When confidential information was leaked from the National Security Agency (NSA) by 29-year-old Edward Snowden, the public didn’t know what to think; there was confusion as to whether this was a heroic deed or a dangerous betrayal. In May, Snowden shocked the world by providing proof that the U.S. government is overseeing its citizens’ personal phone calls, e-mails and internet … Read More
Staff Editorial Summer is the longest break from school for students; 72 days without any teachers, tests or homework. Although reading and optional math packets are passed out at the end of the school year, the time spent studying and preparing for these are largely nonexistent for many students. Many in fact feel that time spent doing other academic activities … Read More
On April 30, the FDA lowered the age restriction to purchase emergency contraception from 17 to 15-years-old. The following day, a U.S. judge ordered to make the pill available to people of all ages. The Obama administration seeks to block the judge’s order, which will not affect the FDA’s earlier decision. The decision to lower or eliminate age restrictions for … Read More
by Will Van Gelder ’16 Recently this country has seen an upswing in the power of partisan lobbies, most specifically with the National Rifle Association (NRA). The NRA has been in the news a lot because of its vehement opposition to any type of gun control law the Senate and House propose. Pictures of Wayne LaPierre, the Executive Vice President … Read More
by Vicky Florian ’14 A class of 30 kindergarteners chants monotonously in unison as they stare at a flag in the front of the class. Not a single child knows the definitions of all the words he or she is speaking. Not a single child knows whether or not he or she agrees with the message of those words, yet … Read More
by Marie Moeller ‘15 There is a common notion that school is a waste of time. For most, the entirety of one’s education is not so. However, it is the tedious hours spent in the classroom or at home studying that makes the journey towards our futures all the much more harder to bear. Personally, in correspondence with practically every … Read More
by Annie Augustine ‘14 and Whitney Marie Halllaby ‘14 One out of every 20 adolescents has a mental illness, which can range from anxiety disorders, eating disorders, depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. An unfortunately prevalent assumption is that people who have these illnesses are too weak or incompetent to function normally in society. This is typically not the case. Mental … Read More
by Cameron Graf ‘13 If you commonly visit, interact with, or have in any way heard of the internet then chances are that you have heard of SOPA, the failed Congressional bill which sought to effectively neuter the internet and all that it stands for in accordance with international copyright law. If such a name rings a bell, then the … Read More
In the Student Town Hall meeting in March, Superintendent Joshua Starr took a poll on how many students have access to technology such as laptops and iPads, as well as whether or not they should be allowed within the learning environment. Pro by Shaan Verma ‘13 As technology advances and becomes more efficient, the older, more outdated ways of teaching … Read More
by Steffi Carrera ‘14 Latin was once part of high school curricula across the country. After controversy concerning the usefulness of spending time and resources studying a “dead language,” it was removed from the majority of schools nationwide. Some schools still offer this course but it is not very popular; in MCPS, only six high schools offer Latin as an … Read More