April 4, 2019
A Student Production of Franklin Learning Center
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Hell’s Kitchen FLC cafeteria is full of health hazards
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Red Cross club returns Jerrin Baez Staff Reporter
Franklin Learning Center’s Red Cross Club has officially bounced back after it’s year-long hiatus. At one point, FLC organized one of the largest Red Cross groups in Philadelphia. This year, the new club leader is Biology teacher Frances Peagler. When disaster strikes, the
American Red Cross is happy to help. Making up a total of five branches, the organization has established their name nationally and globally. Volunteers in the Red Cross assist people in need. One of the five branches is the Disaster Services; this branch supports families targeted by natural disasters like hurricanes and continue reading on page 3
FLC alum Where has returns to coach school spirit mock trial gone?
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Hatten sets sights on states Lizbeth Castillo Sports Editor
Qualifying for states is something that many athletes strive to achieve. It not only is very self satisfactory, but can also lead to tremendous academic opportunities. As of recently, junior athlete Anaz Hatten has made it a goal to go to states and represent Frank-
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lin Learning Center this spring. During last year’s track season, Hatten was unable to achieve his goal due to an injury he acquired from running. However, that isn’t stopping Anaz, “I can make it to states, it’s just I got injured.” Anaz suffered a knee injury from the long jump event that limited his full potential. But, this year he has a plan
Bryce Harper’s Phillies debut
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Romanticizing criminals in Hollywood harms viewers and victims
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NEWS
Change for Future Generations: UrbEd Dariana Garcia-Bernabe Editor-in-Chief
When Tamir Harper thinks of public education, what comes to mind is a system that is broken. To fix it, Harper and his friend Luke Risher, both students at Science Leadership Academy at the time, created UrbEd in 2016. UrbEd is a nonprofit organization designed to advocate for better urban education. “We were honestly sick and tired of students not getting an equitable education in Philadelphia and surrounding counties,” expressed Harper, a freshman at American University who graduated SLA in June and serves as UrbEd’s executive director. “We wanted to go out and advocate for a better system.” To date, UrbEd has supported disbanding the School Reform Commission, which occurred July 1. This was around the same time that a nine-member school board, appointed by Mayor Jim Kenney, assumed control of the district from the state. UrbED’s other goals include: getting rid of the school-to-prison pipeline, improving school building conditions, and increasing teacher diversity. Through UrbED, Harper said he hopes to help do away with disciplinary policies and practices in schools that criminalize students’ behavior by having them arrested, locked up, and dragged to court. The head of UrbEd critiqued the school-to-prison pipeline, saying it’s simply not acceptable. He suggested that it should be replaced with one where schools work with their communities to solve conflicts that arise in schools. UrbEd’s other big mission is to “give every student access to a safe, sanitary, and functional building,” Harper continued. “Toxic City”, an investigative piece by the Philadelphia Inquirer about public school
building conditions, found over 200 hazards in schools. Finally, UrbEd wants to increase teacher diversity in city schools, where nearly 49 percent of the students are African American but only 24 percent of the teachers are black. “The lack of teacher diversity in Poster welcoming students outside UrbEd’s event on February 8th · Philadelphia is neg-Dariana Garcia-Bernabe atively affecting our students,” Harper further explained. Stu- tantly “ensure that all students are receivdents often see teachers as their role mod- ing quality and efficient urban education.” els. If the teacher does not look like the student, it will be hard for the student to relate. Jessica Way, a medical assisting teacher at Franklin Learning Center and advocate for bettering school building conditions, praised UrbEd’s efforts to improve schools. “I think those goals sound very awesome,” she said. Luvonda Fuller, a senior dance major at Franklin Learning Center, agreed, saying she believes the public school system can be improved to better help students in the future. “I really like what they are doing,” she said in light of UrbEd. While off to a great start, UrbEd is not without its challenges -- mainly finding money to support it. “Fundraising is very challenging,” Harper acknowledged, adding that people can support UrbED by subscribing to its newsletter, buying t-shirts, donating money, or following the group on social media. The organization’s website is https://www.urbedadvocates.org/ Tamir Harper, co-founder of UrbEd, is on Going forward, Harper said he hopes a mission to improve public schools for urto engage students across the common- ban students · Photo courtesy of UrbED wealth, grow UrbEd, and most impor-
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Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Dariana Garcia-Bernabe Ombudsman Sophia Cisse News Editor Hannah Woodruff A&E Editor Janelis Duran Sports Editors Angelica Martinez Lizbeth Castillo Photography Editor Anannya Kundu Video Editor Deja Dawkins Layout Editor Markist Williams Design Editor Elijah J Collins Faculty Adviser Colin Chrestay
New 2019 budget cuts education
Stefan Mullings Contributer Zulymar Rios Contributer
On March 11, 2019, President Donald Trump published his new 2020 budget proposal, which included funding for the Mexican border wall. The money for the wall will mostly come from cuts to other departments like the EPA, HUD, the education department, agriculture, science, and NASA, to name a few. The new budget faces opposition from many sides due to the fact that these cuts could drastically change peoples’ lives. Cuts made to the education budget totals $62 billion dollars. In other words, that’s 12% of their entire spending. Those cuts mean that student loans will be subsidized, narrow the income payment plans of citizens, and the percentage of student loan income will be 12.5% instead of now which is 10%. This is the third time in a year that President Trump plans to cut resources for the educational system. Programs that will get affected if the budget was to get put in action would be the after school program for low income students, public service loans and the forgiveness program, in between a few more. Not only will elementary intermediate students will be affected, higher education programs will get affected as well. The majority of these cuts will affect low income students due to these programs mainly helping with the funding or financing of students’ college careers. Students that receive their lunch during school might not even get to enjoy it anymore because that pro-
The Flash is seeking: Illustrators Photographers Videographers Graphic Designers Submit your original illustrations, photos, or videos to Illustrator, Trump funds wall instead of education· Paladin Jenkins gram will also experience the budget plan. priority for 2020”, while others believe that The military spending is scheduled to the budget is setting the United States for expand by 5% and an additional $8.6 bil- decline. The budget seeks to cut more than lion for the purpose of building a border two dozen programs, including a popular wall along the US and Mexico. The in- after-school program for many low-income crease is more than what was anticipated students. It would eliminate higher-eduand asked for. Other programs impacted cation programs. This change would not by the budget decrease are the interior de- balance for 15 years, breaking Mr. Trump’s partment (by a 14%), the energy depart- 2016 campaign promise to pay off the enment (by 11%), and a total of $26 billion tire national debt within eight years. Russ for all the social security departments. Vought blamed Democrats and Congress Although it was undecided for awhile, for the ballooning deficit, even though two other programs whose budget will Democrats have not controlled Congress now increase are Medicaid and Medicare. for years. He stated, “We do have large Many other members of the White deficits. That’s why we’re here transparently House say that they will not take the bud- saying that we have a problem as a country.” get seriously and that the budget “isn’t a
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Red Cross Club’s return
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floods. After disaster strikes in an area, the club. Blood services the Disaster Action Teams travel to the site to look after any injuries. In return, people impacted by these disasters get the resources to help them get back on their feet. The second branch focuses on soldiers/ active service members, veterans, and their families. The Red Cross Club distributes their humanitarian resources to the National Guard reserves; about one million people are active in service. They also unite soldiers with their families. Often times after service, soldiers do not have a chance to get employed or start back up again, which is why the Red Cross advocates for veterans with community-based programs. Health and safety services make up the third branch. This is where students would get training for life-threatening scenarios, some of which include practicing CPR and lifeguarding services. In this branch, the Red Cross emphasizes being prepared for any situation. A program that helps accomplish this is called “Be Red Cross Ready”. There are three steps to be followed: 1) Get a kit consisting of emergency resources, 2) Have a plan and be prepared, and 3) Be informed and know about your surrounding area. Blood services are the fourth branch. Due to this section, schools are able to schedule a blood drive to collect blood for
collect a total of 6 million units of blood annually. The final branch covers international services. Similar to the Disaster Services, this branch allows Red Cross members to be sent abroad to take care of the families affected by disasters. As for the club at FLC, Peagler admits that she chose the position to revive it. “I took over the Red Cross Club because Ms. Baker was unable to do it any longer. We did not want it to become a defunct program,” she admits. “It is a good thing for [students] to be exposed to a lot of experience with volunteer work and leadership... that type of experience… they can put it on their resume.” - Frances Peagler Red cross team, comes back from a year-long break · Jerrin Baez
Bob Check, Bob Pass Gabrielle Smith Contributer At Franklin Learning Center, students with a failing class grade are being given a piece of paper labeled the “BobCheck”. It’s a part of the BobPass program created to solve the rising issue of grade management among students. Those
unable to raise grades on their own can turn to this system for a helping hand. Students with a BobCheck are required to stay after school on Wednesday for their meeting with assigned teachers. If the student doesn’t show up to the BobPass, an overnight suspension will be arranged the following day. As mentioned earlier, the BobPass intends to assist students in grade improvement. However, no system is safe from faults. On February 27, FLC experienced
the first run of BobCheck. With every new change, panic and confusion were expected to peak in the community. A total of 140 students received an overnight suspension letter during class, which later dropped to 58 students at the end of the day. Mr. Wilson admits that it was caused by “human error.” Teachers now have to put students’ assignments in as soon as they can to raise grades and avoid difficulties. In spite of all this buzz, the program continues to undergo improvement. As long as student grades are maintained, students at FLC have nothing to worry about.
“Those unable to raise grades on their own can turn to this system for a helping hand. “
FLC Alum Returns to Coach Mock Trail
Hannah Woodruff
News Editor
Angella Middleton, FLC class of 2002 and former mock trial team member, is back at her alma mater as coach of the team she used to compete with. While she attended FLC, Middleton had some interest in becoming a lawyer but remained unsure until joining the school’s first mock trial team in January of her freshman year. “I think I was interested in being a lawyer,” she says, “but very quickly that became my focus after I joined the mock trial team. I stuck with it throughout my four years.” After FLC, Middleton went on to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania and then from Rutgers University School of Law. Today, she works as an attorney for the law firm Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, LLP. In her work as a lawyer, she collaborates with the rest of her firm to pour over the facts of cases, prep witnesses, and strategize for competition: all qualities that make her an excellent coach. In the mock trial club, Middleton helps students learn to be a part of the court system by reviewing and practicing the roles involved in the legal process. Their goal is to become familiar with the actual experience and broaden their knowledge on rules or norms pertaining to the courtroom. This includes how to use evidence, the range of objections that lawyers can practice, and even
the questions permitted to ask speakers. At the beginning of the year, the team was given a case to read over and roles were assigned for either prosecution or defense. While club adviser and History teacher Louis Fantini guides members through preparations, the presence of an additional coach in Middleton has helped to bring the club to where they are currently. “I give the students now a lot of credit,” she admits; “just understanding the facts of the case takes so much more work now than it used to. There’s a lot at stake.”
or not, being a part of the team will teach students skills like public speaking and analytical thinking--skills that will help them in any area they hope to explore. “It’s one of the only programs I know of that you actually get to do the work a lawyer does.” From her first experience with mock trial as a new student at FLC to her return as a qualified and driven coach, An-
“It’s nice to see that fire of competition in students when they really, really have learned a lot and are excited to put that to use.”
As for the character of the club, Middleton shares that this year’s members “are a fun bunch.” Coaching the team pointed out to her a reflection of the same passion that can be recognized in lawyers. “It’s nice to see that fire of competition in students when they really, really have learned a lot and are excited to put that to use.” Being that it was the reason she pursued her own career, Middleton recommends that students should give mock trial a chance. Whether they have any interest
Staff Photographer, · Alisha Lou
gella Middleton has become a force in the Philadelphia mock trial community. “It’s so rewarding to see the progress of the students from the first day when they don’t know anything until when we get to competition. Not only have they learned a lot, but they’re actually passionate about the competition.”
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Suspension Bomb
Marlen Rojas Contributer
On Thursday, January 28th, Franklin Learning Center administrators issued 140 suspension letters to students in the middle of the day. The chaos that followed led to many complaints, phone calls from parents, and a long line of students at the end of the day. Those 140 letters were issued to students who failed to attend FLC’s new Bobcheck program that week. Aimed at improving students’ grades to magnet-school-level expectations, the Bobcheck requires students with one or more failing grade to check in weekly on Wednesday afternoons. After a practice week, administrators stressed the serious nature of the Bob-
OPINION
check by sending school police officers around the school, handing out suspension letters to nearly one sixth of the school. Students were in a panic, running up and down the stairs to go to the office. Some students were especially upset because they did not meet the requirements for suspension. Assistant Principal Anthony Wilson admits that while they “started with 140 [students]” suspended, by the end of the day that number dropped to “58 because of a human error in the process. Some people didn’t mark [Bobcheck] attendance correctly.” 82 students had their suspensions revoked by the end of the day. Mr. Wilson concluded, “We want students to recognize that being on track is important. If it’s important enough for us to put our time on it, it’s important enough for the students to join us for it.”
Illustrator Joshua Ramirez
Ijanae Watlington
Contributer
Have you ever felt like you were wrongly given a detention? At Franklin Learning Center, students given unnecessary detentions for not receiving our transpasses in Advisory. Due to the detention policy, problems at FLC are rising because it has a negative affect on students, students have to stay after school, they are punished in ways that students at other schools are not, and they get unnecessary infractions on their record. The detention policy started in 2018 when new principal Nicole Lee and newly hired Anthony Wilson created it. It has been going on since and been having many negative effects on students such as students getting home late and not disciplining them in any way. Student Tyahn Hassan, a senior at FLC, says the deten-
The benchmark started 15 years ago, to inform instruction by assessing the eligible content specified in the scope and sequence for a given marking period. Various vendors have provided content over the years and the subject-specific curriculum specialists in the district office of curriculum, instruction and assessment review all item and sometimes provide content. Its compared with every school in the district of the rate of benchmark score. Each student is given a score when submitting the test. Some students may feel worried because some teachers use the benchmark as a grade. The score would go up or down but does not accurately represent the student’s abilities. A low score can prevent the student from approving and advancing, this can make students think less of themselves and their abilities. The test only considers a single test per-
Jia-xue Yang Contributer
Imagine everyone in Franklin Learning Center working towards a similar goal and accomplishing it. How would that feel like? Some might think this concept burdens too much pressure and is far-fetched, but the reality might feel more rewarding than they may think. School spirit captures onein-a-million moments. Unfortunately, Franklin Learning Center rarely exhibits this. It’s about time that changes. According to the Macmillan Dictionary, school spirit is the feeling of being proud and enthusiastic about the school that you go to. In other words, it’s about having goals to work towards as a group. It can be demonstrated through the students, school-related events, and encourages neighboring students to represent their schools. The reason why FLC doesn’t embody school spirit lies in the lack of common goals amongst the community. Without the determination to reach a shared goal, students are unable to work together, hence lowering the chances of teamwork. Not to mention, the vicinity of FLC’s building makes it difficult to organize traditional school events, although not impossible. School spirit makes up the high school experience. Its presence alone could re-
Gone?
solve or assist in issues that students find at the school. On gloomy days, it could help lighten the mood and give the community a break from the stress. In addition to that, it may motivate students and teachers collectively to strive for the bigger and better. Last December, the FLC Express found success in highlighting school spirit. Events like so bring students comfort knowing that fun does exist in school. Do you remember those days when fun was associated with the education system? When it comes to school, it’s important to spotlight this spirit of celebration. Amidst all the obstacles, high school should be given the chance to adopt a sense of unity and FLC is no exception. I l lustr ator, FLC’s spirit is fading away · Paladin Jenkins
Unnecessary Detention
tion policy doesn’t discipline students. She continues, “I feel like detentions don’t do anything. Students are still getting them and it doesn’t teach any lessons because it’s only a hour of your life that you can use sleeping or doing work.” Mr. Wilson explains that the reason for detention is that it’s supposed to encourage students, “to come in on time, at least on Friday’s we would hold detention after school for those students who were late.” Because students have to stay after school, it interferes with attending extra curricular activities. Friday’s are game
days, sport practices, meetings for any clubs, or emergencies. Sophomore, Thaer abdel-rahman, a sophomore at FLC, says
“I feel like detentions don’t do anything. Students are still getting them and it doesn’t teach any lessons because it’s only a hour of your life that you can use sleeping or doing work.”
Benchmarks : A Burden On Students
Alisha Lou Contributer
School Spirit
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formance it does not consider how much a student has grown over the years. This can be like a diss to teachers who worked to help their students grow, and students who put their best effort to improve but perform poorly on one test. The student may not be familiar with the format, have test anxiety, family problems, mental and physical health issues, and language barriers that can all affect a student test score. The individual school is judged by the School District of Philadelphia like a competition between schools. Jeffrey Robinson a member of the School District of Philadelphia said “all students in relevant classes should participate in the benchmark… the benchmark is successful at accomplishing its goals… it’s an accurate test for students ability.” If we can focus less on taking the test and more on teaching every student is an individualized way this might give true benefits.
he had many detentions for having a family emergency or dentist appointment. He continues, “My mom was honestly mad because that day I had to stay
for an hour and I had a dentist appointment. Another issue was when I couldn’t come to school on Friday because of family reasons and they wouldn’t understand because I didn’t have a note!” Mr. Wilson says, “We’re trying to follow state law, the School District wants us to have 95% of our students on time.” Other schools allow you to get your transpass whenever you have time to get it. Student, Abdul Phillips, a senior at Boys Latin says, they don’t get penalized for being late or not being in school for a transpass. In conclusion, as a whole unnecessary detentions for minor infractions degrade students because it has a negative affect on students, students have to stay after school, they are punished in ways that students at other schools are not, and they get unnecessary infractions on their record.
Absenses shouldn’t cause rejection Hannah Biaggi Contributer Have you ever been rejected from a school because of your attendance? Students such as Pierre Matamoros, a junior at La Salle University and Chaunte Gaines, a junior at Franklin Learning Center have been victims to this horrendous act, which makes no sense at all because schools, whether it’s a college or high school, shouldn’t look at attendance when looking at applications. According to the School District of Philadelphia’s attendance policy 204, “Attendance shall be required of all students during the days and hours that school is in session, except that authorized district staff may excuse a student for temporary absences upon receipt of satisfactory evidence of mental, physical, or other urgent reasons that may reasonably cause the student’s absence.[ 4][5][6][7][8][9.” I believe that once a student is excused from their absence, that absence should be taken away from the student’s transcript. Gaines knows that her attendance will affect her chances at getting into the colleges of her choice.She said, “they’re gonna worry
that I might not show up and be consistent.” Both high schools and colleges should focus more on grades than attendance for the person applying. This is important because they don’t know what’s going on in a child’s life as to why their attendance is the way it is. “I think that they should look at the child’s situation to see if they should base it on grades or just attendance or both. Both are important but sometimes people have life experiences that can mess up their grades or experiences,” said Gaines. Pierre said, “I was upset when I found out why I wasn’t accepted. I really wanted to get into this school. So yeah, academics in general should be the main focus of colleges when they look at people’s applications. They shouldn’t even look at an applicant’s attendance.” There are many people in the world who are victims of rejection just like Pierre and Chaunte. Schools shouldn’t require an attendance record at all because this unjust act should never happen to anyone. Pierre added, “I shouldn’t have been rejected from the school because I was absent even though my grades were good. I guess I learned my lesson.”
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FLC Athletic Uniform Issue Angelica Martinez
Sports Editor
consists of 12-15 jerseys, can range anywhere from $500 to $1000 dollars. In order to update our athletic uniforms, FLC needs more funding for the department. To get the proper funding, there would have to be fundraisers in the school that would profit the school itself. It’s no secret that the FLC uniforms are not ideal to the athletes that wear them, and is an issue that has observed but not addressed. FLC needs more funding in the athletic department to ensure that student-athletes have the best experience every season.
According to the Philadelphia Public League, there are 28 different sports offered to highschool students in the Philadelphia school district. On the official PPL website, it states, “The fundamental purpose of the Philadelphia Public League shall be to promote interscholastic athletics for students in schools of The School District of Philadelphia and participating Philadelphia charter schools, so that participants will enjoy the benefits of the physical fitness, teamwork and discipline that involvement in athletics can bring.” One vital necessity in order to participate in sports related to the School District is athletic supplies and uniforms. Uniforms and supplies have a state code that they have to keep up with. Last year, the uniforms for Franklin Learning Center’s softball teams were updated due to not having all the correct qualifications. Although other athletic uniforms are up to date, they are not ideal to play in. Another concern raised was the state of FLC’s girls’ volleyball uniforms which have holes in the jerseys. It is known that there is limited budgeting for athletic uniforms at FLC, and sports in general. Brian Kelly, the athletic director at FLC, admits that “some of the athletic uniforms need to be updated” and that “some have been updated because they were not compliant” but it’s very pricy. According to Kelly, a set of uniforms, which Bobcat uniform woes · Illustrator Paladin Jenkins
A&E Editor Janelis Duran
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The Flash Editorial Board Like chunky milk, conditions in the cafeteria are hard to swallow. It is well known that the food served at Franklin Learning Center’s cafeteria is not enjoyed by everyone. According to the School District of Philadelphia’s Wellness Policy, school lunches should be “appealing and attractive to students” and “be served in clean and pleasant settings.” Yet, some students would rather battle through the day on an empty stomach instead of eating the cafeteria lunch. It’s come to light that the miscommunication plaguing the cafeteria’s operations is responsible for an environment leaving students at risk. The concerns come in different forms—the space, the food, the staff, and the students— and all parties are partially to blame. It has often been said that there is no such thing as a free lunch and nowhere is that more true than in the School District of Philadelphia’s department of Food Services. It takes the collective effort of nearly 1,000 employees to make sure that schools in our district are providing free and reduced price lunches for their students. One role crucial to this process is taken on by Amy Virus, the district’s Manager of Administrative and Support Services in the division of Food Services at 440 N. Broad St. Below her are field supervisors who each run a region of schools. Field supervisors then oversee the 916 cafeteria staff members in the School District. Some of those 916 staff members call the FLC cafeteria home. Joanne Cifelli has been the Kitchen Manager since 2001 and runs the show with a cook, a utility worker, and food service assistants. But with four lunch periods and roughly 900 students, a range of issues can crop up on any given day in the school cafeteria. General overcrowding, an unpopular menu, spoiled milk, pests, discrimination, and a failure to serve food to the students; all these issues have convinced us that FLC’s cafeteria is a hazard to the health of its students.
Overcrowding In the FLC cafeteria, there can be up to 232 people present at once. Any more than this and it would violate the International Building Code. The cafeteria serves an average of about 100 lunches each period, but the cafeteria environment is continuously crowded with students who are not eating lunch. Principal Nicole Lee acknowledges the problem too: “It feels claustrophobic in that cafeteria.” Some of the problem is just in the numbers. Lee says, “If you really do your math, we have 900 students and 4 lunches—the math doesn’t really add up too well.” Some students opt to stand in the hall-
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E D I T O R I A L way, rather than squeeze into one of the 23 ten-seated tables in the room. Still, others head to the library or spend the lunch period walking the halls and evading hall monitors. A recent survey of 225 FLC students revealed that 35% don’t eat the school lunch even once a week. 71% say the crowdedness of the space is a reason they have chosen not to go to lunch. Some days are more claustrophobic than others. The number of students going into the lunchroom each day relies on the food that is being served. Cifelli says that the most popular food options served at the cafeteria are tacos, cheesesteaks, chicken nuggets, and fries. On February 27th, chicken nuggets and fries brought in a total of 195 students during 6th lunch. Anticipating the rise and fall of lunch attendance is a difficult job and mistakes here can lead to worse problems later. With each challenge rising from the cafeteria, staff members are tasked to respond before the situation escalates.
Staff
Behind every school district cafeteria, there are hardworking individuals who cook and prepare the meals that hundreds of students consume on a daily basis. The kitchen manager, the cook, line workers, and utility person all lend a hand in running the cafeteria. Among their many responsibilities are preparing the food, serving the lines, and cleaning up between lunch periods. Sherry Jackson, a cafeteria worker at FLC, has worked in the School District for thirty-two years and at FLC since 2010. From her personal experience, she expressed that students are sometimes disrespectful towards cafeteria workers, “maybe saying a little thing and then they’ll walk off.” But to her, the only major problem in the cafeteria is when a worker suddenly cannot make it to work and everyone else has to find a solution to the last-minute cancellation. She concludes by saying that “if everyone does their part,” it makes the job easier. Meanwhile, kitchen manager Joanne Cifelli believes that the problems in the cafeteria come from a range of issues. Some fall under “personality differences between the workers,” a student’s behavior, or “the way deliveries come, or don’t come.” Cafeteria staff are in the middle: they are employees of the district but answer to food services, not the principal. They deal with student disputes below and missed orders above. But no matter what problem shows up, the FLC cafeteria staff are the faces of the cafeteria and are often the first to be blamed for it.
Pests
Pests in the cafeteria has been one issue that the staff has to deal with. The cafeteria should be the cleanest space in the entire school due to the fact that food is cooked, served, and eaten by students there on a
daily basis. To think that there is a roach crawling underneath their seat is revolting. Even the thought of it can make one’s stomach turn. For ten months straight, there shouldn’t be any bugs lying around, ready to pounce on someone’s hamburger or fries. This is not a rare occurrence, though. 69.8% of 225 students have witnessed pests like mice and roaches in the cafeteria. In a way, students bond when talking about the many times they have seen roaches or mice in the cafeteria. A simple comment soon turns into a whole spectacle of laughter and communal complaining. Still, the fault can fall under this same group of people that report on the issue. Students are not free from blame. Every time one of them fails to throw away leftover food or leaves food on a windowsill, they give pests a way to survive. The cafeteria workers have taken this into account already and are doing all they can to eliminate the pests. “Exterminators come in. We do the best we can,” explains Amy Virus at 440, “you shouldn’t see pests or mice or rodents or any of that in your cafeteria.” The school-based cleaning staff, who report to the building engineer, have some responsibility in this, too. Virus shares that the cleaning is “a shared responsibility with the building engineer.”
Menu
Menu creation is a particularly complicated process, involving vender schedules, deliveries, and a central office that decides meals for all of the district’s schools. To the 44% of FLC students who rat-
ed the cafeteria’s meal variety as below average, it should be noted that the cafeteria staff have a limited say in what gets served. The central office makes a single menu for all full-service high schools to pick from. Amy Virus in the office has a staff of six who “do the work that we need to order the food and get it delivered to the schools. I also have a menu planner—a dietician—who oversees that process.” Joanne Cifelli, despite having no control over that menu, sees its effects in person: “I have about 400 students for lunch; all lunches combined. We are feeding half or little less than half for lunch. It kind of goes up and down and it does depend on what we are serving. When we have fries, we do a little better.”
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OPINION
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E D I T O R I A L by the Food and Drug Administration. According to researchers the ideal milk temperature should not be over forty-five degrees. For instance, the milk served is the one thing that many students complain about. 55.1% of 225 students responded to received milk or food that was past its expiration date. The Flash conducted a week long experiment that measured the temperatures of the mlik. It was found that six out of seven times the milk was below forty-five degrees. However, on March 8th, during breakfast and 6th lunch the milk was fifty degrees. This is unsafe and unprofessional due to the fact that it could lead to food poisoning, and foodborne illness for any student that decides to drink the milk. Sherry Jackson, a cafeteria worker at FLC, states that there have been multiple times when students come up and explain the poor condition of the milk. “We’ll report it to the manager let her know about the milk.” It is crucial that there is never a moment where the milk is over forty-five degrees. The magic number is forty-five degrees and should stay that way at all times.
Food Shortages
As it stands, though, the cafeteria offers limited choice in food options. Virus thinks the solution to sporadic lunch attendance might be burritos, not fries. “We know that the Chipotle model, where you can go in and get whatever toppings you want on top of different items works well because you can customize your food. I would love to be able to do that on our menu.” She ends by saying, “When you look at the lunch menu, at the top you’ll see a Monday through Friday and that’s our rotation. It’s a grill, a pizza, a deli sandwich, or a salad, and then there’s a featured item each day. So, you should have five different entrees that you’re picking from when you walk through the line in the cafeteria. If
you walk by there and there’s not five entrees available to you then that’s a problem. If you don’t see it, demand it and expect it.”
Food Quality
Besides the cramped space, the quality of food provided comes hand-in-hand with the poor conditions of the cafeteria. The Special Milk Program (SMP) provides milk to students, child care institutions, and eligible camps. They are reimbursed for the milk that they serve, must serve low-fat (1% milk) or fat-free milk, and must meet all state and local standards like contain vitamin C and D levels given
Not only did they encounter spoiled milk in the cafeteria, but many FLC students have found themselves in a situation where entrees are not always available. 70% of the 225 students polled admitted that they’ve experienced a lack of lunch due to food running out by the time they reached the front of the line. Students headed to crowded lunches often compete the be the first out of their classes and into the cafeteria. If they aren’t, the student might have to spend the passing minutes on an empty stomach. When hearing of this, Principal Lee expresses that “[food shortage] makes no sense to me. They should never run out of food.” Regardless of their place in line, there should be enough food for students once they’re up front. Being refused lunch is embarrassing to students, and the uncertainty of whether they will receive food each day is one reason why many opt to stay upstairs and go without food. The fault doesn’t necessarily fall on the cafeteria management alone. The fluctuating student numbers and ordering from central office require a combination of constant communication between FLC and 440, as well as some guesswork, in order to make sure there is enough food each day. This miscommunication between the staff and those of higher positions can further lead to other issues. If there is even a small mistake or breakdown in commu-
nication, students will have to spend the day hungry. This is especially troubling in a school whose students are 100% eligible for free and reduced-price lunch. The students in this school and district suffer the effects of poverty more, on average, than students in neighboring districts. Since they have already been promised free lunch, it is a special kind of cruelty to fail to come through on that promise. Students can’t begin to process information and think at the high level FLC students are known for until their basic needs are met. But more than being just a practical way that the school can help boost their performance, it is a moral obligation for FLC to keep its students fed.
Discrimination
Moreover, with the number of students attending FLC, diversity can be easily recognized in the school. We have students from all over the world, spanning the Americas, Asia, Europe and Africa. We shouldn’t be surprised that not everyone has the same ethnic background or language. When asked if their ethnicity or language contributed to their treatment in the lunch line, 11% out of the 225 students surveyed said that they have been treated differently than other students by cafeteria workers. Lee expresses that she was “happy to see that [the response] was lower than [she] thought it would be”, but admits that “it still needs to be addressed.” She is absolutely right. This is an issue that will end only when addressed seriously. The students aren’t going anywhere and as a community, we have to respect and understand each other no matter where we come from.
Conclusion
Having all this in mind, is the cafeteria too far gone to be saved? No, not all hope is lost. There are many solutions that can bring about the revival of our cafeteria. Frequent check ups and training between the staff and management will prevent issues that students and management find in the cafeteria. The only way to solve the problem is to let the people in authority know about what is happening. Students have the ability to make changes. They can make their voices heard by going to the School District of Philadelphia website and contacting the Food Services department. All that needs to be done is filling out the “Contact Us” form and they will go investigate. Amy Virus says that they have already received a number of emails from students who face problems in their school cafeteria. Both the the employees at the School District of Philadelphia’s department of Food Services and the FLC cafeteria staff say they want what’s best for students. Virus concludes by saying that they want the food to look “appealing”. That way, the food provided actually gets consumed. Students should feel confident that their food is both delicious and appetizing. By creating an atmosphere that not only serves quality food, but is also clean and spacious, students are sure to enjoy their thirty-minute-meal experience.
8
OPINION
Changing Architecture In Philly
Philadelphia is a city of history and brotherly love, known for the outstanding architecture of the historical buildings. But that is all changing now, the recent changes creating brotherly love and making history, or are they distorting Philly’s history? ¡ Anannya Kundu
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SPORTS
9
Jerrin Baez Staff Reporter Franklin Learning Center’s badminton team is finally back after being cut almost many years ago. Andrea Sullivan, FLC’s Athletic Director at the time, says badminton was cut due to a Title IX regulation: “for every boy sport there has to be a girl sport.” Brian Kelly, FLC’s current athletic director, says Title IX was not the only reason for badminton’s removal: “the budget-cuts the School District faced at the time” played a role.
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Badminton Returns This year, however, Kelly has brought back the team with a lot of hard work and effort. He reveals his steps of how he achieved the rebirth of the badminton team: “First I pulled a bunch of students to see if they were interested..we had enough interest. Then I had to go through athletics [department] at the school district. They okayed it, and we decided we were going to partner up with Parkway Center City because they wanted a Badminton team as well. Everything worked out and Mrs. Lee was okay with it; she fought for it through the school budget.”
Badminton is back in FLC after many years. FLC’s student athletes have been preparing hard for a come back since tryouts, hoping they will succeed at a new season of badminton. · Photographs by Jerrin Baez
Badminton is an authentic sport that uses lightweight rackets and shuttlecocks. The sport has had a long history, it’s has been around sinnce the Ancient Greek and Egyptian times, making it a classical sport. Later on in the 18th Century, Badminton was played in India, but, the game was called “Poona.” A century later, Badminton was recognized worldwide and became an olympic sport in 1992. This sport is also very similar to tennis as they both use small nets, rackets, and they are both played in games of singles or doubles. Since this is FLC’s first sea-
son, other teams have more experience according to Nick Michaiski, the coach from Parkway Center City. “It’s our first year so this is a learning and growing year, but the girls are learning fast and hopefully they will continue to grow their skills,” he says. “They are positive, they are definitely good teammates, they tend to learn fast and they are picking up the game as quickly as they can.” Still near the beginning of the season, the team has already accomplished a win against Overbrook High School, making their record 1-2.
SPORTS
10
theflashflc.org
Spring Sports From FLC
Franklin Learning Center athletics from the Volleyball, Softball, and Track teams, training and preparing for a new season.
Volleyball · Photography Editor Anannya Kundu
Softball · Photography Editor Anannya Kundu
Volleyball · Editor-in-Chief Dariana Garcia-Bernabe
Track · News Editor Hannah Woodruff
Track · News Editor Hannah Woodruff
Softball · Photography Editor Anannya Kundu
Anaz aims for states Lizbeth Castillo Sports Editor
continued from page 1
on how to make sure he qualifies.
Hatten’s plan to make sure he makes it to states for the 2019 track and field season is to “stay healthy, stay fit, make sure I don’t get injured.” Last year, Anaz did a lot of extra running to make sure he almost qualified for states. “I would go to
high school practice for track and then after high school practice I would go to an outside club practice,” he explains. Anaz Hatten has always worked hard in the sport since Hatten has experience running the 400m, 200m, the long jump, the 4x100, and 4x400. His main goal is to earn an athletic scholarship in order to get into a university. With his goals and commitment in mind, there is a great possibility Anaz Hatten will qualify for states this year.
Deal Towards Victory Theresa Lane Contributer
Anaz Hatten, ‘19, attempts to go to states · Anannya Kundu
Former Washington Nationals Right Fielder Bryce Harper was offered two contracts one from the Los Angeles Dodgers and one from the Philadelphia Phillies. Harper was offered these huge contracts because he was the best player available in Baseballs free agent market at the time based on his career stats. The contract from the Dodgers was valued at $300 million for over 10 years getting $45 million a year. The contract from the Phillies was valued at $330 million for over 13 years getting $30 million a year being the largest contract in Major League Baseball (MLB) history.
The reason the Phillies offered Bryce Harper this contract in the first place is because of his stats. Such as throughout his career he got 184 out of 922 home runs, and he ran 610 out of 922 times. He also won numerous awards some are the Rookie of the year award in 2012, and numerous player of the week awards in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. Harper took quite a while to decide which contract he would select. The Phillies and Dodgers management took several trips to Harper’s Las Vegas home to convince him to join the Phillies. This process took many weeks. As the Phillies and Dodgers fans waited in anticipation for his decision. Finally, Harper ended the painful waiting game and on March 2, 2019 by signing the contract offer with the Phillies.
11
ENTERTAINMENT
Unjust Justice Systems
Aniya Baker Contributer
Never be afraid to speak on the things that goes on in your life. If you are being touched inappropriately, bullied, molested, or being forced to do something that’s uncomfortable, tell somebody. Most victims feel afraid and ashamed, especially when the person has power. The law also makes it hard for these victims to come out of hiding, because they often let people of power off “scott free”. This needs to change! R. Kelly is a 52 year-old African-American, male artist that is being charged with multiple accounts of child pornagraphy, rape, sexual and physical abuse of minors and grown women. On August 21st of 1994, Robert Kelly married 15 year-old Aaliyah, while he was the age of 27. In 1996, Tiffany Hawkins came forward and confessed about her relationship with Mr. Kelly, while she was at the age of 15 and he was 24. In 2001, Tracy Sampson sued R. Kelly for inducing her into a sexual relationship, when she was the age of 17 years old. In June of 2002, he was charged with 21 counts of mak-
ing child pornagraphy. The list can go on and on, and it’s certain that a pattern exists. A person who watches or possesses child pornagraphy can recieve 10 years in prison. Robert Kelly didn’t receive jail time for these charges and he did more than just watch them-----he participated in them. Statutory rape can give a person a maximum of fifteen years and a minimum of five years. R. Kelly only served days, not even months. This has to do with the fact that he is a rich, powerful figure that many people look up to. This is the type of world we live in. This is why we don’t speak up for ourselves. Famous people get away with their wrongs on a daily. Rape is rape, no matter who is doing it. Abuse is abuse, no matter how much pain it caused you. Child pornography is child pornography, and nothing can change that. If you do not speak up for yourself, nobody will hear your story. Your story can change somebody else’s mind and help them want to come forward with theirs. Be the person that makes a change and help the justice system see what they’re doing wrong. Had Kelly been a regular black man, things would’ve turned out differently.
Hello FLC Students, As of Monday March the 25th, 314 students signed in to International Day3 Classroom and 154 students already submitted their project choice. International Day is for the Students and by the Students to show their skills, their talents, their knowledge, and leadership. To participate in International Day3: Join International Day Classroom at 5qlmu2o using your flchs.org email. Read completely and carefully the International Day project guide. Make your choice of what you want to do. Then, complete the google form Student Project Choice in International Day Classroom to be considered for participation. Looking forward to your full participation. Make International Day a Great Day for You.
Captain Marvel:Was it Really Worth The Wait?
William Vargheese
address the fact that women can do more or even greater than men. But this movie in particular just lacks action in general. In Captain Marvel, there is really only one real Captain Marvel brightens the theaters. high-packed, CGI filled to the brim action As you know the movie received a 79% on scene which is at the end of the movie. But Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.1/10 on IMDb. being compared to the Wonder Woman I completely agree with these ratings. The movie who received a 93% rating on Rotten movie mostly focuses on the idea of wom- Tomatoes which is way better than Captain Marvel’s rating and also an IMDb rating of 7.5/10. You see Wonder Woman was action packed and had a really good plot as well. This movie came out in 2017 but still beat Captain Marvel’s butt. Also, the Captain Marvel defeats the tradition of MCU by lacking action. All the movies prior to Captain Marvel were clearly action-packed. “Let me begin by saying I really wanted to like Cap Marv. Right from the getgo when Fury paged her after the destruction caused by Thanos. When the Captain Marvel · Design Editor Elijah Collins trailers & posters en empowerment but the lack of action started drifting in, the oomph meter inside itself justified the rating. In the trailers pri- me went into overdrive, cos I was really or to the release of Captain Marvel and in looking forward to a female superhero who Captain Marvel itself, it shows how from would be given a BIG SPACE, and squaring her early years and up to her being Captain off against MCU’s most powerful villain toMarvel she stood back up after the problem date. Well, what happened after movie day? has ept pounding on her time after time. Here’s the good, the bad, the ugly”-Shanker This is a very beautiful scene because it R. I would rate this movie at the most a 3/5.
Contributer
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Arts. Music. Dance. Story Telling. Workshops. Food Festival.
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International Day3 School District of Philadelphia. Franklin Learning Center. World Languages Department
Not Charming, Just Murderous
Hannah Woodruff
sationalized on the big picture to sell to the public. While true crime is a fascinating genre to invest time into, the annual documentaries “detangling” these people’s moWith recent shows like Netflix’s “You” tives actually condition viewers into norand “Conversations With a Killer: The Ted malizing and furthering criminal behavior. When word of Bundy’s brutality got out, Bundy Tapes”, the romanticization of criminals skyrocketed in mainstream media once the public fell into a state of awestruck. Peoagain. Decades have passed by since their ple were mesmerized. In fact, the concept of a serial killer hadn’t death sentences, but been defined back in the impact left behind the 70s, which allowed lives on through this for some movement fascination. In spite of until our current, cutthe warnings against ter-box definition. predators like Bundy, Generation after genthe general public reeration, society then mains at risk of adoptbecame desensitized ing a harmful obsesto the extent of the true sion with criminals. horrors. Now washed By definition, “roaway by this increasmanticization” deing interest is the rescribes the act of ality that victims and glamorizing, gloritheir families faced. fying, and idealizing Illustrator Paladin Jenkins Put yourself in the shoes of a parent something or someone. Under no circumstance should serial killers be asso- whose child have fallen into the traps of ciated with glamorization, let alone idol- a notorious serial killer. Whether your ization. They’ll never be your Mary Sue child survives or not is up to question, and John Doe who saves the day; they’re but to sit back as the bad guy creeps up killers. Not to mention, neither would to fame is beyond infuriating. To the parsacrifice you as a cult offering or leave ent, he’s a wolf in the shape of man. To your body to rot in a mountainous area. Hollywood producers, it’s a thicker check. The men and women who lost their But this collective attraction toward criminals is nothing new. During Bundy’s lives at the hands of “charismatic” killtrials, serial killer groupies worshipped ers deserve better. Rather than being an and sent him love letters until the end of afterthought, they should get the opporhis sentence. Some admirers went as far tunity to prevail in the same spotlight as thinking they could “fix” their muse and notoriety handed to their killers. Finding interest in crimes brings no through adoration and love. For these murderers to be repairable, shouldn’t they real harm, but when it transforms into have redeeming qualities to begin with? romanticizing the doers, society will have In the grand scheme of things, pop-cul- taken ten steps back. These crimes aren’t ture feeds their audience stretched truths trophies to be shown off and highlightabout these criminals and their crimes. ed in admiration of the criminal. They Often times, one might find their acts sen- are tragedies that have stained our streets.
News Editor
ENTERTAINMENT
12
Us Review: suspenseful, surprising and spectacular Dariana Editor-in-Chief
The movie theater is full and the room goes black, that means one thing: “Us” is going to begin. “Us” is a horror-thriller directed by Jordan Peele, starting Lupita Nyong’o as “Adelaide Wilson”, Winston Duke as “Gabe Wilson”, Shahadi Wright Joseph as “Zora Wilson”, and Evan Alex as “Jason Wilson.” The film starts off by showing a joyful commercial of the “Hands Across America” movement that happened
in 1986. The lively attitude of the commercial is complete contrast of the sinister events that are to follow in the film. After the opening credits, we see a young Adelaide and her family at Santa Cruz, California’s boardwalk on a nice summer night. Adelaide leaves her parents and the boardwalk to go into the beach. As she furthers into the darkness, she passes by a man with long blonde hair holding a sign with 11:11. Adelaide enters a funhouse filled with mirrors, there Adelaide sees herself, not through the mirror but in the flesh; she sees her doppelgänger. What I liked
Netflix Original
Jordan Jones Contributer
Lately there has been in increase in original Netflix content such as series and movies that cover different genres.This all began with House of Cards in 2013. Ever since then Netflix has been stepping up their game. By releasing different genres of content varying from Korean dramas,to comedies,to action,and even to documentaries. Netflix has it all! As of 2018 Netflix has a whopping 700 different series. Many people question why Netflix started creating their own content but, the fact of the matter is simple it’s due to money. For every show and movie that isn’t owned by Netflix but is featured, the company has to pay for the licensing to stream it on there site. That leaves Netflix to pay 13 billion dollars in licensing alone each year. So Netflix is left with a choice risk being shut down due to not less revenue or finding away to pay off what they owe another way. By making their own content. Netflix saves money and earns a dedicated fan-base that will aways tune in to original shows and movies. This gives them the chance to pay off there licensing in the shows and movies they don’t own like “Grey’s anatomy” and “The Notebook”. But are Netflix Originals really all that; with shows like “Stranger Things” and movies like “Kissing Booth”, one would believe that Netflix original content would be very popular. Netflix relays on Word of mouth helps spread awareness for original content.Here at Franklin
Learning Center, 76.3% of students said yes, when asked if they recommend shows they watched to other people. 65.8% of those student at this school have a Netflix account and 84.2% of them watch Netflix originals. However we are only a small part of a greater whole, and when we look at it as a bigger picture we see that is far from the truth.It has been found by analytics platform 7Park Data that, only 80% of U.S. Netflix viewers mainly watch licensed content while only 20% watch their original. So are Netflix originals really worth it?
Hormone monster, from the Netflix show Big Mouth · Illustrator Trinity Thomas
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about this scene is the young actresse’s per- ates an eerie feeling that knots up stomachs formance and the visuals did a terrific job as soon at the tethered appear on screen. at capturing the mystery of the funhouse. “I Got 5 On It” was turned into a creepy Fast-forward to present day we see an adult horror movie anthem. The whole cast are Adelaide Wilson, her husband, Gabe Wil- incredible actors, their fear transcends son, her daugther Zora Wilson, and her son into the audience, leaving them on the Jason Wilson’s summer vacation in Santa edge of their seats. Lupita Nyong’o’s perCruz beach, the same one where Adelaide formance is stellar. Nyong’o truly captivates had her horrifying encounter years before. the audience as both Adelaide and Red. The film takes place between the present I love everything about “Us” although and flashbacks from Adelaide. In the flash- at times the gasps soon turned to laughter backs we see the events that followed after as Gabe would often crack jokes to deal Adelaide encounters her doppelgänger; with the sinister events. If it were a horShe become quite, unable to talk. Back in ror comedy I would understand, but the the present we see that her family, espe- “jokes” were out of place and took away cially her husband are excited to venture from the suspense of the film. But othinto the beach. Adelaide still traumatized er than that everything was spectacular. by the event that happened years before, is uneasy the whole time the family is at the beach. Her uneasy attitude soon turns to fear when Jason disappears, he sees the same man with 11:11 sign that Adelaide saw, this time 11:11 written on his forehead, lifeless, and with a bleeding hand. Jason is soon found and the family heads back home. Soon, the day turns to night. This is where the real actions starts. The Adelaide confides in her husband, by telling him of the night when she met her doppelgänger. During their conversation, they lose all power in the house. Jason proceeds to enter the room and stress that there is a family in their driveway. This is when panic sets in. Eventually the family confronts thier doppelgängers, and the rest is history. “Us” follows the Wilson fam- Us · Illustrator Paladin Jenkins ily as they fight for survival against themselves. Near the end of My favorite scene is the the final fight the film, it is revealed by Red (Adelaide’s scene between Adelaide and Red, the fight doppelgänger) that there is an entire un- between good and evil left me on the edge derground society that are doppelgängers of my seat. I especially loved the twist endof society called the tethered. They make a ing that is revealed. I left the theater in awe, human chain across the world, as present- my mind filled with questions. I would ed in the commercial at the beginning, to not be surprised if “Us” is nominated for finally escape their underground captivity. an Oscar for remarkable screenplay, best This film is unlike other horror films, picture, or the acting of Nyong’o. I can not not only because of the plot but because wait to see the future movies that Jordan of the details that are incorporated. Every Peele brings to the horror genre. I give “Us” scene, scare, and scream have a meaning. 5 out of 5 stars. The horror genre today is There is a huge source of imagery like the filled with movies that overuse jumpscares rabbits, the golden scissors, and the “Hands and plots. “Us” is a unique wonder that Across America” moment. The score cre- brings a breath of fresh air and fresh scares.
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