Reflection in Suspension: Brother Albrecht’s Impact on ISS at McCaskey
Room A124 has, for a long time, been the place where students go to serve in-school suspensions. But it’s not called the ISS room anymore, and it’s got a new teacher: Frank Albrecht, more commonly known as Brother Albrecht. “I don’t think Dr. Reese was taking a gamble of putting me down here, but he was thinking outside of the box,” said Albrecht. His … Continue reading Reflection in Suspension: Brother Albrecht’s Impact on ISS at McCaskey
The Impact of Black Representation in Cartoons
As a young child, I only enjoyed watching television shows with characters that weren’t human – Yo Gabba Gabba, SpongeBob, etc. I was never able to really watch shows with humans, as I could never relate to the characters. It was always a mainly white cast with one or two stereotypical black characters: either a black female of a lighter skin tone, or a black … Continue reading The Impact of Black Representation in Cartoons
Ye’s Downfall: How Kanye West Dug his Own Grave and Released the Floodgates of Antisemitism
Acclaimed rapper Kanye West, also known as “Ye,” has been on a spree of antisemitic and racist actions since early October. His numerous controversial comments during interviews and on social media have led to companies previously associated with West cutting their ties, as well as a surge in antisemitism on a national level. West’s first outwardly racist statement in this most recent string was on … Continue reading Ye’s Downfall: How Kanye West Dug his Own Grave and Released the Floodgates of Antisemitism
Student Traveling: Why Do We Deserve the Change?
In everyday life at McCaskey High School, students face a problem when it comes to a long-running system between J.P McCaskey and McCaskey East. An issue not only affecting their ability to learn, but their motivation to go to class on time and in general. At McCaskey, ‘traveling’ is the system where you leave four minutes before the bell and walk to another building to … Continue reading Student Traveling: Why Do We Deserve the Change?
Transcending the Joke Status: Bladee and the Power of Online Music
In a hazily shot YouTube video, Brandon MaCartney sits at a table after shooting footage for an upcoming project. “My music is love, man”, he says to the camera, as two scantily clad women duck in and out of the room. The music video for “Wonton Soup” may have been recorded over 10 years ago, but it is an important example. It reminds us that … Continue reading Transcending the Joke Status: Bladee and the Power of Online Music
The Devaluation of Curiosity in Education
It’s no surprise that students often find themselves silently dozing during a history lesson, daydreaming during a biology nearpod, or flat out sleeping through a math lesson- we see it all the time. This is the daily scene in classrooms across the globe. For most students, school consists of unengaging lessons that do just about anything but peak their interest in what they are learning. … Continue reading The Devaluation of Curiosity in Education
What does the End of Affirmative Action Mean for College Admissions?
On October 31, 2022, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two cases that have tremendous implications for racial justice in America: Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina. Both cases revolve around the role of race in college admissions, a contentious topic in American politics that has spurred debates for decades. Proponents of race-based … Continue reading What does the End of Affirmative Action Mean for College Admissions?
PBIS Points: Practical or Pointless?
Image Credit: WMCC’s Hector Martinez Rewards are a big part of our lives. We go to work to get paid, we eat better to be healthy, and we keep up with hygiene to stay clean. In the same way, students are expected to go to school and learn in order to be successful. For some students, however, the natural reward of learning is not enough … Continue reading PBIS Points: Practical or Pointless?
Spirit Week: Not so Spirited?
This article was written by Staff Writer Layla Morales. While each school is different, most participate in what we call “Spirit Week,” a fun tradition involving dressing up according to themes. With different dressing themes each day that are typically outside the norm, including Costume Day, Pajama Day, and many other wacky themes. Students can express how they interpret each one and bond with their … Continue reading Spirit Week: Not so Spirited?
McCaskey Has an Attendance Problem
McCaskey High School currently has an attendance rate just above 90%. Of absences, most are unexcused. And over 50% of them come from freshmen, said Kathy Lutz, an Assistant Principal at the high school. “When ninth graders come in, they don’t understand that this is the real deal here,” said Thomas Toczek, a guidance counselor at East. “You have to get credits to move on … Continue reading McCaskey Has an Attendance Problem
Advanced Courses Lack Racial Diversity
There are various advanced courses offered at McCaskey High School, such as honors, AP, and IB classes. As an AP and honors student, my classmates and I have noticed an obvious lack of diversity in some of the advanced courses. This is seemingly more so an issue in J.P McCaskey rather than East- this being something I discovered talking with fellow classmates and teachers. I … Continue reading Advanced Courses Lack Racial Diversity
SAAY Club: Spreading Awareness of Sexual Assault
This article was written by Vidette Staff member Ellery Cravey. Over the years, McCaskey has had a multitude of clubs that pertain to certain activities and hobbies. However, there’s a particular club that is relatively new, and has piqued the interest of many. It doesn’t revolve around fun activities; in fact, this club talks about scary, but very real, topics. It’s called the Sexual Assualt … Continue reading SAAY Club: Spreading Awareness of Sexual Assault
Elon Musk, Eugenics and the Future of Technology
Neuralink, a company founded by Elon Musk and Max Hodak, has been working on an implantable brain-computer interface (BCI) that has the potential to cure various brain diseases. After six years, it plans to begin human testing in late 2022. The implant, called the “Link,” will connect the human brain to an app bearing the same name as the company. When the procedure is done, … Continue reading Elon Musk, Eugenics and the Future of Technology
No Book Should be Banned
Pen America estimates that across the U.S. at least 1,648 books have been banned from July 2021 to June 2022. These books, under the pressure of legislators, parents, and advocacy groups, were removed from school and classroom libraries. From contemporaries to classics, picture books to young adults, the majority of banned books share one similarity: they discuss the experiences of minorities. A whopping 81% of … Continue reading No Book Should be Banned
The Pressure to Attend College
In fifth grade my teacher passed out sticky notes, then told all of us to choose one of three colleges to visit for our field trip. Our choices were Thaddeus Stevens, The Ware Center, and some other school that didn’t interest me in the slightest. I chose The Ware Center in part due to me being interested in music, but also due to it looking … Continue reading The Pressure to Attend College
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