2020-2021 FOCUS staff Krissy Brzycki Bryan Aung Synthia Davis Madison Leonard Evan Taylor Hannah Hunt Genevieve Holt Bawi Zing Frederick Seddon Lyndsey Spoonamore Ella Bennett Blake Hall Raechel Johnson Daniel Schoch Kert Boedicker
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A LETTER FROM THE EDITORS
It has been a tumultuous year, not only for Perry Meridian but for the nation as well. It was a year of protests and political upheaval happening right in the middle of a global pandemic. With everything that happened, the many flaws of a nation were revealed: racial injustice, political polarization and a vulnerable economy. Though this issue is not a themed issue, we would like to use this letter as a way to promote a topic that has and will be sweeping across the
nation and school: the embrace of change. However that manifests itself in our school and country, the embrace of new settings, schedules and policies will be essential in moving forward from a harrowing year. Your managing editors, Krissy Brzycki & Bryan Aung
VALENTINE’S DAY PREVIEW...
I love you more than Canvas loves confusing layouts.
Your friendship makes me feel like I’m flying
six feet apart but always in my heart
you look cute
even with a mask
I feel warm and fuzzy around you
I’m so glad I got to meet you
you make my heart
you know the one way
your smile is
to my heart
contagious
School board members speak out
The Perry Township School Board implements district policies and pays bills, but this year, board members made even harder decisions. Among these was the decision in July to determine how school would resume and what this school year would look like. Despite the tumultuous year, the board has worked hard to ensure safety and education for all students and is aware of our shared struggles. Lyndsey Spoonamore Staff Reporter
What has been the hardest decision to make due to COVID-19? Every decision the past year has been difficult. Because there are thousands of ideas on how best to deal with COVID-19, nearly every parent, teacher, student and staff have their opinion. The board cannot please everyone with the decision we've made. Because there are so many different health and government agencies that influence school districts, it's made our decision making tough. The board, with the leadership of the superintendent, made what we've felt are the best decisions on a day to day basis. I'm sure there will be more changes as the school year continues, depending on COVID-19.
What do you want the student body to know?
Steve Johnson
Former President
Hannah Dale Board Secretary
For me, the hardest decision we have faced as a board was the decision in the summer on coming back to school and in what way--hybrid, in person, virtual, etc. By far the hardest decision was during our July meeting when we voted to start the fall semester with in person learning, especially with so many unknowns still out there at that time; however, I still felt it was the best decision for students, especially knowing that administration was following the Marion County Health Department's guidelines as closely as possible.
Lee Shively
Vice President
I visit PM regularly, I observe and have seen the changes in the school, I have seen several of my former students and athletes become teachers and leaders at Perry. I hope that you will be able to give back to school just as those former Perry grads have.
You are all to be admired. Your resilience, willingness to navigate this year as you have, and your dedication to your education despite the whirlwind this year has been is to be applauded. We are grateful to have such incredible students here in our district. Take time to breathe, take time to enjoy, and remember the lessons you’ve learned throughout this year--always carry them with you. My main goal in joining the school board was to bring the perspective of a current educator to the table. While the entire board works to make sure the decisions being made are what is best for students, rest assured that there is at least one voice who is also walking the walk of high school education in Indianapolis in 2021.
GOOGLE MEETS: BEHIND THE SCENES
Genevieve Holt Staff Reporter
As repeated many times already, this school year is unprecedented. And for the last two weeks, screens have separated classmates, and all of our schooling is online. Google meets are our new normal. Beyond the breakout rooms, however, arise new problems of their own. Students with younger siblings are expected to look after them while their parents are away, and there are plenty of other distractions and connection issues that take away from the learning experience. At home, students don’t even have to get out of bed to complete their first class of the day. They’ve learned to throw on a light in case their camera is asked to be on and a t-shirt before clicking attendance and joining the class. “My biggest struggle is mainly keeping it professional,” freshman Annessa McCollum says. “I have to be in a workspace kind of area to take it seri-
ously, especially during a more laid back Google Meet.” Students who keep an entirely different setup, utilizing a desk and a chair, are lucky to be able to step away from the comfort of their room and into a more serious workspace. Distractions are endless in a room at home with multiple uses and people. It is easy to allow one’s mind to wander over to a phone while a teacher is droning on about the sides of a parallelogram. “Not only do I get distracted with having little siblings, but also being on
my phone since there isn’t anyone to tell me no,” sophomore Elise Hardaway says. “It’s hard to respect and keep the same school expectations at home.” It is so easy to put minimal effort into virtual class when a teacher can’t see what their students are doing. “I consider it motivation when I’m at school,” junior Megan Duncan says. “Now that there isn’t that option to have someone to keep me on track, it’s hard to believe I have to do school still sometimes.” It’s clear that some students look at school as an opportunity to have something to look forward to because of how much of a motivation it is for some people to just get something done, whether that be an assignment, test or quiz. Going virtual is difficult for many. School is still in session, but the struggles will definitely remain The virtual world shouldn’t stop students but rather encourage them to push them further.
Photo provided by Alexis Price
Mr. Mapes: The Man, The Myth, The Manager Hannah Hunt Staff Reporter
A silver plaque, gracefully engraved with Perry Township’s mission statement, hangs steps from the entrance to the Perry Township Education Center. “Students are our priority,” its first sentence reads. This is a sentiment shared by all Perry staff members, yet especially so by Mr. Patrick Mapes, superintendent of the Perry Township school district. “Education...it’s about caring for students,” Mapes remarks. “Students first.” This “student-first” attitude is what drives Mapes, a former social studies teacher, assistant principal, and now superintendent of four years, to make district-wide decisions. Many have seen him, still more have heard of him, and yet a vast number of Perry students are unfamiliar with Mapes and his role. “Some of the elementary kids, they see me and they think I’m the mayor, they think I’m the President, they think I’m everything under the sun,” he
jokes. “I tell them, I’m in charge of all 23 buildings [of Perry Township], and it’s my job to make certain that we have high quality teachers... and to make certain that we can conduct school each and every day.” Such responsibility is nothing new to Mapes, who has been involved in leadership roles throughout his life. “I’m a farm kid...we raised hogs and cattle and farmed 2,000 acres, and 4-H was a really important part of our lives, and my older brothers and myself were all officers in our local 4-H club, and then I was also an officer of the county wide junior leader association.” His deep involvement in 4-H, an organization supporting community service and agricultural endeavors, inspired his “start down the path of leaderhship,” as did other extracurricular activities. “I participated in sports, I was a team captain of the basketball team, of the golf team,” Mapes recalls. “My dad was in a leadership role nationally with the United Auto Workers, so leadership is just something I’ve grown up with and I’ve embraced, and
that h a s just always kind of been a part of my life.” “When you’re a farm kid, you learn how to problem solve every day,” he says. “That’s just something that’s been inherent in my life.” Problem-solving is an essential element of Mapes’ job, especially as crucial decisions need to be made for the township. He states his decisions made regarding COVID-19 are widely based on the direction of the Marion County Health Department. “I’m the education expert,” he acknowledges. “I’m not the health expert. But if they tell us we can have schools open, there’s a responsibility to our community to have schools open.” Once a basketball coach, Mapes also recognizes the value of teamwork, something that has been a necessity during the pandemic. “When you’re coaching, you’re making decisions all the time, and so this is just a much bigger team, with
a l o t m o r e players on it, and I’m still expected to gather all the pertinent information and make decisions to move forward,” he says. “The biggest thing is, keep moving forward,” Mapes continues. “Indecision in an organization this big will never get the highest quality education that we want to attain and provide for the community.” As a 4-H member, as a coach, as an administrator, and as a policymaker, Mapes has seen the value of “moving forward” while never losing sight of the needs of students. As the face of Perry Township, Mapes has worked to ensure the fulfillment of Perry’s mission statement, to let it be known that, in his administration, “students are our priority.”
1970s Controversies arise over modern curriculum Frederick Seddon Staff Reporter
On Nov. 30, 2020, in what can be described politely as colorful language, young adult author Jessica Cluess denounced supporters of a group called #DisruptTexts in a series of tweets because she believed that the organization was attempting to kill curiosity by removing classic books in modern high school curiculum. Meghan Cox Gurdon of the Wall Street Journal published “Even Homer Gets Mobbed” on Dec. 27, 2020. This opinoin piece sided with Cluess and made claims that #DisruptTexts’ mission was to “deny children access to literature.” The debate shot into the public eye. However, according to #DisruptTexts, the group has never advocated banning or censoring classic literature. #DisruptTexts’ website states that its mission is “to challenge the traditional canon in order to create a more inclusive, representative, and equitable language arts curriculum that our students deserve.” Cluess has since apologized for her “unprovoked anger” and deleted her Tweets, but the WSJ article and debate over modernizing the current curriculum still remain. As the debate became widespread on the internet, teachers
fosters it in his classroom by “creating open discourse around the texts [we study].” He encourages his students to share their opinions on what they read, even if they hate the text. While Pattison only teaches “To Kill a Mockingbird” in class, he utilizes “satellite texts”--texts such as short stories, news articles and podcasts that have closely related themes from the present day--to engage his students in a conversation of equity. Junior Lucy Fischer has a slightly different take on the current curriculum. “Most books I have read for class have provided a really interesting insight into problems of the past, such as racism and sexism,” she says, and are “somehow related to what’s going on in the country now.” For instance, Fischer compares novels like “Lord of the Flies” to 1990s current political events. Although these books can give new perspectives on some topics, students still struggle with commentary over modern issues and advancements. “The classic literature being taught in the classroom today should remain the same,” she said, but “we can’t deny that our country has changed very much in the past one hundred years especially with technology and medicine.”
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and some students at Perry Meridian caught wind of it and crafted their own opinions. English teacher Luke Pattison believes it is the duty of educators to “push back against the literature canon“ because there needs to be more diversity in authorship and representation for minorities rather than just teaching “dead white guys.” Pattison wants the curriculum to modernize so students can see into different cultures of the present day age. “As a white guy, I’ve always seen myself represented in mediums of entertainment, but this is not the case for everyone,” he said. “It is important that minority students see their cultures on display.” Equity is also one of the founding principles of Pattison’s teaching. He
A Farewell to Arms
Hamlet
Moby-Dick To Kill a Mockingbird The Great Gatsby
N William Shakespeare e Herman Melville w Ernest Hemingway
Harper Lee 2010s F. Scott Fitzgerald
Trump v. Twitter Raechel Johnson Staff Reporter
It is safe to say that Gen Z has already endured more stressors and social change than a usual lifetime. Most recently, Washington D.C. swirled with press and drama surrounding former President Donald Trump. Following the Capitol raid on Jan. 6, Trump became the first president in U.S. history to be impeached a second time in a fouryear term. The trial in the Senate is expected to begin Feb. 8. As shocking as this may seem, Americans appear to be more caught up with Trump’s social media ban that resulted from the riots. Many argue that a complete social media ban is in violation of Trump’s First Amendment rights. Is this fair? To what limit does our First Amendment protect us? And, most importantly, what does Gen Z have to learn from this? Twitter’s help page outlines the following reasons for banning a user: “Hateful conduct:
You may not promote violence against, threaten, or harass other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, caste, sexual orientation, gender, etc.” A permanent ban on Trump w a s
deemed necessary by Twitter’s chief executive, Jack Dorsey, to put a growing problem to rest. Twitter executives claim that Trump has been pushing these guidelines for years with his false accusations and threats. However, as President Joe Biden’s
tenure begins, some Trump supporters are starting to take Trump’s foolish tweeting a little too seriously. But is this a violation of Trump’s First Amendment freedom of
speech? Well, no. Twitter is a privately owned corporation and, because it is not involved with the government, can ban people freely. Some may argue that world leaders need ways to communicate with the public, and the Twitter ban silenced Trump’s ability to do so. However, I see Trump’s ban as a way to protect our safety and security. Seeing how Jan. 6 went,
I’m glad the correct measures were taken so that Trump had fewer outlets some supporters could take advantage of. Twitter and all other social media apps are dominated by Gen Z users. As this generation begins to grow and vote, these apps will become increasingly helpful to communicate with our representatives. We will also hold the power of the next generation as we have grown up on electronics. We each have a responsibility to make social media feel safe for ourselves.
The athlete behind #10 By Evan Taylor Senior Jayden Taylor is leading the Falcons to a 7-5 Season while averaging 25 points, two assists and six rebounds per game during his senior season putting him above the national average in every category. Like every other athlete, this isn’t the year in sports they imagined. But Taylor is rising to the occasion and is chasing remarkable milestones. “My main goal for this season is to win,” he says. “I think we are a lot better than last year, so we should be able to compete at a very high level and win a lot of games.” Taylor has also set his sights on winning the prestigious Mr. Basketball award. “In my opinion, nobody is better than me in the state of Indiana,” he asserts. Taylor is committed to the University of Butler to continue his academic and athletic career. He has gone to basketball tournaments across the country to play some of the best competition in the country to get recognized by a hometown Division 1 program. “Signing to Butler was amazing,” he says. “At that point, it really clicked that I had taken that next step towards playing professionally. I can’t really explain the feeling, but it was truly amazing.“ He has worked toward his goal of playing professional basketball since he was young. His daily routine consists of
Photos provided by Jayden Taylor
waking up and getting his classes and homework done, going to work out with my trainer, getting a nice little lunch, going to practice, then getting up a lot of shots at night. Although this seems like a very monotonous schedule, Taylor sees the importance of fine tuning his skills every day. Basketball is a sport with some of the greatest athletes of all time. These athletes have come from across the world. But when asked who is his biggest influence, Taylor gave a humble answer: “My biggest influence is my
mother because she encourages me and pushes me beyond my limit,” he admits. “Without her, none of this would be possible.” When asked a question with no perfect answer, Taylor tries to explain what the game of basketball means to him: “Basketball is everything to me,” Taylor says. “It has already changed my life in so many ways. I don’t know what I would do without it. The love I have for this sport is beyond words.”
COVID-19 strains collegiate recruiting By Krissy Brzycki For student athletes who dream of playing in college, every season counts. So how has a global pandemic affected their chances of making those dreams come true? In a normal year, college scouts would be at games to look for standout players. But with attendance restrictions, this just isn’t an option. “Several athletic programs have turned to live streaming events, which still allow the opportunity for coaches to watch student athletes perform,” boys soccer coach Machy Magdalinos says . And some colleges aren’t even allowing high school athletes to come to them. “Our university has recommendations of what they’re asking us to do and follow right now,” Holly Cox, the UIndy women’s soccer coach, says. “One being trying to avoid as much in person contact on campus with recruits, unfortunately.” One solution has been the rise of streaming player showcases. Many events are recorded and then sent to coaches across the country. “We’ve been able to watch events that have taken place in Florida,” Cox says. “I feel like technology has amped up, and it’s been able to still give those young ladies the exposure they deserve.” Many players have had to rely on technology and creativity to showcase skills.
“I have seen several athletes turn to highlight films, and sending those to coaches,” Magdalinos says . For college coaches, however, this isn’t a new experience. Athletes from around the world have always had to utilize videos of playing highlights. “We’ve recruited internationally, so the idea of recruiting out of state or even out of country doesn’t terrify us as much,” Cox remarks. But she does understand student athletes’ anxieties, especially for juniors and seniors. “Those poor [class of 2021] recruits, that spring [when COVID hit] was such a vital time for them to be seen by college coaches,” she says. “I feel like maybe some of them were not prepared in getting video of some of them playing.” And student athletes feel that pressure. Senior Lauren Mervar, who signed to Hanover College for cross country and track, acknowledges that the recruiting process has been impacted by loss of exposure. “Due to some events getting canceled, that makes it hard to show how hard work has paid off,” she says. Despite the major changes to the recruiting process, Perry athletes are finding colleges to sign them. From Butler University to Grace College, Falcons will continue to appear on the fields and courts of their college careers.
Winter Sports Recap By Ella Bennett Wrestling The PMHS 20-21 wrestling season started off strong with a win against Franklin Community of 47-21. The team also defeated Cathedral and Brownsburg, and won the MidState Conference title where seven wrestlers were champions. Seniors Aiden Warren and Jeffrey McClure won the National Wrestling Coaches Association, the United States Marine Corps Leadership, and Character All-American Awards. Boys Swimming and Diving The boys swimming and diving team has seen numerous lifetime bests this season including the 16 at the Marion County meet. Sophomore Wesley Moore led the team by winning several swimming events along with junior Kumar Mar who excelled in diving. Girls Swimming and Diving Girls Swimming and Diving won their Roncalli and Ben Davis meet this season and finished sixth place in the Mid-State Championship. Senior Midori Adams stands out this season by being the Mid-State Diving Champion and breaking the 6 Dive School Record. Girls Basketball The varsity girls basketball team soared this season with winning over five games. They triumphed at the Lebanon Girls Holiday Tournament by scoring 52-39 against Decatur Central. The team also succeeded at Terre Haute and their recent home game. Boys Basketball Boys basketball saw several wins this season including their opening, Martinsville, Columbus North, and Columbus East games. Senior Jayden Taylor led the team this season scoring 30 points against Columbus East.
POWERING PERRY Turn the lights off! Don’t leave the sink running while brushing your teeth! Close the window, the heat is on! These timeless words are embedded into the brains of children everywhere by parents trying to keep the energy bills down, especially amidst the uncertainties of COVID-19. Fortunately, there is a silver lining to the pandemic’s otherwise negative effects at Perry Meridian High School, in part due to the ever-changing schedule format between hybrid and all-virtual environments. Energy costs between July and December of 2020 were reduced drastically compared to the same period in the 2019-2020 school year, with electric costs down 11.19% and water and sewer costs cut almost in half, at 49.12%. “The school system continually looks for and pursues, when financially reasonable, advances in technology that increase energy efficiency, like the conversion to LED lighting at all schools and other buildings,” Perry Township Energy Manager Jim Wernke states.
BY SYNTHIA DAVIS
On Dec. 14, 2020 Wernke’s contract was renewed, and his team has been consistently looking for beneficial ways to cut back on energy usage. The new lighting, combined with fewer than half the students attending Perry Meridian High School daily, has led to a decrease in electricity usage by 18.18%, compared to the same six-month period in 2019. Additionally, the water fountains have been turned off and fewer students are in the building, so the sinks and toilets have been used less, leading to a reduction in water and sewage usage of 45.28%. In contrast, natural gas costs for the building underwent smaller change from July through December of 2020, with a 2.27% savings compared to the same timeframe in 2019. What does the township plan on doing with the saved money? “The money we save as a result of being more energy efficient allows us to pursue a wide variety of opportunities to meet the needs of our stu-
dents,” Wernke states. “The administration looks at all needs, from increasing staff to improving facilities, etc. For example, one of our recent facilities improvements included adding air conditioning to the gyms at the sixth grade academies as well as the auxiliary gyms at the high schools.” While Perry Meridian High School’s overall usage has decreased, on a national level, energy usage remains costly, and the carbon fuels and natural gasses used to make electricity pollute the environment and emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. But eliminating greenhouse gas is impossible. “We have to have some greenhouse gases, or else the planet will be -400 degrees because they hold in heat,” AP Environmental Science teacher James Doninger states. What can students do to decrease the emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere? “We could all plant a tree,” Doninger suggests. “Drive less, get out of the car instead of waiting in line at a fast food restaurant.”
PMHS has saved almost $19,600 in water and sewage costs. Looking to save at home?
Fix any leaks in your plumbing, buy a low flow showerhead
PMHS has saved nearly $21,000 in electricity costs. Looking to save at home?
IPL offers energy saving kits on their website, use dimmer switches for lights
PMHS has saved $430.81 in natural Gas costs. Looking to save at home? Check for poor insulation around the house, invest in a space heater
“We could all plant a tree. Drive less, get out of the car instead of waiting in line at a fast food restaurant.� -JAmes doningerNumbers come from July-December of 2019 and 2020
IN SEARCH OF THE CHIN IDENTITY Bawi Zing
Page Designer
Indianapolis is home to the largest population of Chin immigrants in the United States. The large majority of the Chin population come from Burma seeking refuge and for the right to express their religion freely as many were persecuted because of their Christian belief. Many Chin youths come to America and are faced with the challenge of finding what their identity looks in the midst of adapting to a more modern and different social structure. Identity for many Chin youths in America has been difficult, due to the duality of cultures they are exposed to as well as struggles to feel accepted amidst intolerant racial remarks. “Growing up in America at such a young age, I felt more like an outcast to the Chin culture than the American culture,” sophomore Karena
Tial says. Many Chin youths grow up in an American society with American norms, which have caused them to stray from their cultural roots. Junior Ella Zi, like Tial, admits she grew up feeling like an out-of-place “oddball.”. She further elaborates the frustrations that impacted how she felt about her culture. “As a second grader, who didn’t know any English to begin with, I was determined to change my ways so I could be like the other kids,” Zi says. “Ultimately, this led me astray from my culture.” “The thoughts and opinions of both cultures are different in many ways,” Mary Par, a 2020’ graduate and freshman at Marian University, says. “ they disagree on a lot of topics as well, which makes it harder for me to find out who I am and what I want.” She further states that “they (parents) hold on to certain
traditions that are completely different from what is experienced in the American lifestyle and that makes it hard for chin youths to really find their voice.” Many Chin parents want their children to be deeply rooted to their culture and hold fast to more conservative views, but being immersed in an American culture that tends to be more modern and liberal creates difficulties among both perspectives. “Being immersed in two cultures put me in a situation that I hated. From one side calling me “whitewashed” and the other side not being fond of culture. That isn’t to say that they hated my culture but there was always some sort of bitterness between the two.” Andrew T., now a sophomore at Indiana University states. This constant feeling of tension results in many Chin youths having difficulty comfort with their identity. Fur-
ther, the vocalization of racist statements as well as actions has further pushed the conflict of identity for many Chin youths. “Growing up in America also resulted in an array of stereotypical assumptions including eating housepets, impersonating our language, and countless more” and further elaborates stating “all of the assumptions that my young mind heard are stuck with me for eternity.” Tial states. “It’s hard trying to ‘fit’ in at school knowing there’s a big amount of people that are ignorant. Perry may have a huge Chin group, but racism is still big,” Ruth Khun, a junior, states. “A lot of my friends, including me, struggled to stand out and take leadership as we struggle to find confidence within ourselves because we have felt muted all our lives.” Zi further elaborates. “There are still times when
Chin students feel like a minority getting abused for doing nothing except embracing their own culture.” Tial adds. However many students recognize Perry, as a township, has tried to vocalize their support and acceptance of the Chin community. “Perry as a township is very accepting. They offer opportunity and allow for the celebration of our cultures too.” Zi states. “At Perry I was able to learn a lot about my own culture and find comfort in the hands of people like me.” states Issac Hnin, 20’ Graduate and IUB freshmen. Students also recognized that the constant support and encouragement from educators also help to them to find their voice and to grow into their identity. “I had fun at Perry. I had many experiences that have shaped me into who I am today. There were also many
teachers that have made an impact on me.” states Andrew T. Will the issue of identity be fully resolved? Realistically, no, and it might never be. However all the students that were interviewed recognized the beauty and the benefits that comes alongside the Chin identity, such as the ability to more empathetic of others and the ability to celebrate and participate in cultural traditions and celebrations. Tial’s words of inspiration to Chin students state “If you decide to conform and stand at the corner, then you are showing that the Chin Identity is weak, powerless, and insecure. But, if you decide to stand up for the Chin culture and express your opinions, you show the wonders, power, and intelligence of the Chin Identity. At the end of the day, it is up to you to express the Chin Identity.”
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The Hong Kong Protests Did Not Take Place by Bryan Aung To the American eye, the law seems reasonable and sensible; however, where Americans benefit from autonomy, Hong Kong is not so fortunate. After the British handed over the region to China in 1997, Hong Kong and China have lived under the pretense of “one country, two systems.” Despite this, the Beijing government has always attempted to manifest its restricting and totalitarian laws on the city. In March of 2019, thousands marched to protest the bill and crowded the city streets, chanting a similar message preached in America’s protests: change for civil liberties. Though protests started calmly, the peace did not last. Violence broke out after thousands of protestors attempted to block pro-Beijing legislators from entering the legislative council building. Police began firing tear gas and rubber bullets at the peaceful demonstrators, causing a mob mentality to take hold. This pendulum of protesting and police crackdowns
continued for months. And on Sept. 4, the Hong Kong government decided to withdraw the legislation. It seemed that change was happening. However, as 2020 began, the Chinese Communist Party began taking more liberties in cracking down on the persistent protestors. Beijing legislators began to contrive a new national legislation law bent on exerting an unlimited power on Hong Kong. On May 28, when COVID-19 was enjoying a generous peak, the National Security law was passed. What followed suit were mass arrests of pro-democracy activists charged with terrorism and suberversion. What started as a fruitful movement has more than fizzled out; every trace of it is being quickly erased. Pro-Beijing legislators have already begun plans to change Hong Kong’s civics courses into something more in line with content comparable to the CCP’s complacent curriculum, with some legislators claiming the liberal
leaning course of “radicalizing the Hong Kong youth.” And as you read, dozens of University professors are being watched and monitored for any speech inflammatory against the CCP. Soon, it will be as if the protests never took place. What Americans can learn from Hong Kong’s dilemma is that, where others’ movements have largely failed, liberal movements in America have yet to cave in. Teachers have begun to embrace BlackAmerican history (despite President Trump’s 1776 Commission, a recently overturned executive order meant to prevent a “radicalized view of American history”), and several states have made attempts to reform their police departments. Though COVID-19 has not prevented protests in America, activism has largely stopped in Hong Kong. As beneficiaries of a working constitution, free from totalitarian rule, we ought to use our given right and be the torch bearers of protest and assembly, and carry on when others have faltered.
Words without action mean nothing by Madison Leonard Was the social status worth it? Was it worth the cruel cost of giving younger generations false hope? Was it worth all the broken promises? When a police officer killed George Floyd this past summer and protests broke out worldwide, people online said that they were ready to fight for a much-needed change. They failed to realize the challenge to act in the real world and not just behind the keyboard. They failed to make their words mean something by actually accomplishing what they advocated
online. The term for this behavior is “performative activism,” which means advocating vocally and disingenuously, especially on social media, for social causes to increase one’s personal status in the public eye. Throughout the George Floyd protests, it was hard to tell if people were coming from a genuine place or taking a horrendous story and using it for their own personal gain. As summer came to a close, there was very little change. While predictable, I expected
more progress, considering how many had alleged to take action. There is a big difference between saying you are going to do something and actually doing it. When someone says they’re going to do something online, it merely amounts to words on a screen. Actually accomplishing something in real life is much more fulfilling. None of us is making progress by sitting behind a screen. You have to be willing to fight for other people to change the status quo.
Nowadays, high school students watch trends catch the world by storm, and the idea of an Early College program is no exception. Since 2014 at Perry Meridian, students have been able to graduate with an Associate’s Degree (60 credits hours) or a General Education Core Certificate (30 credit hours) through Vincennes University. Taqi Alalawneh, a senior graduating with thirty college credits, says the Early College program is “a great opportunity for students” but is “under-appreciated in the
by Blake Hall school.” tions that advisory While still in its early teachers could perform” years, the Early College and how they could help program has many op“connect and acclimate” portunities to improve; Early College students to the first way is by implePMHS. Advisory teachers menting a plan for Early could follow their classes College advisory teachers. across all four years, proOne assumption is that vide Remind messages Early College students do about upcoming events, not participate in major and encourage turnout, school events, despite the all three of which are deep advocacy of teachnot currently a common ers like Martha Cook. practice for Early College As the Early College advisory periods. Coordinator and teacher, By implementing Cook’s drive to increase this plan, Early College participation has led to students could have a possible future plan increased turnout from for incoming freshman knowing where to show cohorts. up, which could contribCook “loves the funcute to coordinating and
No one should be prevented from casually posting their opinions and stating the things they want to do and change. It only becomes a problem when people who do not have a true passion for the cause use it for selfish reasons. If you claim to do something online for a cause, either do it or don’t post about it. The alternative is false hope for a better world and disappointment. Real cruelty is teasing people in need with broken promises, knowing they will never be kept.
A Step in The Right Direction
leading major events for school spirit. Advisory teachers could even plan social gatherings that would harness feelings of comradery, as it is important to first project unity from within to then be accepted school-wide. So, as Perry Meridian works to refine and perfect the Early College program, perhaps a new path for Perry Meridian Early College is on its way. By implementing this plan for Early College advisory teachers, the program can take its first steps to find its wings and soar high in the eyes of all Falcons.
By Ella Bennett