Category Archives: Opinion

October 12, 2012 · 1:30 pm

Freshmen at Prom?

By: Olivia Diaz, Staff Reporter

 Why should freshmen be restricted from participating in one of the most exciting events in high school history? We’re all young, and we all deserve to take firm chances in the unknown. Why allow us to believe that we’re all “equal” in high school when we first year pupils can’t be a part of a harmless dance?

I am constantly hearing juniors and seniors claim that when they were freshmen at the prom, it was a scary experience. Let’s just say that there were some hazards in this dreamy picture. I admit that bursting through those doors at every prom is not always a walk in the park; almost every person is scared and doesn’t want to be embarrassed. However, that doesn’t mean that parents and students should let past experiences restrict others from not going.

There is the fear of the unknown. Nobody, especially newbies, wants to look completely foolish in such a crowded event. Where there’s high energy, there are high risks. But seriously, are freshmen not allowed to go to prom because of the grade and the age difference? If it’s such a pain to allow the freshmen to bust some moves with kids around their ages, then what do they expect them to do? In the long run, the older students have gained more experience and are usually the most mature in diverse situations. But when it comes to something as passive as prom, I know some freshman who would probably act just as mature as most of their older peers.

What’s this an example of? It’s an example of isolation, and the freshmen are being isolated from an optional opportunity that should be opened for every high school student. If they wanted to smack pacifiers in the mouths of the newbies and not permit them from participating activities with the “grown-up” kids, then they would’ve warned them long ago. Besides, this prom is to make a “positive impact for future learners,” isn’t it? Then why would this sponsored event allow freshmen to be negatively isolated now, without even considering the unfair fact that past freshmen were allowed to go?

We’re all in this together here at Oak Grove, so why should the higher grades be allowed to share their pleasant time together at school in a carefree event, and freshmen shouldn’t? It’s flattering that people care about our well being, but at the same time, they shouldn’t take away an important school event from us just because of that. We’re tougher than we seem, and I believe that the majority of us are capable of not acting like babies in public. So, I refuse to believe that it is fair at all to separate freshmen from the other grades when it comes to an optional get together like prom.

By: Taylor Parsons, Staff Reporter

 Freshmen of OGHS, do not hate me for writing this article. Hear me out, and actually read my article before you decide that I am a hypocrite or that I hate freshmen, upperclassmen, and prom. None of that is even remotely true, but I do think the decision for no freshmen to be at prom was for the good of  freshmen and the boys/girls who would be their dates. Do not get me wrong, prom was a good experience with some great people, but I am speaking for the generality of freshmen at prom. I went to prom as a fourteen-year-old. That sounds ridiculously young to begin with, but my friends were going and a great guy asked me, so I was in. My parents were extremely resistant to even let me go because “I wasn’t ready.” I disagreed, but looking back, as much as I hate to say it, I’d say to a certain extent, they were right.

To be perfectly honest, juniors and seniors don’t want freshmen at prom unless they are dates, and that can make freshmen feel unwanted (which they are) and excluded (which they should be). Most juniors and seniors haven’t already been to prom and want the night to be theirs for the taking.  Freshmen just don’t have the high school experience to handle prom. I like to consider myself a mature person, and I wasn’t mature enough to handle it yet. There’s a reason prom is designed for juniors and seniors.

Going to prom as a freshmen somewhat takes away from how special junior and senior proms are. Picking the perfect dress, hairstyle, and shoes becomes less of a priority. Prom is something that current seniors who went for the first time last year were buzzing about since September. By the time I’m a junior, I hope I have that same anxiousness, but I’m afraid people who have been going for three years don’t get that same inquisitive excitement. That is not to say that prom is boring, just to say that it becomes more routine when it is an annual event.

The truth of the matter is, the rule that freshmen cannot go to prom has already been made. Freshmen, it’s okay! You have three years you could possibly go! Live those up. Don’t sulk in the fact that you won’t be going this year. It’s for your own good.  Prom is a blast, but it should really be saved for any other year.

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September 11, 2012 · 9:41 pm

How do you dress for school? Style vs. Comfort

By: Miranda Rester, Editor

 ”If I can sleep in your outfit, you’re doing something wrong.“

 

Every day as I walk down the hallway, I am amazed at the polished girls with hair perfectly straightened, makeup expertly applied, and skirts neatly pressed. They look like they have stepped out of a Tommy Hilfiger ad, and I admire them for that. At the same time, however, I wonder how these girls find the time to primp and polish while I can barely roll out of bed, grab breakfast, and bolt into the classroom proclaiming, “I AM NOT TARDY!” I tend to get comments from certain teachers like, “Maybe you could run a brush through your hair,” or “Wearing that sweatshirt for the third time this week?” I always respond with the phrase, “It’s comfortable.”

Have you ever been sitting in class, in a skirt, and wondering if you should cross your ankles? Every time I wear a skirt, I am faced with this continuing problem. If you cross your legs, someone might see more than they need to, but crossing at the ankles is extremely uncomfortable. I try to fix this problem by wearing shorts underneath my skirt because they are a more comfortable solution. They’re great for those random moments when someone says they don’t know how to do a cartwheel, and you know that you are the only person who can tumble in your history class. Those are the little moments that require being comfortable, unless you want to take a trip to see Mrs. Sandifer.

As you age and high school becomes very repetitive and feels more like a prison than a learning center, it seems that you start caring about important things like sleep over decency. Math homework exceeds 100 problems, and sleep ceases to exist. You get to a point where you fall out of bed and put on the same outfit you wore yesterday and maybe even the day before that. My advice to the underclassmen: get comfortable, don’t waste your time picking out a cute outfit and styling your hair. Save your adorable selves for another day, but not a rainy day. When you make yourself look gorgeous once in a blue moon, people will notice and be amazed. For now, however, start rocking the sweatshirt and put the flat iron down.

By: Lauren English, Staff Reporter

 

Style is one of the most basic forms of self-expression. With uniforms, it’s even more important to dress in a way that expresses who you are. If Oak Grove didn’t have uniforms, or even a dress code, most girls walking down the halls would still be wearing the same outfit. We Oak Grove girls love our Nike shorts and tank tops. It’s a comfortable and cute outfit, but it doesn’t say much about the person wearing it. When you switch it up every now and then, you can tell people a lot about yourself without ever saying a word. Purple shorts say, “I’m fun and spunky.” Crop tops say, “I’m young, wild, and free.” Sweatshirts say, “I just woke up, and I don’t really remember if I brushed my teeth this morning.”

So which would you rather hear while you’re out: “You look so cute and stylish,” or “You look really comfortable?” Whenever someone tells me I look “comfortable,” I become slightly offended. It’s basically a universal way of saying, “Your outfit looks like something I would sleep in.” We all have our days when we simply need to wear a sweatshirt and shorts to class and just try to make it through the day or, in my case, the week. The past few weeks, I wore a gray sweatshirt and black shorts every single day. I was sick and didn’t feel like bothering with my usual morning routine. When I started to feel well again, however, I took down my sock bun and traded in my sweatshirt for a polo.

Whenever you start a career and enter the real world, you usually can’t decide to just be lazy and throw on a sweatshirt to go to work, so why make a habit of it now? Take a break from sleeping the morning away and tossing your hair into a messy bun. Set your alarm an hour earlier, fix your hair exactly how you like it, put on your make-up until you feel like a super model, tuck your polo into your favorite uniform skirt, put on some cute accessories, and walk down Oak Grove High School’s hallways like it’s your own personal runway.

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· 9:37 pm

Armed and Dangerous?

By: Samantha Papp

Staff Reporter

In our society, the extent to which guns can harm people has seemingly been forgotten.  Guns have become less of a deadly weapon and more of a superficial toy used for recreational purposes.  According to http://www.reuters.com, the United States has 90 guns for every 100 citizens, making it the most heavily armed country in the world.  Approximately 34 gun deaths occur per day in America, and gun abuse is one of the ten leading causes of death in the United States.  While numerous laws in regard to public gun usage are supposedly enforced, many people blatantly ignore them.  In the past few years, especially in light of the recent massacres in Aurora, Colorado, and Manhattan, New York, it has become apparent that our current laws on public gun usage are not sufficient enough to protect the people of our country.

Guns should not be illegal; after all, President James Madison ratified the second amendment 221 years ago which reads, “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”  If someone’s way of protecting himself/herself includes keeping a gun in an easily accessible place, that is his/her decision.  However, in public areas, the choice no longer belongs to the individual.  While there are laws prohibiting guns in public, there is really nothing stopping anyone from committing such a felony.  What’s to stop a man like James Holmes from walking into a midnight showing of The Dark Knight and killing 12 people?  What’s to stop a man like Jeffrey Johnson from shooting nine of his former co-workers in front of the Empire State Building?  Nothing.  There was no way for anyone to have known that these men were carrying weapons designed for destruction. The fact that there is nothing stopping this type of harm from occurring should be enough to prove that we do not have strict enough regulations.

Solutions to this problem are to implement more metal detectors in public areas and regulate the selling and purchasing of personal weapons more strictly.  If there were metal detectors in every highly-populated area, the 51 major shootings since 1996, including Columbine and Virginia Tech, could have been avoided.  A New York City undercover investigation conducted in 2011 revealed 62 percent of online sellers agreed to sell a firearm to a person who said he/she wouldn’t be able to pass a background check. In 2001, New York City private investigators unveiled that 82 percent of integrity tests taken on Craigslist are failed; yet, the purchases are still processed as if a background check was passed without any complication.  If every gun purchase required a background check, regardless of the type of sale, the access criminals have to buying guns illegally could be reduced.

Although these two solutions are sure to lessen the amount of gun abuse, they would not completely wipe it out.  There will always be people who find ways to avoid the law, and there will always be people who are determined to bring violence into the lives of others.  However, if the time was taken to enforce new laws that regulated public gun usage, it would decrease the amount of gun violence in the United States, thus making our country safer.

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April 13, 2012 · 1:30 am

The Voice vs. American Idol

By: Nan Buti/ Elizabeth Lee

Staff Reporters

Nan:

Why put up with judges you disagree with every audition when you can watch all choices approved by
The Voice?

While American Idol has been around on television for ten years and is commonly watched, The Voice is a new and engaging show with a twist. The No. 20 show has attracted 20 million viewers since it was launched in 2011. The show has boosted NBC’s popularity while American Idol has kept things the same. The Voice is an American talent show that provides its viewers continuous leisure from its three phases: the blind audition, the battle phase, and the live performance. The show starts out with its most interesting segment, a blind audition, where the judges are turned around in chairs to only hear and not see the singer. Once the singer finishes a song, he or she must choose the judge that has turned his or her chair. The four famous judges on The Voice are Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine, and Blake Shelton. This show attracts viewers of all ages and leaves them captivated. The Voice differs from American Idol due to its multiple components and uniqueness of the show. It has introduced a new version of reality singing shows. Most American Idol fans are tired of the switching out of judges from Simon Cowell to Steven Tyler. The Voice is shown on television on Mondays and Tuesdays.  The Voice features much more modern music choices by singers and also more interesting performers. Unlike American Idol, The Voice focuses on the more serious, dedicated singers that don’t audition in Hawaiian wear and break dance to “Thriller.” This interactive singing competition includes the nerve-wracking auditions, intense battles, and live broadcasts. With actual artist experience, the judges of The Voice are also the coaches of the singers who pass on to the next round. Unlike American Idol judges, The Voice’s superior coaches make themselves useful by lending their knowledge and skills to the performers. This show surely entertains its viewers more than American Idol, the bland.

Elizabeth:

American Idol is the original, the most popular, and has created musical superstars. 

American Idol is one of the most successful shows in U.S. television history. For a decade, millions of devoted viewers have kept American Idol’s ratings at the top of the charts, making the show a household name. The original nationwide vocal talent competition has an undeniably loyal fanbase, superior ratings, lovable contestants, and can connect to its audience’s emotions in a way that The Voice cannot.

American Idol has set records for its popularity because of its ability to cater to every demographic. The judges, coaches, musical selections, and contestants are diverse enough to appeal to nearly every potential audience member, whereas the coaches of The Voice are contemporary pop artists (and one country music artist), catering to a narrower, younger audience. Idol also engages its audience by allowing the people to have all of the power in deciding which contestants can advance to the next round each week. After the audition round, the judges on the show can only offer their opinions on the performances, while The Voice allows its audience to have a much smaller say in choosing the winner, and only on certain episodes.

Perhaps another of the main reasons American Idol has gained such attention over the years is the fact that it is one of the only reality television shows that is, in fact, real.  The contestants are ordinary people, which the audience can relate to, and one thing Americans love is an underdog to root for. The Voice casts their contestants, some of whom have had record deals prior to being on the show. Where is the reality in that? Some of the biggest names in the music industry today were first seen on American Idol – where would Grammy – and American Music Award-winners Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood be if they had not been on the show? Other notable talented artists like Chris Daughtry, Jordin Sparks, and Jennifer Hudson would still be undiscovered as well. The Voice, on the other hand, has yet to produce a single superstar.

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· 1:30 am

The Truth Behind Kony ’12

by: JoAnna Gunnufsen

Staff Reporter

A new generation of activism

On March 5, the world was first introduced to the KONY 2012 campaign through a 30-minute video on YouTube. Since that first upload, the video has had more than 100 million views and has sparked controversy on all types of social media.

If you haven’t seen it already, the video, which was created by the non-profit organization Invisible Children, describes the acts of Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony. For the past 30 years, Kony has been kidnapping children and turning them into sex-slaves and soldiers for the Lord’s Resistance Army, or the LRA. Since 1986, Kony and the LRA have abducted more than 30,000 children in northern Uganda.

Kony’s actions were not gone unnoticed. In 2005 the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Joseph Kony and the other leaders of the LRA. The video urges viewers to “make Kony famous” by telling others about the violence he has caused in Africa and asking policymakers and celebrities to show their support of the effort.

When I first watched the video, I was skeptical. The film was well-made and obviously designed to stir up sentimental emotions in its viewers. In one of the scenes, Russell, creator of the film, tells his young, blonde-haired, bright-eyed son about what Kony is doing in Africa. His son seems surprised that someone as harmful as Kony could not be captured. Certainly, if a cute kid knows that Kony is doing wrong, we should try to put a stop to it. Don’t get me wrong; Kony’s actions are undoubtedly wrong. However, this kind of emotional appeal is deceptive and makes the cause seem less credible.

I decided that if I was going to support the KONY 2012 campaign, I needed to do my fair share of research. Apparently, the video distorted a few key facts about Joseph Kony and the LRA. The video failed to mention that Kony was no longer in Uganda. While Kony has not been captured, the LRA left Uganda for good at the start of 2006. The LRA has dwindled in numbers and strength, but they now carry out their attacks in the regions of northeastern Congo, South Sudan, and Central African Republic. The LRA reached its peak in 1999, with over 4,000 active troops in Uganda. However, the Ugandan government estimates that there are now only around 400 LRA fighters left.

The video portrays Joseph Kony as a new villain among the world’s most dangerous war criminals. The video begins with this sentence printed across the screen: “Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come.” If Kony has been working with the LRA for almost 30 years, why hasn’t Invisible Children been trying to stop him before now? Certainly, this video should have been released years ago.

On April 4, a second video was released by the same organization who created KONY 2012. “KONY 2012: Part II – Beyond Famous” has received a little over a million views, which is a mere one-tenth of the views of the original video. It’s not posted all over your Facebook newsfeed, and it has received little media attention. However, this video changed my entire perspective on the KONY 2012 campaign, and I ask that you watch it. The second video explains, with more depth, how Invisible Children is working to stop Kony and the LRA. It relies less on emotion and more on the true facts. Instead of looking at the campaign with criticism, I saw it for what it was. Invisible Children is not trying to find a single solution to a complex problem. They are simply trying to remind others of the inhumane violence that still occurs in the world. Whether it be in our own country or the heart of Africa, this kind of ruthless violence should not be tolerated.

Why don’t we admire this effort? It shows the capacity of our generation to fight for justice and equality. We are a new generation, willing to look past social and racial barriers to create positive change. However, the initial criticism of the campaign also shows our ability to research, investigate, and decide our own opinions about important issues.

On April 20, you have the choice to participate in KONY 2012’s “Cover the Night” event. Take a stance for something you believe in, and act on it.

STUDENTS SOUND OFF

“I’m glad that Invisible Children is making an effort to stop Joseph Kony.” - Lucy Robinson, 10th grade

 “There are more important issues to focus on, and we should have been trying to stop Kony a few years ago.” - Ashton Beightol, 11th grade

“I think the Youtube video is really cool, and I like that it shows awareness about what’s going on in other places besides our hometown.” - Lace Clark, 12th grade

“I hope to make a difference by getting a group of friends together to put up flyers on April 20th.” - Rohini Malkani, 11th grade

“The government has been trying to stop Kony for years. Americans are just now getting involved.” – Dylan Carpenter, 12th grade

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February 3, 2012 · 2:25 pm

“Hallmark holiday” or day for true love?

by: Miranda Rester

While many people believe Valentine’s Day is just a ploy to force men to spend loads of money on chocolate heart-shaped candies, bouquets of bright red roses, and over-priced singing cards, Valentine’s Day traditions began in ancient Roman times. In these times, Valentine’s Day wasn’t about how much money you spent but about reminding the one you love that he or she meant everything to you.
Most guys would argue that the only way to show a girl how much you care for her is to shower her with gifts. However, the ancient Romans showed their affection a bit differently. At the fertility festival Lupercalia, boys would slice the hide of a sacrificial goat into strips and slap girls in the face with it. This tradition was thought to make the girls fertile, so they appreciated the gesture. Now, I’m certainly not suggesting that guys should just go around swinging hunks of goat at the objects of their affection; however, this tradition was meaningful to the ancient Romans. It wasn’t expensive or over the top either.
That’s what Valentine’s Day is. It’s not about how much someone spends on a gift; it’s about how much the gesture means. Who decided that guys have to buy flowers and candy for Valentine’s Day, anyway? Yes, flowers are lovely, and chocolate is tasty, but they don’t exactly scream “I love you.” Any sane girl would rather have a guy actually put thought into what he does for Valentine’s Day instead of generic flowers and heart-shaped chocolates. Because while to men that may seem perfect, to me it says “Hey, I didn’t feel like putting any thought into this, so I’m giving you the most meaningless gift I could come up with.”
Yes, Hallmark certainly has cashed in on Valentine’s Day, but that’s only because people stopped putting thought into what the holiday means. I think that once everyone, men and women alike, begin to focus on using Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to express love, then the world will be a better place.

Artwork by Aubrey Sanders

by: Nathan Maxwell

We associate most holidays with some fabricated mythological being. For Christmas, we’ve created a gelatinous man with a beard full of cookie crumbs, a craving for milk, a group of flying reindeer, and a pair of open arms for little people who enjoy making toys. For Easter, we’ve created a towering bunny with the urge to leave eggs around your yard for you to find and clean up and a wardrobe that’s vibrantly blinding. No one has ever seen either of them, but we allow both of them free entrance into our houses while we are sleeping. And for Valentine’s Day, we’ve created yet another gelatinous man. This time he’s wearing a diaper and a pair of wings and wielding a bow and arrow to strike someone with the feeling of love.
Besides the ridiculous icon, it’s just a day for Hallmark to make billions of dollars on cards and other small gifts. In 2011, Americans spent $15.7 billion on loved ones for Valentine’s Day. An average of 144 million cards are exchanged each year for Valentine’s Day. That doesn’t include the children’s boxed Valentine’s cards; that $144 million is just the sentimental stuff. The only holiday that outdoes Valentine’s Day in terms of cards is Christmas.
Hallmark’s been cashing in on Valentine’s Day since 1913. That’s almost a century of tricking us into buying their cards. Don’t think that we are the only ones who celebrate Valentine’s Day because we’re not. Valentine’s Day is also celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Denmark, and Italy. Imagine the money spent on this day in those countries on top of our $15.7 billion.
Hallmark isn’t the only one making profits. Florists, candy makers, and chocolatiers are making money, too. Almost 198 million roses are produced to be sold for Valentine’s Day. 75% of those, 110 million, are sold in the U.S. Valentine’s Day’s candy sales are only second to Halloween. As for chocolate, an estimated 58 million pounds is expected to be bought for Valentine’s Day. A total of $345 million is expected to be spent on candy and chocolate.
There is no way that Valentine’s Day is legitimate. It must be a collective effort by Hallmark, florists, candy makers, and chocolatiers around the world to bring in the profits. They’ve done a great job of creating such as successful holiday. I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.

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· 2:17 pm

Media Bias a “Primary” concern for the GOP

by: Mary Ryan

Artwork by Aubrey Sanders

The GOP presidential nomination race has been full of surprises. With scandals, dropouts, accusations, and confusion, support has shifted from candidate to candidate. In order to stay politically informed, I have recently turned to the media in order to figure out just what these clean-cut politicians advocate beyond their catchy slogans. The world of politics has always eluded me. During the 2008 election, I supported John McCain for the same reasons that any eighth-grade girl would: Sarah Palin, former Alaskan governor and his then-running mate, had a funny accent, voluminous hair, and cute glasses. As I’ve grown in maturity and curiosity, however, politics have become less about hairstyles and more about splitting hairs. Who has the right ideas about the future of America? Why does our tax system work the way it does? So, I began a search for answers; consequently, I was left with as many questions as Rick Santorum has sweater-vests. My opinions regarding the 2012 GOP nomination have been varied, and I believe the media has done its fair share in twisting facts and presenting misleading data that has confused me and, indeed, many Americans. Both left and right-wing news sources have misled the American people by presenting sound-byte generalizations of the GOP candidates.
In November of last year, Reverend Al Sharpton and MSNBC’s “Lean Forward” Campaign launched an anti-GOP ad that suggested the Republican party’s destruction of the United States economy. In the ad, Sharpton likens the GOP to a group of neighborhood children who all claim they did not eat a blueberry pie. Conventional analogy? No. Accusatory and unwarranted? Absolutely. The problem with ads like this is that they reach out to the American people with a familiar metaphor but have no evidence to support their claims. Propaganda like this persuades the American people that the GOP is not to be trusted. Another example of left-wing bias towards right-wing candidates is a recent MSNBC bash of former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich. Also in November, MSNBC anchor Martin Bashir, along with Karen Finney and William Cohen, called Gingrich a “serial adulterer.” Even though Gingrich’s private life has nothing to do with his politics, the media still chooses to tear his policies down through fallacious personal attacks. However, right-wing media often bolsters the pitfalls of conservatism. Fierce conservatives like Bill O’ Reilly have even admitted to the anti-liberal stance of networks like Fox News. Both sides of the media are prone to blaming one another for national issues, especially when election time is near. The problem posed by these hasty generalizations and blame games is thatthe American people are not getting fair or balanced information, not even from the news station who bears that slogan. Overall, I believe the general population should, to paraphrase Sarah Palin on the night of January 23 Florida GOP Debate, do its own homework. When asked by Sean Hannity which GOP candidate she would support, Palin replied with typical Alaskan hardiness. First stating that her opinion was “probably not worth a hill of beans,” she encouraged voters to decide for themselves. I, for the first time since the eighth grade, agree with Palin. On a campaign trail of twisted endorsements and distorted facts, the most important source of opinion a voter has is himself or herself. The media can provide colorful commentary, but it is only healthy if paired with a fair amount of personal investigation. Rather than consulting the often skewed opinions of news anchors and broadcast journalists, I propose we consult the hard evidence of our politicians’ work: bills, resolutions, and even those messy Romney tax returns. Perhaps we will be able to choose a candidate, whether Republican or Democrat, with firm and informed resolve in the choices we make instead of “flip floppin’ around like a halibut getting ready to be clubbed.” Sorry, I couldn’t resist another Palin-ism.

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December 9, 2011 · 12:00 pm

Should abstinence education be taught in schools?

By: Austin Heusser
Staff Reporter

“About 34% of young women in the U.S. become pregnant at least once before age 20,” Henry J. Kaiser of the Family Foundation stated. This unfortunate statistic can be attributed to the failure of sex education programs in public schools that teach young people about sex, pregnancy, and the risks involved because they fail to teach them that remaining pure is a realistic option. Sexual education programs are intended to prepare young people for sex by arming them with the information about sex, contraceptives, STDs, and the potential mental and emotional effects. Oddly enough, “in 2009, 409,840 live births occurred to mothers aged 15-19 years,” the Center for Disease Control and Prevention said. The teen pregnancy rate in South Mississippi is 8.6% which is currently the nation’s highest. Because of this, a new approach may be needed. That approach is teaching students why they should refrain from sexual activity rather than simply teaching them what sex is.  Although some people may believe that abstinence education programs are ineffective, statistics show that such programs reduce the percentage of sexually active teenagers significantly. Georgia, for example, adopted abstinence education as a statewide policy in 1995, and since then, the teen pregnancy rate has dropped 46%. This indicates that abstinence education can make a difference in an adolescent’s decisions. Oak Grove should implement an abstinence program because it has been proven to be successful.

By: Amelia Passer

Staff Reporter

Let’s be honest, we all know about sex. Whether we approve of it or not, sex pops into our everyday lives; it simply cannot be avoided. Yet, sex education is one of the most controversial subjects taught in schools.

This past March, Haley Barbour signed a law giving middle schools the option for either abstinence-only education or abstinence-plus education, making abstinence the primary focus. With Mississippi leading the country in teen pregnancies, and the state spending $154 million a year on those pregnancies, obviously the state’s promotion of abstinence is ineffective. The law promotes abstinence-only, giving no alternative route of action for the majority. There has been no abstinence-only until marriage program that has been shown to help teens delay the initiation of sex or to protect themselves when teens do initiate sex. According to SIECUS (The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States), by the age of 18, 70% of teens have had sex, but billions of dollars supporting abstinence are spent every year. Adolescents have the right to accurate sexual health information. As of now, 87% of schools in the U.S. use abstinence as the main form of sexual education. Of the entire federally funded abstinence-only curriculum, over 80% contained false information about contraceptives (SEICUS). Despite what teens are taught in schools, they are going to continue to have sex; they always will. In the 21st century, we need to change our focus from keeping our students pure to keeping our students safe.


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· 12:00 pm

Cheating. Today’s high school norm?

By: Miranda Rester

Copy Editor

 How much help is too much?

What is cheating? Is it something as openly discouraged as looking at another student’s paper during a test, or is it something such as using Sparknotes? While every student has his or her own opinion on cheating, the teacher’s opinion on what is and isn’t cheating determines what students can and can’t do. I’ve had some teachers tell me that Sparknotes is just a tool to avoid actually reading a book, and others say that it’s a wonderful aid in understanding the book. Some teachers have told me to correct mistakes I’ve missed on tests while others have said to overlook the mistake, and they’ll never know the difference.

“The attitude that cheating is ok, as long as you don’t get caught seems to be accepted by many,” said Dennis Maynes, Chief Scientist for Caveon Test Security. With so many different views on cheating, it’s difficult for students to know where to draw the line. For me, it’s rather simple. Taking an answer that isn’t your own and turning it in is cheating. This would include looking on someone else’s paper, asking students in earlier classes the answers to test questions, text messaging answers, looking in the book for an answer during a test, and using Google Translate during a Spanish or French test. “I think that cheating is unfair to those who actually try in class and completely deserve the grade they earn,” said sophomore Morgan Guess.

According to a poll I conducted of 50 students, most categorize cheating similarly to me. However, some students don’t see the harm in cheating. “I don’t think I’m cheating if I’m helping someone else,” a junior said. It’s true that if you’re giving the answers to someone else, you’re not turning in work that isn’t your own, but consider this: the people that you’re helping get excellent grades in your classes will some day be your competition to get into certain universities. If you give your classmates answers, you may have to compete with your own work when you start applying for scholarships.

Now that I’ve preached about what I consider cheating and why I think it’s wrong, I can address what others find cheating that I don’t understand. When polled, seven students found Sparknotes to be a form of cheating. Yes, some students don’t complete their assigned reading at all. However, Sparknotes is helpful in guiding students through complicated books. Without Sparknotes, Great Expectationswould have been the death of me.

What do you consider cheating?

Cheating is a serious problem that teachers should address at the beginning of their courses so students can know right from the start what they can and can’t do as far as seeking support in class is concerned.

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November 4, 2011 · 12:00 pm

Is Proposition 26 right for Mississippi?

By: Anna Kate Baygents
Staff Reporter

Abortion is one of the most controversial social issues in politics today. When the topic is mentioned, extremists from both sides come out with pitch forks. I first heard of Proposition 26, the personhood amendment, during the August primary elections. It asks, “Should the term personhood be defined to include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning, or the equivalent thereof?” I have always been pro-life, but before staking my “Yes on 26” yard sign, I wanted to read all of the facts.

First and foremost, Prop 26 would outlaw all abortions, including those using RU486 and “morning after pills” containing levonorgestrel. RU486 is an artificial steroid that blocks progesterone, a chemical that is essential to continue a pregnancy. This can be taken up to five weeks into the pregnancy to terminate it. Another drug, commonly called the “morning after pill” can be taken up to 72 hours after unprotected sex. It will not affect an existing pregnancy but will disrupt the hormones and will prevent the fertilized egg from implanting into the uterine wall, allowing the baby to grow. So here’s the big question – when does life begin? Is it right at fertilization? Or five weeks in? Maybe not until after delivery? I, however, believe it’s at fertilization. Within hours, that egg has all 46 chromosomes that nothing or no one else will ever have. Until he or she dies, no other information will be added or taken away from its makeup, only nutrients and oxygen. Yes it’s only a single cell, but a completely unique single cell.
Pro-choice advocates always bring up rape and incest situations, and it’s tough to think about. The Prop 26 ban on abortion would include these scenarios. As a Christian, I have to remember God’s sovereignty in all situations. For some unknown reason, He has allowed these incidents to happen. In fact, most mothers of children fathered by rape said that the child turned out to be a huge blessing. Adoption is another option that can greatly bless couples who can’t have children themselves. Many people believe that Prop 26 will take away much of mothers’ rights. In medical emergencies, doctors will be required to try to save both the lives of the mother and the unborn child. If for some reason the baby’s life is unviable, the life of the mother would take priority. This does not limit a mother’s rights, but helps protect the unborn child.

Until this point, I’ve agreed 100% with the proposition. The issue, however, comes in with in-vitro fertilization. Couples who can’t conceive often use this method to help. Several fertilized eggs are implanted into the mother in hopes that one will attach. In accordance with Prop 26, because all of the fertilized eggs aren’t used and most are expelled, this is considered a type of “abortion” of the eggs. This holds doctors responsible for the unused eggs and can result in major lawsuits for them and their practices. Because that is likely, many doctors will not want to perform in-vitro operations, making pregnancy impossible for many women.

I agree 97% with Proposition 26, but it’s that other 3% that I can’t support. As a firm pro-life advocate, I believe this topic should be given much more consideration by our law makers.  I encourage a “NO” on 26 to give this amendment with such drastic consequences more than one sentence on a ballot.

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