The Como Crier » Opinion

Passing The Time

whageman — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:05:22 +0000

Here at Como Park Senior High there has been a consistent theme pertaining to students and the argument that the passing time is not quite long enough for all of the business they must attend to.
This is why I feel we would best be served by adding another five minutes to each passing time. The insertion of a 10 minute passing time would be beneficial not only to students, who always seem to be running behind, but also to the unfortunate security guard that has the cumbersome task of writing out each individual detention slip for the students who didn’t make the bell.
It would take away from the hindrance of having a student coming into class late, breaking the very brittle concentration of their fellow classmates. The change would also take away from the class time wasted by the teacher who has to write the immeasurable assortment of passes; ranging from bathroom passes for those with weak bladders to the newer phenomenon of a pass to complain to the counselor that they’re assigned.
Though there are some legitimate arguments that could very well nullify my claim. The activities students participate in during passing time are not necessarily the best use of their time, as many students use their passing time to socialize and clog up the hallways.
Another claim against my strategy would be that the extra time allotted to passing time would subtract over thirty minutes from our already diminishing class time, which has already been hit hard by the new scheduling.
While I recognize both of those arguments, hold a lot of weight on the decision to have the length of passing time change. I feel the gains outweigh the costs. The kids who waste their passing time blocking up the hallways will be just as big a distraction in the classrooms. The extra thirty minutes taken away from the school day is a significant number but I implore the critics to consider the fact that those minutes are already lost for the reasons previously mentioned.
The suggestion is a bit of a drastic change but I consider it a must.

Testing and Testing and Testing

whageman — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 19:01:25 +0000

For the past few years there has been an endless stream of tests being given at Como Park Senior High. Many of them have been given in the computer lab that sits adjacent to the library. These tests consist of the M.A.P., or Measure of Academic Progress test, the GRAD test that is given to those who were unsuccessful on the hand-written version, and the MCA science test, which is reserved for students who take Biology.
The M.A.P. test is designed for ninth graders and is taken three times during the year; in September, January, and May. In those three months there are two weeks of testing, ranging from reading to math.
The GRAD test is required to graduate so for the entire year, for several weeks a month, the lab is reserved for the seemingly endless numbers of retakes. The tests given are the reading and math tests that interchange from month to month, with five days being set aside for reading this month.
The final type of test is the MCA science test for the students who take biology. But it is not yet a required exam for students. This test is given only once to students in the class, though each class gets separate periods to take the test towards the end of the school year.
Every one of these tests has been deemed important for students to take, each one playing a vital role in the development of students academic progress. Unfortunately, there have been some unintended side effects of this change. One of the biggest obstacles for Como Park is the use of the school’s main computer lab, which leaves all of the teachers scrambling to get a reservation for the smaller lab on the ground floor, not to mention all of the students who are taken out of their classes for these tests.
There are a lot of great opportunities and chances given to students through this change, unfortunately the price is paid by the teachers that battle valiantly for the lab in a sometimes futile effort. This has left some teachers dejected and relatively frustrated about the set up, calling for a rectification of sorts.
An over-booked lab and test burned-out students does no good for this country’s future.

NO SMOKING

whageman — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:14:03 +0000

There has been a growing trend in America. That trend stems from the fact that as an American we are allowed to say or do basically anything we want, as long as our words and actions don’t impede upon the standard of living of others. That golden rule for the United States has allowed for so many advancements socially, economically, scientifically, and even technologically. The freedom of expression and practice in the United States has allowed it to become the global juggernaut that it is today and has given all its citizens a leg up in its standard of living when compared with other nations around the world.

All that being said there is one freedom that is allowed despite its risks and downfalls merely because it pumps money into the economy. That freedom is smoking and since it’s introduction to a functioning economy back in the late 1500′s by Christopher Columbus it has been a staple to every economy that it has been sold in. For the United States it has been an exponential climb from their installment as a nation and it’s standing today and it’s due, in large part, to the buying and selling of tobacco both nationally and internationally. For just over the two centuries that the United States has been in existence the ways the tobacco plant has been sold and presented have changed drastically.

Unfortunately, for those today that are consumers of that product, one of those changes is in the ingredients used to make the cigarettes, cigars, and chewing tobacco alike. That change in content has made the product almost irresistible to anyone unlucky enough to have experienced it. This underhanded maneuver has allowed the tobacco industry to thrive off of those trapped in the clutches of this legal drug.

The emissions that are produced by this money maker are so harmful that it can, quite literally, kill you and anyone that is around you. To cover this up the tobacco industry hides behind its ads that claim the excellence of their product. As well as trying to eclipse the notion that they sell a dangerous product by pointing the finger at the automobile industry, claiming their innocence as the automobiles produces worse emissions than they do.

The most unfortunate thing about this whole situation is that people that buy cigarettes defend the company tooth and nail to try to cover up their own embarrassment of falling into the trap. Though when challenged on what good the product does all that can be mustered up is the tired argument that “it makes money”. That may be true right now, but what happens when all of the atmosphere is completely filled with this harmful emission and the consumers’ bodily defenses finally collapse and they start dying in greater quantities then they are now. Perhaps when those that are stuck breathing in the toxic fumes through second hand smoke start meeting their own mortality eyes will open.

All the money in the world won’t help anyone when we’re all dead.

Bachmann at a Glance

dbaden — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 01:21:55 +0000

In 2008 there was a huge change in America. An Afrcan-American man became president for the first time ever in the history of the United States. Now it’s time again to choose who is going to guide our country. This year we’re seeing something that hasn’t happened before. The Republican Primary is the process in which the Republican Party chooses their presidential candidate to run for the office in the general election.
This year Minnesota had not one, but two candidates, in the race. One is former governor Tim Pawlenty. He was governor of Minnesota from 2003 to 2011. However, Pawlenty dropped out of the presidential race in August, leaving one candidate from Minnesota.
Michelle Bachmann has been on the news quite a bit recently. She had a major jump in support early on in the race, but now has fallen to last in the political popularity polls. This could be for a large variety or reasons. One of which is her “crazy eyes,” which have been shown in video and still shots of her looking fairly possessed.
Another reason could be some of the things she says, which can be quite outlandish. “Why should I go and do something like that? But the Lord says, ‘Be submissive wives; you are to be submissive to your husbands.” said Representative Bachmann, recalling a 2006 speech in which she was convinced God was speaking through her husband.
While Bachmann is not the most sensible person in politics, she is also having some campaign issues. In New Hampshire her entire campaign staff deserted her, with one of the workers switching over to Rick Perry’s campaign team. New Hampshire is not the focus of her campaign, and she is putting much more effort into her campaign in Iowa. While Bachmann is not very high in the polls she still has a chance and could be the next president of the United States. But probably not.

Pardon The Interruption…

blanger — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:30:03 +0000

In light of the fast approaching Thanksgiving holiday, the Como Crier believes it is time to address a long held national travesty. Every year the president chooses a pair of turkeys to protect. He keeps people from eating them. Not only that, but they are sent to live on a ranch to live happily ever after. What we at the Crier want to know is, what makes these two turkeys so special? Why do they get to live, while so many others are violently murdered and decapitated, and then taking their proper places on our dinner tables?
The turkey pardon is something that has been going on for a while. The tradition is that every year since 1947, the National Turkey Federation gives two turkeys to the White House, while you are forced to buy them. They give one for eating, and another just in case the first turkey is unable to “perform its duties.”
For a long time, the President went ahead and ate the turkey. It wasn’t until 1989,when President George H.W. Bush came into office that the turkey pardon became a tradition. Ever since then, it has become the “tradition” at the White House. Last year, President Obama pardoned two turkeys, Apple and Cider, from being put on the dinner table.
But what makes them so special? Who knows what all of the other turkeys could have become if they had lived? They have so much life before them! That very turkey that you put on your dinner table may be the genius who cures cancer! (Actually no. I can guarantee it won’t be.) But still, who says the President gets to choose who lives and who dies? That is TOO much power for one man to hold. Please contact your President and let him know that you want to stop the innocent killings of turkeys.
The Crier wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! Be safe, enjoy your time off, and don’t eat too much!

Why Can’t We All Just Get Along?

whageman — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:47:52 +0000

There has been a constant problem at Como Park through the years that has yet to be solved. And it is giving our school and its students a sour reputation – that problem is the often irrational, and always unnecessary, fighting that has plagued this school for long enough.
However, this does not only include those who are fighting. There is plenty of blame to be found; from those engaged in the confrontation to the inconsiderate students that feel it is their duty to witness the incident so they may have something to talk about with their friends later.
These two parties disrupt the flow of a school day that is already in flux because of the new schedule and drags the name of Como Park through the mud. There is not a better example of the chaos this creates in our school than when Como Park made the Pioneer Press last spring. Sixteen of our very own were arrested on May 9th because of extraordinary amounts violence between the students.
The time has come for some significant changes to occur in the department of disciplinary action against those who want to involve themselves in this frivolous practice. Things must be done and the students who refuse to abide by the rules of non-violence in the school should be severely punished. Simply suspending the students does nothing for them as it gives them the opportunity to miss school. It may be better to just enforce some study time in the former ISS room as well as restricting hallpass use and other privileges.
And as for the audience of the fight, since they want to bear witness to the spectacle, they should face some punishment as well. Perhaps joining the combatants in the detention room would cure them of their urges to stop in the hallways and slow down traffic.
Applying these punishments to the students would be far more effective than just taking them out of school because a few days off school won’t hurt the students too terribly, but restricting their freedom and privileges will definitely make them think twice before disobeying school rules. While giving a detention or two to the students who want to watch a fight would make more of an impact than just a gentle nudge and stern, “Get to Class!”
I’m not saying this would fix all the trials and tribulations that come with unruly and uncooperative students, but it would be a step in the right direction. The direction of non-violence and respect for authority is a far more appealing direction than anarchy and disarray.