February 2006 Archives

By JAKE
MOKRIS

When I took the PSAT last year, I filled in the “yes� oval in response to a question similar to this: “Would you like the College Board to provide your PSAT scores, your home address and your e-mail address to colleges?�

As a result, I get a lot of mail from colleges.

Most of the mail says the exact same thing: “Dear Jacob, we would like you to know about our university. Our students have a great experience and are well prepared for their future. Put the enclosed card in the mail if you want to know more.�

By JESSICA GRIMM

On Feb. 16, Mr. Mark Stickel was found dead in his classroom at my high school. It’s now a week later, the school is trying to return back to normal, but some things are still causing controversy within West York Area High School.

Why did Mrs. May, the principal, and Dr. Lonardi, the superintendent, not tell the students what was going on? I understand that the administration had a lot to deal with, but keeping the students in a “Code Blue Lockdown,‿ ignorant of the day’s events, probably wasn’t the best solution.

Counselors have been at the school to help students cope with grief.

It has been decided, however, that one of the most therapeutic things for many students has been somewhat banned. The banned method: writing.

Poems that express students’ feelings about the suicide cannot be published in The Inkwell, a literary magazine in the school.

By JAKE
MOKRIS

On Feb. 12, many churches in the United States held an Evolution Sunday, stating that Christianity and evolution are compatible. But that belief is not theologically sound.

The Bible gives two points that relate to this issue: First, since God created the universe and gave us the Bible, facts about the universe will not contradict the Bible’s teaching. God cannot tell us one thing in the universe, and lie to us about the same thing in what he says in the Bible. That is impossible, for God is perfect.

By JAKE
MOKRIS

If an average person had accidentally shot his hunting partner, the person’s companions would scold him, he would pay his partner’s medical bill, and the issue would probably be over.

But if Vice President Cheney accidentally shoots his hunting partner, the accident somehow embodies the alleged faults of the Bush administration.

Reporters piled questions on White House spokesman Scott McClellan, from inquiries on the speed of information release to whether the vice president would resign. The reporters turned the accident into a political debate. They could not have been more insensitive.

By JAKE MOKRIS
Teen Takeover staff

I am a homeschooled student, so I doubt that anyone would be surprised if I said that homeschooling is better than attending public school. But in one point, public schools clearly top homeschooling: the prizes.

Recently, some schools have started to give prizes to students who attain perfect attendance. Ranging from small cash prizes to cars, these awards are supposed to give students an incentive to come to school and do well. But while such prizes certainly motivate students to come to school, the giving of awards only partially addresses schools’ problems.

By JAKE MOKRIS
Teen Takeover staff

The controversy over the words “under God� in the Pledge of Allegiance is an important political debate. But the Pledge of Allegiance presents another, perhaps unheard-of issue. The real problem has to do with the pledge itself.

What is the Pledge of Allegiance? This is not a silly question; the Pledge of Allegiance is a pledge of allegiance. When we say the pledge, we are pledging our loyalty to the federal government.