The Forge, Volume 98, Issue 2

Page 1

THE

SBHS

FORGE

VOLUME 98, ISSUE 2

PHONE: (805) 966-9101 ext. 332

Security on campus is a hot topic Makala Hieshima

For returning and new students, this year’s school regulations may seem quite a bit more strict, as students now have more boundaries that are enforced. “We are monitoring attendance very closely this year, and following up with students and parents whenever absences are occurring,” said Principal John Becchio. Chances are, if you are a student at Santa Barbara High, or live near Santa Barbara High you’ve seen Mr. Becchio or other school officials driving around in their little yellow golf cart. They say that the reason for this is to “be seen out and about in our community, so that our neighbors know that we care what is going on in and around our school.” And what are students making of the tight leashes they’ve been put on? “There are now way too many consequences for skipping class… Its kind-of a good thing, and kind-of a bad thing,” said one freshman. So what are the rules? Do we have access to them? If you go online to the Santa Barbara High website, there is now a “Pyramid of Intervention” which shows the punishments that will be inflicted if the rules are not followed. For example, “Tier 1” shows that the first steps taken to correct an error are to contact parents, change seats, hold a private conference with the student, remind them of expectations, and to redirect the student. These don’t seem too harsh, but if you go to “Tier 7” at the top of the pyramid, the steps will be to contact Daniel Bryant, involuntary transfer, expulsion, and revoke interdistrict transfer. This means that the student will be transferred, expelled, and even made to go outside of the school district to go to school. Students, you might want to stay in school! Hopefully, access to the rules, and knowledge of the punishments will motivate students to be in their scheduled classes, on time at all times. “So far, the data from the first few weeks of school shows a definite decrease in the number of truancies and excessive absences,” said Mr. Becchio. So far this year, truancies from single periods have decreased from 9240 absences last year, to 4512 this year. Mr. Becchio has a strong belief that “the follow through on our part leads to more students taking their role as students more seriously. I have always believed that what gets monitored, gets done... If we do our job of monitoring this issue, then students will be more likely to attend school on a regular basis.” In regards to the rumors circulating about a possible change to the “open campus” lunch status for the 2012-2013 school...CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 Staff Reporter

EMAIL: Forge.SBHS@gmail.com

October 17, 2011

Dons Go To Work

This weekend, Co-Editor in Chief after she finishes her homework, Kristina Rodriguez will head off to the Daily Grind for coffee—except in her case she will be the one whipping up the beverages. And Hannah Egan, a junior, will go a little farther up town to Whole Foods and take her spot behind the cashier. And Fernando Arellano, a senior, will travel to the Bacara Resort and Spa for a night of waiting on hotel guests. Those are just a few of the many students at Santa Barbara High School who hold a job on top of their schoolwork and other activities. But to many of these students, the real job is one of maintaining a balance in life. “It’s quite a challenge. It takes dedication to come home from work, sit down at the dinner table and do homework instead of climbing into bed,” said Kristina Rodriquez, a senior as well as a dedicated member of ASB. Approximately 20% of students at Santa Barbara High School are currently employed, quoted Alejandra Gutierrez from the Colleges and Career Center. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 18.6 million 16- to -24-year-olds... CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 Kelley Drechsler

Hannah Egan, junior, stands in front of Whole Foods with her work apron on.

Online news is killing newspapers the reduction of employed journalists in momentous numbers. From the year 2008 to 2009, The Wall Street Journal had eliminated over sixtyfour journalists’ jobs. In addition, in 2009, The New York Times eliminated a hundred people in December and then in March cut employee pay by 5% and had further plans to eliminate a hundred more jobs. The disastrous cutbacks on the amount of money that the newspaper companies make through subscriptions and advertising has not only affected the amount of people writing the articles but also the newspapers themselves. These tragic patterns are being seen in papers across the country, not excluding this very publication, The Forge, as it is facing many budgetary restrictions at the time. So what does the death of journalism mean for the future of news? The emergence of online journalism has caused a growing problem for print media. The answer lies in technology, and we have been seeing it for some time. Gabi Safranavicius The end is near… eventually with the development of new Smartphones now allow Americans to Or at least that is modern day technology. Even the invenStaff Reporter look up news that is shown online for free what the remains tion of radio and television had an effect anywhere and anytime of day, as do other of newspapers are saying. on newspapers. devices such as IPads and Kindles. It is now in the public view that print Currently, the real assassin that has Many newspapers, including the one journalism is a dying field, but what does brought print journalism to its breaking across town at Dos Pueblos, have started that really mean? The average person point is the invention of Internet and then online newspapers that can be accessed for may not be aware of it, but the rise of the economy’s struggles. These developonline news has greatly affected the media ments have created a lamentable spiral that free. Online newspapers are the start of a landscape that is print journalism. In adwill continue until written journalism is a whole new concept of ideas and require dition, the economy has hit more than the thing of the past. the rewiring of the makings of journalism, fluctuation of gas prices and the mortgage. According to The New York Times, the and it can result in dire affects for newsIt has hit newspapers — the world’s source reduction of newspaper circulation from of headlines to everyday citizens since the 2007 to 2008 was 5%, from 2008 to 2009 papers that are not willing to make the switch. Bill McFayden, the founder of the 1600s. was 10%, and from 2009 to 2010 was online...CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Of course, this was bound to happen 9%. This 24% drop has also resulted in

What’s Inside? Student Life: Gay Students Speak out SPORTS: Football beats Pacifica 31-21 Features: More Colleges Reviewed


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