EXTENDED TRIBUTE
FREEMAN Hear stories from Ron Freeman’s colleagues and students, as we continue coverage of his impact on MVHS at elestoque.org
MIXED NOTES BURSTING Winter concert blends THE BUBBLE genres A&E page 15
Students, staff honor deceased teacher, coach
Explore other types of schooling systems in the Bay Area
CENTERSPREAD pages 11-14
BACK PAGE VOLUME XLI | ISSUE 5 | MONTA VISTA HIGH SCHOOL | CUPERTINO, CA
FAREWELL, FRIEND
FEB. 2, 2011
Coach, teacher, mentor Ron Freeman remembered for lasting influence
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he Bagdasarian family has been on Santa’s nice list since Christmas Eve 2007. For four years, senior Alex Bagdasarian found See’s candy, apple cider, or wine in a wrapped box outside his front door on Christmas morning. Bagdasarian’s junior year, his father installed a security camera outside the house. That Christmas morning, the family rewound the tape to discover the identity of the mysterious gift giver. He drove up to the house at 4:15 a.m., dropped off the gift, and drove away without receiving, or requesting, recognition. His beard was more like a five o’clock shadow, and he wasn’t dressed in red and white, but their secret Santa was undoubtedly Ron Freeman. see FREEMAN on page 24 Photo with permission of Laurie Stewart
Community distressed by student stress, openly debates the ‘Race to Nowhere’
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he tag-line on the poster for the documentary “Race to Nowhere” reads “The dark side of America’s Achievement Culture.” Organized by the MVHS PTSA in conjunction with the Kennedy Middle School PTA, two showings of the film took place on Jan. 11 and Jan. 18 in the MVHS auditorium. The showings, which sold out within days, were open to students, parents, teachers, and community members. The documentary explores the pressure students feel to succeed academically and the toll that such pressure takes on students. During the forums which took place after each documentary screening, parents and students from both MVHS and Kennedy Middle School voiced their concerns about the movie’s message and its local relevance. Executive Vice President of MVHS PTSA Barbara Goldman viewed the documentary at Bluelight Cinemas with President Pam Siu prior to organizing the showings at MVHS. “We thought the movie had some valid points and some messages that the community might benefit from,” Goldman said. Goldman, Siu, and Principal April Scott all agree that there needs to be follow up to the two “Race To Nowhere” showings, and the PTSA is in the process of determining what that next step will be.
Although there were few administrators and teachers present at the recent screening of the documentaries, Assistant Principal Dennis Plaza mentioned that all the teachers were invited to see it. Administration also hopes to hold a separate screening for staff in the future. KMS Counselor Jessica Williams said that many KMS staff members have seen the movie and indicated that the staff as a whole has been working together to rethink their instructional goals for the school. Teachers and administrators at KMS are placing specific emphasis on improving the critical thinking skills of their students before they graduate. School efforts Although the film criticizes the mentality of “teaching to the test” and not teaching students how to think critically, AP Chemistry teacher Kavita Gupta believes that
Behind closed doors: Gay jokes not uncommon in team locker rooms
“The best part about ‘Race to Nowhere’ is that the conversation has started. What I fear is that this conversation will end six months from now.” —Bluelight Cinemas co-owner Jackie Cohen
Athletes admit immaturity, but argue humor does not equal homophobia
“I Joseph Beyda | El Estoque Photo Illustration
Relief efforts
ultimately it is up to the teacher to structure his or her class in such a way that students receive the greatest benefit. “College Board defines where I need to take [students],” Gupta said, “but how I take them there, that’s totally my call.” “Race To Nowhere” cautions parents against overloading schedules with rigorous courses. At MVHS, there are steps in place to ensure parent involvement in the course selection process. see STRESS on page 3
think I’m gay…I enjoyed the culture already. There are gay slurs in everyday life, and I guess that wrestling match…” it’s amplified in “ D o masculine sports.” you enjoy slapping Twist of Hate This view is my butt? I think we A three-part not limited to any all know what that specific sport; means... ” series on Hamwi agrees, Senior varsity homophobia saying that while wrestler Adnan at MVHS an LGBT athlete Hamwi and senior might get a few varsity football player Jason Jung have heard these derogatory terms thrown at them phrases thrown around the locker once in a while, for the most part rooms after practice, accompanied the harassment would be minimal. “[Within wrestling], none of us with a light manner and joking tone. The gay jokes fly without thought in are homophobic or have anything this sort of “locker-room talk,” but against gay people at all,” Hamwi not all athletes feel that they are ill- said. “We just say a lot of things that could be offensive. We make a lot of intentioned in any way. The issue of homophobia in jokes about everybody. But at the athletics has been recognized same time, it’s like a brotherhood. across the country and at all We’re always messing around, but levels; indeed, in a recent study we treat each other like brothers and by Osborne and Wagner, male giving each other advice.” In many cases, the close-contact adolescents who participated in football were significantly more nature of sports may elicit a fear of likely to hold homophobic attitudes homosexuality within a team. “I would say any wrestling team, than other peers their age. Yet not all MVHS athletes are convinced not just MVHS’s, would more likely that the sports environment here is to be homophobic or have slightly harsh feelings toward the LGBT a homophobic one. “I don’t think it’s a totally community,” Hamwi said. “In a welcoming environment for gay sport where it’s better to be more people, but I don’t think it’s a aggressive and stronger, it might be dangerous one either,” said varsity more susceptible to homophobia.” football player junior Zachary Ota. “There’s a lot of homophobia in see HATE on page 5