Editorials
Activity fee is necessary, fair
Being artistic comes with a price, but a necessary one. A newly implemented activity $25 fee is now part of NCSD12 for every separate activity a student is involved in. It applies to speech, drama, choir, band and orchestra. With imposing budget cuts, the district is no longer able to pick up the stipend paid to teachers and advisors who work overtime. The speech advisor often has to travel with the team to tournaments, just as music instructors do with their students to events. The drama fee doesn’t even apply to the class, but instead only to students involved in a production. These advisors are practically working an extra job and should deservingly receive compensation for volunteering their time. Besides without those individuals, a club or any outside activity involving a program would not be able to function without its advisor.
Aside from just these programs, school sports already have a similar system of payments covering the coach salaries. This new fee applies in almost the exact same way, by providing payment for the services of an advisor/coach/director. Having these payments is necessary since teachers are expanding their duties to outside of the classroom much like a coach would. The fees paid to the district are relevant to a students’ participation, since the funds are filtered back into programs, which benefit the students; what is paid ultimately contributes to the program a student is involved in.
Already feeling the repercussions of a down economy, the district has to appropriate funds to where they are most needed. The performing arts or speech department, being a more specialized groups, can be self-sufficient in these hard times by paying their dues for their own involvement. A $25 fee is a minor bill in the exchange for the benefits of being involved in a group of choice.
Aside from just these programs, school sports already have a similar system of payments covering the coach salaries. This new fee applies in almost the exact same way, by providing payment for the services of an advisor/coach/director. Having these payments is necessary since teachers are expanding their duties to outside of the classroom much like a coach would. The fees paid to the district are relevant to a students’ participation, since the funds are filtered back into programs, which benefit the students; what is paid ultimately contributes to the program a student is involved in.
Already feeling the repercussions of a down economy, the district has to appropriate funds to where they are most needed. The performing arts or speech department, being a more specialized groups, can be self-sufficient in these hard times by paying their dues for their own involvement. A $25 fee is a minor bill in the exchange for the benefits of being involved in a group of choice.
Large class sizes need reduction
Of all of the problems facing the educational system, one is particularly vexing to students and teachers: dramatically rising class sizes. Although this has been a subtle, constant climb year after year, has added up considerably.
The impact of 46-student classes is perhaps hardest on the students. Without proper space, attention and supplies education begins to suffer. The large class sizes have more disruptive, off-task people, have less attention from teachers, and are loud and unproductive. Students are unable to focus or get any work done.
The large class sizes make it difficult to do vital activities requiring individual attention. Resulting in teachers often spending more time controlling their classes than actually instructing them.
Although many teachers are determined to adjust and push through by tag teaming with other teachers and adjusting courses, some still admit the class growth can’t go on forever.
Over time, the quality in public education will only continue to degrade into oblivion unless something is done.
One suggestion is the schools obtain more business-school relationships and grants to aid the dwindling budget, which would allow more teachers to be hired. It’s all about the lack of funds.
Despite the budget’s disallowance, more teachers and space would definitely help. Taking advantage of after-school outreach programs, study hall and meetings with teachers may assist struggling students who can’t focus in class.
This is asking much of some people. But if small, voluntary steps are taken to improve public education, it may pay off in the end. As for the lack of learning materials, careful preservation of their quality can make them last longer until new sets can be ordered.
The enormous class sizes are indeed in need of thinning. Unless the budget releases its vice-like grip on the district’s options to do so, things are expected to continue as they are. In the end, it is left to the suffering students and staff to make it work until some miracle comes along.
The impact of 46-student classes is perhaps hardest on the students. Without proper space, attention and supplies education begins to suffer. The large class sizes have more disruptive, off-task people, have less attention from teachers, and are loud and unproductive. Students are unable to focus or get any work done.
The large class sizes make it difficult to do vital activities requiring individual attention. Resulting in teachers often spending more time controlling their classes than actually instructing them.
Although many teachers are determined to adjust and push through by tag teaming with other teachers and adjusting courses, some still admit the class growth can’t go on forever.
Over time, the quality in public education will only continue to degrade into oblivion unless something is done.
One suggestion is the schools obtain more business-school relationships and grants to aid the dwindling budget, which would allow more teachers to be hired. It’s all about the lack of funds.
Despite the budget’s disallowance, more teachers and space would definitely help. Taking advantage of after-school outreach programs, study hall and meetings with teachers may assist struggling students who can’t focus in class.
This is asking much of some people. But if small, voluntary steps are taken to improve public education, it may pay off in the end. As for the lack of learning materials, careful preservation of their quality can make them last longer until new sets can be ordered.
The enormous class sizes are indeed in need of thinning. Unless the budget releases its vice-like grip on the district’s options to do so, things are expected to continue as they are. In the end, it is left to the suffering students and staff to make it work until some miracle comes along.
New monitors not enough to spread the news
Despite such a large student body,
CHS has to be able to convey messages in a way everyone will hear them. In past
years this was done with the announcement system, but this year administrators
decided to change things up with the idea of increased communication. Now
instead of 8-inch room speakers there are 47-inch flat screen TV’s around the
school, constantly flashing daily updates.
These monitors aren’t any more convenient than the daily announcement system from last year. Student’s priorities during passing time aren’t the daily announcements.
Kids rushing back and forth from the East Campus aren’t going to stop and read the monitors on the way. Even walking between classes within the building in seven minutes gives no time for dilly-dallying, especially when the announcements flash one by one. It can take minutes before finally getting to the information needed.
There was also a significant amount of money spent on the new television monitors — $27,000. The money was drawn from student funds. It’s questionable whether or not this money could have been more useful somewhere else, especially in a time when schools’ are in dire economic straits.
Despite the measures to increase communication, using monitors students are still not receiving the message.
The administration should work on an announcements appearing quicker If student’s care enough to actually look they should be able to go online and check them out. Stopping in the hallways and making it even more crowded while walking isn’t helping anything. Posting them on a sheet of paper would take less time.
These monitors aren’t any more convenient than the daily announcement system from last year. Student’s priorities during passing time aren’t the daily announcements.
Kids rushing back and forth from the East Campus aren’t going to stop and read the monitors on the way. Even walking between classes within the building in seven minutes gives no time for dilly-dallying, especially when the announcements flash one by one. It can take minutes before finally getting to the information needed.
There was also a significant amount of money spent on the new television monitors — $27,000. The money was drawn from student funds. It’s questionable whether or not this money could have been more useful somewhere else, especially in a time when schools’ are in dire economic straits.
Despite the measures to increase communication, using monitors students are still not receiving the message.
The administration should work on an announcements appearing quicker If student’s care enough to actually look they should be able to go online and check them out. Stopping in the hallways and making it even more crowded while walking isn’t helping anything. Posting them on a sheet of paper would take less time.
Opinions
Lip dub becomes new Putnam Homecoming tradition for everyone
By Kaitlynn d’Auvergne
Many people would agree, students hardly ever participate in high school activities or events. Some of the students simply claim it is a “waste of time,” although RPHS have recently started a tradition designed to influence the whole school to become more involved: lip dub.
“It is basically all about showing your school spirit,” Tianna O’Neal, sophomore said. Making a lip dub gives the RPHS community a chance to become more involved and be featured in a school wide video. In the video, there is music playing and everyone is encouraged to go all out with costumes and props to showcase their school spirit while the entire school lip syncs to the songs being played.
Putnam is not the only school who has decided to join in the revolution though; many other schools, clubs and communities have made their own videos as well.
“I feel like the lip dub is an activity that everyone can participate in,” Julia Barnes, sophomore, said. “In this year’s video I was screaming and waving at the camera that came by.”
In the past, students have dressed up like their favorite characters and celebrities to stand out in the clip. One student dressed up in a giant banana costume and another dressed up as “Gumby.” This year’s video had the theme of “Homecoming Week” so students were supposed to show their school spirit by getting all decked out in the school’s colors of green and gold. Popular songs like “YMCA,” “We Are The Champions,” and “Staying Alive” were all made into a play list played on the intercom as the camera roamed the entire school. These songs were common enough everyone knew at least some of the chorus and each one tied back to the theme of “Time Periods” for homecoming week.
Even though not all high school students choose to participate in the video, it is a great opportunity to get the whole school together and get involved. Lip dub videos may not have the best-choreographed scenes, the best singers or even the best quality, but what it does have is the students, staff, teachers and spirit that can be seen throughout the community. The lip dub is a chance to bring a sense of unity for people at Putnam to reminisce on.
Many people would agree, students hardly ever participate in high school activities or events. Some of the students simply claim it is a “waste of time,” although RPHS have recently started a tradition designed to influence the whole school to become more involved: lip dub.
“It is basically all about showing your school spirit,” Tianna O’Neal, sophomore said. Making a lip dub gives the RPHS community a chance to become more involved and be featured in a school wide video. In the video, there is music playing and everyone is encouraged to go all out with costumes and props to showcase their school spirit while the entire school lip syncs to the songs being played.
Putnam is not the only school who has decided to join in the revolution though; many other schools, clubs and communities have made their own videos as well.
“I feel like the lip dub is an activity that everyone can participate in,” Julia Barnes, sophomore, said. “In this year’s video I was screaming and waving at the camera that came by.”
In the past, students have dressed up like their favorite characters and celebrities to stand out in the clip. One student dressed up in a giant banana costume and another dressed up as “Gumby.” This year’s video had the theme of “Homecoming Week” so students were supposed to show their school spirit by getting all decked out in the school’s colors of green and gold. Popular songs like “YMCA,” “We Are The Champions,” and “Staying Alive” were all made into a play list played on the intercom as the camera roamed the entire school. These songs were common enough everyone knew at least some of the chorus and each one tied back to the theme of “Time Periods” for homecoming week.
Even though not all high school students choose to participate in the video, it is a great opportunity to get the whole school together and get involved. Lip dub videos may not have the best-choreographed scenes, the best singers or even the best quality, but what it does have is the students, staff, teachers and spirit that can be seen throughout the community. The lip dub is a chance to bring a sense of unity for people at Putnam to reminisce on.