lEVER
“GIVE ME A PLACE TO STAND AND I WILL MOVE THE EARTH”
WILLIAM J. PALMER HIGH SCHOOL
Editorial Edition
Phones In School Are a Benefit Not a Disturbance
Rahaf Al-Azzawi, Staff Writer
Phones being a distraction in school has been a major topic across the United States with many opinions from some teachers saying it’s bad for students and others saying it helps them learn; parents or guardians saying that they want students to have their phones on hand for emergencies and others saying that they don’t need it all together. The topic has gotten so bad that now some schools require students to use Yondr pouches for their devices before coming into schools or even ban them from school altogether. Even if school banned phones students are always going to find a way to use them which means the rules are going to be broken either way. If schools put realistic restrictions most likely they will be followed and students won’t have such an issue with using them during class if they can finish their business during breaks, free time , or when the teachers allow them.
Many teachers and guardians talk about the topic and give out their thoughts and opinions on student's phones, but no one seems to care about what the student's opinions are on phones being restricted or banned.
An article asked students what they think about phones being banned while some say that they are okay with this change, and it is helpful in school: “I only had an Apple Watch to listen to music and message my family. This change has allowed me to focus more during my classes and I’ve come up with more creative ideas due to this change.” Others say that phones should be allowed with restrictions: “Cellphones should be limited, not banned, in schools but with a couple of key qualifications.” Students have many thoughts and other suggestions about phones and ways to fix the issue.
With the society now many students are addicted even if they use their phones for good. However, how would they fix that issue if they don't have the chance to selfcheck and build self-control skills with adults limiting their phone usage thinking that they're fixing or controlling the problem?
So the last thought on this topic is that there must be a middle ground. Realistic and enforceable rules. It’s as easy as that.
Finish reading at phslever.com
Ethics Over Experiments
Amori Esparza, Staff Writer
Animals feel pain, that is a fact. Some of them have higher tolerances like the mole, but these animals go through intense pain and suffering for years and at the end they get killed off These animals are going through this to test out products that we use. Products that they will never understand the use of, that they will never see again outside of the lab that they will inevitably die in.
Some people out there argue that animal experimentation is justified because it helps the people. From the pro testing articles I have read they say that it has always been a thing and basically that it doesn’t harm the people. Granted it has been a thing to use animals for the dirty work that humans don’t want to do since 500 B.C, but since when are things unchangeable? Racism and slavery were also around for a long time but that doesn’t mean that it’s right. We have always been taught that for every action there is a reaction and I think that if we want these products that we as people should be able to test them for ourselves and not these innocent animals that gain nothing but misery from it against their will. Tests that take decades are extremely painful and unjust. The animals get injected, force fed, drowned in chemicals. They are chained up and tortured and when they are done they don't get released, they get killed. More than 115 million animals die per year because of the test that they perform.
Lastly, animal testing is not even accurate enough for me to accept it. Ninety-four percent of drugs that pass animal testing end up failing human trials. Humans are more evolved and different then other creatures but sometimes animals can take more of things. Animals however can not take their entire body being submerged in different chemicals and acids. That brings me to my next reason that the tests are not accurate, scientists are usually looking to see if these products and the ingredients for them are safe to use on humans. Humans typically don't drink an entire bottle of lotion, or eat an entire bar of soap yet that is how much they are testing.
Animal experimentation needs to be stopped; it’s just not right. There is a beautiful Earth made just for the creatures that inhabit it and not only are we polluting the air but now we are killing the creatures of the earth for such superficial things. It is bad enough that humans are killing each other and now we are killing the truly innocent.
Black History Month Should Be More Valued
Destiny Johnson, Staff writer
Black History Month is not taken as seriously as it was in previous years. This should not be.
“Designating a month to celebrate the full measure of African Americans contributions to a world that spent centuries denying their existence allows for their great history to be honored and remembered. “
Black history month has been criticized as some “special” month that only celebrates one culture. It can be argued endlessly that Black history month is favors African Americans over other races but not every race faced the same issues that African Americans have faced nor overcome. Imagine being treated differently for the way you were born not just for a time but years on end and when finally ending that trying time and getting celebrated for those years of suffering. It gets belittled by others because the importance is not seen.
Black History Month should be shown more respect. If it were truly learned about by the curious minds of young adults, then that would open the eyes of many to what those times were genuinely like for people of color. Discrimination was so bad on the people of color to the point of affecting their mental states in everyday living. It is described as a psychological response like trauma such as somatization, psychological distress expressed as physical pain, interpersonal sensitivity, and anxiety. Discrimination is so much deeper than the surface level of its meaning. It can be detrimental to how one sees life and behaves.
One should not judge for what they do not understand and have not gone through personally but should educate themselves on the topic to be enlightened by its importance. Learn about Black History Month before deciding its importance in history!
End the Pink Tax for Women
Anya Barbour, Staff Writer
Pink tax is a is a form of price discrimination against women because its “pink.” It’s not limited to just pink things but everything women buy.
“The Pink Tax is a term used to describe [the] phenomenon of gender-based pricing that discriminates against women. These gender targeted price discrepancies have been in existence since the 1990s.”
Some people will not agree and will say, “Most products targeted for women have different ingredients.” They don’t think, men and woman buy similar things like razors and deodorant; its even the same brand. These products should be close in price if not the same, except for that a razor for woman could be $12.99 and a men’s razor in the same brand could be $9.99.
Most states, like California and New York, have made laws to stop the discrimination toward women while other states are still studying the issue.
Studies have shown products targeting women are 7% more expensive then men’s. Most women are aware of this, but a lot are not and not informed how much it cost to be a woman. Raising awareness through social media is so important to get woman and even men aware of companies that do this.
The Pink Tax causes anxiety and depression for women in poverty. Why should women in poverty worry about putting food on the table and not knowing if they are going to be able to buy feminine sanitary products?
Angela Wilson had this to say: “Pink tax is Economic burden for women, especially because women earn less than men. Women with lower salary are expected to buy feminine sanitary products, that companies put so much taxes on. Even though most Advocates have tried to lower these things, nothing has ever been really done. This is no were near to okay there should not be a tax for just living as a woman.”
Why Teens Should Be Reading The News
Ciara Balaszi, Staff Writer
Most teens keep up with social media nowadays, but social media doesn't give quality information like the news does. The news is something that has been around for decades on end and for good reason. It gives us quality information about what is going on in the real world around us with reliable sources and publishers. Social media has been able to give us some news but it isn't the most reliable and it's hard to find trustworthy information on the internet, when people can say whatever they see fit.
Why don’t you think teens read the news? [put name here] replies, “It can be really overwhelming. Most Americans statistically read at a 8th grade reading level and can’t completely understand. Also kids don’t have adults that can make it feel relevant enough to connect to them.”
Teens have lost a lot of motivation to do basic things they enjoy, like reading the news because of how overwhelming their lives have gotten. They also don’t have a lot to look up to or be taught to really look for information in the news where it's reliable and relevant even to them. Most teens need to feel involved or even relevant in something to really want to engage with it.
With this in mind, it’s more of an understanding of why teens sometimes act the way they do and why they have such short attention spans. Teens do enjoy things that don’t take a lot of brain power, but engaging in the news is something that could be as short as just a TikTok video or something short to read once in a while. Why do you think that teens should read the news? Ms. __ answered, “Because things are happening that are going to impact their lives. Also it's important to be informed and educated about your life, it's what makes it more purposeful.” Teens are our next upcoming generation to lead the world on. The news is a great easy to get information about things and it should be your own decision in what you've learned. Most kids are getting tricked by biases to swing the youth vote, but having a choice in what you believe because you are educated enough about it is the best way to grow up where you are next to have a say in how things go for our society.
Alex Fitch-Richmond
PHS Lever is saddened to share the passing of our friend and fellow classmate and journalist Alex Fitch-Richmond.
The kindness and passion he brought touched the lives of so many in our big community. He brought so many unique ideas to Journalism that gave so many people so much joy to each interaction everybody had with him. We are truly heartbroken by this loss and our thoughts go out to his family and friends and all who knew and loved Alex. We encourage anyone in need of support to reach out to counselors teachers or trusted friends.