Devils' Advocate November 2022

Devils’ Advocate

As temperatures drop and winter approaches, it’s finally time to light the fireplaces as many holidays are right around the corner.

In this month’s issue, we attempt to get students excited about the upcoming holiday season. In the infographic survey, students provide insight on their favorite “Friends” Thanksgiving episodes, which have proved to be well loved. Enjoy traveling down memory lane while you read about the iconic and timeless show.

In the Sports Q&A with Sophia Kim, senior, readers get to know this rising athlete.

Keeping students updated on school matters is crucial, and in the feature regarding “A Week of Appreciation,” readers will learn about the state of education and why Central teachers still love the profession. “Clue: A Behind The Scenes Look” highlights the November play. In the profile piece, “Keeping Central Safe,” security guards comment on current safety measures.

With December festivities arriving soon, there have been a lot of opinions regarding the shortened holiday breaks. Check out the editorial to see why these breaks were cut short.

We hope you enjoy this month’s issue!

Girls Swim & Dive 2nd in State

Swimmers and divers competed in State in November, with many earning accolades and records

by abigail gambla

The coaches, swimmers and divers jumped into the water with clear joy on their faces as they held up the second place trophy for the IHSA State. It was a consecutive second place finish for the Devils, losing only by fourteen points to New Trier. The team, composed of nine swimmers and two divers competed in 20 events. Over the span of two days, the Red Devils had a successful run. There were two state champions, and they placed high in several races.

Here are the Top 10 wins:

Kit Schneider, senior - state champion in the 50-yard freestyle

Caroline Kramer, senior - state champion in the 100-yard breaststroke

Kit Schneider, Caroline Kramer, Burlingtyn Bokos (junior) and Phoebe Paarlberg (senior) - second place in the 200yard medley relay

Olivia Suliga (senior), Kelechi Ojiako (junior), Phoebe Paarlberg and Kit Schneider - second place in the 200-yard freestyle relay

Burlingtyn Bokos - third place in the 500-yard freestyle

Olivia Suliga, Phoebe Paarlberg, Kit Schneider and Burlingtyn Bokos - fifth place in the 400-yard freestyle relay Caroline Kramer - seventh place in the 200-yard individual medley Burlingtyn Bokos - ninth place in the 200-yard individual medley Meghan Martell, sophomore - ninth place in diving

School records were broken and best times were made. It all came down to those tenths of a second where the Devils swam their hardest. The team swept conference, swept sectionals, and nearly swept state.

Black Friday’s ‘real’ deal

While the Friday after Thanksgiving is traditionally a major shopping day, many find the online experience better

by jenna feng & samrah syed

Everything is online. From the moment one wakes up to check their phone to the hours they spend doing their homework on computers, students’ lives depend on technology and devices. This particular generation is accustomed to technology and so it is no surprise that there is a rise in online shopping, as students find this to be more efficient and convenient.

Black Friday just passed on Nov. 25, and now more than ever, there has been a decline in Black Friday shopping. Black Friday is thought to be the biggest sale event of the year, but despite the deals, more and more students and staff seem to be deviating from in-person shopping.

“Some people really like the energy and the excitement of going to a crowded store, but I personally like to shop online,” said Sally Belter, a Spanish teacher and social emotional coach.

Online shopping has already taken the form of Cyber Monday (Nov. 28), in correlation with Black Friday, since 2005. However,

in recent times, online shopping has had its impact on Black Friday as well. Many companies have websites with the same deals in physical stores, but the comfort of shopping from home is captivating to students and staff. The pandemic warranted the usage of apps and websites due to safety precautions, but even before, online shopping had already gained popularity.

“I think that COVID kind of kickstarted this; it definitely moved it forward,” said Ayesha Ahmed, sophomore.

Since the pandemic, students and staff have definitely relied on online shopping more than ever, not just for Black Friday, but for everything. The appeal of going through the shops, looking at all the festive decor, and being surrounded by friends and family can be part of the jolly experience

for some.

“It’s like a tradition for some families to shop on Black Friday. It can be nice because it gives you something to do and everyone is together this time of year,” said Niko Rhodes, senior.

Whether students partake in Black Friday online or in person, the real “deal” is to simply enjoy it.

Girls Swim & Dive won second in State on Nov. 12 and 13, with many of them breaking school records.

photo by Burley Bokos

photo by Taylor Levin

Thankful Mindset

While November includes various festive holidays, school social workers offer advice to practice gratitude if feeling down

by Violet eck & sasha wolff

With the Thanksgiving season, students are combating the stresses that come with school and at home all while trying to stay thankful. Thanksgiving implies a thankful mood and it can be difficult for some students to stay thankful. Social Worker Lillie Blackmon gave us insight on how to approach the festive season.

“It’s easy to focus on things that are going bad in your life, I think it’s important to be very intentional saying one thing a day that you’re thankful for,” Blackmon said. “If you catch yourself during the day focusing on negatives, remind yourself of what you are thankful for on that day.”

Whether you’re facing hours of homework a day or have other stresses, focus on the positive. That may seem hard and ambiguous on certain days, but, according to the social workers, it does not have to be large. Students can find simple little things to be grateful for and try to stick with it when they feel themselves becoming overwhelmed.

For instance, on Nov. 9, during a planned Red Devil Reflections lesson, students in their 4/5 periods engaged in a writing exercise that motivated them to consider someone they are grateful for and to write a thank you in appreciation. In the lesson, students also learned about how research

shows that practicing gratitude improves overall happiness.

Red Devil Reflections is a monthly lesson created by a student committee that gives students a pause from the everyday activities to engage in social emotional learning exercises. For many students, it’s a small push to remind them to have gratitude and to take a break when needed.

“One small thing I am thankful for every day is seeing my dog after a long school day,” said Artee Preusser, sophomore.

Within the school, the guidance counselors, social workers and psychologists say they are always available for walk-ins, and have included a link on the main website so that students can find a counselor and reach out.

The colder months not only welcome the holidays, but they also play a part in seasonal depression. Recently, seasonal depression is viewed as an idea and not a real thing. However, according to Blackmon, seasonal depression is a real thing that especially affects people living in the midwest.

“Seasonal depression is a real thing,” Blackmon said. “The cold can make us want to turn inwards, but make sure you are being social and not retreating. Keep up with your friends online or in person. You may not

notice why you are feeling bad but it could be caused by the colder months.”

Something that seasonal depression is affected by is the amount of sunlight individuals receive daily. With daylight savings it’s hard to get the amount of Vitamin D needed to improve positivity and people may be inclined to return to a slump and not want to get outside or reach out to anyone.

“Many people underestimate how much sunlight impacts their lives and their happiness. As we enter the colder months I learned about a new device called a HappyLight, that imitates sunlight that we need,” Blackmon said.

Another option along with this HappyLight is a sunset lamp that can imitate a beautiful sunset and brighten your day.

Some things that can be helpful or fun during this time are shopping with friends or alone, decorating your house or room for the holidays, making a fun holiday recipe or simply just watching your favorite movie and lighting a candle. Blackmon says the main thing to keep in mind is to know there are available resources to both practice gratitude and self-love during this time.

A screenshot taken from the social workers website shows the vibe students can expect when they swing by to visit when needed.

photo by Violet Eck

Devils in Play

Winter Sports Preview

Many sports are prepping for an exciting, cold season

by Kendall Florence designedby Annie Koziel

The start of winter sports has officially begun. All of the winter sports teams are beginning practices in preparation for their first games and competitions. Schedules and results for games for all winter teams are on Hinsdale Central’s 8 to 18 website.

The girls basketball team had their first home game Nov. 15 and the boys basketball team held a practice scrimmage red vs. white on Nov. 18.

JV player Grace Dolan said she is most looking forward to playing and competing against other teams this season.

“I’m excited for all the games and competition, but also everything we do as a team,” Dolan said. “Some of my favorite memories from Central basketball so far have been from pasta parties or hanging out after practices with the team.”

Players will get to know new teammates and further get to know old teammates during this upcoming season.

“My main goal this year is to improve all around,” Dolan said. “Especially focusing on confidence, I’m looking to grow as a player and leader. Our team is younger this year, so with experience I think we can grow and develop into an athletic team with good chemistry.”

Dolan also talks about Hinsdale Central’s rivalry with Lyons Township High School. She predicts that Lyons Township’s girls basketball team will be fierce competitors and possibly the best competition for the entire season.

Hinsdale Central’s boys varsity goes up against LT Jan. 20, while girls varsity competes against LT on Dec. 10.

Both the cheerleading and poms teams will also be attending and performing at both girls and boys basketball games. They just finished up their fall season, cheering on the football teams, and are now ready to start their winter season.

Ava Towery, a sophomore on poms says she is very excited for the basketball games.

She cheered in the fall and now is transitioning to poms for the winter season.

“Both teams had tryouts at the end of last school year and have had different camps,

volunteering, and bonding activities before games started in August,” Towery said.

Cheer also had a new tryout Nov. 7 to recruit more students for the winter JV squad. Cheerleaders will be at all the basketball games home and away, while poms perform only at home games. However, both teams have been learning new skills and organizing routines in preparation.

While boys gymnastics season doesn’t begin until the spring, girls gymnastics had their first official meet on Nov. 23 at Hinsdale South.

Leila Sullivan, a sophomore on the varsity gymnastics team is working hard to prepare for this season.

“I’m excited to get closer with the girls on the team and get practicing and competing with them,” Sullivan said.

The gymnastics team is enjoying their new gymnastics room set up where the old pool used to be. They practice Monday through Saturday and are getting lots of use out of the new room.

“My goals this season are to qualify for sectionals and to stay healthy,” Sullivan said.

Avoiding injuries is important for all athletes, and gymnasts have to be especially careful.

Sullivan also reveals the teams to look out

for at meets.

“Our biggest competitor is definitely Glenbard West and the Downers Grove coop,” Sullivan said.

The gymnasts who qualify, will be able to compete at regionals on Jan. 3 and then at sectionals Feb. 2.

Other winter teams, such as wrestling, girls and boys bowling, and boys Swim and Dive, also have events soon. The Boys Wrestling team had a scrimmage Nov. 18 in the Field House, and their first home game was Nov. 22 against Naperville North in the main gym.

Boys bowling has already had their first invites, and won their first Naperville Invite on Nov. 5. Girls bowling had their first meet on Nov. 29.

Boys Swim and Dive has also already had their first invite in September, but has another meet coming up on Dec. 2.

Teams are excited to show off their hard work and have a great winter season.

For more information, schedules can be found on the athletics website.

Central’s new gymnastics room, which took the place of the old pool.

Photo by Mikayla Mahler

Q&Awith Sophia Kim

Meet one of the top ranked tennis players

by Annie Koziel

every win and every loss comes into my hands. During high school season I really like that it becomes a team sport, so it’s something a little different; it’s super fun and I love all the girls on the team.”

A: “I volunteer at the Hinsdale Food Pantry and I’m the treasurer of [the junior board], and at Central I’m a part of NHS. I like to relax in my free time... because my schedule’s pretty rigorous, so I love to hang out with my friends, go on walks, work out, and spend time with my family.”

Q: Is there any coach or athlete that you really look up to?

I was playing a girl who I had lost to in the past so I was super nervous. There was a lot of anticipation because we were the top two teams, so our match could’ve gone either way. I ended up winning the match, and then that helped us capture the state title. So I would say that’s definitely the most memorable.”

Q: What advice do you have for your teammates/other athletes?

Sophia Kim in tennis practice.

Earlier this month, I got to sit down with Hinsdale Central tennis player Sophia Kim.

In October, the Hinsdale Central girls’ varsity tennis team won first place in the Illnois High School Association state tournament. Kim is currently ranked in the top 300 18-and-under players in the nation (United States Tennis Association). I asked the senior Red Devil about her journey with tennis, life outside of the sport, and plans for the future.

A:“I started when I was about 8 or 9. When I was little I did a bunch of sports but tennis is the one that stuck, and then I started competing more regularly when I was about 11 or 12.”

A:“I look up to my current private coach. He is originally from Ukraine and he grew up when the war started between Ukraine and Russia, and so he was forced to grow up a lot faster than me, for example. He came to the US when he was 17 or 18, alone, and he went to college here. I definitely look up to him because he puts in so much work day after day and he’s able to be accountable.”

A:“Every time before a match, [my coach] always texts me to remind me that I have to go out on court and earn it, and I feel like that’s something super important for me to remember because no match is just going to be handed to me. I have to work for it.”

Q: What has been your most memorable moment as an athlete so far?

A: “My best advice would just be to try your best every time you do something related to tennis, because you don’t want to look back in the future and be like, oh, I wish I would have tried harder. I feel like a big thing is just, every time you’re on court, that’s the only thing you’re thinking about and you’re trying to be super present, and you’ll see the results follow. The other thing would just be to enjoy it. It’s definitely stressful to be out there on court and to know that your matches matter. Sometimes you just need to take a step back and enjoy it because it’s a privilege that you get to do what you love.”

Q: What goals do you have for the rest of the school year?

A:

“I’m really trying to ramp up my tennis a little bit more, because I am playing in college. School-wise, I’m going to Johns Hopkins, which is a pretty academically rigorous school so I want to try to keep up my grades the best I can, avoid senioritis if possible, and try to develop better study habits so that I’ll be better prepared for college.”

Q: What plans do you have for the future?

A:

A:“I like that it’s something I do by myself so it teaches me to be accountable because

A:“If you would’ve asked me this a couple of months ago it would have been tough for me to come up with one, but I would say that my most memorable moment was during high school season at our state tournament.

“That’s a loaded question, for sure, but I’m pretty excited. I made [the decision to commit to Johns Hopkins] over the summer, and I wouldn’t say it was an easy decision, but I felt like it was the right decision once I had made it. I’m currently planning to go into engineering.”

Edited for clarity and length.

Q: When did you start playing tennis?

Q: What is your favorite part about playing tennis?

Q: What are you involved outside of tennis?

Q: W hat is the best advice you’ve received from a coach or teammate?

Keeping Central Safe

ByAlex Olguin & Sehan Alam

As students stream into the building through the main entrance before school, Michael Coughlin, a school security officer, welcomes students as they file through the doors. He ensures that students have their IDs and lanyards out for scanning by the deans’ office as he greets the students, talking with regulars he sees passing through the doors every day.

The security team at Hinsdale Central has implemented a doubling down on security with improvements from the 2019 referendum helping protect the students and staff at the school, while also working to foster a positive relationship with the student body.

In recent years, security at the school has been improved with money from the 2019

referendum. Central has eight dedicated security officers, plus a school resource officer. In 2019, a command center was constructed in room 200 to monitor the safety systems, which includes more than 200 cameras, throughout the school.

“This is the fourth year that this command center has been here and the camera system has been implemented,” Coughlin said.

Officers in the command center are able to monitor all the exterior doors in the school, through both cameras, but also sensors that detect when the doors open.

“Almost every exterior door now is armed,” Coughlin said. “And when that door alarm goes off the camera goes on that door so you can see who’s coming or going.”

Money from the referendum has also

been used to install call boxes in every classroom in the school. The call boxes allow for two-way communication between a classroom and the security office.

“There’s two [call boxes in each classroom], there’s one that’s your emergency and then there’s one that’s kind of like your general call,” said Matthew Miller, another school security officer.

However, no matter which button is pushed, both go to the security command center. The buttons can also be used for non-security emergencies, such as medical incidents.

“If we have a kid choking, it’s definitely going to be an emergency,” Coughlin said.

In addition to the call boxes in the classrooms, hallways are equipped with “blue fire alarms” called the Blue Point

photo by Annie Koziel

Hinsdale Central’s security team shares its new technology and relationship with students.

Officer Matthew Miller monitors the cameras in the security command center.

Photo by Alex Olguin

System which automatically sets off an alarm and notifies nearby law enforcement.

“They act as a pull station…it’ll set off the blue strobes and an announcement comes through the PA alerting people to take ALICE protocols…and then it also alerts all the surrounding law enforcement agencies,” said Ryan Maita, Assistant Principal for Operations.

ALICE is an acronym for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate. It was introduced to the school in 2019 with staff undergoing training to better handle threats in the building. Part of the protocol involves actively fighting back against an intruder, should they enter a classroom or escaping the building, should the threat be elsewhere.

“Instead of just locking down and sitting in a room like a sitting duck, you could just get out of the building, so ALICE gives you more options to take into account what your situation is,” Maita said.

Staff goes through ALICE training every three years, which includes 2022. Coughlin said that the training for staff on Oct. 21 went well and that training has been updated for this year.

“There’s always things that are tweaked… it’s still the same protocols, but [during the training] I explained, whether your door opens out or in, how you barricade, how you secure [the classroom]; I went in depth,” Coughlin said.

The updates were made by director of

security Kurt Bluder, who works at both South and Central and has a 32-year background in law enforcement.

“I put the powerpoint together that was used at both Central and South, so that’s the type of thing I do…I think it went really well and I believe it was really well received by the teachers and staff,” Bluder said.

With the staff trained on what to do and where to go during an emergency, Coughlin said he hopes that they can effectively teach students on the emergency protocols, including during student ALICE training which occurred on Nov. 16 during an early release Wednesday.

“If you have questions, [teachers and staff] can answer your questions because I have hopefully answered the staff’s questions,” Coughlin said.

While the security team’s first priority is the safety of the students and staff, security officers also try to form a positive relationship with the student body. Coughlin was a police officer teaching the DARE anti-drug curriculum at D181 elementary and middle schools.

“I used being in all the schools before I got hired here, as trying to have a relationship with students,” Coughlin said.

Through engagement with the student population, Coughlin said he believes that he has formed trust with students which allows for open and honest communication.

“I’ve actually had a handful of times where a student that I taught DARE came to me and said ‘somebody posted a picture of a gun’ on social media and let me know…so that’s the good thing about having relationships,” Coughlin said.

It is that open relationship that has benefits for both the security and for the students. Phoebe Paarlberg, a senior, said she believes the security team shares a strong connection with the student body, helping them feel

protected and an open ear for students.

“I think they’re super social with the kids and I think they’ve told me a couple times that part of their job is to create relationships with the students,” Paarlberg said.

Paarlberg said she believes that the security team is effective in keeping the campus safe and is fully prepared to deal with any threats.

“The security team has badged cops and former cops, furthermore creating that sense of safety towards the school,” Paarlberg said.

“I know one of them is a cop, and that he’s on duty sometimes and sometimes not here. But it makes me feel safe that they all have training and that they all know what they would have to do for some sort of incident.”

In the end, security is trying to change the perception of their role from being uncompromising enforcers of the law that wish to get students into trouble, to a group that is supporting the student body.

“Our job isn’t to get the kids into trouble,” Coughlin said. “We don’t walk around trying to give kids detentions and referrals, we’d rather try to help them out. We want to work with the students.”

photo by Annie Koziel

“Our jobs isn’t to get kids into trouble ... our job is to keep everyone safe.”

- Michael Coughlin

photo by Sehan Alam

Call boxes installed in classrooms.

Photo by Alex Olguin

Clue: A Behind the Scenes Look

Clue, Hinsdale Central’s fall play, debuted on Nov. 17, but what really happens behind the scenes?

You enter the auditorium to find a good seat before the show begins. While opening the cast list you notice the lights start to dim. As you see the red velvet curtains being drawn back, you put your full attention on the stage. The show is about to begin. However, what really goes into making this moment possible? There is much more than meets the eye.

Erin Lundin, English teacher and director of the fall play, “Clue”, has been working on creating the play since as early as the beginning of last summer. Lundin decided on “Clue” because she wanted a play that was more well-known to the students as well as a fun change for the actors.

“Several students had mentioned they wanted to do something that was a little more crazy and zany this year, so “Clue” seems perfect for that,” Lundin said.

Lundin began the auditioning process

in September, asking students to recite a comedic monologue. Following the audition process were callbacks where students were given scenes from the play to rehearse.

“The callbacks for this one were extensive because there are so many characters that it took us a while to get through,” Lundin said.

During an audition, Lundin pays special attention to how the actors portray a character in real life as compared to how she envisioned the character in her head. Sometimes the actors surprised Lundin with their embodiment of the character as well. One actor in particular did this for Lundin.

“They came in and portrayed [the role] in such a way that I had never thought of putting this person in that spot,” Lundin said, “But now that is absolutely what I’m going to do.”

As rehearsals began for the actors, they had a read-through of the script to help get the actors familiarized with their roles. The actors

also participated in improv activities.

“If you’re going to embody [the character] during the course of the show, let’s see if you can play them outside of the course of the show,” Lundin said.

Following the improvisational work, the actors started blocking rehearsals, determining which actor is going where at any given moment. According to Lundin, this is one of the most difficult parts of the process.

“The difficulty has been finding out how to get that pacing, to make sure that everyone’s on top of every single line,” Lundin said.

In order to design the set, Lundin worked with Charlie Cooper, the technical director of “Clue”, to create the layout.

“Charlie and I have had numerous meetings about matching up his concepts for the set with my concepts for the set,” Lundin said.

The crew, led by Cooper, began planning

by Anjika Kumar and Jeffrey Birnbaum Photos by Anjika Kumar

“I am very excited to see all those little pieces fall into place.”

- Erin Lundin

around late August for the set design.

“You want to spend time starting to think about the specifics of what the needs are of the play itself,” Cooper said.

In order to create the set itself, Cooper utilizes pieces from previous plays including faux brick from “The Addams Family’’ to create parts of the wall, railings from “Cinderella” to create the windows, and parts from “Beauty and the Beast” to create the molding.

“They were all expensive pieces to have…so I kept them in case there might be something I can repurpose them for,” Cooper said.

When it comes to distributing responsibilities among the students, Cooper utilizes the skills of the experienced crew to guide and help the newer crew members. He relies on experienced crew members to lead the construction crew.

Emily Loera is a cast and crew member which is quite rare when it comes to plays.

“Usually you only do cast or crew,” Loera said. “This is a once in a lifetime kind of thing.”

When Loera works for the crew, she handles the props and helps with the set of the show. Other roles of the crew include the head of props, junior Teagan Dunn, and the head of sounds, Anthony Annoreno, sophomore.

As compared to other plays in the past, “Clue” is noticeably more complicated.

“I spent a lot more time going through the text itself than I would on a typical production,” Cooper said.

The script requires several different rooms to be shown on stage which posed new challenges when the script was first introduced. The crew plans to use light to fixate on certain areas of the stage to create the illusion that there are several different rooms within the stage. Cooper

compares this lighting technique to a director using a camera.

“You’re using the light to tell the audience where exactly to look,” Cooper said.

Both Annoreno and Dunn also expressed that the manual labor plays a huge role in preparing for the play.

“Everything requires a person to perfectly time something in order for the show to go very smoothly,” Annoreno said.

Dunn, who first got into theater in second grade, talked about the rigor of the labor.

“There is always something to build for every production. For “Clue”, it was one of the most sophisticated I’ve ever worked on,” Dunn said.

Props are another very important part of the play. Since the play is so elaborate, there are several props that need to be accounted for. Lundin bought props such as silverware, fake cigarettes and fake blood. By far the most debated prop in the show is a starter’s pistol, which was designed for stage use.

Many said they felt unsure as to how the pistol would be used in terms of safety for the students. Lundin has been working with a

weapons expert to ease these worries and find the safest way to use it in the play.

“There were a lot of conversations about what is required for the script along with what is safest for the actors,” Lundin said.

Another important aspect to consider when creating “Clue” is the budget. The crew needs to be careful with how the budget is distributed in order to account for all the factors.

“We often refer to it as running a small business,” Lundin said. “Because you have to make sure that you’re going to, at least, break even.”

With the play quickly approaching, Lundin is continuing to add finishing touches, but the thing she is most excited about is seeing everything come together. Since this play is so complex, there are several small things that cannot be rehearsed until the dress rehearsal arrives. But the cast and crew are more than ready to see it come together on Nov. 17, 18, and 19.

“I am very excited to see all those little pieces fall into place,” Lundin said.

The crew of Clue works together after school to add finishing touches to the set before the play.

Ms. McCloud teaches her Latin Literature Honors class.

A Week of Appreciation

With American Education Week happening in November, educators reflect on what appreciation means to them and why they still love the profession during what has been difficult times.

story & photos ByMaya Barakut & Maryum Shaik

The final bell had just rung. You’re sitting in math class grabbing papers and homework out of your backpack listening to the teacher list the objectives of the day and what you’re expected to do. As the period goes on, the teacher announces that there’s a test coming up in the week, one that you don’t feel prepared for considering you’ve been struggling with this unit.

For the following days leading up to the quiz, the teacher does different activities to prepare you for the test such as group activities, kahoots and quizlets while also providing you with extra studying packets and worksheets to do on your own time. When test day comes, you feel more prepared for the test than you did a couple days ago, all thanks to your teacher’s thoughtful preparations.

American Education Week takes place annually each November before Thanksgiving. According to the National Education Association, many public schools devote one week to appreciate and celebrate not only teachers, but also other employees that help students, such as bus drivers and administration staff. Throughout the week, various events are organized to emphasize appreciation towards teachers and school administration.

Howover, nationally, teachers have been leaving the profession for a variety of reasons, creating a teacher shortage. Considering the national crisis, what has been happening at Central to foster happiness within the profession? Why is there a teacher shortage?

Throughout the nation, teacher shortages have become an increasing problem. According to an article published in The Washington Post, the teacher shortage has reached “crisis levels”. Some districts in Texas have reduced the required weekly number of days of school to four days a week due to lack of staff, according to the same article. Many other states, such as Nevada, Arizona, Illinois, and Florida all face similar problems.

In Illinois, the Illinois Association of Regional School Superintendents reported that 88% of school districts have issues with

Math teacher Lisa Korbitz assists junior Uzma Kamal with her alegebra and calculus homework.

teacher shortages, as 2,040 teaching jobs remained empty.

In addition, many laws have been passed recently regarding education and whether a teacher can speak about an issue or not. According to The Washington Post, legislators in about 45 states have “proposed 283 laws that sought to restrict what teachers can say about race, racism and American history.” These laws also limit the ways in which teachers can teach about gender identity, sexuality and LGBTQ issues. With American Education Week having passed recently, Nov. 14-18, and the evident challenges that teachers are facing, it is important to understand what teachers actually do.

What Teachers Do

According to GlobalNewswire, teachers are “one of the most critical professions in shaping today’s youths.” During the global pandemic, students had to experience school through a screen. With Zoom meetings for class and tests online for almost three years, students experienced a major setback in terms of education. According to a teacher founded website, WeAreTeachers, after the pandemic slowly died down and students went in-person again, teachers were met with the realization that after “three years of pandemic teaching, overwhelming workloads and large class sizes, we’re burned out.”

According to the teacher founded website, studies show that 55 percent of educators indicate they feel they are ready to leave that profession, and 78 percent of educators say that low pay is a serious problem among teachers.

Even though teachers face challenges, many teachers continue to stay dedicated to their profession. Alisha McCloud, a Latin teacher at Hinsdale Central, explains why she enjoys teaching.

“ I think one of the coolest things about teaching is the variety of ways you get to be part of the learning process and a learning community,” McCloud said.

While not many laws are being passed directly that affect teachers, there are some arguments about the topics that should be brought up in education that school

boards and governments are discussing. For instance, critical race theory (CRT), which is an academic concept of more than 40 years old focused on the examination of how laws, social/political movements and media are shaped by social conceptions of race and ethnicity, has become a central theme of these discussions. Critical race theory has been a hot topic in the last decade among K-12, and according to EdWeek, many state legislators are “debating bills seeking to ban it in classrooms.”

Dr. Patrice Payne, the equity director at Hinsdale Central, describes what CTR is.

“It takes a critical look at functions in American society that have impacted the disparities that we see amongst different demographics today, so that can be the legal system, that could be access to jobs and housing,” Payne said.

According to The Washington Post, teachers say that “they now err on the side of caution for fear that a student or parent might complain, resulting in public battle — or even, in extreme cases, that they might lose their jobs.”

Why do teachers love the profession?

Despite the difficulties that have directly impacted teachers, such as the pandemic and specific laws being passed regarding education, many teachers continue to pursue their profession. Lisa Korbitz, a math teacher at Hinsdale Central, explains why she enjoys teaching and continues to pursue her career.

“I enjoy helping students to be successful,” Korbitz said. “I really like to observe a student that works hard to achieve a goal that they set for themselves. It’s really great when students gain that awareness that they can be successful.”

In addition, Korbitz notes the impact that teachers can have on students and why this makes teaching a valuable career.

“Teachers are in a position where they can make a big difference in a student’s life and it’s an important job.Teachers really care about their students,” Korbitz said.

Hinsdale Central also strives to show appreciation toward teachers through hosting a wide variety of events. The Parent

Teacher Organization (PTO) is the main organizer for these events. The members host monthly events throughout the year for teachers and staff, such as breakfast every day during appreciation week, dessert bars, fall luncheons, apple distribution, coffee/ hot chocolate bars and March madness lunch.

In November, the main event for American Education Week and Thanksgiving is distributing pumpkin pies to teachers.

Michelle Fischer, committee chair for PTO’s monthly events, explains that the events may change, but they are planned out ahead of time.

“We meet in the summer and brainstorm what we want to keep and/or change from previous years,” Fischer said.

In addition, Fischer notes the purpose behind all these events.

“Our goal is that the treat every month shows the staff at Hinsdale Central that we are thinking about them and grateful for them,” Fischer said.

In addition, Quest, the food organization at Hinsdale Central, also organized events to show teacher appreciation. During Education Week, the administrators for Quest organized a free coffee and tea event each morning for teachers and staff.

Matt DuBois, one of the organizers behind the event, explains why he and other administrators for Quest decided to have the event.

“We wanted to thank the faculty and staff for all the hard work and support that they give students day in and day out,” DuBois said.

During Nov. 15, the Student Council at Hinsdale Central also showed their appreciation to teachers by delivering treats and ordering a hot chocolate truck.

Despite facing challenges, many teachers continue to pursue their career.

Brett Moore, a fitness teacher at Hinsdale Central, shares some of his advice for other young people wanting to go into the profession.

“If it’s something you’re passionate about, then it’s a great field,” Moore said.

“I think one of the coolest things about teaching is the variety of ways you get to be part of the learning process and a learning community.”

- Alisha McCloud

The Moment

Saturday, Nov. 26, was small business shopping day to promote supporting local businesses. Downtown Hinsdale has an array of shops to choose from.

Shopping Small Business

photobytaylorlevin

by taylor Levin

F R I E N

Trivia

battleground

On Oct. 31, the Supreme Court began hearing oral arguments regarding two cases about affirmative action against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. Should affirmative action remain legal?

Michael Sahs

consequences of the problem, while the other is a real solution. Affirmative action is called the latter by some, but is in reality just as useful as the bucket.

What does affirmative action do? It puts people into categories based on the color of their skin and what they find themselves to be, and then assumes that each and every one of those people has experienced relatively similar things. This is not useful. Beyond whatever demographic these people fall into, they are individuals.

with spurious claims to minority ancestries marking themselves down as Hispanic or Black or Native American based on some great great grandparent, just to benefit from whatever systems are in place to benefit those groups. It makes no sense to me that just by marking myself down as Native American based on 1/128th of my ancestry that I should benefit from the systems set in place to aid those from struggling communities. It’s a system ripe for abuse.

Imagine a leaky pipe. This is a problem, right? How would one solve this problem? Would you put down a container to catch the water? Or would you repair the pipe? The difference between these two options is that one simply addresses the

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court started hearing oral arguments on Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. Harvard. If the Court rules for SFFA, it will signal the end of 40 years of legal precedence affirming the legality of affirmative action--a set of policies that allows institutions to give preference to marginalized communities.

Opponents of affirmative action argue that it is legalized discrimination, citing the zero-sum nature of college admissions. They’re partly right: affirmative action is not perfect. But while it is flawed, it remains the best corrective measure to atone for historical sins committed against Black, Hispanic, and Indigeneous people.

Research from ThirdWay, a Washington D.C. based think-tank, found that lowincome minority students who attend elite colleges and finish their degree end up making almost as much as wealthyborn students in their careers. In turn, affirmative action policies level the playing field by allowing low-income minorities to compete for high-paying jobs. The result? Their children did not need affirmative

The difference beyond demographic is economic. This is the deciding factor. The economic state of a community is what decides, in the end, what struggles they will face in terms of education and ability to become qualified. An incredibly rich community of ethnic minorities should not be able to benefit from anything the poorest Appalachian whites could not also benefit from. It just doesn’t make sense.

Instead of a system based on general demographic trends, any system similar to affirmative action should be based on economic inequalities, rather than social inequalities. I have heard stories of people

action as much. Affirmative action was always intended to be temporary, and ending it prematurely would only disrupt its mission.

And that’s not even mentioning the importance of diverse classrooms. Research from The Century Foundation found that diverse classrooms allow all students to better understand racial biases and nuance in an increasingly diverse world. In a world where diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) policies are popular in companies and governmental organizations, it’s the social responsibility of our colleges to prepare students for these diverse workplaces. Furthermore, affirmative action helps pre-professional students. In 2003, research conducted at Harvard Medical School found that only 50% of undergrads did not have contact with people outside of their own race before attending college. The benefit? Those students reported an increased ability to treat patients of color and communicate with colleagues of color.

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic justice, put it best: “I am a product of affirmative

Indeed, we would have no need for affirmative action whatsoever if nobody could be at a disadvantage- the real solution to the problem of economic disparity in education is reform and funding for the school systems that consistently underperform. We can’t make that a racial thing- everyone who is at an economic disadvantage suffers from poorer education. Appalachia is, again, a striking example of this. Wherever the inequality arose from, it must be solved. No matter what it was about, it is a different problem now. If we continue to disadvantage the disadvantaged, we will continue to have a leaky pipe. We’ve got to spend some money and repair the problem.

action.” She’s right. After attending both Princeton and Yale Law School, she enjoyed a 30 year legal career. Affirmative action gives qualified people from historically underrepresented groups--like Sotomayor-what they want: an opportunity to prove their worth. An opportunity to learn. An opportunity to succeed.

Ajay Gupta

Snap Thought

Peter Sakkos, ‘23

“Watching my friends’ basketball season.”

Calista Chang, ‘24

“I’m looking forward to winter break and Christmas and a lot of the festive Christmas songs and food. I also like the decorations around the school.”

Daniel Altamirano, ‘25

“Winter break and having the same amount of time off as spring break.”

Sam O’Neill, ‘26

“Christmas and spending time with family.”

What are you most looking forward to in December?

Staff Editorial

The harm of shorter breaks

When students have longer breaks during the colder months, like for Thanksgiving and Winter Break, they can make a point to go to Chicago and enjoy its sites.

In August of 2022, Jeff Dvorak from Pepper Construction, gave an update on Hinsdale Central’s construction projects. The main projects included the remodeling of the library and cafeteria. A cafe is expected to open, which will be located in the commons. The commons was opened in April of 2022, and is designated for studying. It is open before and after school for students.

In an effort to finish a majority of the construction, Hinsdale Central had a delayed start for the beginning of school. Most years, Hinsdale Central starts in August, but the 20222023 school year started Sept. 6. Due to the later start of the year, many holiday breaks had to be shortened, and while this allows for students to attend the amount of days required, shorter breaks are harmful to student mental health.

The Calendar Committee helps create the school calendar, and they have to work around any potential building conflicts to ensure students are in school for the required amount of days. According to Illinois Legal Aid, the required amount of days of pupil attendance for schools in Illinois is 176.

“We start meeting around December/ January to talk about the calendar for the next year,” said Kathrynne Saunders, English teacher and member of the Calendar Committee.

The 2022-2023 school calendar has had several changes, such as the start of early release Wednesdays, which are administered every other week. Early release Wednesdays (ERWs) were implemented in

order to carve out time for course teams to meet, plan ahead, and look at student data.

Along with the new ERWs, another change included the shortening of holiday breaks. During the week of Thanksgiving, school is in session the day before the holiday, whereas last year, students had the entire week off.

“The shorter breaks were primarily needed to make up for lost instruction time,” said Aadit Bhavsar, senior and member of the Secondary Schedule Committee.

Another reason for the shortened breaks was to make sure that the 2023 summer break was not shortened.

“I like the shorter breaks because the summers are much longer and I get more free time while it’s nice out. It’s harder to get back into my school routine when we have long breaks but it’s a smooth transition with small breaks,” said C.C Huber, senior.

While it is true that many students would rather have a longer summer, other students feel that the longer holiday breaks are needed for mental health. It is crucial for administrators, students, and teachers to have designated time to recharge and relax. Long holiday breaks serve as an opportunity to do these things.

“I believe that it is important for students to have longer breaks during the holidays because it gives families that live far away the chance to see each other,” said Rose Baroni, senior.

With COVID-19 affecting travel in previous years, families are eager to be able to travel now, but this is not as feasible with

the shorter breaks. Also, at Hinsdale Middle School and Clarendon Hills Middle School, students have longer breaks compared to Hinsdale Central, with both districts having the entire week off during Thanksgiving. This inconsistency between calendars is difficult for families with children in both high school and middle school to make holiday plans, as the districts have different schedules.

The longer breaks, in previous years, have given students time to enjoy the holidays. Some popular break activities include going to Chicago, hanging out with friends, and catching up with siblings in college. This mental break is an ideal way for students to feel refreshed before returning to school. According to Allison Academy, “When properly managed, school breaks give students time to decompress from chaotic school schedules, encourage rest, and give students the boost they need to refocus and do their best when they are back in class.”

On the other side, it is true that having longer breaks increases the length of the school year. Especially for seniors who are excited to graduate, it’s controversial to extend school into late June.

However, if the school opted to instead attend the state required amount of days, then it would not have had to cut Thanksgiving and Winter breaks by days. For the 2022-2023 school year, there are 179 student attendance days.

Having longer breaks is a great way for students and teachers to have downtime, and this mental relaxation should always be considered.

photo by Taylor Levin

This editorial is the consensus of the Devils’ Advocate Editorial Board.

Hinsdale Central High School c/o Devils’ Advocate 5500 Grant Street Hinsdale, IL 60521