The Bluffer - Red Bluff, CA
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/811356
Page 2 April 14, 2017 Opinions Editorial Policy: Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the district, staff, or student body. We welcome signed letters to the editor. Names may be withheld upon request. We also reserve the right to edit submission based on length and/or clarity. THE BLU FFER STA FF Lexi Pritchard Editor-in-Chief Britney Miranda Brooke Blythe Features Editor Claire Miller Gabriel Hale Sports Editor Becca Frey Sophia Cumpton Topics Editor Julissa Villalobos Editor-in-Chief Abby O'Sullivan Advertising Director Alisa Pelanconi Adviser Cartoonists Amanda Waugh Leslie Soto Opinions Editor Brianna Tackmier Trinity Stehno Staff Writers Sarah Herrera Yesenia Cerrillo Marissa Mills Aly Smith Stephanie Pena Logan Carver Easton Ross Bryce Stephenson Rebeccah Smith Katie Louisell Kennady Sandow Noah Caylor Caden Moniz Kourtney Sanders Shania Prieto A-&-E Editor Juniors and Mr. Wagner's third period Seniors. Roughly 73% of students feel that bullying is far more obvious to see on social media. All our freshmen surveyed feel safe in the classroom, but 24% of the senior class doesn't. All four classes are split either 50-50 or 40-60 about bullying being a problem on campus. 48% of all the students believe that there are more measures that they and their teachers can take to prevent bullying. Three surveys were not counted, one from the freshmen and two from the sophomores, because they were returned blank. We should find the safety statistics, especially for the senior class, unacceptable. The overall trend with that question was for the number of students that don't feel safe in the classroom to go up. We need to ask our classes, particularly our juniors and seniors why they don't feel as safe. As students and as teachers, we have to band together and try to make all of our students feel safe on campus. Staff Editorial Bullying on campus... Every class has their four years here at RBHS, but one issue that does not pass as they come and go is bullying on campus. This problem continues to happen, whether it is on campus or on social media and continues showing up. Feeling safe on campus is crucial to succeeding in the already stressful environment of the classroom. Without feeling safe, our students can't focus on putting their best foot forward and then they suffer the consequences and bullying helps to cause this compromise to the student's education. To see where the students' feelings lay on this issue, we administered an anonymous survey to four classes, Ms. Dulon's third period Freshmen, Mr. Hein's third period Sophomores, Mrs. Pelanconi's second period Another event to prepare us for the work force. SPARTAN THUMBS Powder Puff Spring Break Job/Career Fair Science Show The science students impress us yet again. These games should happen more often. It's been a long grading period. AP Tests It's goin' down for real after break. **Thumbs were acquired by Sarah Herrera in Mrs. Gantenbein's class.** News Editors Lexi Pritchard Julissa Villalobos Noah Caylor Staff Writer Scheduling solutions neglected by many W e are all aware that there are certain requirements that students are expected to meet in order to graduate. Yet these requirements can be met quickly and far before senior year. This is a problem that has been "fixed" by requiring students, especially seniors, to add on additional, sometimes useless classes in order to fill a schedule. There are solutions to this problem that are being overlooked, and not just by teachers and staff but students as well. Our school is very fortunate in that we have the opportunity to take concurrent enrollment classes through Shasta College. This is a great opportunity in that it gives student a chance to earn high school and college credits at once. This allows them to meet the requirements of graduation, and get ahead of the game when we move on to college education. I have taken advantage of this opportunity, which has put me nearly a year ahead of the average college student as a high school senior. Not to mention I was able to do it for way cheaper than what a typical college student would pay for it. On the school's end, I would consider adding to the classes that are offered through concurrent enrollment or even encouraging more teachers at our high school to become qualified to teach these courses themselves. In the long run, concurrent enrollment furthers our education at a quicker rate, and sets us up for a more successful journey in higher education. These courses should be encouraged more for the students who have met their graduation requirements, or don't necessarily need to take anymore classes to fulfill their credits. Concurrent enrollment is an excellent opportunity and I know that our administration has expressed a similar opinion, and would like to grow this program in the future, which I believe every student should support if they are serious about higher education. Marijuana use controversy lingers in society T here are various ways that marijuana is used: through getting packed into paper creating a joint, put in a bong, vaped through a vaporizer and getting added to a recipe making the cannabis edible. Each of the ways marijuana is taken still gives the effect of being high, and getting high is not healthy for the body. Smoking, digesting and eating all give the same harmful overall effects of marijuana. There are multiple ways marijuana effects the body; some short term ways are dry mouth, fatigue, red eyes, dizziness and increased heart rate. One may also suffer from impaired memory due to the way Marijuana can help to fight against depression and anxiety as well as reverse negative impacts of the lungs caused by smoking tobacco, and can help ease patients with PTSD. There are so many stories out there where children are suffering from hundreds of epileptic seizures a day and having Medical Marijuana oil or lotion calms them down and lowers the rate of seizures they have a day. Protecting these children, is what we should be looking for instead of adding more pills into the diet when these pills may cause more problems than good. I am in full support of the legalization and use of Medical Marijuana on patients with serious pain or health problems that may help fight, prevent, or regulate their issues. marijuana affects your cognitive function. Other cons of marijuana are that it can lead to health problems such as low blood pressure or liver disease. Links between marijuana use and mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and short-term psychosis have been found. Marijuana smoke is an irritant to the throat and lungs and can cause a heavy cough. It also contains toxic gases and particles that can damage the lungs. Marijuana smoking is associated with airway inflammation, increased airway resistance, and lung hyperinflation. In the end, the negative effects of marijuana are not worth having a quick high. M edical Marijuana is a life saving option that is thankfully presented to people with health problems. People every year suffer from medical issues such as seizures that can be easily lessened by the benefits Medical Marijuana can provide. As stated on quitsmokingcommunity.org, a benefit of medical marijuana is that is prevents, regulates, and can fight several diseases such as Glaucoma, epileptic seizures, prevent cancer, slow Alzheimer's, easing MS pain, reducing Hepatitis C side effects, relieving arthritis pain and helping people get through chemo. Amanda Waugh Cartoonist Logan Carver Staff Writer Pro Con