The Lion's Tale - Volume 50, Issue 3

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A new YouTube sensation, learning new dance moves has made its way to OHS students. Learn about the new dance, jerking, that has currently hit campus.

Assistant Principal Coach Register has a hidden talents up his sleeve. Find out about his knack for making balloon animals inside.

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LION’S TALE D e c e m b e r 11 , 2 0 0 9

Court changes rules for saying U.S. Pledge Tiffany Ray

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Volume 50

Issue 3

1.

601 K ing Street

Oviedo, Florida 2.

features editor

arah Greco* sits still. The shuffle of students jumping out of their seats creates a cacophony of squeaks and clatter in her Seminole County High School. Hand over her heart, the teacher eyes Greco for not standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Greco hands her a note, shocked when the teacher just tosses it aside. The note, written by Greco’s parents, stated their support of Greco’s decision to not stand for the pledge. What the Grecos didn’t know was that a note is only needed for refusing to recite the pledge. A student can not be forced to stand under any circumstances. “Upon written request by his or her parent, the student must be excused from reciting the pledge,” states the guidelines for patriotic programs. On the contrary, no student may be required to stand during the pledge according to Seminole County attorney, Ned Julian, Jr. But Greco’s teacher refused to acknowledge this, under the impression the policy requirees a student to stand. “I have never stood for the pledge in high school. None of my teachers said anything about it until The Supreme Court this year. She has ruled that you asked me to don’t have to stand stand out of respect for her, for the Pledge. and I did not. After a few weeks she said that we had to stand or she’ d write up whoever didn’t,” said Greco. Her teacher maintained that each student is required to stand. “A friend who is a lawyer did some research on the subject, and wrote a letter for me saying it wasn’t constitutional to make me stand,” said Greco. But a day before the letter was written, the Supreme Court refused to see a case against a student who would not stand for the pledge. The refusal brought the judicial interpretation to attention in Florida’s school county systems. “It means the original decision was held. So, yes, it is unconstitutional to make you stand,” said Greco. It also means that this judicial interpretation is for now the law of Florida. “The statue is unconstitutional and unenforceable to the extent that it requires students to stand at attention during the Pledge of Allegiance; and the statue is valid and enforceable to extent that the statue requires students to obtain parental permission to be excused from reciting Pledge of Allegiance,” states the patriotic program rules. Greco, by no means, intends to disrespect the flag by not standing. “I don’t believe in publicly displaying my belief. I can keep it privately in my heart. I should be able to support my country in my own manner,” said Greco. Though she may not stand, she is still required to recite the pledge without a parental note. “I don’t understand why you need a note not to recite the Pledge though. But being able to sit is enough for now. You have to pick your battles,” said Greco.

*name withheld

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NJROTC earns first in state competition

photos/CARSON BAILEY

STRAIGHT SHOOTING. On Saturday, Dec. 5, the OHS NJROTC hosted the Area 7 NJROTC State Championship Marksmanship competition. OHS was the first team to shoot. After two rounds

of shooting the team finished and waited for the results as the other teams shot. The OHS (Team A) took first place overall in the state for the fifth year in a row; Team B also took 4th place 1. Seniors Michael Fine and Rachael Stueber take aim and get ready to fire in the offhand position round of the competition. 2. Sophomore Julia Fine shoots around in the kneeling position. 3. Junior Katie Elliott rests after firing in the kneeling position. 4. Freshman Natalie White sights her target after shooting a round. 5. Freshman Ryan Carr removes the sling from his gun after shooting. see NJROTC, page 22 6. Junior Traci Hill loads her next round gun while standing in the offhand position.

Lundquist hosts luncheon for the 58 straight A students Emily Cottrell

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Lopez also believes the seven period day administration decided to take a look at how

co-diversions editor has factored in to the fact that she and other many students received straight As, and

enior Alex Lopez shuffles from one class to the next, her day consumed by AP courses – calculus, literature, statistics, environmental science, and comparative politics. Her grades have always been high, her GPA always above a 4.0. When the nine weeks end, however, a B stood out from her otherwise straight As. “I felt that there was such a push to take more AP courses when we signed up for the seven periods. Now I’m taking five APs, and it seems like I was shoved into something that wasn’t very realistic,” said Lopez.

students have received held a lunch in their grades lower than they Fifty-eight “We thought it would be interesting honor. are used to. of the 2086 students to see how many of our students enrolled maintained “Now that we have less time in each class, these superb grades. earned all As.” I feel stressed all day “We thought it Principal even if we aren’t doing would be interesting to Robert Lundquist anything too strenuous see how many of our during school. It feels like we are only getting students earned all As,” said principal Robert in 30 minutes of learning. It seems like good Lundquist. “I know many students probably students are being gypped out of straight As,” filled their seventh period with an extra AP, said Lopez. which has left them with fewer As.” At the end of the nine weeks, the see GRADES, page 2


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