The Bluffer - Red Bluff, CA
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/183258
Opinion Page 2 September 27, 2013 Staff Editorial uyti Fences are in... S o, the school has a fence now. A four foot tall black fence stands as a symbol of oppression, reminding us of the soulessness of our school and mentally blocking out the outside world. Surely, the school's students must hate this new monolith to tyranny erected by the school. Actually, this is not the case. Most students actually like the fence. Several students have said that the fence makes them feel more secure. The fence could really help deter people from running out in front of cars. A person might think twice about coming into the school from the parking lot when they see the fence. The fence could also prevent accidents in the parking lot. After all, there are about 6 million car accidents in America each year and 45% of those happen in parking lots. There have been some pretty crazy drivers in the student parking lot. We, at the Bluffer, watch kids race out to the parking lot Musings on finding a date for Homecoming I t's that time of the year again folks. Only three weeks until the Homecoming game, rally, and the most dreaded dance. Students of all grades and ages are currently contemplating who to ask, who has been asked, or who they hope will ask them. The freshmen may be new to the game, but are certainly just as active as the other grades that are stressing over getting a date. Freshmen boys definitely draw the shortest stick in finding dates to homecoming simply because they are freshmen boys. The sophomores have a little more experience in the scheme of themes. Being their second year, the sophomores know what the dances are like and have a better idea of who to ask or what they want their experience to be like. The challenge starts to balance out for both the boys and girls and both genders are more capable of finding an actual date. Now by junior year, students are excited to start enjoying their dances with new perks of being upperclassmen. For the most part, Juniors are now able to drive to dinner with bigger groups of friends. The entire experience becomes way more enjoyable once you are able to eat out at somewhere out of town with a group of your friends. Lastly, by senior year students are seasoned dancers who have attended several dances, not just homecoming. All in all, as high school becomes a thing in the past or a bunch of distant memories. Garrett Ward Staff Writer Students need more challenge C ommon Core will likely soon be implemented across the entirety of this nation. Fiery debates have risen up in myriads like sparks shooting out from the friction of passing this steel into the heart of the educational system. The opposing sides of these debates perceive it from two polar sides, as they have been wedged apart in opposite directions by it. One side sees it as a key that will unlock the changes necessary for the future, or at least as the first step for these changes. In it they see a way to make the educational system equal for all, as a way to have a fair and standard comparison for all the nation's youth. The other side sees a blade that entered the educational system, one that will cut out and remove parents and teachers from the system. I will neither identify it as good or bad on the whole, as I can see both potential merits and vices in it. Instead I choose to discus one factor of its purpose, and what that reflects about our educational system. This factor I would like to bring into question is that the purpose of Common Core is largely to set a minimum bar for the states to achieve. What do I think this reflects on our educational system? That we are all minimalist. Why should we be trying to put a bar on the bottom for us to reach? Why not go higher? We shouldn't be dumbing things down. Some of you who recognize the need for a minimum bar that Students find classrooms far too cold to concentrate W hile reading this, take a second to pause and listen to the people around you. I can almost guarentee you will hear somebody talking about how cold it is inside the classroom, and rightly so! It is freezing within just about every classroom at school! I'm sure many who don't inhabit the Red Bluff High School classrooms are confused about this concept. The high school is in Red Bluff California. How could it possibly be cold? This may be a slight exageration, however Red Bluff in the warm season is roughly one degree cooler than the depths of hell. So generally speaking, when the weather matches the afforementioned exageration, who would want a warm classroom? Well, nobody does. Maybe during the winter, but in warmer seasons most just want a neutral, comfortable temperature. Which never happens. The temperatures at Red Bluff High school are never COMFORTABLE. Not only that, but if anyone dares to try and fix it, the thermostat ends up broken. Ergo the classroom inhabitants will reget what they wished for when the thermostat causes the room overheat. So, Red Bluff High School: find a neutral temperature! Tymberlyn Bealer Staff Writer THE BLUFFER News Editors Marissa Chase Josiah Vasey Editor-in-Chief Marissa Chase is realistically achievable for the masses of students may now be regarding my writing as nothing but a youth's idealistic rant, but hear my voice. I don't oppose setting achievable goals for the average or even those who struggle academically, but I desire a bar that requires equal struggling to be set for the higher academic tiers. We should not simply be attempting to see if students can pass a test that is intended for students that are two math classes lower than them, or students that are 30 or 40 percentiles below them. What needs to be supported more than these standardized testing is classes that challenge students. Classes need to appeal more to students specific interests Staff Writers Julia Liebert Tymberlyn Bealer River Mist Grey Grotke Maggie Tallan Garrett Ward and talents. AP and ROP classes, and more importantly classes that appeal to specific interests of students need to start being supported on a larger scale. Classes that challenge and intrigue students need to start becoming more widespread. Instead of positioning students in classes where we need to lower the bar, we need to set them in classes where they will want to reach the bar, no matter how high its set. Grey Grotke Staff Writer How to talk to boys: F A step-by-step process right tends to find me in the most common of situations, from entering a crowded room to spotting a spider in a corner, but nothing seems to shake me as badly as my greatest fear—talking to boys. From a young age, I've found horror in making conversation with a boy, whether it's about a homework assignment or the current stage of the lunar cycle. However, for those of you out there who share this fear, I think I've conjured the perfect set of instructions on how to talk to a boy. 1. When attempting to make conversation with a male, make sure to stalk him several days beforehand so you can keep his interests in mind so the conversation will always be aimed toward what he likes, because, let's be honest, we females are pretty boring. 2. While the male is speaking, remember to bat your eyelashes and purse your lips like a duck. Beauty is everything. 3. Use big words. The male will become attracted to your intelligence, and even if he doesn't understand the words, confusion will add fuel to the fire of his growing admiration for you. 4. Dress to impress. Important clothing pieces that will draw a boy's attention to you include but are not limited to: Crocs, floor-length trench coats, fedoras, or even cat sweaters. 5. Bring him food. The way to a boy's heart is through his stomach, so dig out your grandma's old recipe for tuna casserole and force feed it to him at lunch time so he knows you're in it for the long run. 6. Ask the boy on a date so you can get to know him better! The Golden Rule: No means yes. If he says he's busy, or that he has a "girlfriend", kindly disregard his excuses to decline your offer, and put that duct tape and shovel in your garage to good use, and take him out for a fun night on the town. Boys love girls who can take charge in a relationship. Good luck with your new boyfriend, and best wishes for a long lasting relationship! Maggie Tallan Staff Writer SPARTAN THUMBS Adviser Editor-in-Chief Advertising Director Kellie Rodriguez Alisa Pelanconi Josiah Vasey Viewpoint Editors A & E Editor Owen Ritter after class. More than a couple accidents have occured due to the haste of students cutting across the parking lot in their cars to get home. Along with the fence, rows of metal poles now separate the parking lot, preventing people from cutting across the parking lot in their cars. Now students have to form into orderly lines to get out of the parking lot. Now some may say that the cost of the fence was too high. 18,000 dollars may have seemed like a fairly high cost, but it was a small price to pay for the safety and security of the student body. All in all, the fence seem like a good decision on the part of the school board. It really doesn't restrict students too much, after all, there are huge gaps in the fence every thirty feet. It's not like they're corraling us into a jail-like school. It's really just a welcome layer of extra protection for the school. And that is worth the price. Cartoonist Karla Nowicki Features Editor Ceighlee Fennel Sports Editor Ryan Fisher Topics Editors Bailey Patchen Becca Blanchard 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. Fair has finally arrived Come to fairgrounds to support FFA and to have fun! Cold mornings, warm afternoons Students are unhappy with the bipolar weather. New and impoved safety There is now a fence around the student parking lot. Homecoming is approaching Homecoming is sooner than it seems! Bullying Assembly? Students think that the assembly was ineffective. *These Thumbs came from Mrs. Shilts's 6th period class.