The Index Eutαxia Swzein Dokei
Volume LXXIV, No. 2
october 2012
Haverford, Pennsylvania
There Aren’t Enough Lockers: A Problem at Haverford Jack Henderson ‘15 There has been a recent buzz about the school regarding the dissatisfaction among students’ current locker situations. There are currently 390 lockers available for the use of over 430 students. Some of these lockers are in poor locations, which are quite a distance from the central meeting points used by the student body. Additionally, for some students the lockers are relatively far away from the majority of their classes. The difficulty of using their lockers is the primary cause for most students’ dissatisfaction. The locker issue has become obvious for the first time this year because of the steadily increasing Third Form class each year. The Haverford School student body is growing, and most likely will continue to grow in the future. When the Upper School was designed and built, it allowed for a surplus of lockers in the case of more students. However, the school’s growth cannot be sustained by even the added surplus lockers. Mr. Fifer, Dean of Students, describes
wanted a locker next year. Students who indicated that they wanted a locker were then asked if they wanted to keep their current locker.” If the students preferred their locker, they were assigned the same locker this year. Mr. Fifer continues, “Students were also able to request a different locker location and were asked to designate which floor they wanted their locker to be on. In assigning lockers this year I honored Index Staff Fourth Former Tim Delany opening his locker. the requests of as many the process by which lockers were assigned students as possible. I used seniority as the this year: “At the end of last year I requested criteria for assigning lockers to those students faculty advisors to ask their advisees if they who requested an alternate location. Sixth
Math Department Goes Digital
Matt Larson ‘14 investigates the ongoing plans to bring the Haverford Math Department into the digital age. Find out what these changes may mean for you. Matt Larson ‘14 The Math Department is moving into the digital age — literally. When Mr. Joseph Sweeney became the chair of the Math Department, he asked other math teachers what they thought the division should be focusing on. At the time, he asserted, no one “[was] sure where the Math Department would be going.” So he made sure that it “aligned itself with state standards” to become possibly “the most complete math program in the country; [in fact, our] curriculum map can be used by other schools” as a way to structure their math programs. “Each component would serve students today and those in the future,” he commented. After this decision, the other math teachers and he “laid out a bold vision” to make “a digitally deliverable department.” As a start, over a period of two years, textbooks will be phased out entirely in math classes (to make way for the new initiative), a concept which is already being tested in Mr. Robert Upton’s Algebra I class. He said that having no textbook “is better for students not as strong in math, for there can be more practice.” In fact, he only had one concern – “for students, who learn visually, the textbook might be helpful.” In the place of textbooks and traditional ways of practice will be a new technological initiative. According to Mr. Sweeney, the Math Department will soon be using an “electronic homework and practice system.” Essentially, a large online math database will be created as a way to supply and answer questions. In this new platform, one is able to “receive instant
Also inside the Issue...
feedback for various math problems,” which includes how to solve problems step by step and other advice. There will be “video and demo work,” to help students learn concepts that will in turn help them prepare for class. The Math Department is aiming for “open source math” with this initiative.
Retrieved from wisepreneur.com
The decision to undertake a new way of learning math was not taken lightly. Mr. Sweeney and the other members of the math department gathered “significant research” through a large research-gathering undertaking before they started. Upper School Head, Mr. Matthew Green, mentioned that the decision was supported by research “for a new way of learning math.” He explained that “online learning is being championed as a road to greater efficiency...Math lends itself readily to online formats.” Continued on Page 5
Formers were reassigned first, followed by Fifth Formers, followed by Fourth Formers. All Third Formers were assigned lockers on the ground floor or the third floor. I was able to honor the requests for location changes for most fifth and sixth formers. Unfortunately, I was not able to honor the requests of fourth formers because I ran out of lockers on the more desirable [first and second] floors.” There are two options the school can take to remedy the issue: do not continue to grow the size of each grade and limit the number of incoming students, or make a permanent change in the infrastructure and facilities of the school. A large problem requires a large solution and, as Mr. Fifer explains, “The only real solution to this problem is to put more lockers in the building, which is going to be difficult given that we have already maxed out most of the space that could be used for lockers.” Because this option seems unlikely in the short-term, Continued on Page 6
Eating with Sam: Sam Goes to Philadelphia
Sam Bloch ‘13 heads into Philadelphia and discovers what he believes may be the best sandwich shop in all of the city, Paesano’s. Sam Bloch ‘13 In my last article, I promised a second part to my review of Honey’s. Sixth Form year has gotten in the way of my free time to write about food. I still plan on writing part two of my Honey’s, but not today. Today, I want to focus on a taste that is still fresh in my mouth. Last Saturday, I went down to the Italian Market in Philadelphia with my good friends Sixth Formers Drew Field and Travis Chou to get a great sandwich. Travis and Drew decided that we needed to go to Paesano’s, so we went. This was my favorite research trip to a restaurant I have done since I began writing this column. My friends got to see me at work. Drew commented, “It was great to finally see the legend at work.” The feeling there was mutual. I had a great time sharing my food experience with my friends. “Paesano” means pal in Italian, so it was fitting to go to this restaurant with my friends. Paesano’s is located near the corner of 10th St. and Washington Ave. in the heart of the city’s Italian Market. The small sandwich shop is surrounded by other food vendors that sell horrible-smelling fish. The awful smelling fish makes the smells at Paesano’s that much better. When you walk into the shop you are immediately met with the smell of fresh baked breads, sausages, and peppers. It smells exactly how I would want my grandma’s kitchen to
In early June, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Former Spanish students took a trip to Spain. Read about their colorful journey on page 5.
smell if I were Italian. Unfortunately, I do not get to enjoy smells like this one often enough. I decided that eating one sandwich at Paesano’s would not be enough. I wanted a full Paesano experience, so I ordered both a Zaweech and a Paesano. The Zaweech, a
Retrieved from grubstreet.com
classic Italian sausage sandwich, consists of a sweet Italian sausage doused with caramelized onions and peppers and covered with sharp provolone. All of this rests inside a soft, yet crispy, sesame seed-covered roll. The sausage oozes sweet juices with every bite. The sharp provolone covers every part of the sandwich and is perfectly melted. I am a believer that the bread can make or break a sandwich. This bread makes the sandwich for sure. The ratio of bread to sandwich is spot on. With some sandwiches I find myself wishing there was less bread because the large roll compromises the flavor of the sandwich. With other sandwiches I find myself wishing there was more roll because the sandwich gets too sloppy. Continued of Page 3
View recent Haverford sports coverage and analysis on pages 7 and 8. Retrieved from cbsju.edu
Article Sports Business Column Letter from the President Move Review Red-Blue Divide Artist of the Issue Obama vs. Romney New Driving Laws iPhone vs. Android Outdex
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