by Ellen Kirkness ’12 From out of the melting pot of American culture comes a generation of adolescents who redefine the meaning of having a double-life. All of the ingredients join together at school to create a blended mixture which incorporates family tradition with American pop culture. Yet, at home these same students embrace a traditional culture, rich with customs … Read More
by Holland McCabe ’11 As students walk across the stage at graduation, some look forward to college, others look to serve their country in the military and still others look to enter the work force as tradesmen. These students have decided not to pursue the college life and degree, and choose instead to pursue a career in the skilled trades like carpentry, mechanics, plumbing and electrical contracting. In choosing this path, they face many uncertainties, especially in this economy. However, this path also can lead to a rewarding and successful life.
by Sam Farrell ’12 Physical education teacher Gene Orndorff will retire at the end of the school year from a career that includes a 31 year involvement in Rock ‘n’ Roll. For a number of these years, he has been the show’s director and tech producer. Not only did Orndorff contribute much moral support to the hundreds, if not thousands, of students he has mentored over his three decades, he also has changed the aesthetic face of Rock ‘n’ Roll, and has contributed multiple ideas that have made the whole show more efficient.
by Kendall Proctor ’11 One of Sherwood’s Guiding Principles, posted on the walls of many classrooms, states “excellence is achievable and always worth the investment.” Yet many students at school underachieve. Although an underachieving student may be intelligent, he or she may not put enough effort into schoolwork to reach his or her full academic potential.
by Ellen Kirkness ‘12 A life is not defined by the number of days one lives, but instead by the number of lives one touches with the days he is given. Alex Popeck, born September 28, 1993, spent exactly 17 years, three months and 10 days in this world and, in that time, impacted the lives of thousands. “Alex will … Read More
At Sherwood, like schools everywhere, students face harassment or bullying. However, there is ambiguity about what qualifies as an environment of tolerance and how to promote and, when necessary, enforce it. Even the difference between harassment and bullying is not obvious, despite their definitions.
In September alone, six gay teens took their own lives due to bullying. In the most publicized incident, Tyler Clementi, an 18-year-old boy jumped off the George Washington Bridge in New York on September 22 due to humiliation caused by his peers at Rutgers University. Gay teens are four times more likely to commit suicide compared to heterosexual teens and 9 out of 10 gay teens have experienced bullying at school, according to The Trevor Project, an organization dedicated to teen suicide prevention. More than one-third of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender) kids have attempted suicide.
The United States is the richest country in the world, and yet, compared to the 26 developed countries in the world, ranks last in mathematics and fourth to last in reading. David Guggenheim’s documentary, “Waiting for Superman,” shines a light on why many of America’s public school systems produce such disappointing results.
This year, the Obama administration launched “Race to the Top,” a program designed to spark education reform and effective teaching practices by awarding states who make significant improvements in their education systems with a federal grant. Around the nation, teaching quality and student preparation have become a major concern as schools face increasing scrutiny.
Born and raised as a child in Ethiopia, Mengistu plans to head back to his native country after he has become a fully licensed doctor. “There are a lot of problems with the health structure and a lot of doctors are coming to the U.S., leaving a lot of people behind,” Mengistu explained. “The government system is corrupt, and I just wanted my own chance to help the people.”