube, cont.

The targeted audience is either super specific or super vague.

Another aspect of why these videos are trending is because of YouTube recommendations people typically see on their home page. Parent Jin Wang said that YouTube wants to personalize the contents to viewers through machine learning.

Wang is concerned that YouTube recommendations might giving the wrong judgement of her interests based on the videos she watched. Parent Joe Laria said, what YouTube does is that they’re popular to lots of people, they want to make it so it’s easy for others to find videos.

Popularity on YouTube differs based on how many views, comments, likes, and subscribers/followers one’s channel could have. Furthermore, YouTube trends also have their in-

fluences, positive and negative.

“I feel like YouTube trends are really subjective to a specific community. For example, the Gacha community...they have specific trends that a lot of other communities don’t have. I think the main, general trends are okay.

Depending on how they are executed, then that makes it either a good video or a boring, ‘I know this is fake, you’re not fooling anyone kind of video. Those videos, I don’t really like,” Kiang said.

“Trends are a good thing because they’re trending for a reason. Obviously, people are going to like them; and if people like them, you [YouTubers] would create videos that people like. You would already know what to like.

So, I think trends are a good way to keep the app alive. I don’t know if other people like this, but I like to watch the same type of content

Image by Evato.com

over and over again,” Hua said.

“I feel like most of them [YouTube trends] are pretty good. All channels are pretty good. Compared to TikTok, they’re not as good. I feel like they can influence people to do bad things or inappropriate content.

Or even like, in 2015, kids started eating Tide pods and stuff like that.

I think that was a YouTube channel, but that was pretty bad. I don’t think of any other things. Overall,

I haven’t seen any bad ones. It’s usually like a style of YouTube video,” Tussing-Adkinson said.

“Any platform has a problem of having too much information, that takes too much of your time.

So everybody has to be smart and self-disciplined. Otherwise it’s very time-consuming,” Wang said.

“I think that video trends make it easy to consume what kind of videos that you like. So it’s really effortless entertainment. I’m not a big fan of copycatting, because it just gets boring,”Laria said.

Users on YouTube can have access to a variety of different kinds of videos through trends and YouTube recommendations. Online trends can have positive and negative influences on the 21st-century lifestyle.