Staff Editorial
22 Opinion
Staff Editorial Excel class period sounds good in theory but needs some tweaks sooner rather than later UIL involvement, ACT scores, and academic performance. All areas where any student can use some improvement. And now students have a whole period dedicated to helping with these things. The problem is that it isn’t working. In concept it’s a great idea. An entire period for students to get help in whatever area they need, four days a week, but we’re six weeks in and its intended purpose isn’t what it’s actually being used for in many cases. In some EXCEL classrooms, students sit in their desks and play on their phones for 30 minutes. In other classrooms, students end up using the time as a study hall. And when they do have something assigned, such as going to ACT prep, many students find something else to do. One of the problems is that students don’t want to do anything unless they have a reason or incentive. And right now UIL participation or practice has no incentive. Most students don’t even know what the Lone Star Cup is, and they wouldn’t care even if you told them how important it was to the school. Teachers need to highlight the fact that there are a ton of scholarships available for students involved in UIL activities to get more students involved.
And while it’s true that few UIL teams have been formed, even fewer have been promoted around the school. In order to increase student participation, UIL teachers need to start advertising and practicing their events sooner rather than later. Principal Darren Williams addressed some of the problems in a faculty meeting this week. He encouraged teachers to get their UIL teams started and to make sure students went where they were supposed to go. If all goes as he plans, everything “should be ironed out” next week. The EXCEL period can be salvaged, but it needs some serious work. Students need to be doing something other than talking and using their phones if the school wants to make the most of the new period. If students have something to do during EXCEL like a lesson, or UIL teachers start practicing right now and gathering students for their events, the EXCEL period can be useful. While some students argue that it’s good to have a period to
What
You have to say
about...
The New Tardy System “We don’t need scan cards to show that we are late because I think that the teachers were doing perfectly fine before.” - Noni Hilley (10) “I love it because the record keeping part of it keeps the office and us teachers in check.” - coach Jason Boston “You would get more learning time if we didn’t have it because it takes ten minutes off class time.” - Avery Cornish (9) “The tardy system is awful. I feel like we should either go back to the old way or get a warning.” - Lauren Hughes (10) “I think that the new tardy system will help because it will make things easier.” - Georgia Cobb (9) “It’s better to keep track of who is late, but it is not that necessary.” - Kevin Gonzalez (12)
do their homework and relax from the school day, that wasn’t the original goal of the EXCEL period. The school needs a set plan to follow so
Colin Kaepernick protesting during the national anthem “I feel like it is their personal preference if they want to sit down because they have certain reasons to. Just because they are a professional athletes doesn’t mean they have to support the national anthem.” - Noni Hilley (10) “I believe that what part of our flag stands for is freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of everything else, so whether I agree or disagree for his reasoning behind it or how, he is making America take a look at what is going on with our racial issue. Our soldiers fought for that right of freedom of speech and ability to do that.” - coach Jason Boston “ I don’t think its right, because people fought for that freedom and now he is disgracing it.” - Grace Pickleman(10) “I think that if he is in our country he should stand up and participate.” - Georgia Cobb (9) “It’s not against the law, so I don’t think he did anything wrong.” - Diego Lazano (11) “I think he has a right to say what he believes but I don’t think he should do it that way. I think he should respect the national anthem and the people who sacrificed for it.” - Matt Day (12)
the EXCEL period will actually be used for improving academic performance instead of wasting students’ time. And wasn’t that the ultimate goal anyway?
- Abby Sanderson
Edge
5406 McKNIGHT ROAD 903-832-8005
Editor-In-Chief
Reporters
Ben Northam
Online Editor
Lucas Marchesani
Managing Editor Dream Lynx
Photographers Gracie Higgins Tessa Hurst Aubrey Maynard Mabrey Payne Ashlyn Clark Thu Nguyen
Adviser Charla Harris
Ad Manager Jisu Choi
Principal
Darren Williams
Jisu Choi Madeline Haak Samantha Knowles Katie Hutcheson Natalie Hale Haley Hearn Sophia Tuttlebee Love Lynx Jill Bultemeir Dawson Hatfield Avery Jensen Matthew Lindsey James Tuttlebee Brooklyn Puzz Samantha Knowles Yates Floyd Zach Carpenter Abby Sanderson Madeline Haak Skyler Lewis
EDITORIAL POLICY
Edge is produced by the newspaper students in the publications department of Pleasant Grove High School who are responsible for its production and content. The newspaper serves as an open forum for student expression and the discussion of issues of concern to students. Unsigned editorials represent the opinions of the student staffers and do not necessarily reflect those of the administration. Signed columns and reviews reflect the opinion of the author only. Edge encourages and accepts letters to the editor. Letters must be signed and will be edited to eliminate obscenity and inappropriate content. Letters may be submitted to the editor in room 603. Edge is a member of the Interscholastic League Press Conference, National Scholastic Press Association and Columbia Scholastic Press Association.
Staff Editorial Excel class period sounds good in theory but needs some tweaks sooner rather than later UIL involvement, ACT scores, and academic performance. All areas where any student can use some improvement. And now students have a whole period dedicated to helping with these things. The problem is that it isn’t working. In concept it’s a great idea. An entire period for students to get help in whatever area they need, four days a week, but we’re six weeks in and its intended purpose isn’t what it’s actually being used for in many cases. In some EXCEL classrooms, students sit in their desks and play on their phones for 30 minutes. In other classrooms, students end up using the time as a study hall. And when they do have something assigned, such as going to ACT prep, many students find something else to do. One of the problems is that students don’t want to do anything unless they have a reason or incentive. And right now UIL participation or practice has no incentive. Most students don’t even know what the Lone Star Cup is, and they wouldn’t care even if you told them how important it was to the school. Teachers need to highlight the fact that there are a ton of scholarships available for students involved in UIL activities to get more students involved.
And while it’s true that few UIL teams have been formed, even fewer have been promoted around the school. In order to increase student participation, UIL teachers need to start advertising and practicing their events sooner rather than later. Principal Darren Williams addressed some of the problems in a faculty meeting this week. He encouraged teachers to get their UIL teams started and to make sure students went where they were supposed to go. If all goes as he plans, everything “should be ironed out” next week. The EXCEL period can be salvaged, but it needs some serious work. Students need to be doing something other than talking and using their phones if the school wants to make the most of the new period. If students have something to do during EXCEL like a lesson, or UIL teachers start practicing right now and gathering students for their events, the EXCEL period can be useful. While some students argue that it’s good to have a period to
What
You have to say
about...
The New Tardy System “We don’t need scan cards to show that we are late because I think that the teachers were doing perfectly fine before.” - Noni Hilley (10) “I love it because the record keeping part of it keeps the office and us teachers in check.” - coach Jason Boston “You would get more learning time if we didn’t have it because it takes ten minutes off class time.” - Avery Cornish (9) “The tardy system is awful. I feel like we should either go back to the old way or get a warning.” - Lauren Hughes (10) “I think that the new tardy system will help because it will make things easier.” - Georgia Cobb (9) “It’s better to keep track of who is late, but it is not that necessary.” - Kevin Gonzalez (12)
do their homework and relax from the school day, that wasn’t the original goal of the EXCEL period. The school needs a set plan to follow so
Colin Kaepernick protesting during the national anthem “I feel like it is their personal preference if they want to sit down because they have certain reasons to. Just because they are a professional athletes doesn’t mean they have to support the national anthem.” - Noni Hilley (10) “I believe that what part of our flag stands for is freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of everything else, so whether I agree or disagree for his reasoning behind it or how, he is making America take a look at what is going on with our racial issue. Our soldiers fought for that right of freedom of speech and ability to do that.” - coach Jason Boston “ I don’t think its right, because people fought for that freedom and now he is disgracing it.” - Grace Pickleman(10) “I think that if he is in our country he should stand up and participate.” - Georgia Cobb (9) “It’s not against the law, so I don’t think he did anything wrong.” - Diego Lazano (11) “I think he has a right to say what he believes but I don’t think he should do it that way. I think he should respect the national anthem and the people who sacrificed for it.” - Matt Day (12)
the EXCEL period will actually be used for improving academic performance instead of wasting students’ time. And wasn’t that the ultimate goal anyway?
- Abby Sanderson
Edge
5406 McKNIGHT ROAD 903-832-8005
Editor-In-Chief
Reporters
Ben Northam
Online Editor
Lucas Marchesani
Managing Editor Dream Lynx
Photographers Gracie Higgins Tessa Hurst Aubrey Maynard Mabrey Payne Ashlyn Clark Thu Nguyen
Adviser Charla Harris
Ad Manager Jisu Choi
Principal
Darren Williams
Jisu Choi Madeline Haak Samantha Knowles Katie Hutcheson Natalie Hale Haley Hearn Sophia Tuttlebee Love Lynx Jill Bultemeir Dawson Hatfield Avery Jensen Matthew Lindsey James Tuttlebee Brooklyn Puzz Samantha Knowles Yates Floyd Zach Carpenter Abby Sanderson Madeline Haak Skyler Lewis
EDITORIAL POLICY
Edge is produced by the newspaper students in the publications department of Pleasant Grove High School who are responsible for its production and content. The newspaper serves as an open forum for student expression and the discussion of issues of concern to students. Unsigned editorials represent the opinions of the student staffers and do not necessarily reflect those of the administration. Signed columns and reviews reflect the opinion of the author only. Edge encourages and accepts letters to the editor. Letters must be signed and will be edited to eliminate obscenity and inappropriate content. Letters may be submitted to the editor in room 603. Edge is a member of the Interscholastic League Press Conference, National Scholastic Press Association and Columbia Scholastic Press Association.
