1
O p inions 9 One addition to North Forsyth this year is the implementation of the ninth grade academy. Mrs. Proctor, a world history teacher, said, “The ninth grade academy is off to a great start. This will help the freshmen learn study skills and social skills to be more mature. Also, to be more prepared for high school.” I also think that the ninth grade academy will improve the freshmen’s behavior and decrease tardies. What is wonderful about the academy are the teachers. There is a mixture of new teachers and old teachers, so the ninth graders can have different styles of teaching. It would have been fantastic if the academy was in place years before. There would have been fewer problems with behavior issues, tardiness, fights, and slipping grades. Being upstairs is less chaotic for freshmen while switching classes. Mr. Moss, a math teacher, stated, “I love working with the freshmen class. It is going great, and it is also good to keep the ninth graders together.” The class of 2014 will appreciate the academy later down the road. It should improve many qualities, like social skills and grades, which colleges love to see. I think that the upperclassmen enjoy the academy too because they are not able to see the ninth graders as much. The ninth grade academy will grow so the upperclassmen will not have to share the upstairs with the freshmen. The freshmen academy is positive for everyone: students, parents, and the people around them. From what I heard around school, everyone appreciates the ninth grade academy. The ninth grade academy will bring a better reputation to North Forsyth. This is the start of a great year having a separate place for the ninth graders. The ninth grade academy should decrease the intimidation that underclassmen face with upperclassmen. Thus the ninth grade academy is here to help guide the freshmen in the right direction to become successful. This year at North a new program was created called ninth grade academy. It was begun to get as many freshmen to move onto the tenth grade as possible. Another purpose it serves is to make the transition into high school as smooth as it can be. Ms. Netters, who is one of the assistant principals and the advisor for ninth grade academy, believes that it will be very useful. Amanda Stanley, a sophomore at North, has to go upstairs for classes everyday where ninth grade academy is held. Amanda and I both agree that the ninth grade academy is pointless. We were both freshmen last year, and we didn’t need a fancy academy to get us to move onto the tenth grade. In addition, the freshmen are not truly separated from the rest of the school. YOU STILL SEE THEM! The ninth graders aren’t getting to see high school for what it is. They’re stuck upstairs all day long. I really do feel bad for them because they aren’t getting the opportunity to build on their social skills much less their maturity. In middle school they are still classified as kids. Well, now they’re in high school, and they should have the chance to learn the ways of high school and mature. With ninth grade academy they don’t get that opportunity. Also, teachers have to move around the building which makes it impossible to find them. They teach in ninth grade academy, and then they teach the upperclassmen too. With this new academy, teachers have to move around the building, so when you need to go and find them for whatever reason you can’t because their schedule isn’t known. Personally, I don’t see any need for ninth grade academy. Last year, I had a great time, and I didn’t need an academy to help me out. I don’t understand why any administrator would want to keep the ninth graders separated from the upperclassmen. Why keep the ninth graders confined upstairs? If I had a choice to get rid of anything at North, it would be ninth grade academy. Matthew Kirby Amanda Szyjka It seems like every time I turn on the TV, all I see is what some celebrity is wearing, who they’re dating, or what they’ve done over the weekend. I’ll admit some of it is entertaining, while some is just unnecessary. What people really want to hear about are the negative aspects of a celeb’s life. People love scandals and watching rich people make mistakes. It makes them feel better about themselves. Well, I tend to find the positive aspects of celebrities. For example, I consider Betty White to be a good celebrity. She may be about ninety, but she continues to prove through her new media storm that age isn’t anything but a number. Sandra Bullock is another star that I consider to be a positive role model. While I believe that much of her recent success is attributed to her divorce, I praise her for her humanitarian efforts. Michael Douglass is an amazing actor. A couple of months ago, before it was announced that he has stage four throat cancer, I saw him give a homeless man some money on TMZ. He was compassionate about it, and I didn’t sense he was doing it for good publicity. Angelina Jolie is a great celeb as well. If you don’t believe me, then just ask one of the children she and Brad Pitt adopted from overseas. Jolie also does great humanitarian work in other countries. Believe it or not, some singers are great role models. You might think they’re lame or whack, but you have to commend the Jonas Brothers on the whole purity ring stuff they do. Isn’t that what being a good celebrity role model is about? R&B singer Usher is also a great role model. Some of his lyrics are a little provocative, but he started the New Look Foundation which mentors youths and makes sure they have the necessary tools to become global leaders. So, there you have it. Good celebrities exist- even if there are only a handful of them. Darron Daniels, Jr. Angelina Jolie sets the example as one of Hollywood’s best celebrities. http://carlosrull.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01 The New Ninth Grade Academy Freshmen all alone M. Kirby The Good, the Bad, and the Famous Over the course of the last few years, America has witnessed the downward spiral of several celebrities. Celebrities who actually prove to be good role models are few and far between. I feel that an overwhelming amount of young celebrities, who star in family oriented programs do not set good examples for children. Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus was recently seen dancing on a pole at the Teen Choice Awards. This is an atrocity. Actress Lindsay Lohan’s career has taken a severe nosedive following her recent issues with the law. The star has become a drug addict racking up frequent flyer miles at the local penitentiary. She is still using drugs and driving under the influence, but she has yet to receive anything more than a few judicial slaps on the wrist. Actor Chace Crawford was recently arrested for possession of marijuana. He stars in Gossip Girl, a show that is commonly viewed by impressionable teenagers. Though the show can be controversial at times, the actors and actresses should not participate in destructive decision making off the set. Jersey Shore celeb Snooki is as bad as they come. Snooki is constantly being reprimanded for lewd and unlawful acts such as public drunkenness and violence. Many teenagers watch Jersey Shore and are exposed to Snooki’s crude behavior. Paris Hilton and her boyfriend, Cy Waits, were involved in a hit and run on September 29 th . They hit a paparazzo and did not stop. The victim didn’t suffer any major injuries, but takes partial responsibility for the accident. Paris was also arrested earlier in the month, in Los Angeles, for concealing drugs in order to evade a sobriety test. In short, celebrities often have unhealthy lifestyles. While they can use their stardom to evade the law, teenagers should realize that if they were to make the same decisions, they could get into serious trouble. Morgan Reynolds http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2005/1807253441 There’s definitely something for Chace to “gossip” about now.
