The Flash Volume 3 Issue 1

November 2, 2018

Franklin Learning Center, Philadelphia PA

theflashflc.org

FLC PREPARES TO

Members of FLC’s Senior class, registered and ready to vote for the first time this November. (l-r) Mia Flores, Stanley Morrison, Luvonda Fuller, Patrice Manasse, Zhane James, Cierra Jenkins, and Tajah Greene ¡ Photography Editor Annanya Kundu

VOTE

New FLC Club Explores Arabic Culture

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August: New Month, New Complications

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Find us @theflashflc

Venom: An Player Highlight: Armless, Legless, Mohammed Al Faceless Thing... Ameen

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2018 Midterms: A Time for Youth to Shine

NEWS

by SOPHIA CISSE and HANNAH WOODRUFF

tance with applications to eligible peers.

Voting is a voice given to citizens and if Rendering these voting services attracts no one votes, the government cannot hear.

Now, more than ever, youth voters attention, and not everyone has been able to During the 2014 midterm elections, only plan to take action as the upcoming elec- register voters without repercussions. Re- an estimated 20% of 18 to 29 year old turntions begin to close in. The shared spir- cently, Central High School’s civics teacher, out when there were more eligible youth it for change drives the young demo- Thomas Quinn, got slammed with accu- voters than baby boomers. Most reported graphic to use their voices and votes to sations of “liberal indoctrination” for his that they didn’t vote in prior elections becall out issues that once were silenced. Get Out the Vote initiative. The accusation cause they thought their voice didn’t matcame from Val DiGiorgio, ter, nor get represented. Some just weren’t “Decisions are made by those who show up.” chairman of the Repub- educated in politics and couldn’t care less. lican Party of PennsylvaAs of now, it’s different. Millennials one of AP Government and Politics nia and former Central today believe it’s their generation whose teacher Amy Lee’s favorite quotations alum. A district investi- future they determine with votes. In spoken by President Josiah Bartlet gation has since cleared 2018, young people have opened their on The West Wing Quinn of the charge. eyes more to the fact that voting “allows Despite clearing his everyone in society to have a voice,” inDespite holding the leverage in pop- name, the investigation alarmed parents cluding Luis Padilla, (‘20), who has been ulation more than any other age group, and teachers and left students puzzled. watching on the sidelines until he is old millennials tend to use their right to vote At a rally in defense of Quinn, 8th Dis- enough to vote. With the influence of past the least. But this fall, voter registration trict City Council candidate Tonya Bah ex- events and current educators, youth across organizations have been targeting as many pressed her thoughts on the matter: “the job the nation are stepping up to increase people as possible to apply before elections of a history teacher is to expose my child to turnout at the midterm polls next week. take place, with a bulls-eye on the youth. civics...” [they] should One organization by the name of Inspire feel supported.”

U.S. recently visited Franklin Learning CenActivists like Kinter to execute a similar mission. Led by re- ney, teachers like gional coordinator Hilary Kinney, the team Quinn, and parents makes it a priority to expose eligible youth in like Bah belong to a Philadelphia to information about the vot- large group who being process. By helping young adults with lieve voting is one the registration process, they hope to in- of the most importcrease youth involvement in later elections. ant duties one could For voters still in school, this program have. To them, it is could help in the long run, since they are imperative for every thoroughly guided. At FLC, Kinney held young person to unmeetings with student volunteers who derstand “what their wanted to lend a helping hand with the rights are” and to cause. Seniors and juniors participat- decide “to put their ed this October, sharing information on futures into their Phedora Jean-Philippe, ‘20, is a proud member of Inspire U.S · Staff voting with their classes and giving assis- hands,” as Bah puts it. Photographer Sophia Cisse

New FLC Club Explores Arabic Culture

by DARIANA GARCIA-BERNABE

The first year of Franklin Learning Center’s Arabic Club begins this semester as students strive to learn the new language.

Honors Chemistry and Physical Science teacher, Ms. Awad, runs the club.

Her motivation behind organizing it is to not only teach the language, but also expose students to the culture by learning about songs, dances, and cooking food.

Most importantly it will help students in the future since, they will know more than

one language, which will help them communicate with others. “The whole world now is very small like [a] village and we need to communicate together,” states Ms. Awad.

Hussein believes that learning a new languages is important because “more opportunities” will open up and students will be “able to communicate with more people

They will know more than one language, which will help them communicate with others.

Heba Hussein, ‘20, has spoken the language since birth, but she joined the club so that she can learn to read and write it.

and understand them more, and understand why their culture is a certain way.”

Saffiyyah Almuid, ’22, joined the club to

Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Franchesca Carrera Associate Editor Dariana Garcia-Bernabe News Editor Hannah Woodruff Arts & Entertainment Editor Janelis Duran Sports Editors Angelica Martinez Lizbeth Castillo Photography Editor Annanya Kundu Video Editor Deja Dawkins Design Editor Elijah Collins Layout Editor Markist Williams Faculty Adviser Colin Chrestay

learn more about her religion. Almuid believes that one should “try new things and… see how it works out… see if it’s useful.”

Almuid agrees that students should join Arabic club because it is different.

Jay Soto, ‘20, knows English and Spanish, and decided to join the club because he wants to learn the language. Soto states that the importance of learning a new language is that one can learn from the culture and “stop stereotyping people.”

While the students may have joined the clubs for different reasons, the love of learning a new language is present.

Soto ends by saying, “It’s really completely new and you should totally join.” Arabic club meets every Thursday from 3 to 4 in room 217 and is open for all to join.

In Arabic Club, you don’t just learn a new language--you also get the opportunity to learn about and celebrate Arabic culture · Photography Editor Anannya Kundu

NEWS

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Obama Visits Philly to Encourage Democrats

By HANNAH WOODRUFF Politicians and political activists, led by 44th President Barack Obama, joined together this September at the

Dell Music Center for a rally of Pennsylvania democrats. Their mission: to encourage Philadelphians to be active in the upcoming November election.

Democrats in Philadelphia are hoping to flip the coin around this year. The Pennsylvania Democratic Party, the organization behind this event, strives to energize residents before voting begins.

An audience ranging in different background and ages showed up to the rally that Friday to hear speakers, including a guest appearance by President Obama. One important perspective belonged to the younger set of spectators. Below you can find some thoughts from youths present at the event on voting, the elections, and persuasion.

Former President Barack Obama, making a guest appearance and encouraging the Dell Music Center crowd to vote this November · News Editor Hannah Woodruff

Top right: Vincent Hughes, State Senator, energizes the crowd · News Editor Hannah Woodruff Right: An admirer of 44th President Barack Obama, with her Obama muppet during the Democrat rally · Photography Editor Anannya Kundu

Rally Quotes

“It’s sometimes really hard to find a voting booth [in Philadelphia].”

“Voting for even the people you don’t think matter, are the people who matter the most -- the people in your local government. It’s not just about the president of the United States....[local officials] are the people who represent you.”

“My roommate told me that she wasn’t going to vote the other day, and so I told her that if she votes, I’ll buy her ice cream.

Yes, so she’s voting.”

“A lot of women’s health issues don’t affect older people, so younger people need to get out and vote to secure their women’s rights.”

“People think other people would vote on their behalf, that it [voting] doesn’t matter that much when it really, really does.”

“If that [fighting for women’s rights] doesn’t get you, then legalizing weed, you know?”

Alyssa Biederman

Madison Seitchik

“Democracy is built on the voice of the people and if people don’t get out to vote, then it’s not representative of what the people really want.”

Alex Pappas

August; New Month, New Complications

by FRANCHESCA CARRERA For the first time in the history of the Philadelphia School District, all public schools in the city, from Pre-K to 12th grade, began classes in the month of August. Since 1818, all Philadelphia public schools have been opened to students during the first and second week of September. This sudden change of months came unexpectedly for students, causing controversy and disorientation.

Many questions regarding the new policy arose after students learned the news in early May of 2018. The confusion surrounding this change was mostly because of the month: why August?

Historically, many students weren’t given the opportunity to experience a summer break at all. According to John Rury, a historian of American Education at the University of Kansas, when the pub- Students, after dismissal in the heat · Photography Editor Anannya Kundu lic education system began, the length of eral experts agreed that this is one of the August 31st by two hours. Classes were school depended on the needs of the com- biggest factors pushing calendars back.” in session for a shorter amount of time, munity. In urban areas and cities, school “Beginning in August allows students air conditioning units were constantly in was practically year-round; meanwhile, to complete the first semester before the use, and unpredictable school hours were school lasted four to five months with December holiday break, rather than tak- starting off the 2018-2019 school year. summer and winter terms in rural areas. ing tests and turning in big projects afBreanna Sary (FLC ‘19) believes that A shift in the system took place when ter two weeks off. Teachers don’t have to the School District should stick with its students and teachers started to become spend time reviewing material in January original schedule because “there [was] ill due to intense heat during school hours when they should be starting new lessons.” not enough time for class because of the in the summer; fainting, anxiety, and “Many graduating students and staff early dismissals” and FLC’s class lengths stress were common consequences from members take summer courses at colleges “were shorter, so it [would] take longer the heat waves that students and staff suf- and universities. Ending school around Me- to introduce and get through a lesson.” fered through. After that revelation, ru- morial Day creates fewer conflicts for them.”

Normally in the first weeks of school, ral and urban districts decided to change Although these are all valid reasons for teachers use that time to introduce their new the school year to just 180 days, start- the school year to begin before Labor Day, classes to everything their courses cover ing after Labor Day and ending in June. several complications have come to light. and the expectations to be executed, setting Here are CNN’s reasonFollowing the first day of school (Mon- the tone for the rest of the academic year. ings for an earlier starting date: day, August 27th), weather outlets predict- However, the introductions became diffi“An earlier start date gives teachers ed intense heat waves for the entire week. cult to get through with shortened periods more instructional time before state- As a result, the Philadelphia School Dis- and pushed back lesson plans for teachers. wide assessment tests in the spring. Sev- trict shortened school time until Friday, Dennis Espejo (Central High School

‘19) felt that he wasn’t able to fully enjoy his break, saying he felt almost as if he was “getting no time to calm down and recuperate after 9 months of hard work and sleepless nights for school.” Many students agreed with the statement Espejo made.

With the 2017-2018 school year ending in mid-June and starting in late-August, students felt that their summer was cut too short, leading them to miss the last couple weeks of school to go on vacation.

The health of students and teachers during the intense heat waves was another serious issue that came up after new schedules were made public.

According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, a Northeast High School teacher was taken to the hospital in the first week of August because of the intense heat experienced on that Wednesday. In a statement, the school district explained why the first week of school had been a difficult one: “As heat builds during the day, buildings are experiencing uncomfortable conditions. Because temperatures are remaining high into the evening, many buildings are not cooling overnight.” They added that “only 27 percent of the district’s school buildings have central air conditioning.”

Sary admits to experiencing bad headaches from the heat outside of the school building and constant loud humming of the air conditioning. Espejo also agreed that it had been more difficult to concentrate in classes because all he was “focusing on is cooling down from the excessive heat.”

If it has been determined that all Philadelphia School District schools will now start classes in August for upcoming years, it is possible that there will continue to be a cycle of days off due to summer temperatures.

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OPINION

E D I T O R I A L

Voting Matters to FLC Even if you can’t vote yet

by THE FLASH starts and where it ends?

EDITORIAL BOARD In Pennsylvania, election maps are drawn by Imagine if the School the state legislature. This District of Philadelphia means that the politimade an announcement cal group in power can that Franklin Learning draw a map that favors Center would be permatheir own party. In othnently closing at the end of er states like New York, this school year. All current Connecticut, and Iowa, ninth- through eleventhan advisory commission grade students would need draws the map, but it can to apply to a different high still be politically biased. school, or transfer back In California and Arizoto their neighborhood na, an independent comschool. Friend groups lost, mittee draws the map. teachers reassigned, and Why are these maps a community destroyed. so important? Because, What becomes of what if the group that draws was? Where would you the map is biased, the head next to start anew? map can misrepresent These aren’t questions high school students President Barack Obama, speaking at the Dell Music Center about the importance of voting in the upcoming midterm the people in elections.

The use of election maps should have to ask them- elections, Philadelphia, September 21st, 2018 · Photography Editor Anannya Kundu in this way--to give an ipate in the upcoming election be- president’s campaign promises with selves, but that’s exactly what happened to the students cause it will impact our community. high hopes and when these stan- advantage to a specific political dards are not met, citizens can de- party--is called Gerrymandering. attending dozens of Philadelphia How does it affect you? Gerryvelop a “my voice doesn’t matter” public schools in 2013. That year, Local Elections mentality. However, as a representathe school district closed 23 schools, People often tend to overlook tive democracy, the citizens have the including Germantown, University City, and Bok high schools, due local elections and move onto the power to choose who will vote on to a budget crisis created by the presidential bit right away. The me- their behalf. If no one votes during school district, Philadelphia city dia nurtures this norm by giving a these small elections, the “wrong” government, and then-governor of tremendous spotlight to presiden- person might be chosen to represent Pennsylvania Tom Corbett. Ap- tial campaigns, while local elec- the needs and wants of the citizens. proximately 14,000 students were tions don’t get as much attention. impacted by the closings in 2013, Although voting for who attains Gerrymandering the highest government position is esEvery two years, elections are sential, it’s the local held in Pennsylvania for seats in elections that can the state Senate and House of Repaffect us the most. resentatives. Each region, or disThe ones assert- trict, in the state gets to elect its ing more changes in own representatives, which means an average person’s where you live and the people you life are the same who live near can seriously impact the mandering affects us as voters bedictate city regula- kind of representation you get. cause it’s actually cutting up the tions. Most policies But who decides where a district number of voter types. This ofdirectly affecting citizens, such as gun in large part due to officials elected control, are those enforced by our in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. local elected officials, yet hardly any One vote, whether it be for the involvement appears in their elecPresident of the United States of tions. Compared to the 60 percent America or a state representative, who voted in the 2016 presidential can impact our day-to-day lives. elections, only 40 percent voted Pennsylvania’s midterm election during midterms. In Philadelphia’s is on November 6 and will deter- most recent election, a new report mine the fates of our Congress as found that only 24 percent of elwell as our state Senate, House of igible Philadelphians voted for a Representatives, and Governor. mayor. This is partially caused by Exercising your right to be politi- many American citizens being uncally active is exercising the right to der the false impression that the help yourself and the people around president is responsible for all of you. Even if most of us aren’t eligi- the policies that affect their lives.

Another misconception citizens ble to vote, Franklin Learning Center’s staff, parents, and students have is that their voices do not matneed to pay attention to and partic- ter. The American people hold the Gerrymandered map, Pennsylvania · Design Editor Elijah Collins

One vote, whether it be for the President of the United States of America or a state representative, can impact our day-today lives.

The danger of gerrymandering is that it can skew elections and misrepresent what the people want.

OPINION

E D I T O R I A L

Voting means using your voice to address issues and call for changes in communities needing the improvement. ten leads minorities to have less of a say where they live and vote.

It also can unfairly separate people from their representatives.

More often than not the areas that are carved out are weirdly shaped, which sometimes leads to individuals being represented by someone who lives and works many miles from where they live. And this doesn’t only happen here in Pennsylvania, but all over the United States. It can spread to higher levels of the government that have a legislative body. This includes, but is not limited to, the US House of Representatives. Overall, the danger of Gerrymandering is that it can skew elections and misrepresent what the people want.

Barriers to Voting

For people and groups wanting to misrepresent what the voters want, there is something even easier than gerrymandering: just keep them from voting in the first place. Across the United States there are many ways that voting has been suppressed or even outlawed. For instance, for most elections, you must be a US citizen over the age of 18 while meeting state requirements (that may vary).

While not being one of the 50 states, American territories have people who are still considered American citizens without rescinding their home citizenship. Puerto Rico, Guam, the US Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and US Minor Outlying Islands are all registered as their territories. However, even if they meet all the general requirements for citizenship, they are not represented in Congress and have no one to vote for.

In the United States, people incarcerated for felonies are not eligible to own a firearm, have a passport from the US, and most importantly, in this case, to vote. One mistake can take away the people’s abili-

ty to voice their opinions and have power in our democracy.

In Pennsylvania, about one out of every 200 people can not express themselves in a vote. This number might not sound so large, however, combined with the other hundreds of thousands of people in other states, it becomes a significant number of people who don’t get a say.

In some states you also have to show documents to establish identification to be able to vote. State, employee, student, military IDs, or a driver’s license are all eligible to be used for verification. Ways to verify identification differ from state to state, but overseas and military voters are exempt of ID requirements if voting under the UOCAVA (Uniformed and Overseas Citizen Absentee Voting Act).

In Pennsylvania, for your first time voting, you must bring a driver’s license or PennDOT ID, Photo ID by government or Pennsylvania agency, US passport, US armed forces ID, Student or Employee ID, or a non-photo ID such as a utility bills, bank statements, paycheck, Firearm permit or a non-photo ID from the government or Pennsylvania agency. After the first time, however, no ID is required except for in North Dakota, where, not too long ago, the law was changed to require voters to have a street address on their ID card, or they will not qualify to vote. Which is a problem, because a lot of Native Americans live in North Dakota, and they do not have street addresses. The law, if not changed by the time of the election, will disproportionately keep Native Americans from voting.

The ones who are asserting more changes in an average person’s life are the same who dictate city regulations.

Corbett and the SDP

In 2011, Gov. Tom Corbett’s slash to school funding shut down dozens of public schools in Philadelphia and even more across Pennsylvania. The $1.18 billion cut particularly endangered the education of low-income and minority students. As a result, the once bright futures of many youths faced shadows as Corbett’s actions drastically backfired on the school district and closed the doors

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of Pennsylvania’s neediest schools forever.

While some tried to justify this massive state cut, no explanation could’ve saved it from the inevitable outrage of teachers, parents, and students alike. This just goes to show how voting not only affects voters but also non-voters. Your right to vote isn’t an option you can choose every other day, nor was it an option for the students whose classrooms were undeniably A VOTE sign, from the March 2018 student walkout to protorn away from them. test gun violence in schools · Staff Photographer Bwe Ku the decisions for us and then complaining when we see the outcome.

Why Voting Is By supporting the candidates who share our views and best repImportant to FLC resent our needs and wants, we We encourage Franklin Learning are voting in our best interest and, Centers’ youth to take responsibility therefore, pushing change. Voting for their futures and vote because, as means using your voice to address previously stated, certain decisions issues and call for changes in comthat elected officials make can direct- munities needing the improvement. ly or indirectly affect you or someThe Flash Editorial Board enone, place, or thing that you know. courages every member of the FLC As the baby boomer generation community, whether you can vote or decreases in size, the majority vot- not, to get involved in this election!

Lt. Governor Candidate John Fetterman, finishing his speech with a strong message for voters · News Editor Hannah Woodruff

ing population will soon consist of Millennial and Gen Z voters— our 18 to 34 year olds. Our generation will be the one that has to deal with the consequences of whoever is put in power now so we must prioritize voting and ensure that we have a say in these big decisions.

As a generation that is growing up surrounded by social media, it isn’t hard to figure out other people’s opinions and views. Our youth is a very diverse group that, usually, wants to push positivity, equality, rights, and more of the like onto many situations in today’s societies. These situations won’t be changed by a couple retweets or a post, waiting for others to make

Join FBLA

See Mr. Gardner Room 203

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OPINION FLC’s New Lunch-Out Program PRO

by TAJAH GREEN

fore the good lunch choices are gone.

By having the lunch-out program, we can enjoy the food we eat, whatever food we want and wherever we want, as long as you get back to school on time. By going out to eat lunch, you also get the opportunity to spend time with friends and relax instead of being in a crowded lunchroom with limited seats. With this program we get a feel of the college life by being allowed to eat off school grounds.

Have you heard of the Lunch-Out Program? Now Franklin Learning Center juniors and seniors both have the opportunity to go out during their respective lunch period to eat off campus. Not only that but seniors can also extend it to their free period!

The lunch-out program is not exactly terrible, especially for the students who don’t enjoy the lunch provided by the school. Why eat a cold, mysterious cheese steak with unsalted fries from the school cafeteria when you can get a hot and tastier cheesesteak with everything you want on it from the pizzeria nearby? Plus, it’s also difficult to get to the lunch room on time beCompeting lunches, Pronto vs. FLC · Design Editor Elijah Collins

CON

by NEZOME PAGAN

The lunch-out program may have its benefits, however, dealing with cleanliness issues and the unpredictability of outside events, the lunch-out is over all a bad idea.

Presumably. 30 minutes is a short amount of time to be able to get to your desired location, wait to purchase food, eating lunch and then transportation.

This doesn’t include the time that it takes to actually finish the meal; it might ultimately end up becoming a problem with lateness and cuts.

Sadly, Franklin Learning Center isn’t exactly the cleanest. Pest have started to become a real issue within certain classrooms and hallways.

Not to mention, the constant littering from students isn’t helping the issue. The lunch out will increase the litter, as it will encourage pests to con-

tinue to make appearances at our school.

FLC is located near Spring Garden, which is usually a busy area and offers several places for students to hang out. Al-

...this lunch out could come to bite us all in the back. though Spring Garden may appear tame, there are constant issues that occur on a daily basis. The broad street line is a constant stomping ground for flash mobs and fights between other surrounding schools.

The 43 bus stop alone is a known spot for phone snatchers. Last Spring, multiple FLC students reported getting their phones snatched right out their hands. Not to forget, most students here don’t have much of a filter, which could cause some disruptions and create a bad image for them and the school. Sooner or later, this lunch out could come to bite us all in the back.

I went 5 days without tech—here’s what happened

by JESSICA MUNZ

For five days, my life excluded all forms of technology; phone, tablet, computer, television, but included loads of reading.

Whether I felt like I was dying of boredom or a needed to binge watch, no exceptions were allowed under any circumstances. Would you be able to survive?

October 7, 6:43 pm, 12 hours until my personal technology was locked away. As I documented this experiment I wrote; “I am excited, yet nervous...there is going to be nothing for me to do and I will probably become the literal definition of lazy.”

Was it really necessary to feel nervous? As a teenager growing up in a world that has their eyes glued to screens, it became an addictive habit that I wasn’t willing to break. Ironically, I was willing to take a step out of my comfort zone with the objects that provided me with 6-10 hours of entertainment and let them vanish from my hands and into a safe box that only my dad had the key to.

My stroll to the bus stop was nothing abnormal but when I sat down, I was confused about how to occupy myself. “So now what am I supposed to do?” I wondered.

I became familiar with the cycle consisting of my eyes glued to my screen as I watched a downloaded episode of a television show. That happened almost every

day, except when I overslept and did not have enough time to download episodes.

The time during class went by in a breeze but my assignments for the day were not completely finished.

“Oh darn! I don’t have my computer, guess I can’t do my work,” was a statement that had not crossed my mind once. So where did I go to finish my assignments?

The public library that no teenager dares to enter. My after-school journey on day 1 wasn’t how I originally planned since I didn’t have access to my phone and wasn’t notified Jessica Munz, locking away her devices · Courtesy of the author of my bus’ detour.

The bus practically took me through a day 1 to day 5, either my mom drove me large loop and I had to walk roughly a mile when she arrived home or I took the bus and home because I had no knowledge of the prayed that it wouldn’t be on detour again. street where the library was located. From Just one day after the experiment be-

gan, my love for reading was starting to resurface. After returning from the library, I would almost immediately begin to read. Life was already seeming more simple and I was able to have more time to myself and I have no excuses on why I didn’t do my homework.

A practice SAT website was given to me and what did I do with the beneficial website? I regarded it as nothing and practically put an available resource to help me succeed in the trash. Social media had me distracted and I didn’t bother to study. Since the library computer did give me time limits, I was able to complete my work every day by the time I was supposed to, leaving the computer for a kid wanting to play Minecraft. With that limit came the regret of not using my time wisely while my electronics were in my position.

On the last day of my technology fast, I was relieved when my dad handed over the key and my electronics were going to finally be back in my possession. The five days went by in a breeze and helped me learn that life doesn’t begin and end with a phone and the like of a social media post. Teenagers spend nearly “nine hours on average,” according to a new study from the family technology education non-profit group, Common Sense Media; don’t be a part of that average.

New Bell Shakes Students and Staff

by JANELIS DURAN and DARIANA GARCIA-BERNABE

The bell that indicates the changing of periods at Franklin Learning Center has been the same for the past couple of decades.

That was until about a week ago when the once pleasant bell was changed into an extremely loud and obnoxious one. This new bell has caused more problems than it has solved. Not only is it loud, but it distracts students from learning. Multiple times I have been in the situation where I am in the middle of doing my work, so close to finding the answer or understanding the question and suddenly the 6th lunch bell rings.

It caused me to lose my train of thought. It is an invisible force that interrupts classes.

There have been times where my teacher is teaching and it rings. The class has been disrupted and is taking away from class time. In classrooms every second counts, especially if the class is large. An-

other problem, is that it is way too loud.

The first couple days introducing the new bell, it completely scared me. It is un-

old. The sound system sometimes didn’t work and when they tried to get it repaired the parts for it just wasn’t available anymore. This is very devastating to many students and teachers who say the new bell is just too loud.

Zulymar Rios (FLC’22) says, “I was taking a biology test and right when I was in the middle of my thought the bell rang and disrupted my whole thinking pattern.” Taiyanna Williams (FLC’19) states, “It’s so unexpected, I was doing a presentation FLC’s new bell, shakes students and staff · Design Editor and it rang during it, I jumped.”

Elijah Collins We know that the new bell necessarily louder than the previous one. is loud and obnoxious, we also know The question we want to ask is sim- that the old bell isn’t come back. Are ply--why was it changed in the first place? we getting a new bell to replace this According to Mr. Wilson, FLC’s Vice abomination that we got stuck with Principal, the “old bell” was just getting too or are we going to have to live with it?

Did you know?

The chime bell that we were used to was in use at FLC from the early 90s until 2018 and was actually a part of a longer tune called the Westminster Chimes.

In the 70s and 80s, before FLC adopted the chimes, they took a different approach to changing classes. Back then the changing of classes was 5 minutes long and the P.A. System could have a tape recording plugged into it. two FLC teachers, robert cohen and jane Henderson, decided to play classical music over the intercom in place of a bell chime.

If the music stopped and you weren’t in class yet, you were late.

ENTERTAINMENT

Venom: An Armless, Legless, Faceless Thing...

by KYLE THIEDE

There’s a line from Eminem’s song for the evance is the Eminem song “Venom”, movie “Venom,” that goes “When you get which only has it’s importance due to hit with my venom,” which, in my opinion, the person who created it. The villain is explains the movie perfectly. Watching this also laughable, that creates no sense of movie felt like a clean right-hook straight to fear or terror, just sorrow and an empmy jaw. In other words, this movie was bad. ty wallet. The actor who plays Venom, My expectations were not met. It’s a Riz Ahmed is just as disappointing as the movie about one of the most recognizable script due to the bland, and broad acting anti-hero/super villain, stars Tom Hardy-- job. The CGI is just terrible, as if they still who is one of the best actors to this very day, and it is directed by Ruben Fleischer, You take a group of talented people, who made Zombieland. But then you put them to work to make a sadly, Venom didn’t have the turnout that was expected. movie, yet have producers that create When I watched the mov- roadblocks that ruin the potential the ie Venom, all it reminds me of was DC’s Suicide Squad. movie had.

You take a group of talented people, then you put them to work to use box computers. I don’t know how the make a movie, yet have producers that original Sam Raimi Spider-Man movies create roadblocks that ruin the potential have effects that hold up better than this. the movie had, creating a heap of garbage.

The most disappointing thing about this On a level beyond the basic review movie was the action. In most dumb sufor this movie, it doesn’t have a sense perhero blockbuster movies, you’d expect of pleasure. The cinematography is there to be good action. Not in this movie. bad, there isn’t a single special shot that The problem with the action in this movie stands out. The acting is bad, Tom Hardy is that Venom is practically invincible, so seems like he doesn’t know what movie there’s no tension whenever there’s a fight. he’s in, and everyone seems to only give The final battle has Venom fight Riot, who about half the effort they can. The mu- is basically just a bigger Venom but a difsic is plain, and doesn’t have a impact. ferent color. Having two fake-looking charThe only good song that had any rel- acters who can’t die isn’t that entertaining.

Love and Betrayal

by JANELIS DURAN

Introducing new kinds of music to an already established piece can also change the tone of the piece and make it more memorable.

“The dialogue that Lewis writes is a little stiff and stodgy; the music allows us to make the characters feel more timeless, more expressive, more contemporary, more relevant.”

But music wasn’t everything Lawton was prioritizing. He also dissected the story of Eros and Psyche until he had his own interpretation.

“This is, I think, a story about two fundamental attitudes about life. That life is a dirty trick played on us by a hostile or indifferent universe. The first attitude is the attitude held by rebels -- people who, in the narrowest Christian terminology, would be called “sinners.” The second is the attitude held by persons capable of obedience, of submission, of worship, of humility. That life is a gift. Even our death is a gift.”

In a sense, the story was a weird way to show how two different worlds and two different lifestyles cannot trump true love.

The tale of Eros and Psyche was of love between mother and daughter, ruler and subjects, and lover and lover that, with Anthony Lawton’s additions, taught us importance The Lantern Theater Company, held the reading of Till We Have Faces the of chasing love. · A&E Editor Janelis Duran

The classic story of Eros and Psyche has been retold by a powerful group of voices. Along with the sweet sounds of the piano and the ruggedness of their stomping, the reader and play writer were able to capture the picture of this tale only using auditory functions.

Auditory functions can change a readers experience as certain sounds and noises bring out specific emotions in people.

They wanted to capture the characters feelings while also infatuating an audience.

And they did just that. Anthony Lawton, actor and the play-writer of this said play, says that “music offers us a chance to paint the emotional life of the characters with a more varied palette of colors.”

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Also the movie wants to be PG-13, so they can’t go all out with the action.

The rating does nothing but hold back the movie. There’s even scenes where people get their faces bitten off and there’s no blood. Small things like blood would give the extra tension that this movie needed to be better.

By far the worst thing about this movie is the tone.

This movie is trying to be two different movies at the same time. Part of it wants to to be a scary, brutal monster type of movie, while the other is trying to be this fun light-heart- Staff Illustrator Joshua Ramirez ed action movie with is the interactions between the main some dark humor. Both these separate characters; Eddie Brock and Venom. tones collide with each other to create, Overall, I don’t recommend this what can only be described as a mess. movie. See this movie if you’re a big To this movie’s credit, there is one fan of Spider-Man and you feel like you good thing about this movie, which have to. I give this movie a 4/10 rating.

A Victorious Release

by DARIANA GARCIA-BERNABE

since they all include a ukulele and hopeIt’s been 3 years since duo Tyler Joseph ful lyrics about overcoming any struggles.

“Nico and the Niners” is interest(vocals) and Josh Dun (drums) released their top selling album, “Blurryface.” Af- ing, it starts off with Joseph’s voice in a ter extensive touring, the duo took time deep effect and the lyrics are reversed.

The album closes with “Leave the City” off to relax and work on new music. Finally, after what felt like an eternity on which starts with a nice piano followed by drums in other parts of the song. Near the October 5th 2018, “Trench” arrived.

The 14 track album has already scored a place on the Billboard 200 and lands a spot at No.1 on the Australian charts.

Going into the album I felt nervous, my stomach filled with butterflies. I started listening to Twenty One Pilots since I was in eighth grade and now I’m a senior. Wow times goes by fast. Yet, this past year I haven’t really listened to them. So, I opened up Spotify, put on my headphones, and pressed “play.”

“Trench” opens with “Jumpsuit”, a bass driven song. As the song progresses, Joseph and the instruments soften, but then there is an increase, with him literally screaming the lyrics at the end.

As, it ends it has a perfect transition Trench album art, reprinted courtesy of Fueled into the next song, “Levitate.” I real- by Ramen ly like “Jumpsuit” yet I can’t say the same end of the song the only instruments that about “Levitate”, although a cool thing play is a piano and Joseph’s vocals. Throughabout it is that around 2:10, you can faintly out the album a story is told, of a struggle, the hear what seems like “welcome to trench.” battle for freedom, this song feels as a victoSomething that I really enjoyed about ry, the narrator has left the city, finally free.

Telling from this new album it is clear the album is that in some songs you can faintly hear some stuff in the back- that Josh Dun is an amazing drummer, ground like in “Morph” at around 3:43 Tyler Joseph is a wonderful writer, and you can hear a deep voice say, “Josh Dun.” the duo is only getting better and better.

It’s no surprise that this album is such “My blood” is one of my favorite songs from the album. It’s another bass driven a success. What sets “Trench” apart from song with synths and a tambourine, along Twenty One Pilots previous albums is that with its catchy yet sincere lyrics, “You’re Tyler actually sings in most of the songs, facin’ down a dark hall, I’ll grab my light” the songs include more bass, and synths. and “stay with my, my blood, you don’t “Trench” is full of incredible songs, both need to run.” “My Blood” reminds me of instrumentals and lyrics yet almost all of “Hometown” which is a track from “Blur- the songs are more than 3 minutes, like ryface”. I love it so much that I listened to “Bandito” at 5 minutes and 31 seconds and it twice, when I first listened to the album. “Chlorine” at 5 minutes and 24 seconds.

Even though I was really nervous that I “Chlorine” features strings and Joseph is actually singing, both of which wouldn’t like this album, I am glad that I enare rare for a Twenty One Pilots song. joyed “Trench.” It is filled with genuine lyrics, “The Hype” reminds me of “House of bass and drum driven songs have a place in Gold” and “We Don’t Believe What’s On TV” my heart. I give “Trench” a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

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Player Highlight: Mohammed Al Ameen

by ANGELICA MARTINEZ

SPORTS

Gritty: Creepy or Cool

by ANGELICA MARTINEZ

The Philadelphia Flyers’ new mascot, Gritty, has conjured up a controversy due to his appearance.

Gritty, an oranged hair googly-eyed mascot clothed in a Flyers jersey, was unexpectedly introduced to fans of the hockey team all over the world on September 24, 2018. Fans immediately voiced their opinions on the mascot, saying “We don’t need Gritty. We have grit!”

We took to the halls of Franklin Learn-

Mohammed Al Ameen has been interested in soccer since the age of 3 and wants to continue his career in soccer during his adult years.

“It’s always been a dream to be known for athletics” states Al Ameen.

Although, Al Ameen has been playing since the age of 3, he didn’t get serious with the sport until the age of 14.

Soccer has always been a part of his life, yet not many completely support him.

“I wish sometimes I had more support.. I’m solo” explains Al Ameen.

Even if Al Ameen doesn’t have all the support he hopes for, he always puts in complete effort.

He’s joined a Travel team called United Philly. On that team they play inner county and hope to play state and nation wide. “I feel special because Ii’m playing Photos courtesy of Al Ameen. on the same level as many great players.” It’s not easy to manage all those facJoining such a team is a great ac- tors especially living at the age of 17, complishment, considering he is a Al Ameen ends by saying, “I hope I receive student athlete with a part-time job. more recognition because I progressed a lot.”

Design Editor Elijah Collins rough.” And he’s not the only one to think that way. Ms. Condit, the counselor for eleventh and twelfth graders, believes Gritty is “actually cool because he’s different.”

The purpose of mascots is to bring people together and in a Brandon Waclawski, FLC class of 2017, poses with strange turn of events, the disapproval of Gritty has done just that.

Gritty · Courtesy of Brandon Waclawski.

The Girls Locker Room is Outdated

by EMELY SEDA

Although there are many parts of the Franklin Learning Center building that needs remodeling, one that must be fixed soon is the girls locker room.

The girls locker room in FLC is HORRENDOUS; there’s mold and rust in the showers and paint peeling off the walls, Meanwhile, in the boys locker room, there are new tile walls and new bathroom stalls. How is it fair that the boys get their locker room remodeled and the girls are just stuck with the old, outdated, and disgusting ones? The girls also deserve a nice, cleaner, and more approachable locker room just like the boys.

Our principal, Mrs. Lee, says she is trying to get the girls locker room remodeled and also trying to fix other parts of the school that staff and students have complained about in the past.

According to Mrs. Lee, the girls locker room could be fixed in a year or two, if she can add in remodeling the Right: The boys locker room is one of the only consistently cleaned bathrooms in FLC. Below: (left) The entrance to the boys locker room. (center) The girls locker room is also used as a stroge room. (right) The girls locker room, with discolored changing stalls.

Staff Photographer Bwe Ku

girls locker room to her previous plans or repainting the school’s wall paint.

“It’s not that school does not have money to repair the girls locker room” says Ms. Lee, “the problem is we need people to

ing Center to get their opinion on Gritty.

Most students seemed to agree that the new mascot was not appealing to the eye.

“He’s creepy to look at,” said Joseph Bembry (FLC’19). Cassidy Bryant (FLC’19) agreed, adding his “ugly” features to the list.

Although most would agree that Gritty is unappealing, some think he’s actually not so bad. Mr. Socci, one of FLC’s special education teachers, says “I believe he represents the flyers as a team:

come in and do all of these things.” A way in which we can help speed up the process of getting the girls locker room fixed is by talking to the school board, where we can comfortably voice our concerns in regards

to our school and we can also encourage our parents to complain about the schools conditions. So many things in our school building can become better if we just work as the student body to urge these changes.