Viewpoints

From Our Editor:

Why Local News is so Important: One of the reasons I wanted to become the Editor-in-Chief of FOCUS was to increase awareness about local news. A goal of mine as Editor-in-Chief is to demonstrate to the students, parents, faculty and staff of the Blind Brook School District, and to the other residents of Rye Brook, the importance of local news. Last year, as Politics Editor I decided to add to my editorial role and also write a political column for FOCUS. I interviewed local politicians that represent our village. From United States Congressman Mondaire Jones to County Executive George Latimer, I wanted our community to learn who their elected officials were and what they stood for. After these interviews were published I received feedback from people which surprised me. People did not know that these politicians existed, let alone knew anything about what they had done for the community in which they lived. This is a primary reason that I wanted to become Editor-in-Chief of FOCUS, to strengthen our community’s awareness of local issues, and I will continue to conduct interviews with Rye Brook resentatives. I want FOCUS to become the resource for our community to learn about local issues, whether that be in Blind Brook High School, the Blind Brook School District, or in Rye Brook. Our neighbors at the BMP Ridge Street elementary school have seen issue after issue over the past two years with the ongoing construction project. Up until just a few months ago there was no coverage of the issue by journalists. Local news organizations like FOCUS allow us to stay informed about local government and our schools. I hope to bring a new perspective to this newspaper, by keeping our community informed both about the issues going on as well as learning who makes the decisions that impact our daily lives. I hope you continue to read this great publication from a dedicated staff of 40 high school students, and share it with your friends and neighbors.

Josh Rosenblut Editor-in-Chief

Should We Ban Junk Food From Cafeterias?

By Abby Meron

Should we ban junk food in the cafeteria? This is a topic that is frequently discussed within the school community. Among the students, the popular opinion is no, but the majority of adults answer yes. I believe that junk food should not be banned in the cafeteria because there are many benefits to allowing children to consume this food. Since we eat lunch so early in the morning, kids typically aren’t hungry enough to have a full meal, and sometimes a small snack is ideal. Although a healthy snack is rationally the best option, in reality, kids aren’t goingsire to buy an apple or a cup of fruit. Ultimately, with or without the school providing snacks most kids are going to bring their own. By providing these snacks at the school we can control to some extent what students consume. By having snacks that are slightly healthier but still considered junk food, students will be tempted to buy those instead. As said in an article by SchoolConnects, “Junk foods are craved more by kids of various schools when they are not permitted.” Banning junk food will have the opposite effect intended, only creating more problems. These students will only want to junk food more. This proves that banning junk food from the cafeteria is not a solution to making kids eat healthier, and will more likely than not make them want to eat junk food even more abundantly. Evidently, getting rid of junk food completely isn’t the right way to go. Lindsay Kenetman from Today’s Parent has said that “Rather than teaching kids that certain foods are bad or making decisions about what kids should eat... schools should take a more proactive approach.” Schools should not take away the option but teach their students how to make the choice. Banning junk food can cause ing disorders and food fears. Again, causing more harm than good. I believe that schools should give students options but ensure that kids know the benefits of choosing the healthiest foods. Instead of trying to control students’ diets, which is impossible to control considering their parents and individual wants, schools should inform students on the nutritional benefits of healthier foods and help them understand how to maintain a good balance between junk and healthier foods. Letting kids make decisions about their school lunch will help them be able to tackle other choices that they will face later in life. With everything said, clearly, the best choice would be to keep junk food in the cafeteria. Between the potential for

Should Vaccines be Required for All Professional Sports Players?

By Katelyn Faustino

Photo Courtesy of Brad Penner/USA Today Sports Pro-athletes: well under 1% of the population can claim they are one. In fact, only about 1 in 250 college athletes go on to play professionally. It’s pretty rare and extremely impressive to do what they do. That is why the health and safety of these players should be of utmost importance. One of the most controversial medical debates in recent history has been over the coronavirus vaccine. At the moment, there is no federal mandate on needing to receive the vaccine although it is strongly recommended. Employers, universities and local governments can all issue some type of vaccination requirement…but what about national sports leagues? In the National Football League, a mandate does not exist but there are certain protocols. Those who didn’t get vaccinated are tested daily for COVID-19 while vaccinated players are only tested weekly. Vaccinated players who test positive for corona may also be able to rejoin their team sooner than unvaccinated tested players who test positive. The National Basketball Association has not required vaccines either but will continue its strict regulations this season for unvaccinated players. Professionals like Bradley Beal and Kyrie Irving who entered training camp unvaccinated face salary and playing time threats. Those who are unvaccinated won’t be allowed to play in games per the vaccine mandates of of the host city, and they also risk not getting paid for every game they sit out.

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Should TikTok Be Banned?

By Jenna Kamin & Emma Kron

Emma:

Photo Courtesy of Nur Photo/Getty Images

Jenna:

Social media is a very big part of our daily lives, and has become an essential form of communication and pleasure. Picturing a day without social media seems virtually impossible for many since interacting with people online has become a way of life. Nowadays, there are over ten main social media platforms that many people use every day such as Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Youtube, and most recently, TikTok. TikTok is a short-form, video-sharing app that allows users to create and share 15-second videos and now even up to 3-minute videos, on any topic. The app has amassed over 500 million monthly active users, the US being the most popular country where it has been downloaded over 80 million times. It was created to help people, bring entertainment, and bring people together. However, as time goes on, the inverse relationship between the number of hours spent on TikTok and the declining mental health of many has become exceedingly evident. The initial positives of TikTok are beginning to fade away while the negatives are simultaneously taking over. Looking at the world around us makes me wonder, did TikTok tru- ly intend to advance our society, or has making money always been their priority? The issues with TikTok begin in their data. In 2019, TikTok was fined a record $5,700,000 by the US Federal Trade Commission for flouting US law by collecting data on children under 13 without their parents’ permission. It is proven to be an unsafe platform for children to be using. On top of that, this app is highly addicting due to its algorithm. TikTok’s For You page is a curated feed of videos that they think the specific user will like based on past likes and searches. This ultimately makes users never want to click away from it. Even the algorithm that determines this, like curation algorithms on other platforms, is a closely guarded secret. This is even scarier knowing that the Department of Justice released a memo to important military personnel stating, “Be wary of applications you download, monitor your phones for unusual and unsolicited texts ... and delete them immediately and uninstall TikTok to circumvent any exposure of personal information.” TikTok will ultimately do anything to keep you on their app, which proves it’s an unsafe app that should be banned.

Should We Ban Junk Food From Cafeterias?

Continued from page 8

food fears and/or dangerous eating disorders in teenagers and the loss of control the school will face when it comes to what kids consume, the answer to if junk food should be banned is a resounding no. There are many other solutions to this problem thatdon’t have to involve the complete ban of junk food. In the end, keeping junk food in cafeterias will improve the well-being of students and teach them how to make healthy decisions. No, TikTok should not be banned. This platform is a way for people ranging from adolescents to adults to express themselves, showcase their talents, and learn information about things they are passionate about. The constant flow of ideas between people teaches individuals more about themselves and introduces them to new ideas. People can now discover more about their interests and passions while surfing the internet by surrounding themselves with so many new ideas. There are plenty of different TikTok users: makeup artists, photographers, painters, singers, dancers, craft-creators, and so many more. These people could be running a small business, or feel unrecognized for their passions. As a result of TikTok, and it’s opportunity to give these deserving people spotlight, a large number of people are able to pursue their careers further on a more developed platform. There are also very informative people on the app about discussing current events, historical events, lifehacks, or school-related material. I personally have followed teachers on TikTok for my AP courses, in preparation for the AP Exam. I think that this aspect of TikTok could be helpful for students everywhere, and can be looked at as a free tutoring service in a way. Furthermore, TikTok is a social media platform, meaning people all over the world can connect no matter how far away they are. Like all platforms, this is an opportunity for friends to stay in touch, or for people to make new relationships. Without the prevalent use of technology to remain in contact, people would lose touch and miss special milestones, among other things. The thing about TikTok that is set apart from the rest of social media platforms, however, is the algorithm of the app. People who may have only 50 followers and a total of 17 likes, have an equal chance of being fea tured on the “For You Page” and having their talent be displayed to the entire world. This is far different than Instagram be cause on this app celebrities are receiving a consistent amount of attention and praise, much more than an average user gets. This concept fluctuates with TikTok, helping people who are trying to get noticed. On TikTok, people don’t only have the opportunity to chat with one another but create things they are passionate about with one another. You can duet singing videos, dance combinations, acting skits, and other incredible creations. Companies can benefit from the immense amount of TikTok users across the globe. Companies use commercials, ads, and other platforms --like creators online-- to promote their products. This benefits their income and their popularity in numerous ways. Seeing creators’ opinions on the products, and being a “credible” and “trustworthy” source, influences a lot of people to invest in said products. TikTok can also help change the world. With many accounts active on the app, this is a great way to promote good causes to society. While scrolling through social media platforms, there are so many charitable organizations that people donate to on a daily basis. When on TikTok, there are people who speak about causes that may be personal to them or something they are passionate about. With this knowledge and newfound understanding of problems in our world, our society is more likely to give back. It’s clear there are many benefits of TikTok that are needed in our society. Although there are aspects that are similar to Instagram or Facebook, TikTok is unique in many ways, allowing people to rise up from the average crowd and get the attention they deserve.

Should College Tuition be Free?

By Emily Tian

The average cost of tuition and fees at an all-state public college is over $10,000 per year. This has increased more than 200% since 1988 when the average was only $3,190. At a private college, the cost is now over $36,000 per year and some even have prices exceeding $50,000. Additionally, over 44 million Americans collectively hold more than 1.5 trillion dollars in student debt. A few decades ago, this amount of money to pay just to receive an education would sound absurd, but now it is astonishingly seen as normal. “We have got to make sure that every qualified American in this country who wants to go to college can go to college regardless of income.” (Bernie Sanders) This statement demonstrates that free college would expand access to more education. The high cost of a degree would no longer be an obstacle, as all people would have an equal chance to pursue their future goals and intents. More so, this can create a larger educated workforce and a population that has better critical thinking skills. They would be able to get better college degrees and jobs, causing a positive ripple effect. Furthermore, the problem of student debt would not stand in the way of daily life and innovation. There would be more opportunities available to try new ideas, pursue interesting concepts, or explore new ways to use their talents. Students would also be able to buy more houses, cars, spend more on healthy food, and travel more. In essence, they would even be contributing more to the economy. Although promising support of higher education, some argue that free college would be too expensive to implement. If America were to move to a tuition-free college policy, where would the money come from? It seems certain that the upper class or even middle class will see increased taxes. In the end, someone will have to pay these dues through taxes, and the uncertainty of who makes many Americans uncomfortable. Additionally, if college was free, students might not take their education as seriously. They won’t value these ideals as much since it’s being handed to them on a silver platter. Students tend to work harder if the tuition is coming from their own pockets. Even worse, critics argue that a flood of mediocre graduates will be competing for limited jobs. This can cause more students to attend graduate school in order to stand out. However, this also costs money leading to yet another potential problem of student debt. Despite the political considerations, there are still many advantages and disadvantages to a college with free tuition. All students would be given an equal chance to live to their fullest potential, expanding their education to higher levels. More so, student debt would be out of the picture leading to a happier and healthier student population. However, as illustrated above, this could also lead to an increase in taxes to the upper and middle classes. If not directed to its citizens, the federal government would have to pull out money to help these schools, leading to yet another expensive situation to uphold. Additionally, the increased number of graduates would be held to compete against one another for limited job positions, which may actually cause a more depressed and workaholic population. However, at the end of the day, all students should take pride in who they are, regardless of their financial status or education level. One’s personality should not be derived from where they come from, but from how they bring themselves up to be.

Photo Courtesy of Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Should Vaccines be Required for All Professional Sports Players?

Continued from page 8

Irving is ineligible to play any home games at the Barclays Center, which requires proof of vaccination for entry under New York City regulations, and it will cost him millions of dollars. Without directly requiring players to be vaccinated, this league devised a plan to encourage or incentivize players to get it. Public health vaccination guidelines are not as easily transferable to elite athletes as they are to the average person. On one hand, the potential side effects of any injection or procedure should be more heavily taken into consideration. However, the risk of infection is higher in athletes due to worldwide traveling. If an athlete has to travel to another country, they should consider how protected they are against endemic diseases. In addition, the close contact an athlete has with teammates, coaches, and even opponents is a further concern when it comes to spreading a virus. I do not believe vaccines need to be required for all professional sports players. Although, it is fair and almost necessary to have different protocols for athletes who choose to remain unvaccinated. If a coach isn’t comfortable with playing that athlete, or state guidelines prohibit it, the athlete could be benched. It is also important to educate athletes on the most appropriate thing to do. When celebrities such as legendary athletes do something, it influences many. These professionals can become role models for the general public, whether it’s wearing a certain shoe or promoting a certain brand, fans look up to them. Athletes should definitely consider getting the COVID-19 vaccine if they haven’t already. Corona is a respiratory disease that can affect your lungs and ability to breathe, one of the most crucial functions for a physically active career. It seems many pros are ahead of the game though - reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLS have vaccination rates greater than 90%, while the NHL and WNBA are at over 99%. This is high above the national average and reassuring to see. Getting the vaccine should not be a largely controversial issue. It is encouraged among the top scientists and researchers and could aid in our return to complete normalcy. I do believe that the COVID-19 vaccine should not be required for all professional sports athletes, to account for personal freedoms and the rare allergies or religious exemptions. I am, though, a firm advocate for creating penalties and having protocols for unvaccinated players. The National Leagues in the United States have successfully gotten players to receive the vaccine without mandates. I think everyone can agree that the health and safety of professional athletes are important as they train for our entertainment, but it is unethical to completely force them to get vaccinated.