The Wooster
BLADE Volume XXII | Issue 7 | Feb. 15, 2022
Inside the Feb. 15, 2022 Issue
p. 2 - Schedule changes at WHS
p. 4 - Wooster community members discuss homlessness
p. 6 - Integrating Leisure into schools
p. 11 Celebrating Black History Month
ON CAMPUS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEB. 15, 2022 | PAGE 2
WCS Board of Education welcomes two new members LUKE POMFRET co-editor-in-chief In the year of changes, two new Wooster community members, Jody Starcher and Ryan Kuzma, joined the Wooster Board Of Education on Jan. 11. Starcher has 27 years of corporate experience and said her business background will serve her well on the WCS Board of Education. Starcher says she has been watching the board meetings for years and now has more time to devote to service. In addition to serving on the WCS BOE, Starcher also serves on the board for O’Huddle, a mentorship program designed for students. Starcher emphasizes that the connection between the
community and the board is very important to her and said that “our community needs to understand the reasoning behind the decisions we make.” Starcher mentions that she did not come into the position with a defined agenda, but says one of her main goals is to address students with their varied needs, as well as form a strong relationship with the staff. Starcher stresses the importance of, “inclusion for all [and] meeting kids where they are at.” Kuzma is a business owner and has five children in the WCSD. Kuzma said he decided to run for the school board because, “A lot of people felt they were not being represented like teachers and administrators.” Kuzma also mentions that having five children at each school level helps give him a
different perspective. As part of his mission, Kuzma wants more unity among organizations and wants people to be proud to be part of the Wooster Community. Kuzma says many people were upset with how the WCSD faced the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to an increase in open enrollment to other county schools. Kuzma says he wants students to leave high school with life skills and be prepared for the workforce or higher education. Both board members mention long term plans they are looking forward to providing input on, such as the Facilities Master Plan. Superintendent Gabe Tudor says he is excited to work with the new board members. “I enjoyed working with our
FAIR USE PHOTO COURTESY OF WOOSTERCITYSCHOOLS.ORG
Official Wooster City School Board of Education pictures of Ryan Kuzma (pictured left) and Jody Starcher (pictured right). former board members and am thankful for the opportunity they provided me. I am also excited to work with our new members. Mr. Kuzma and Mrs. Starcher bring new perspectives to the board and will continue to
be a good representation of our community,” Tudor said. The next WCS Board of Education meeting is March 22 at 7 p.m. and can be attended in person or watched virtually on the WCSD Youtube website.
WHS updates schedule Blue & Gold SPONSORS LEXXE PARSONS a&e editor In the 2022-2023 school year there will be a new schedule change at WHS. This schedule change will eliminate the Academic Assist class period, which exists this year as a homeroom, so announcements can be made and papers can be distributed. These changes will be made by splitting up fourth period into three different lunch periods. According to WHS Interim Principal Eric Vizzo, the seven period day will consist of classes being 50 minutes each. In changing the schedule from an eight period schedule to seven periods, the lunch periods will go from 26 minutes to being closer to 30 minutes. If students are not in the lunch period, they will be in class.
Charles Cerniglia, Science Dept. member who is involved with the school administration committees, said the schedule changes will positively affect students with their new 30 minute schedules, as opposed to 26 minutes. “The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a minimum of 20 minutes of seat time for a student to eat their lunch. ODE recommends 30 minutes for student lunches with it taking no more than 8 minutes for students to get their lunches. The CDC recommends 30 minutes with a minimum of 20 minutes of seat time… This new bell schedule provides students with a 30 minute lunch that will be in line with the recommendations of the AAP, ODE and CDC,” Cerniglia said. Changes will go into effect next school year.
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THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | FEB. 11, 2022 | PAGE 3
WHS Robotics team qualifies for states JHON FAJARDO sports editor The WHS robotics teams competed in the Akron Public Schools VRC Blended League where they had a 5-2 score and ranked second in the tournament. Tournaments consist of placing robots in a field and the goal is to move objects into an endzone and scoring rings on the goal. The end zone is also on a balance beam, which if balanced out with goals or robots, scores extra points. The robotics team partakes in competitions like this every weekend. Three year member Jaydan Norr (12) considers the
opportunities of the activity as his favorite aspect. “My favorite part of robotics is the opportunities. In March, we are traveling to Dallas, Texas, where we will compete for a world title... We volunteer to show off our robots to younger kids or even older people to grow the STEM program. Finally, the greatest opportunity is being creative. Anyone can join robotics and use their creative minds to come up with solutions to build or improve a robot,” Norr said. Norr notes the next competition is the Wooster Robotics Tournament that will be held in the high school gymnasium on Feb. 19 starting at 9 a.m. Norr encourages students to spectate. Alessandro Herrada (12) is
a three year member of the robotics program and said his team has a competitive position in the robotics scene. “Our season has been going really well. Wooster was always an okay team, but this year is the first year that we’ve actually been a big competitor, specifically team 44691R, which is the team I’ve been fortunate to be a part of since I started. We’ve already qualified for states and are guaranteed to go to worlds,” Herrada said. The robotics world championship will take place in Dallas on May 5 through May 7. Mark Wood (12) considers the team aspect as his favorite part of robotics. “Usually, some of us will come in for an hour in the mornings
Elementary Valentine’s traditions provide fun
GRACE BROWNSON
The WHS Robotics Team poses next to their robot in the robotics room. and also two days a week for four hours after school. [My] favorite part of robotics is the boys, hanging out, building a robot, getting food during
New Spring Formal date set after postponement and rescheduling SHERIDAN SCHAUER focus editor
ANIKA ELLIS staff writer For elementary students across the district, Valentine’s Day is filled with exciting and fun schooldwide events and traditions that students look forward to every year. At Kean Elementary, students have a full schedule of Valentine’s day activities, according to principal Gabrielle Montgomery. “Students pass out Valentines to their
peers in their class, some decorate a box or a bag to collect their cards, and they have a class party with a game, snack, craft, etc.,” Montgomery said. Sharing the love on Valentine’s Day is not confined to each respective school, as some students are using the day to give back to their community. At Cornerstone Elementary, each grade has partnered with a local business through leadership clubs at the school. “[The] second graders are partnering with
local nursing homes. They will be making Valentine’s Day cards to deliver to the residents,” says Interim Principal Brittney Grimshaw. Grimshaw explained that each classroom will have parties where students can exchange cards and engage in art and crafts. For many middle school and high school classes, there is a lack of activities to celebrate the day of love, which makes traditions and activities at the elementary level even more special.
practices, and long tournaments together,” Wood said. Wood’s team will compete at the robotics state championship on March 12, in Marion, Ohio.
This year, the WHS winter formal has been postponed to March 12 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Class of 2024 adviser Cassandra Gasser said the dance is a fundraising opportunity for the tenth grade class and notes that because of the date change, it will now become a spring formal. Sophomore Student Council member Daisy Carmon says the dress code will remain formal. “The dance still has a formal dress code, and length of dress does not matter,” Carmon said. Carmon said the dance will be
held at the high school in the Commons and the gym. Sophomore Student Council member Gianna Rotolo said the theme of the dance is tropical. The price of tickets will be $10 and will be sold before the dance to freshman through senior classes. Carmon said the dance will be held at the high school and will provide options other than dancing. “There will be some games at the dance like Homecoming, otherwise it will be dancing,” Carmon said. The games will not be the main event, but similar to Homecoming, the dance will have entertainment other than dancing.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEB. 15, 2022 | PAGE 4
Community gathers for Housing and Homelessness meeting ASHTON DUNLAP co-editor-in-chief The Wooster Homelessness Task and the League of Women Voters of Wayne County hosted an event on Housing and Homelessness in Wayne County on Feb. 10. OneEighty and Wayne County Housing Coalition representative Krista Kidney described the homelessness situation in Wayne County by highlighting the point in time count conducted by the Wayne County Housing Coalition every year. “We reached our highest count ever in the summer of 2019. We found 140 individuals in Wayne County on that night. Since then, we have gradually, over the last two years, dropped that number back down to a point, and our most recent count in August of 2021, we found 107 homeless individuals,” Kidney said. During the meeting, Trinity UCC Senior Minister Dr. Rev. Kevin Franklin highlighted the hard work homeless people have to go through every day. “Being homeless is hard work, and you have to strategize. Where will you get something to eat? Where are you going to find a restroom? Where are you
going to sleep that night? How to change your clothes?,” Franklin said. Often, when looking at the issue of homelessness, people wonder how they can help. Franklin highlights solutions and ways to aid the homelessness situation. “First, I think we all have to recognize that these problems are systemic... We’re all part of the solution. One thing that you can do is you can pay attention to government policies,” Franklin said. Various speakers and panelists listed several current options that provide respite and relief for problems arising from homelessness. These include a
severe weather shelter, a homeless day center, a mail retrieval system, and various options for more affordable housing. United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counties CEO Katie Koglman says that Wooster’s efforts toward solving homelessness is impressive. “We are actually looked at as groundbreaking in the state of Ohio. Wayne County does so much work collaboratively with support services, we are offering a lot of services that most communities don’t offer,” Koglman said. More information on future events can be found on the Wooster Homelessness Task Force Facebook account.
ASHTON DUNLAP
Three community representatives meet to discuss the homelessness issue in Wooster on Feb. 10 at First Presbyterian Church.
FOCUS
Tensions rise between Russia and Ukraine BEN STAVNEZER staff writer Tensions between Ukraine and Russia are at their highest in years, with a Russian troop build-up near the two nations’ borders spurring fears that Moscow could launch an invasion. The current crisis began in November of 2021 when, according to NPR, a Russian military build-up along the Ukrainian border sparked fears of a military escalation in Putin’s eightyear undeclared war against Ukraine. As tensions mounted, Moscow raised the stakes further by issuing a list of security demands. As of Feb. 11, roughly 127,000 Russian troops remain stationed along the border which is estimated to be 70% of the troops needed for a full invasion of Ukraine, despite warnings from President Joe Biden and European leaders of serious consequences should Putin move ahead with an invasion. The tensions between Ukraine and Russia have led to the United States providing 90 tons of military aid. According to BBC News, the shipment is part of the additional $200 million of “lethal aid”
approved by President Biden and includes ammunition for Ukraine’s front-line defenders. Overall, the U.S. has provided $650 million in defense equipment and services to Ukraine in the past year. Britannica says, in terms of available natural resources, the land of the Ukraine has extremely rich and mineral resources in high concentrations and close proximity to each other. The Ukraine also has important deposits of titanium and mercury ores. Ukraine has a major ferrous metals industry and ranks among the top steel producers in the world. Putin’s invasion of Crimea punished Ukrainians for trying to escape from the system that he wanted them to live in and it also showed Putin’s own subjects that they would pay a high cost for democratic revolution. The invasion also violated both written and unwritten rules and treaties in Europe, showing how much Putin disregards Western regulations (The New York Times). This sets a dangerous precedent for the full invasion of Ukraine and provides more than enough incentive for invasion, as well as regaining territory lost when the USSR divided.
COVER
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEB. 15, 2022 | PAGE 5
Students wish for more flexibility JHON FAJARDO sports editor
In the Wooster City School District, the last school year where students have an allotted time for leisure is in sixth grade during recess. From then on, students are not provided a time during school that is specifically for leisure. This change in leisure begs the question: how do students from different countries observe leisure during the school day? Robert Thomson (12), studied in Brighton, England, for three years. He recalls that leisure during the school day was similar to the school day here. “I studied in three different
schools. Each school I attended for one school year. We had a break which was basically a recess,” Thomson said. Xander Amier (10), attended multiple schools in Shanghai, China and Jakarta, Indonesia. He recalls that leisure during the school day was much different than leisure in the United States. “I vaguely remember China, but we got to take naps in preschool and go to the playground more than in the U.S.,” Amier said. To further his point, Amier talks about the individual hours allocated to school and leisure. “In Indonesia, school ended around 12, so afterwards, all the kids got to hang out on the playground or basketball court to play soccer, basketball, or
other fun activities. School hours were about five hours long and leisure was about two to three hours long,” Amier said. Casey Lin (12) attended school in China and considers the school days to be very similar to those in the United States. “The school days looked very similar to that of the United States. Each period was approximately 45 minutes and there was a 10-minute break in between,” Lin said . The school year for 2022-2023 is going to have a new daily schedule, with three lunch periods distributed throughout fourth period, providing students with more time to eat lunch.
Graphics by Lucia Perfetti
All over the world, leisure is practiced many different ways. The pandemic has exhibited how important it is to things that allow us to feel relaxed. Whether that is through exercise, playing sports, games, or doing things to distract the mind, leisure is important. Jhon Fajardo interviewed multiple students within the high school to delve into leisure in different countries. Stella Powers included some student perspectives on how COVID-19 impacted their leisure activities.
COVID increases creativity STELLA POWERS staff writer The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on many aspects of life all over the world. It has impacted mental health, employment, and so much more. There is one major thing that is often overlooked: the impact it has had on leisure. Owen McConnell (11) shared that he spends his time doing more creative things, while also better appreciating the time he has. “I think COVID has greatly affected leisure throughout the world and has given people more of a creative thought process,” said McConnell. “People took time in the pandemic to grow, and never take time for granted,” He also shared that he is grateful to be able to spend time with friends again. “I used to spend my free time in the pandemic at home, scrolling through my phone or playing video games. While I still enjoy that, I have more freedom now to see my friends and have fun with different people,” McConnell said. According to Daisy Carmon (10), the pandemic made room
for plenty of leisure time. “COVID-19 made free/leisure time feel forced and since it was all anyone experienced, I missed the feeling of being busy constantly,” shared Carmon. “Post-COVID, however, I enjoy spending my time with people through Drama Club or Younglife.” Like McConnell, Carmon also spends more time doing creative activities now. “I would say that I try to be more creative with how I spend my free time, such as being in Drama Club or finding ways to be active,” she shared. Izabell Cain (12) said that she has been involved in fewer activities since the pandemic. “I definitely partake in less activities. Before COVID, I was in the Drama Club and I have not been in since,” shared Cain. She also said that during lockdown, she did not have much time to participate in leisure activities because she was busy with work. “During lockdown I worked two jobs, both in food, so I didn’t have to be at home all the time,” she said. While different people were affected in many different ways, the COVID-19 pandemic has had major effects on leisure.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | FEB. 15, 2022| PAGE 6
Student argues for high school leisure time to reduce burnount symptoms regarding student burnout and mental health problems, especially considering the rise of COVID-19 as evidenced by a study by the CDC with their study on adolescent mental health. These problems, coupled with the schedule changes coming in the 2022-2023 school year, which removes the academic assist class at WHS--which is the only time a student has to relax in their school day- lead to one issue that needs to be addressed: students need to
LEXXE PARSONS a&e editor In the past few years, there have been many problems
Graphics by Olivia Hiner and Lucia Perfetti
have an allotted time to be able to relax without school stressors in their school days if they want it. Students need leisure time in which to just relax or find something to do other than homework, which is an additional stressor for many students as shown by mental health experts in an article for USA Today. One option to help alleviate stress is to have an elective class that focuses on calming activites, like yoga, knitting or
Favorite Video Games
Students vote on their favorite games cover editor Out of 78 WHS students polled by BLADE writers Stella Powers and Grace Kostohryz,
24.4% play video games at least weekly, with 53% playing daily. In contrast, zero students play board games daily, and 14.1% weekly. The majority of students play board games at least monthly, with nearly 36%
as general boredom could be solved by these types of classes. Around students’ junior or senior years, they tend to have the majority of their class credits done and they end up taking multiple study halls, leading to long periods of students not doing much during their school day. Student burnout, boredom and stress are problems that need to be addressed and solved at a higher level, but not at a point where students need to rely on homework or their screens to keep them busy. Instead these problems need to be solved at a level that gives students elective opportunities and activities unique to WHS that will help them better focus and better handle stress.
in Schools
Favorite Board Games
LUCIA PERFETTI
other hobbies for students who may not want to take multiple study halls. Students may just want to have a leisure time without the overuse of screens, which is what entertainment in study halls tends to be. Unfortunately, while a designated leisure class might not be able to happen because of taffing shortages from COVID-19, students need to have a class for leisure where they can have a period of relaxation away from screens, homework and other common stressors and recharge their personal batteries doing a myriad of different, calming activities Student burnout, issues with mental health, as well
saying they play board games “almost never”. The favorite overall game was Minecraft, with 19.2% of votes, followed by Monopoly at 12.3%, Fortnite at 9.6% and Call of Duty at 6.8%.
For the poll data mentioned, 78 WHS students were randomly polled the week of Feb. 7. Polls were distributed and compiled by Stella Powers and Grace Kostohryz. Students’ grade level and their type of favorite game did not seem to correlate, as both a majority of seniors and sophomores said Minecraft was their favorite game. Juniors were tied for a favorite game,
as 25% voted for Candyland, 25% for Minecraft, and 25% for Monopoly. Freshmen were also tied between a board game and video game for their favorite, with 20% voting Minecraft and 20% voting for Clue.
ARTS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEB 15, 2022 | PAGE 7
Advanced theater seminar students perform at One Act Festival HANNAH LOGIUDICE on campus editor
The advanced theater seminar class traveled to Dalton on Jan. 26 for the annual Wayne County High School One Act Play Festival. The festival consisted of eight schools that each performed a one act play that they had been rehearsing; the schools were then critiqued by a group of judges all involved in performing arts and then given a rating of poor, fair, good, excellent or superior. The WHS class performed The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon (one act) by Don Zolidis. The play was performed
entirely by students, many of whom portrayed multiple roles. Kristin Broda, WHS Dramatic Arts teacher, directed the show and was aided by two students, Stella Powers (11) and Kerry Stevenson (12), who served as assistant directors and acted as stage managers for the production. According to Caleb SingerHolden (11) Wooster had an incredible performance and earned the highest rating, superior. When reflecting on the day and experience, Caleb SingerHolden (11) said, “We had a blast just doing our thing, making everyone laugh the whole time, covering up our mistakes at points, and just
entertaining everyone.” In addition to the success of the overall performance, two cast members, Lydia Otto (12) and Singer-Holden were named all county cast members for their performances as Hansel and Gretal. Reflecting on receiving this honor, Otto said, “When they were announcing the all-county cast members, everyone in our cast was getting nervous. We would be happy for whomever got announced, but we all hoped we could get it. The announcer said that there were two winners for Wooster, and I thought that it was someone else. They announced mine and Caleb’s names for Hansel and Gretel, We both made
Woo Youth Shakes presents Cardenio MATTIE DUNLAP staff writer
Wooster Youth Shakespeare has focused on moving Shakespeare out of books into theaters since 2018, according to the WooShakes Theater website. This program will be performing Cardenio at the end of February. Mary Jackson-Smith, the founder and director of Wooster
Youth Shakespeare, says the program was created with the intent to provide kids with new opportunities. “I wanted to provide an opportunity for young people that want to connect with this beautiful art form,” JacksonSmith said. Jackson-Smith also notes that Wooster Youth Shakespeare has an active scholarship program and said there are no auditions
required to be a part of the shows. Ryan Ozar, a parent of two high school students in Cardenio, says his children have benefited from participating in Wooster Youth Shakespeare and said he likes the fact that the shows are very youth driven. “I think that’s one of the things [Wooster Youth Shakespeare] is fantastic at:
PHOTO COURTESY OF KRISTIN BRODA
Advanced theater seminar students and teacher Kristin Broda pose after their performance at the Wayne County One Act Play Festival. eye contact and the castmates around us were cheering and applauding for us.” A full performance of the play will be performed March 2 at 5 p.m. in the PAC for the
community and will be free to watch. Parts of the play will be performed for students during the school day at a currently undetermined date.
getting the actors to understand what was behind the words that they’re reading, even though it can be difficult to understand… I think they’ve [the kids] really learned to take charge. I think they’ve also really developed skills in memorization,” Ozar said. Maya Tzonev (9), actor for Wooster Youth Shakespeare in Cardenio, points out she loves being a part of this pogram because it offers so much. “Wooster Youth Shakespeare really gave me a
new appreciation for theatre, Shakespeare’s work, and just poetry in general,” Tzonev said. Tzonev additionally says she is excited to perform Cardenio with Wooster Youth Shakespeare because it was only confirmed a true Shakespeare play a couple of years ago, so it has not been performed very much. Wooster Youth Shakespeare will be performing Cardenio four times between Feb. 21 through Feb. 27 at the Wayne Center for the Arts.
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THE WOOSTER BLADE | A&E | FEB. 15, 2022 | PAGE 8
Mental Faculties:
Band, comprised of teachers, performs LAURA RAPPORT a&e editor Mental Faculties, a band composed of four Wooster City School District teachers and one Kent State professor, recently performed at Spoon Market & Deli in downtown Wooster on Feb. 5. Karla Bennett, WHS English Dept. member, performs lead vocals; Miriam Stokes, Foreign Language Dept. member, plays keyboard and also serves as a backup singer; Brett Hiner, English Dept. member, plays the drums; Bob Veney, Edgewood Social Studies Dept. member, plays guitar; and Luke Armour, Kent State professor of media and journalism, plays the bass. According to guitarist Veney,
the band formed because of a mutual interest amongst staff members about forming a band. “I had been asked by Mr. Hiner… to be in a band he was putting together for a staff talent show at the high school…. The show never took place, but I had enjoyed rehearsing with him and Mr. Armour, and so I reached out to Brett and asked if he had any interest in forming a band. After about a year of practicing together, the three of us decided to find a lead singer. That is when Mrs. Bennett joined the band and soon after Mrs. Stokes became our keyboard player.” Stokes said she was looking forward to their performance at Spoon. “We just want to be with friends and family and have fun
and celebrate with music and everybody getting together and just having fun with it.” Bennett expressed similar feelings to Stokes. “... I’m excited just to see everybody and just feel the energy of having a crowd around us, because we’ve never performed in front of a big crowd before, so I think just having that energy and support from the crowd will make it all worthwhile.” Mental Faculties performance at Spoon was well received by a crowd of fellow teachers, friends, and family, according to Olivia Hiner (11). The members of Mental Faculties also felt that the performance went well, with Veney saying, “It was great. I was impressed at how many people were there.”
LAURA RAPPORT
Karla Bennett, Bob Veney, Luke Armour, Brett Hiner, and Miriam Stokes perform a song at their concert at Spoon Market & Deli on Feb. 5. Bennett said, “I think our performance went well. It was a lot of fun and we had a really great, supportive crowd.” Stokes reiterated Bennett and Veney’s points, saying “We had a great time with everyone there. It was so amazing to look
out and see all our family and friends there to support us and singing along and having fun.” For more details about the band and to search for any future performances, follow Mental Faculties on Instagram, @mentalfacultiesband or on Facebook.
Euphoria affects teens self-image
ANIKA ELLIS staff writer On Jan. 9, HBO began airing the second season of Euphoria, a gripping series about teenage struggles in modern day America. As a warning for those considering watching, the show features a lot of recreational drug use and intense sexual situations. The audience is given Rue (Zendaya), an unreliable narra-
tor who struggles with opioid abuse, to follow as the main character. The extensive substance abuse presented leaves many concerned about the perception that it may give younger viewers on what high school should be like. It is no secret that some high school students struggle with drugs and self-control, but the portrayal in Euphoria has been regarded by an iMDb parent’s guide as, “extremely hardcore and kind of stomach wrenching.” As far as real life goes, what is normal for American high school students? Do shows such as Euphoria accurately represent the average life of a teenager? Or, is High School Musical a better fit? I think the real high school ex-
perience is a space in the middle. A high school is a diverse mesh of people, so of course not everyone’s experience is going to be the same. Euphoria does an excellent job of portraying the various points of view from people of all distinctions and backgrounds. The point of Euphoria is to show people the gritty reality of life and all the events that come with it. By going in-depth with the serious issues presented, the show is almost purposely uncomfortable. It is not going to be nice to watch. Everyone has their embarrassing moments, things they look back on and are not proud of; Euphoria just shows these moments to make the characters relatable. In a way, Euphoria does reflect the intensity of high school and adolescence.
FAIR-USE PHOTO COURTESY OF HBO MAX
Euphoria is based off an Israeli drama of the same name. Zendaya Coleman stars as Rue Bennett, a teenage drug user, alongside Maude Apatow, Sydney Sweeney, Hunter Schafer, Angus Cloud, Jacob Elordi, Alexa Demie, Storm Reid, Barbie Ferreria, Dominic Fike and Eric Dane in this teen ensemble drama.
TRENDS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEB. 15, 2022 | PAGE 9
Concert-goers face Resources provide services for youth COVID masking issues Mental health: LUCIA PERFETTI Cover Editor
Society often portrays screen time and the internet negatively. “When you’re feeling very anxious or depressed, it’s actually better to put the device down,” explains mental health professional Angela Early, founder of Chrysalis Family Solutions in Wooster. “Most people report feeling much better after doing so.” Even so, screens can be a major resource for teenagers who may need assistance, especially for those with little, to no, access to professional solutions. Earley warns against online therapy that is solely textbased, as only in-person and live virtual sessions are able to facilitate the biological need for relationships in humans. That point being made, Earley does mention the site 7cups. com, which offers anonymous 24 hours a day/seven days a week free text-based therapy with support for depression, anxiety, LGBTQIA+ individuals and more. When it comes to live virtual therapy, Chrysalis Family Solutions offers counseling through Telehealth that can be covered to different degrees depending on insurance providers. Many people turn to games or television to alleviate stress or anxiety, and this access can be good in moderation, suggests Earley, saying, “games tend to be more dissociative in nature, so great as a distraction, but too much is usually about avoidance.” To target stress and anxiety, the Chrysalis team suggests apps focused on developing
routines surrounding mindfulness and self-care such as Headspace, Shine and Calm. If in need of a game, there are several apps Chrysalis points to that are made to target stress, including Colorfy, a coloring app, and Happify, which provides science-based games for stress relief and allows for people to set goals and track their progress. When it comes to finding mental services on television, there are several options on Netflix for those who are struggling with anxiety that the Chrysalis team recommends. The Headspace app has three different Netflix shows focused on meditation, including Guide to Meditation and Guide to Sleep. The third show, Unwind your Mind, is an interactive special set to help the viewer relax, meditate or sleep deeply. Another great resource for students dealing with anxiety is MindfulnessForTeens. com, which is a free website that provides guided visual and audio meditations that are engaging and helpful for beginners. When it comes down to it, some of the best ways to alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression, are tried and true tactics that do not require screens. Exercises such as breathwork, progressive muscle relaxation, and mood tracking can assist those who need to find alternative solutions, but do not want to utilize or access screens in order to do so. For those who desire an app, though, Breathwrk is an app devoted to breathing classes that help calm the body, while Moodnotes is a Mood Tracker that helps users categorize and track emotions to learn more about themselves.
The moodnote app is a way to record your moods, and create an online journalling entry. LUCIA PERFETTI
Concert members at Billie Eilish, “Happier Than Ever: The World Tour” on Feb. 8, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
BRITTANY WACHTEL Views Editor
The Breathwrk app is an organized app to help eliminate stress, increase energy, and improve sleep.
The Headspace app aims to make meditation accessible. The app makes meditation simple, while also being an affordable option.
Since March of 2020, everything has been put on hold due to COVID. Even though all industry was affected by the pandemic, performing artists experienced life changing complications. Between music festivals, concerts, and Broadway shows, countless numbers of events have been rescheduled or even canceled since the start of the pandemic. Almost two years since the start of the pandemic, the performing arts have come back. Yet, a new hurdle has risen for artists in terms of being able to perform: how can live events happen safely? While most artists are able to create their own COVID regulations that apply to every show on their tour, some artists have chosen to rely on the guidance of venues. Artists such as Katy Perry, who is currently playing a Vegas residency, have received backlash for the relaxed COVID
guidelines presented by those holding the event. Perry’s residency is being held at Resorts World, which is owned by Marriott, and the only set rules stated by the company are that all attendees must wear a mask. Other artists touring nationwide, including Billie EIlish and Olivia Rodrigo, have stricter rules in place. Both artists require either proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID test within 48 hours of attendance. While smaller scale events have shown no documented surge in COVID cases, large events such as Astroworld and Lollapalooza have both been reported to have caused a surge in COVID cases following the events. As reported by Dakin Andone at CNN, both Chicago and Houston experienced COVID surges after each respective music festival. As much as live events provide a sense of normality during hard times, whether or not America is ready for such events to come back is a different story.
FEATURE
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEB 15, 2022 | PAGE 10
WCS Diversity Task Force promotes diversity throughout the district LUCIA PERFETTI cover editor The WCSD Diversity Task Force was formed in 2017 after concerns from the Wooster/ Orville NAACP regarding, “the low number of minority teachers employed by Wooster City Schools,” according to task force co-chair Steve Shapiro. When setting out goals, the task force agreed to focus on expanding diversity in hiring, curriculum and school climate. Task force member April Gamble commented on her efforts prior to the task force, saying, “I had been involved in some informal conversations with WCS and other community members about a desire to think together about how our local public schools could be more welcoming and affirming places- especially in terms of hiring and retaining BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) teachers and staff.” The task force was a way to
actualize those goals. Gamble, who was part of the task force curriculum committee, referred to goals regarding,“expanding diversity of the written and taught curricula through the school system,” as stated in the task force’s “Final Report and Recommendations.” Task force recommendations included the reevaluation of textbooks that “underemphasized problematic historical events in American history,” the proposal of a schoolwide book-reading “that deal(s) with issues related to diversity,” a community service graduation requirement and the inclusion of a new elective at WHS, which was achieved with the addition of the Civil Rights course, taught by Social Studies Dept. member Brian Questel. In order to implement recommendations, the task force works with Superintendent Gabe Tudor who explained his role as, “to help develop goals collaboratively with the task
force and then put procedures in place to execute those goals.” Shapiro mentioned goals for the task force looking forward to 2022 including: “insur[ing)] that Wooster City Schools continues in its effort to hire more minority teachers,” and the continuation of implicit bias training to help staff and faculty understand the inherent biases one holds toward others recommended as part of the “School Climate” section of the report. Members of the task force are selected mostly by the Superintendent, says Shapiro. Alongside Shapiro and his co-chair, Dr. Yvonne Williams, members include “parents of students, teachers, students, representatives of the NAACP, and community leaders,” as well as a community volunteer, Shapiro notes In the five years since its inception, the WCS Diversity Task Force has continued to meet quarterly to analyze and monitor WCSD’s efforts to work toward the goals it set forward in 2017.
According to the Wooster City School District website, the Diversity Task Force has three main objectives to increase diversity in the district. These areas are: recruitment and hiring, curriculum and school climate. These objectives help to increase diversity in what students are taught, as well as who is teaching them.
Diversity: di·ver·si·ty (noun) -the state of having people who are different races or who have different cultures in a group or organization. (merriam-webster.com)
Yvonne Williams emphasizes inclusion and acceptance in community MAYA GALINDO-BENSON staff writer Yvonne Williams, a retired College of Wooster professor, is a co-chair of the Wooster City Schools Diversity Task Force and is also a member of the NAACP. Williams attended Penn State University for undergraduate studies, earned her masters from the University of Connecticut and her PhD from CWRU. She taught at the COW in the departments of Political Science and Africana Studies. According to Williams, her interest in politics thrived from conversations she heard when she was growing up. “My mother and father were very active in politics when I was growing up, and I just was fascinated by the whole scene,” Williams said. Williams had not always been interested in teaching, but after earning her PhD, the opportunity arose to work at the COW, and she served there for 22 years and retired in 2000. Apart from working at the COW, Williams is also part of the Diversity Task Force and NAACP. The Diversity Task Force has a primary goal of seeking
inclusivity in WCS. “Our main goal was to get more diversity in the teachers in the high school,” Williams said. Williams said other goals of the task force include evaluating diversity in curriculum, supporting the Leader in Me program, as well as putting more emphasis on anti-bullying initiatives and LGBT students. Dr. Williams has been part of the NAACP since she was a teen and one of the group’s efforts she has always supported has been to help improve job situations. Williams describes her involvement in the Wooster community based on opportunities that arose to her. “When I saw an opportunity or a need that I could fulfill, I tried to do that,” Williams said. Williams said that the most important lesson she taught her students while she was teaching was to keep an open mind. She would tell her students, “I am not here to indoctrinate you, or change your thinking, but I am here to help you understand why you think the way you do,” Williams said. Williams stated that it is important that all people open their eyes to perspectives other than their own.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEATURE | FEB. 15, 2022 | PAGE 11
Wooster High School students celebrate Black History Month BAILEY MESSNER staff writer The 13th Amendment was approved on Jan. 31, 1865, and in present times, Feb. 1 marks the start of Black History Month. While this anniversary does play a role in when the month takes place, Carter G. Woodson is the person credited with the creation of the holiday. An article, posted on USA Today, titled “Why is Black History Month in February? How do you celebrate? Everything you need to know.” N’dea Yancey-Bragg explains that “[Woodson] recognized that the American education system offered very little information about the accomplishments of African Americans and founded
the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, now called the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.” In 1926 Woodson officially announced Black History Week, and in 1976, president Gerald Ford lengthened the week into what is now known as Black History month. But, despite the creation of the holiday, students still frequently attest to a lack of African American history being taught. Sophia Mera (11), an IB student at WHS, is in the process of creating an NAACP chapter at WHS. Mera explains that “I felt that in light of the events of the previous year (George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor) that the school should have done more to educate
not only during Black History Nora Levy Month, but as a whole.” Mera goes on to talk about how the chapter has struggled to obtain members, but hopes that the chapter can find more ways for WHS to recognize the importance of the month. Guidance Counselor Cheryl Goff has recognized Black History Month by showing the accomplishment of African American individuals through designing display cases around the school. While brainstorming different ways WHS could contribute more to Black History Month Goff concluded that “Yes, I think WHS could have a ‘’soul food’ luncheon one day this month. Also, we could have a guest speaker come in and educate us on African American history.”
Graphic By Nora Levy
The importance of remembering the Holocaust LAURA RAPPORT a&e editor
Graphic By Nora Levy
International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a day that honors the over 10 million people murdered by Nazis during World War II was Jan. 27. The day was designated by the U.N. in 2005 because that date marks the day that Auschwitz, the largest of over a 1,000 Nazi death camps, was liberated by the Red Army. While most countries recognize International Holocaust Remembrance Day, some countries also have their own memorial days. Israel observes Yom HaShoah, which is observed on the 27th of Nisan, the first month of spring on the Hebrew calendar. Yom
HaShoah honors the memories of the 6 million Jewish people murdered in the Holocaust. The United States, in addition to observing Holocaust Remembrance, observes Days of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust, an 8 day period leading up to Yom HaShoah. In a statement made on Jan. 27, President Biden expressed the importance of remembering the Holocaust. “Today, and every day, we have a moral obligation to honor the victims, learn from the survivors, pay tribute to the rescuers, and carry forth the lessons of last century’s most heinous crime. From the streets of Charlottesville, Virginia, to a synagogue in Colleyville,
Texas, we are continually and painfully reminded that hate doesn’t go away; it only hides. And it falls to each of us to speak out against the resurgence of antisemitism and ensure that bigotry and hate receive no safe harbor, at home and around the world.” President Biden also spoke with Holocaust survivor and author Bronia Brandman on the importance of remembering the Holocaust. “We must teach accurately about the Holocaust and push back against attempts to ignore, deny, distort, and revise history—as we did this month, when the United States co-sponsored a UN resolution that charged the international community with combating Holocaust denial through
education.” Biden also said. In the words of Holocaust survivor and author Elie Wiesel: “For the survivor who chooses to testify, it is clear: his duty is to bear witness for the dead and for the living. He has no right to deprive future generations of a past that belongs to our collective memory. To forget would be not only dangerous but offensive; to forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time.” It has now been 77 years since the liberation of Auschwitz. As we get farther away from WWII timewise, and more Holocaust survivors pass away, it is more important than ever that we remember the tragedy of the Holocaust and the lives lost.
SPORTS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEB. 15, 2022 | PAGE 12
Stress in sports:
Professional athletes prioritize mental health NORA LEVY staff writer Throughout the past year, an increasing number of professional athletes have taken breaks, and even retired to focus on mental health. The environment and expectations placed upon professional athletes are unhealthy, as athletes like Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles have mentioned publicly. Naomi Osaka announced that she would forgo speaking to the press to protect her mental health prior to the opening of the French Open; however, her decision was not respected by tournament officials and she issued a statement announcing a break from tennis. In a statement from Osaka’s Instagram page Osaka said, “I’m gonna take some time away from the court now.” Osaka also emphasized her willingness to work with the Tour to aid the athletes. Simone Biles has also recently taken time away from gymnastics to focus on her mental health. After an Olympic vault in which Biles did not complete her rotations, Biles decided to pull out of some upcoming Olympic competitions. She received much praise by fellow athletes and the media for prioritizing her mental health. In an interview with NPR after withdrawing from the team final Biles stated that it would be more beneficial for her mental health to withdraw. “I just felt like it would be a
little bit better to take a back seat, work on my mindfulness,” Biles said. Emphasis on mental health has increased in the era of COVID-19; however, many past athletes have also been open about their struggles with mental health. Vertava Health also cites that Michael Phelps, Aly Raisman, Serena Williams, Lindsey Vonn and Terry Bradshaw have similarly shared their battles with mental health in hopes to help others who may be suffering in silence. High school athletes can also struggle with mental health throughout their sports seasons. Chris Matthew, WHS swim coach for 28 years and member of the Foreign Language Dept., recognizes that high school sports can also be stressful on students’ mental health. Matthew shares that she encourages her athletes to focus on their family and school in addition to their sport during the season. Matthew says that having fun is also a major part of creating an environment that supports her athletes. “We also try not to ever put too much stress on a swimmer or diver by saying this is the time you need to do. We focus always on improvement and also having fun with your teammates which is a large part of high school sports,” Matthew said. Matthew also emphasizes the importance of mental health in all aspects of success as well as openness and reaching out for help.
Graphic by Ashton Dunlap
Multiple countries announce boycott of the 2022 Beijing winter Olympics THEO OLLIER sports editor The 2022 winter Olympics began Feb. 4 in Beijing. However, in December of 2021 the Biden administration announced that the United States would boycott the Olympic Games this year. Canada, Australia, Japan, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, and various other countries have followed in suit. According to an article by CNBC News, titled “U.S. Announces Diplomatic Boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics . . .”, the reason for the boycott is China’s continual human rights abuses in Xinjiang, an area of China where an ethnic group of Turkish Muslims called Ughyrs reside. Brian Ehrlinspiel, WHS History Dept. member, notes that the Olympic boycott is diplomatic. Rather than prohibiting all U.S. athletes from competing in the games, the United States will not send governmental officials to the games. In terms of specific reasons for the boycott, the Chinese government has detained
Ughyrs in internment camps and forced mass sterilization among their population. “In China, the United States has chosen not to send any government officials (traditionally some heads of state represent their country at the Olympics). The reason being the Chinese government’s treatment of the Uyghur, and other Muslims in China. The Uyghur have been forced into internment camps and have been forced to be sterilized. The U.S. has labeled these actions as ‘genocide’ and ‘crimes against humanity,”’ Ehrlinspiel said. There have been multiple boycotts of the Olympic Games over the course of history, with one major boycott occurring in 1980 when over 60 countries refused to attend the Moscow Summer Olympics as a result of the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. An article by Smithsonian Magazine titled “Is China Committing Genocide Against the Ughyrs?” notes that at the time of the 1980 boycott, “Experts called into question the effectiveness of the boycott, pointing out that it deprived American athletes of the chance
to compete while having little effect on Soviet policies.” Regardless of whether the U.S. government took this argument into account when allowing its athletes to compete, this boycott allows athletes to compete, while still sending a message to China. According to WHS History Dept. member Phillip Klein, the diplomatic Olympic boycott serves the purpose of taking a political position of protest rather than attempting to make an impact on the entire world. “The boycott mainly serves to show who is taking an oppositional position against the Chinese Government and who is either acting supportive or neutral on the issues. These protests usually do not have major impacts overall. It’s more about announcing a position,” Klein said. The 2022 winter Olympics will undoubtedly continue until the closing ceremonies on Feb. 20, with some countries still sending governmental officials to the games. However, the multi-country diplomatic boycott reveals the political tension that is occurring between China and multiple countries across the world.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | SPORTS | FEB. 15, 2022 | PAGE 13
Pickleball Club arrives at WHS OLIVIA HINER cover editor Pickleball is a sport that has been on the rise in recent years. According to columbiassociation.org, it is the fastest-growing sport in America. Despite this fact, after asking peers about joining the club, many were unsure what exactly pickleball is. The sport originated in 1965 when Joel Pritchard, a congressman from Washington State, and Bill Bell, a successful businessman, formed the game now known as pickleball, as told on the usapickleball.org website. The game is played with paddles similar to those in ping
pong and a perforated plastic ball. The rules are most similar to badminton, and the court is somewhat similar to tennis. Cordell Smith, adviser to the Pickleball Club and WHS guidance counselor, said he was approached by Garrett Ranney (10) toward the end of first semester with the idea of starting a pickleball club and said he would be glad to help out with this activity. Ranney said he became interested in playing pickleball because of his grandparents, who taught him how to play the game, and then he saw students playing it at the Christmas Run courts. “It [those experiences] gave me an idea that I could start a club at WHS,” Ranney said.
Ranney discussed that the club is open for all ages and skill levels and said he hopes that students want to get involved with it as it is a fun, social activity for students. If looking to get involved, Ranney said that “Students can get involved by playing and inviting friends once the club starts up,” and noted that “even if you have never played before, give it a try.” A date to play is still being decided, but Ranney said the club will meet and compete in the Gault. As the club will involve learning how to play, Ranney hopes to have an endof-year tournament at Wooster. For more information QR codes are posted on posters that can be found throughout the WHS building.
WHS sports update Boys’ Basketball: Boys’ basketball won against Madison Comprehensive 64-54.
Girls’ Basketball:
Girls’ basketball lost to Madison Comprehensive 51-57.
Girls’ Bowling:
Girls’ bowling beat Mansfield Sr. 2229-1547.
Boys’ Bowling:
Boys’ bowling lost to Mansfield Senior 2584-2668.
Boys’ and Girls’ Swim and Dive:
The swim teams qualified six athletes each to the district meet this Saturday.
Wrestling:
The wrestling team placed fourth out of seven teams at the Canton South Invitational.
Gymnastics:
The gymnastics team won against Sandy Valley 129.65 - 110.55.
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VIEWS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEB. 15, 2022 | PAGE 14
The Bachelor: Students reap benefits and valuable experience Franchise creates unhealthy expectations from outside employment
DELANEY WILSON on campus editor Often, when people think about high school jobs, they may think about the money they made or the bad experiences they had with customers or other coworkers. Jobs in high school, particularly ones that require frequent interaction with customers, can serve as an important point for social development, especially as students prepare to move on to the next phases of their lives and will likely see and experience things they would not have experienced in their communities. High school jobs expose us to a host of new people that we may not have met otherwise. It also enables us to work with people who are at different stages in life and have different views on what work should look like, which can help us, as students, learn to work with people who have different levels of experience. Jobs also put us in the position of learning how to deal with customers who all have different needs and have different levels of respect for
people who work in retail or in food service. With working, I have found my job as a way to make relationships with new people, as employees often have to work together to complete tasks, bonds can be formed through working, or sometimes in doing other things to avoid doing whatever it is that needs to be done. Dealing with difficult customers and coworkers can help teach us how to keep working, while having an argument or being treated unfairly. Oftentimes, with difficult customers, employees are expected to still treat them with respect, so learning how to remain calm and respectful becomes a valuable skill in these environments. Working at a job while attending high school can also help develop practical skills that may not be used in our careers, but can be applied in other aspects of life that may seem small, such as different safety restrictions some businesses have in place to protect workers and customers. Student employees who can maintain positive relationships with managers can benefit from these relationships later on, such as getting recommendation letters or references. Coworkers can also be used as good references when trying to look for jobs in one’s career field. While working in high school can be exhausting, there is value in working outside of the paycheck.
BRITTANY WACHTEL views editor Modern dating ranges anywhere from meeting in person, dating apps and, for some, reality television The Bachelor franchise has been running for 19 years with hundreds of women and men being circled through the Bachelor mansion. Although the franchise has many subcategories, including The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise, The Bachelor continues to be the face of the series. The series is set in a California mansion where one single man is faced with 25 to 30 different eligible women. Throughout the course of eight weeks, multiple women are sent home until one remains. Ideally, the couple will get engaged by the end of the show. While every season of The Bachelor starts with contestants declaring the start of their journey to find true love, the show seems to struggle with creating lasting relationships. Out of 26 seasons, only three couples remain either engaged or married. Even though the franchise does not aim to leave viewers with a different outlook on love, many see the show as ideal. And for some, it is even
a goal to appear on the show, even if that means being sent home instantly and leaving without finding love. To be on The Bachelor is almost a guaranteed ticket to Instagram fame. Even those that are sent home night one garner thousands of followers almost instantly. One thing that The Bachelor fails to show is a true relationship that is built on trust and connection over time, but instead rushes contestants through games and group dates in hope that they fall in love. As an avid Bachelor Nation member, it is hard to watch the show and not be roped into the type of relationship broadcasted every season. No matter the contestants, every love affair is the same through every season. First the honeymoon stage, and then the rapid decline in the relationship that leads to questioning and miscommunication. Despite the toxicity of the relationship dynamics presented, the couple
is always sent home from the show to live happily ever after, even though the odds are not in their favor. One main issue with the show seems to be the intentions of those cast. As reported by Aili Nahas on June 18, 2019 via People Magazine, season 13 of The Bachelorette featured a contestant who was in a relationship with a woman from his hometown, while also being on the show. These types of instances are not uncommon as almost every season someone is found cheating. For viewers to idolize those who are a part of the franchise creates a toxic mindset surrounding love. In reality, the journey to find love is not one that can be achieved within an eight week period while being broadcasted to the world. Though The Bachelor does not seem set on changing the concept of the show, reality television centered on love should aim to include the ups and downs of a relationship.
Photo Fair Use Courtesy of Shuttterstock
THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | FEB. 15, 2022 | PAGE 15
THE
THE VOICE OF WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL
WOOSTER
BLADE
Editors-in-Chief Ashton Dunlap, Luke Pomfret Webmaster Ashton Dunlap Graphics Manager Grace Brownson Business Manager Delaney Wilson Head Photographer Grace Brownson A & E Editor Lexxe Parsons, Laura Rapport Cover Editor Lucia Perfetti Feature Editor Molly Snyder, Grace Brownson Focus Editor Sheridan Schauer, On Campus Editor Hannah LoGiudice, Delaney Wilson Sports Editor Theo Ollier, Jhon Fajardo Trends Editor Olivia Hiner Views Editor Brittany Wachtel Staff Writers Mattie Dunlap, Molly Byrne, Chloe Frichtl, Ben Stavnezer, Nora Levy, Sophia Mera, Stella Powers, Trent Kuzma, Grace Kostohryz, Anika Ellis, Maya Galindo-Benson, Bailey Messner Photographers Grace Brownson, Hannah LoGiudice, Ashton Dunlap, Ben Stavnezer, Brittany Wachtel, Nora Levy, Delaney Wilson, Sheridan Schauer, Molly Snyder, Maya GalindoBenson, Molly Byrne Adviser Kristi Hiner
The Wooster Blade is a biweekly student publication printed every other Friday by the Newspaper Production classes at Wooster High School. The Wooster Blade is designated as an open forum and follows publishing guidelines as established by district-wide publications policy protecting students’ freedom of expression. All copy, art and photography are property of The Wooster Blade and cannot be reproduced without permission. Letters to the editor are limited to 300 words and The Wooster Blade reserves the rights to print and edit as per length and content. The Wooster Blade is a member of Quill and Scroll, National Scholastic Press Association and Columbia Scholastic Press Association. Letters and inquiries should be addressed to The Wooster Blade, 515 Oldman Road Wooster, Ohio 44691. The Wooster Blade can be contacted at 330-3454000 ext. 3210. The newspaper can also be found at thewoosterblade.com
OUR VIEW
Staff & students raise mental health concerns Initially, this editorial was meant to provide both awareness and possible solutions to the mental health issue affecting students and staff at WHS. Unfortunately, the topic of mental health turned out to be an extremely complicated topic for which to advocate specific solutions. Therefore, this editorial may fail to provide explicit solutions to the issue, but The Wooster Blade staff will further research this issue and publish a follow-up story in the next issue. March will mark the second anniversary of the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic. One of many consequences of the pandemic has been an increase in student and staff mental health concerns at schools. Frequently, students forget that what they are experiencing is also what their teachers might be going through. The CDC conducted a Youth Risk Behavior Trend analysis study, conducted from 2009-2019, and found, “More than 1 in 3 high school students had experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2019, a 40 percent increase since 2009,” and “In 2019, approximately 1 in 6 youth reported making a suicide plan in the past year, a 44% increase since 2009.” It is important to note that the WCSD has made monumental strides to provide students and staff access to mental health services. The partnership between the WCSD and Anazao has allowed more students to see a therapist and receive counseling if they feel they should need it. Recently, The Wooster Blade Editorial Board conducted one-onone interviews about the topic of mental health and mental health resources. The interviews were anonymous to protect the identity of those who shared information that would be considered sensitive and vulnerable. In the interviews, various students and staff members expressed their concern for their peers/colleagues.
One junior says signs of mental health struggles in peers is seen regularly, including suicidal thoughts. An eighth-grade student says knowing what to do when seeing signs of mental health struggles is problematic. One ninth-grade student notes a lack of caring as the most common sign of someone struggling with mental health. A junior says the school does recognize the struggles students are going through, but should research alternative solutions, saying, “I think they [the district] are making more of an effort, especially with having a school guidance counselor, but some kids are not open to that [speaking with the guidance counselor].” One teacher says that sometimes teachers have so many students and, unfortunately, students often have to speak up for themselves if they need help. “I think if we really see a student struggling, then we definitely will talk, but I think, unfortunately, the kids need to speak up for themselves and realize it’s okay to talk about it because a lot of people are going through it.” The same teacher notes anxiety as the biggest concern with students, “We’re not trained in this [how to deal with student’s mental health]... They [WCSD] have done stuff with the United Way trying to help us understand the socioeconomic stuff, and you can do a teacher development day talking about mental health, but you’re not going to get enough out of that.” Most teachers polled describe the difficulty of finding a middle ground for students who are struggling, but who cannot see a counselor with Anazao. Some staff members expressed being “burned out” and considering looking for alternative professions. One teacher says the consideration of leaving education altogether, has occurred. “My conversations with fellow
teachers, not even in this district, but just the teacher community I know, almost everyone I have talked to at some point has considered leaving the profession this year. [Reporter asks if this individual is one of those people]... Yes… I have since found a new life for myself, and I am excited, and I am not leaving, but I have been considering it heavily.” This teacher recommends that someone who deals with burnout, should change their career or the environment in which they are working. “I have changed so much of what I am teaching to reinvigorate myself, but that was after I realized I did not want to leave,”this teacher noted. Another teacher has expressed stress coming from inconsistency throughout the past two years. “I know it’s not necessarily anyone’s fault that we don’t have any administrators. We certainly don’t have consistency in our leadership, so that causes stress… I think we’ve adapted really well, but maybe make it attractive for whoever comes in next year to stay, so we don’t have to go through a new set of administrators every year.” Of the teachers interviewed, some have conflicting opinions on if it is the district’s responsibility to provide counseling to the teachers, “I don’t know if we have resources for teachers to go to, but we are adults and go see a counselor... I do not think it’s the school district’s job to provide us [teachers] with counseling.” Two of the teachers interviewed said they would not use the Anazao resources for fear of seeing a colleague or a student seeing them go to Anazao. The Wooster Blade Editorial Board reached out to Anazao for comment, but unfortunately with timing, no response was received. Please remember, if you see something serious, you should report it to a trusted adult and utilize the resources provided through Anazao here at WHS.