Kassidy Wheeler's Portfolio

Kassidy Wheeler

editor in chief

Self-Analytical Evaluation This semester was a lot of fun, and I learned a lot of new things about being in a leadership role and working with other people. It was a great opportunity to work as an editor and I think I learned a lot from it, and want to continue to improve in the 2nd semester.

Stepping up from Staff Writer to Editor in Chief was a big leap, but I think I adjusted alright.

I definitely became more vocal this year and I think overall we were able to keep everyone happy and things on the social level went much more smoother than last year. The atmosphere felt a lot more comfortable, and people seemed to enjoy what they were doing even if at times they did get down on themselves for not doing it well. It was always important to remind people that it’s their first time doing this and they’re very young, so if they stick with the program for another two years they will be a lot better at writing, photographing, and even design layout. I definitely got along with everyone in the newsroom this year, and I think that contributed to people feeling like they’re able to talk to me, and that’s a really important thing, because I’d rather people not be afraid to communicate that something is not done or that they need help with something other than being scared to talk about it.

Being a leader definitely taught me the importance of speaking up, holding myself and others accountable, and finally being a role model for others, even if they don’t recognize it. I kept getting things done on time and done to the point where I think it’s the best I can do, because if leaders don’t do get things done on time and to the best of their ability those underneath them will feel like it’s acceptable to slack. One of the cons of being a leader is it’s a lot of work and it does take up a lot more time and there is a lot more pressure. However, if everything comes together well, the time spent, pressure mounted, and work done all becomes worth it. A few things I plan to improve on in the new year is teaching others more thoroughly so they know what to do when the senior editors leave, focusing more on making my own page look more attractive to the eye so people want to read it, and finding better photos for the front page before it’s production day.

I learned so much in terms of actual production skills this semester. I learned a ton about photography including shooting on manual and having control over all the settings. Making illustrations was a huge thing to learn, and I hope to learn more creative ways to modify the illustrations so they do not all look the same or too repetitive. Learning my way around inDesign was also huge, last year I was taught a lot of what to do and how to do it on inDesign, but when you’re thrown into the mix and have to swim for yourself you learn a lot more things like shortcuts, new ways to modify the pages, and how to layout pages so people will want to read them. I’ll definitely be able to put inDesign, Photoshop, and Excel skills to use in the future.

I hit all my deadlines this semester except one interview in December had to get delayed, because the teacher was out for a longer period of time than I thought they would have been. Other than that all things went smoothly considering deadlines. Next semester I want to focus more on improving how the report card is done, I’d like to get it done earlier in the month, and find a way to make it easier for people to understand it at first glance. Some people still get very confused if I were to just give it out in a class and pass it around, so most of the time I find myself walking around and explaining it to every person who has input in the polls.

Self-Analytical Evaluation (cont’d)

I reinforced my knowledge about journalism ethics this semester and continued to realize how important it was to reflect the whole truth in photos, stories, and sidebars. Even changing the color of a table in a photograph because it would better suit your font color goes against journalism ethics, which I thought was really cool, because it holds journalists to a standard where they have to report the truth on everything, even small details like the color of an object.

I was very dedicated to the paper this year, I felt I was always staying after school or for prolonged amounts of time on production days, I went to photograph football games, report on Governing Board Forums, and even got to play an entire video game campaign to write a review on it. It feels like I really got at least a small dose of everything, especially editing writing. I always read through the paper to edit spelling and punctuation, content, and whatever I feel needs changing. I do this the best I can, and even though I miss some things here and there, I feel like this semester there was a lot less major errors compared to a few that happened in our previous first semester. It wasn’t perfect, especially the first two issues, but I think those were an important process for everyone from the Staff Writers to the Editors in Chief to learn from our mistakes.

A few problems and hardships I faced were more internally and personal rather than school related, but one thing I learned this semester is no matter how hard it gets keep going, and always challenge yourself while pushing your limit. I think this is a really good way to learn, because when you break that limit, and when you feel yourself getting tired you’re getting better at what you do through the repetition and practice you’re receiving. I remember with the first illustration I ever did I messed it up about three times in a row, it was frustrating, but it had to get done and eventually it turned out looking pretty good. I think biggest weakness is finding a way to balance everything. I never procrastinate and I always have a plan in the back of my head, even if it isn’t written down, but sometimes the plan is to read an entire copy of the paper on a Thursday night. I think if I balanced things like that better I’d be able to edit the final version of the paper better so there were more mistakes caught and corrected. I also think I need to be more assertive when dealing with people not writing or doing their things. I’ve rarely ever had anyone not write for my page, and when they do I usually talk to them and it’s done the next day. However, I think for other pages I can talk to people more seriously to get things done and help the page that they are writing for. One thing I definitely want to do better is help people better understand the opinion pages, I think a lot of people are lacking an essential skill in writing argumentative based content, and it’s a very difficult skill, but once you get it down you will be able to get anything you want in life. To change this instead of just making edits on the Google Drive, I’ll want to actually sit down with my writers and walk them through what they can do. I did that a lot this semester, but then I just sent them off with a direction in their head that some of them couldn’t really follow.

Guiding them more will allow the writing done on my page to be a lot better.

Reflection #1 I didn’t write a lot this year compared to last, because I had a lot of other responsibilities that took time up in that area, but I think the most important piece I had was the editorial on voting. The editorial was written primarily by me, as all but one of them usually are, but I thought this one was especially important because it was before the midterms. I think if even one person read that and was persuaded to go out and vote, my job as the writer was done. It definitely was not the most difficult thing I have ever wrote, and I don’t think it was the best thing I ever wrote, but I think considering our current political climate it was important.

A lot of people are unsatisfied with how things are going in our country, myself included, but all they do is complain about how bad things are and don’t do anything to change it. The whole point of the article was to convince people that their voice is important, and it’s dangerous to think that you shouldn’t vote because some person with the opposite ideology is just going to cancel out your vote. We really saw how close elections can come in some states like Florida and Texas, with Beto O’Rourke almost winning over Ted Cruz in a historically red state. The impact of this story being in a school newspaper was a really big impact in my mind. Even though probably three fourths of our school cannot legally vote, it’s still so important to make sure that the remaining quarter of them have their voices heard.

The 2018 Midterms had the largest voter turnout for a midterm in 50 years, which signals to me that people want change. Even though I was disappointed the Democrats didn’t take back the Senate, at least they were able to secure the House of Representatives. Seeing a balance take shape in Congress, and knowing that you wrote something in a public forum to maybe persuade even one person to contribute to that, is a really good feeling.

I think at first I was missing several important sources to the writing, but when the time came to publish all the critical and reliable sources were added. Last year my favorite piece of writing was a front page story on gun violence, but I had trouble with it because I could not be opinionated since it was a news story, and I feel very strongly about preventing gun violence.

This time around I was able to take a side and say people need to go vote. I liked the whole tone of the piece, because it wasn’t necessarily you need to go vote Democrat, but I just wanted to make sure that people knew they needed to go get their voices heard. Many people think midterms aren’t important and they can just stay home, but even voting for the judges on the ballot can have profound effects on legislation. Two of the judges on the ballot this year actually had a pretty big say in whether or not schools received more funding. It’s things like this that people disregard, because it seems less important since they aren’t voting for who should be given the title of President. I always felt pressure to try to persuade people to vote Democrat, because it’s not that I dislike Republicans, but their current representation lacks all the qualities that leaders need. I overcame this thought and ended the final copy with the message that all people should just go and vote, even if they vote for the party I don’t agree with, their voice still needs to be heard.

Reflection #2

One thing I’m most proud of this semester is the Colin Kaepernick illustration. I really liked this illustration, because I learned a new skill from it. It definitely makes filling my page easier, because now if I ever need a photo of a famous person or an object, I can always make it my own image or make it look much more creative. I’ve never been the most capable person when it comes to drawing art with my hands, but hopefully that learning how to draw things on a computer and edit images to catch peoples eye will help me improve my artwork online.

Another important piece of work I did was the September front page article on teacher turnover. It was important to tell the story of Arizona teachers and how their actions last Spring in the walkouts had a significant impact, and getting their voices heard paid off this school year. I felt a lot of pressure for this article, because it was the first news story I wrote in three months, and it had to be good in order to set an example for new writers. Overall it came out pretty well, and this article especially helped me shed off any rust I might’ve gotten from a long Summer. This was also the first article in the paper that our newest Principal, Mr. Swetter was quoted in, so I thought that was pretty cool to be the first article he was in.

Finally, one of the photos I was really proud of was the photo of the football team running through the falcons banner at the beginning of the season. It was definitely not the best photo compared to previous ones we’ve had of them doing that, and in fact it didn’t even get put in the paper. I liked this photo, because it was a good photo, and it didn’t fit a newspaper, but it probably could be used for other types of things like photo essays or a different type of publication. I was always kind of fearful of sitting out on a football field, in front of everyone with a camera, and capturing the moment players run through the banner, but I am happy to say I was able to do that this year. Sports photos are fun to take, and it’s cool to say I was able to capture an image that no other photographer that was at the event got, because they weren’t sitting where I was. This event also helped me learn a lot more about photographing football games, because it was my first big assignment, and football games are very hard to shoot. Most of my photos didn’t come out well, but the very first few on the camera roll I was proud to be able to capture.

Most Significant Contributions I think so far my best contribution has been how I work with others. There has been a lot of times where something was incomplete, wasn’t finished, or wasn’t up to standard and people needed help with their writing. I was able to help a lot of people who wrote for my page better their articles. I also remember staying afterwards on production days to update other Editors pages that they may of been having issues with, or if they were confused with the layout I helped them adjust it. I was able to cover for people who had to take photos, but then got too busy and weren’t able to go, and I even retook photos which may of not came out right by the original photographer and fixed the photos for them.

Honestly, this year I felt very well rounded and felt like a lot of things I learned last year helped me push myself to be able to do a little bit of everything this year. Whether it had to do with photos, statistics, graphs, charts, writing, illustrations, or coming up with new ideas I always felt able to contribute to the progress of the newspaper.

One thing I definitely hope I contributed to those who wrote for my page, and even other writers whose articles I may of edited on other pages is their writing skills. I hope that the edits that I made on articles weren’t just blindly accepted, but learned from, and I hope I made people work for some of their changes instead of just making them change it and not allowing them to understand why things were modified. This is a really big contribution, because after all the seniors leave, there will be juniors and new seniors running the paper as Editors. It will be their job to make a newspaper every month and win awards. None of us will be able to help them anymore, and they need to know how to design pages, create illustrations, take decent photos, and write informative articles.

My hope is that my outreach to help people learn new things didn’t just stop at editing their articles, but I hope people saw that I always had a positive attitude even when things weren’t perfect. I wanted them to see that even if things aren’t going your way, things aren’t done, and everyone is stressing, you have to remain positive and not get down on yourself. If everyone who came through the newsroom in the past ten years just gave up at the first sign of a problem, there wouldn’t be any awards hanging from the walls. That’s an important attitude to impose on the future Editors and Editors in Chief of the paper, because they will be the ones leading. Essentially, I hope that the current underclassmen see how I conduct myself in a positive way and always get things done on time, because that’s the standard that they will have to hold themselves to next year if they return. Finally, I hope other people learned simple stuff from me like where things are in the classroom, how to work the computers and cameras, and how make their work the best it can be.

Tear Sheets Begin

September Tear Sheets THE

THE BREAKING POINT

PRESS

The the NEWSpaper of Cactus Shadows High School in Cave Creek, Arizona September 28, 2019 vol. 10, no. 1

LIKE THE SNAP OF a pencil,

schools in Arizona are facing a shortage of teachers. With too many positions to fill, schools are being forced to find different solutions. 4 BILLY PILGERIM

INSIDE JOHN McCAIN

After the death of John McCain, many are wondering who will fill his seat in the Senate. Grace Carey reflects on McCain’s honorary and courageous life with Jeff Flake, an Arizona Senator.

See story on page 3

NEW PRINCIPAL A history teacher, the dean of students, the athletic director, and now principal, Jim Swetter returns for his eigth year at Cactus Shadows in a whole new way.

Morgan Reimer examines what it takes to be a principal.

See story on page 9

GIRLS GOLF

With hopes to win the state championships for the third year in a row, Miah Thirion discusses traditions, practices, goals, etc. with the team.

See story on page 19

Even as classroom sizes continue to increase, more schools are losing their teachers

T

By Kassidy Wheeler editor in chief

eacher turnover is having a profound impact on Arizona school districts.

Last year the problem was so serious that only four months into the 2017 school year, more than 500 vacancies were created statewide.

This problem is not just a local issue. On the national level, teacher turnover affects schools every year. According to a study done by the Learning Policy Institute, this year alone, students across the nation will enter one of more than 100,000 classrooms that have a teacher who is unqualified to teach their subject. As a result, schools are forced to trade quality for quantity because there is a severe lack of qualified educators. Some teachers retire, but recent studies suggest that at least two-thirds of teachers leave for other reasons.

“There’s a teacher shortage across the nation, and it’s not something we wanted to happen, but we always try to make things best for our students,” said Jim Swetter, Principal.

Wages affect turnover

Turnover rates in the Northeast are much lower than rates compared to the rest of the country.

Signs indicate that the reason for this is because schools in the Northeast offer better wages for teachers. The amount of funding schools receive varies from state to state, and is usually calculated on a per student basis.

Regardless of what funding schools receive from the state, staff members are working hard to ensure that teacher turnover occurs as little as possible, but there remains a serious crisis in the United States because of the shortage of people who want to teach.

“My whole summer consisted of making sure we

had enough staff members, just because they were qualified didn’t mean they were qualified for Cactus Shadows,” said Swetter.

Teaching is an important but difficult job, and finding teachers qualified for this field is sometimes even harder to do. Math, science, special education, and foreign language classrooms usually get hit the hardest by teacher turnover. Finding people to fill these roles is pivotal, and that job falls to the school’s leadership.

A study done by Susan Burkhauser, the Associative Director of Institutional Research at Loyola Marymount University, discovered that teacher retention increases when school leadership puts an emphasis on proper usage of teacher time, empowers their staff, and implements professional development effectively.

“You become a teacher to change lives, so if teachers are being appreciated more and getting paid properly, more people will be happy with being a teacher,” said Ashley Wilkins, a senior with a family member who is a teacher.

School districts throughout Arizona received a 10 percent boost for teacher pay for the 2018/2019 school year, as part of Governor Doug Ducey’s “20 percent by 2020” plan. This change was sparked by the Red For Ed movement, which took place last April and May, when many teachers and students walked out of classrooms to demonstrate their desire for improved school funding.

“What the teachers are going through is reflected in the classroom and how they teach, so if they’re not being paid enough, events like Red For Ed happen to create change,” said Wilkins.

Impact of school funding

Changes to school funding can take states a long time to put into effect, and usually is not at the top of most Arizona legislator’s to-do lists.

This is why the Red for Ed movement is so power-

ful, because, as students and teachers nationwide stand up for improved school funding, they are raising awareness about this crucial issue. In many cases, schools have received the financial boosts that their local Red for Ed movements brought about. Unfortunately, for some school districts in the country, they received no budget increase, but there are other ways school districts can make sure their teacher retention rates increase.

The Learning Policy Institute says that teacher preparedness and training can play a major factor in determining if an individual teacher will want to stay with a school. Teaching conditions are also a key part of whether or not someone is likely to remain. However, poor conditions in the classroom usually stem from lack of funding. If class sizes are too large, it’s because the funded student-toteacher ratio does not allow for more classes to have less students.

Lack of resources

Also, in many cases, classroom materials are not all supplied by the school. A study conducted by the Federal Department of Education showed that 94 percent of public school teachers in the United States reported paying for supplies without reimbursement. On average, they spent around $479 each year, from their own pockets, to buy tissues, pencils, and paper for students.

“When teachers leave, kids get behind, and kids who already struggle get even further behind, so that doesn’t benefit students who come to learn,” said Karli Miller, a senior.

The crisis of teacher attrition varies by categories of teachers. Those who are unprepared for a job in education tend to leave at rates two to three times higher than those with adequate preparation.

Proven strategies for increasing teacher retention can begin with something as simple as providing staff support.

Comment

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

September 28, 2018 ● 5

Your chance to be heard

A

The EDITORIAL represents the consensus view of the members of the Editorial Board.

The Editorial Board members are Brook Bowman, Kassidy Wheeler, Maja Peirce, Avianna Hoppes, Morgan Reimer, Annie Sogaard, Julia Knies, and Blake Dorame

Press

s a vocal proponent for change across America, students have been speaking out in increasing numbers, advocating for common sense gun laws, funding for education, and equal opportunities for all types of people. Their message was communicated through marches, speeches, and walkouts throughout 2018.

For those wanting change, these tools are an important way to get the word out.

However, the only way to effect these changes is through voting. It is critical that every eligible voter registers and votes in the November elections.

According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, in the 2014 midterm election, only 21 percent of millenials (ages 18-34) showed up to the polls. In the 2012 primary election, 74 percent of 64 million millenials did not vote. No matter how many marches, rallies, walkouts, and sitins take place, none of them matter if the votes are not cast.

Saying action will be taken is much different from taking action. No matter how many young people across the nation fight to make a difference, every vote counts, and every vote has to end up on a ballot for change to begin.

Former President Barack Obama visited the University of Illinois on September 7 to address young voters and the state of politics.

"Do not complain. Don't retreat. Don't lose yourself in ironic detachment. Don't put your head in the sand.

Don't boo. Vote," said Obama.

Regardless of party, a vote is a powerful tool, one which can build bridges to the future or rekindle vile flames of the past. It is peoples duty to make sure they are registered to vote, and are able to show up to the polls on voting day to see that their voice is heard.

In Arizona, registration can easily be done online through the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Divisions website (servicearizona.com). People who turn 18 before November should get registered to vote, so they will be eligible in time for the general elections. The requirements include citizenship, the last four digits of your social security number, and your Arizona driver's license number.

Political activism does not work unless votes are cast, and that means that the youth who have worked so hard to demonstrate their desire for change need to show up to the polls in November.

Voting is one of the best ways to demonstrate patriotism. Flying the flag, standing for the anthem, and praising your country are lesser forms of patriotism compared to actively voting. People who say one vote does not count are fearful, because they know that the one vote cast against their candidate could be the difference. They tell people not to vote, because they know if every single person came together to vote against their candidate, they would lose. Every vote counts, and to say that one vote is irrelevant impedes the democratic process that is so important to electing leaders. A single vote by one person from a demographic is not as powerful, but when that entire demographic comes together to vote, the outcome can prove the people who say one vote does not matter wrong.

It doesn’t just stop at November. Once the outcome of Novembers midterm elections are reported, complacency is not an option. The marches must continue, the advocacy needs to persist, and the thousands of voices calling out for change need to remain as vocal as ever. Holding those in power accountable and standing up for equal rights and opportunity for all, must continue throughout the forseeable future.

Debate on the border It seems with recent events, America is becoming more and more of a circus, we have elephants and donkeys, a clown in the White House, and now, instead of animals, we are putting kids in cages. While not everyone would agree with that statement, and some would not exactly call their living spaces “cages,” the truth is, no loving parent ever deserves to have their child torn away from them, no matter the circumstances.

Now, more than ever, people feel free to express their prejudice and hate towards people who are different. It seems just a few years ago, people were almost too nice towards others opinions and feelings, but now that’s out the window.

The whole country is not falling apart, but it definitely is divided, between the right, the left, and the

middle, who mostly just don’t want to be yelled at.

People act as if immigrants coming into the country are the same as serial killers. But they’re not crazy, they’re not trying to attack the country, they’re trying to give their families a better life. Any person in the same circumstances as some of these people have gone through, would try to get a better life, and for most, that’ is the United States.

With most Americans used to their freedoms, the moment they come close to losing one or having it a little different, they go crazy.

Americans don’t think about the people who do not have the freedoms or opportunitie.

While it’s understandable that people don’t like the illegal immigrants due to them not paying taxes, if people do not want illegal

Editors in Chief Brook Bowman Kassidy Wheeler Opinion Editor Kassidy Wheeler In-Depth Editor Maja Peirce The NEWS Editor Brook Bowman Sports Editor Avianna Hoppes Features Editor Morgan Reimer Creeker Editor Annie Sogaard Spotlight Editor Julia Knies Photo Editor Blake Dorame Staff Frida Alvarado, Ryan Bartholomew, Emma Bauer, Hope Black, Jo Breese, Mia Brito, Grace Carey, Brendan Donaldson, Devin Dorough, Lucas Dufresne, Connor Green, Austin Hagan, Riley James, Logan McDade, Evan Myers, Ethan Penington, Raven Ramirez, Grant Richardson, Max Sotelo, Miah Thirion, Rylee Yarra Editorial Policy: The CSPress is published by the Journalism class of Cactus Shadows High School. The NEWSpaper serves the students and staff of Cactus Shadows High School and as a connection to the surrounding community.

The objective of the CSPress is to publish a factual, informative and entertaining the NEWSpaper, and to provide a forum for the expression of diverse viewpoints.

The Comments and views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, the adviser, or all CSPress staff members.

The CSPress is also published online, at cactusshadowscspress.com.

The editors reserve the right to reject any material that is libelous, obscene, or poses an immediate and material disruption to the educational environment.

WE VALUE YOUR Comment. EMAIL YOUR LETTER TO CSPRESS.Comment@gmail.COM The CSPress values Comments from its readers. If you have something to say about anything you have read, please write a letter to the editor and send it to cspress.Comment@ gmail.com. Letters must be typed, less than 100 words in length and signed. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit for length. The CSPress will not print letters that are obscene, libelous or that target an individual.

opinion immigrants in America, then it’s simple, make it easier to get in the country legally. If it were easy, or at least easier to get into the country legally, illegal immigrant rates would drop and legal immigration would rise.

While it isn’t an easy thing to just make happen, it can happen -- Congress can work together to create an immigration process that is better for Americans and immigrants alike. The only problem is that they won’t work together. The country would rather fight about our differences than come together and make something we can all live with.

Sure, it is difficult to work together to find a solution, but let’s not accept that this is just how America works nowadays.

The The NeWsPaPer of CaCTus shadoWs high sChool iN Cave Creek, arizoNa

Advertisements that are obscene, misleading, or illegal to minors will not be printed. The CSPress reserves the right to reject any advertisement. To place an ad, contact the adviser or the Advertising Manager at (480) 575-2493.

connor green staff writer

kids in cages

The CSPress is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association, the Journalism Education Association, and the Arizona Interscholastic Press Association.

The CSPress Cactus Shadows High School P.O. Box 426 Cave Creek, Arizona 85327 (480) 575-2400

September 29, 2018, Volume 10: Issue 1 School enrollment: 1822 Number of copies printed: 1100

6 ● September 28, 2018

Comment THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

Improving school safety

A large effect on education opinion

opinion

With all of the recent increases in school shootings, it is important that schools take action to make their campus safer. Schools are safe in certain areas and other areas are not as safe as they should be and this needs to be imroved.

School safety can be very expensive and sometimes flawed, schools should have more security guards and some of them should be armed. The security officers that are armed, should have a lot of experience and be highly trusted and highly recommended. Some students might feel safe if the guards are armed, others may feel unsafe and intimidated by this.If an intruder feels slightly threatened by a guard with a gun, it will make possible threats think twice about committing a crime at the school. These protectors of the school should be placed at specific locations and entrances, some should be in view of classroom doors, others near the office and other buildings that have exits to the outside. There should definitely be more cameras to watch for trouble so that security guards can have someone watch their back. Although, the school does not have the budget, some things can definitely be cut in order to do this.

The fire drills are very useful but this year, it has gone down hill. Students used to file out onto the field that is far enough away from the school, now at certain places students are almost touching the perimeter buildings.. The closer students are to the school, the more they will inhale toxic fumes and be exposed to the flames. If the students were farther away from the school, they would not have to deal with this. Even if the school were to explode, kids would be much safer far away. This new way of doing fire drills is definitely flawed. However, lockdowns are somewhat efficient, when a shooter enters the school, they would definitely tell if the school is populated with students because of the cars. Most of the time, the criminal would already have seen that the teacher has turned out the light and hear the whispering of the kids inside.

If they notice that, the intruder could easily bring that locked door down or get through a window.

Back to what was said earlier, the security guards should be placed in view of all doors and should go after this intruder. The lockdowns would also be much more efficient if there were hiding places or if the students were covered by something.

One of the bigger problems with the school is the harassment and bullying of student to student. Teachers do not realize that this is endangering students, lives and, the schools staff needs to install more cameras which should always be monitored and dealt with swiftly. Students who are bullied may suffer from depression and will resort to cutting or suicide. This is the biggest threat in schools that school staff overlook.

In conclusion, school safety is not as efficient as many have thought and needs to really be improved on. School safety is not always about keeping someone unwanted out, but also keeping a student from doing something to themselves or others. The current system to keep schools safe is good, but it needs some major improvements and to consider students overall well-being.. The biggest thing that needs to happen to prevent a school shooting is trained security guards who are armed, which is not as hard as many make it. All schools need to ensure safety to prevent certain bad events from taking place, this improvement should start immediately in order to ensure the safety of students.

evan myers staff writer

Just how safe do you want to be?

4 KASSIDY WHEELER

New Safety Measures

3 KASSIDY WHEELER 1 Wearing IDs

ID’s have never been new to schools, but recently they have been made mandatory to be worn around students neck at all times. This way it makes it easier for law enforcement and school administration to recognize who is supposed to be on campus.

2 Fire Drills

Fire drills have been changed to make sure that students are more spread out instead of bunched together in one location. Depending on which classroom students are in when a fire drill occurs, they will go to a safe location close to their class. This way it is quicker to get away from the fire, and protect students well-being.

3Security Personnel

Schools have an assigned Resource Officer who watches over the school and responds to any possible threats during school hours.

Schools also employ security guards to enforce ID rules, discipline students, and watch over the campus.

The 2008 recession left school districts across the country with less money and, as a result, less teachers, which led to an increasee in class sizes all across the state.

The statistics in Arizona are alarmingAccording to azk12.org, the average class size in the country is about 17 students, while the average class size in Arizona is about 26 students. School and state officials try to make that statistic seem better than it is, by including counselors and other school staff, apart from actual teachers, in the student to teacher ratio. This is a problem that needs to be fixed -- , with class sizes going up, the quality of education has gone down.

There are many disadvantages to having a large class size, such as students distracting one another. The more kids there are in a class, the more likely they are to talk to each other, which makes it harder for other kids to focus and difficult for the teacher to control the class. If the teacher is constantly yelling at students, the other students are missing out on important instructional time.

Another disadvantage is that some students tend to fall behind. If a teacher has more students, then that makes it harder for them to attend to individual students and help them. Also, the more kids, means the more homework

and tests the teachers have to grade.

That fact alone, might stop other people from becoming a teacher, because who wants to spend more time grading and doing work.

Studies show that class sizes do affect the quality of education that students are receiving. For example, Nevada and Mississippi are two of the states with a low-ranking public education system, who also happen to have some of the largest class sizes in the country.

Although Arizona is not there yet, it is certainly headed in that direction.

According to brookings.edu, class sizes in Arizona have grown from an average of 15 students to an average of 25 students since 1989.

Not everyone agrees with the facts though, as a new study from aaeteachers.org claims that class sizes have no affect on the quality of education whatsoever, but, as anyone who has sat in a class with 37 students knows, that is not the case.

Disappointingly, all signs point to class sizes continuing to increase. Only 36 states in the U.S. have a law in place to stop class sizes from growing past a certain number.

Every state needs a law, not just some. This is a serious problem that many people are overlooking, and it needs to be fixed.

Teacher turnover Over the past decade, the number of teachers “turning over” has been a growing concern among parents, teachers, and administration, because turnover impacts student learning and future success.

Researchers propose that the problem of this teacher turnover crisis is far more complex than we thought.

One of the most common theories is that one of the greatest causes of average or below average academic performance from students, is the school’s inability to regularly fill the classrooms with wellqualified teachers.

There is an argument that the high rate of teacher turnover actually occurs among new teachers. A study by the US Department of Education found that 50 percent of teachers in their first five years of teaching leave the profession.

Recent studies by the Arizona Department of Education also point to the fact that teacher turnover is a more frequent mishap among high school teachers, especially in specialized fields.

For those who state that teacher turnover isn’t a problem, consider the fact that Cactus Shadows is currently down two math teachers, and has other positions filled by long term subs instead of qualified teachers.

avianna hoppes

sports editor

Too many students in your class?

opinion

During the 2016-2017 school year, schools in Arizona that have been training our teachers, are handing out certificates of completion to non-graduated educators. The number of certificates issued to untrained teachers grew from 1,856 to 3,286 in the 2015-2016 school year. This is all due to the drastic teacher shortage in American schools around the state. Many problems have solutionmosts, and there is one for teacher turnover as well. eacher turnover is a complicated issue, because all teachers are unique, and probably are leaving for different reasons. However, a common complaint among teachers is a lack of freedom to teach the way they want to. Maybe if an effort was made to give teachers freedom in the classroom, more of them would stick around.

Most teachers have their own way of educating students to the best of their ability. On a daily basis, teachers are having their methods challenged. Also known as not having the freedom teachers deserve. New teachers could be tough to adjust to, but the students are not the only ones adjusting. gives them news.

Teacher turnover is a problem that must be addressed so we do not continue to lose more every year.

lucas dufresne staff writer

Where are my teachers?

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

Comment

Should seniors continue to have half days?

yes MAKENNA

no GRANT RICHARDSON

FRENCH staff writer

C

actus Shadows is one of the high schools in Arizona that offer the option of a half day to seniors If they meet certain criteria, they will only have to take four classes their senior year. Of course, after eleven years of schooling, this concept attracts your average senior. Who wouldn’t want to get out of school early?

Of course, the most obvious benefit is… freedom. For example, you no longer have to deal with annoying lunches with mobs of students trying to buy food and eat in just thirty five minutes. Since seniors do not have to stay on campus for lunch, they can go get lunch with friends, go home to eat, relax, and do homework.

With four classes a student can focus more on their main classes rather than having to stress about six or even more.

Another plus side to a half day is making some money. A lot of high schoolers have a job, some go from school to work with only a few hours to spare in between, which can create stress over homework, which could potentially lead to it not being completed, and result in dropping grades. A half day opens up a senior’s schedule and allows them to be more flexible with their management, which can ultimately give them more time to do their homework after school and eventually go to work later in the day.

In addition, half-days can help with grades. With four classes, a student can focus more on their main classes, rather then having to stress about six or even more. While some might think it is only two classes more, that can affect a student more than one may think. Junior year took a toll on some students mentally, it is a difficult year and having a shorter day senior year can help them relax and could possibly take some of the stress away before starting college.

If half days were affecting students so badly, they would not be a thing anymore.

They obviously have to be doing something beneficial towards the students that have them, otherwise half days would not exist. There will always be a handful of students in every class who just do not apply any effort into school, but a lot of students do. Remember, the criteria the school requests has to meet in order to get a half day, not everyone is able to get one. Just because a senior is taking a half day doesn’t mean they all take easier classes. A lot of seniors take English 101, which is a dual enrollment course. There are also a lot of AP classes that seniors take.

While some parents might think that a student is missing out on school work and won’t be prepared for college, that is untrue. Having a half day can give students an opportunity to take Dual Enrollment classes off campus at a college. So they may be getting out of school early, but they could be earning college credit and still be learning by taking other courses elsewhere.

Some seniors take zero hour classes, giving them an even earlier release. Taking the zero hour class means the students does not have to take a fourth hour class, allowing them to leave after third hour at 10:20 am.

A half day is also nice because then a student doesn’t have to deal with all of the traffic from everyone getting out at the same time, but that is not as important. A lot of seniors could agree, having a half day gives more time for school rather than

less. It gives a student the opportunity to focus on themselves and their school work to a higher and better potential.

\kassidy wheeler Source: Cactus Shadows Registrar

September 28, 2018 ● 7

O

staff writer

Percent of seniors taking half days

ne downside is that students might not get fully prepared for college because they are missing out on classes. Many studets after college say that their high school didn’t prepare them well enough to succeed. The classes that they miss out on could be some type of class that could get them prepared for college in some sort of way. If students feel like they weren’t prepared for college from high school, then it could be a big factor in their future.

If they can’t get through college then they won’t be prepared to try and get a job they have been looking forward to most of their life.

Another downside is that some students don’t realize their GPA could be lower than desired. Students don’t know what they need to do their senior year to get into the college they want to get into. At the end of the year they notice that if they took a full day their GPA could be where they want it to be because they would’ve taken more classes which could have helped them.

There have been people who have not had good grades in their freshman, sophomore, and junior year, so they decide to take half days as seniors and, after the year they realize that their GPA is not where they want it to be. It has to feel really nice to get out of school early every day after their classes, but this negatively affects their education.

Another pitfall to early release is that, when students get out of school early, they might bring people over to their house. If there are no parents home, they could be making poor decisions.

Seniors are looked up upon by the younger kids and they look cool when they show school spirit. If seniors don’t take half days they have a better chance of having more school spirit. They would have more school spirit, because they are at the school for a longer amount of time and have more of a chance to be connected with the school.

Since most seniors do take half days the school doesn’t have to hire more teachers. The schools can’t afford to hire teachers because of the lack of income. If there were more students who did stay the full day they would be in enormous classes but they would still be learning.

Student athletes that take halfdays might show up to practice, which is later in the day, with no energy because they went home and did nothing after school. The athletes could go home and go back to sleep and when they wake up and have to go to their games or practices, they will be lackadaisical.

Athletes who take full days would have more energy because they have stayed active the whole day. When the athletes have more energy they will have more success.

Everybody thinks of senior year as the half day year, where you don’t have to do anything, so they don’t try in their classes. If more seniors around the country started to take full days instead of half days, this generation of students would be smarter because they would be able to learn for an hour but than be able take a break. Senior half days do not contribute to the education of students adequately. If students want to be well prepared, and be ready to succeed in college, taking full days as a senior in high school is the way to go.

When students get out of school they might bring people over to their house and if there are no parents home they could be making poor decisions.

October Tear Sheets THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

As we see it: the Editorial

OPINION

October 19, 2018 ● 5

Silencing the truth

Ensuring journalists are able to report the truth has always been an important factor of relaying the news

K The EDITORIAL represents the consensus view of the members of the Editorial Board.

The Editorial Board members are Brook Bowman, Kassidy Wheeler, Maja Peirce, Avianna Hoppes, Morgan Reimer, Annie Sogaard, Julia Knies, Blake Dorame , and Austin Hagan

NOWING the truth in a political climate where so many things are deemed as false is a very important thing. Being able to decipher what is legitimate from what is satire is a critical skill in today’s non-stop world of information. Censoring any type of media just because it reveals how a person, policy, or certain rhetoric may not be what they claim to be is unjust and unfair to the people.

There are certainly restrictions that should be included on what someone can say and cannot say. For instance, yelling “bomb” on an airplane or “fire” in a crowded movie theater will get anyone who does it in serious trouble. Those situations are hypotheticals, but there are times where there may be an actual fire burning very close to what people hold dear, but censorship has prohibited them from learning about it.

When the public knows about issues, they will at least know how to react to the conflict at hand. Comparing it to the medical field, a patient cannot receive treatment if they do not know what is wrong with them, and that dialogue begins with the doctor being honest with the patient. The same type of thinking should be applied with reporting news to the public.

This way, leaders will be held accountable and future leaders understand they have to uphold their integrity, morals, and set the standard for how someone in power is supposed to act. The implications could be severe for those who have something to hide, but without the work of investigative journalism throughout history, the country could look a lot different. For example, holding leaders in the Nixon administration accountable for not telling the truth about what was happening in Vietnam, allowed the United States to get out of Vietnam faster than the country would have if reporters stayed silent.

The same reasoning applies for smaller outlets such as school newspapers, censoring students’ voices can lead to major repercussions. In 2015 a news article about the harmful effects of a new way students were using drugs was intended to go into Virginia’s Fauquier High School’s newspaper. However, it was pulled at the last minute by the principal because it was deemed “overly mature” for the school’s audience. The editors of the newspaper then brought the article to Fauquier Now, which is an online newspaper who agreed to publish the article. The amount of views that the article got online was nearly ten times higher than the school’s actual student body.

Understandably, there are some things that require more subtlety when being reported on. Teachers personal lives, people’s financial situations, and things that could potentially put the school in danger should not be published. That being said, to have a productive newspaper, it is still important to let writers discuss mature topics like politics, reforming school policies, and drug abuse. By doing so, this will further enhance the writer’s ability to learn how to effectively create important pieces of journalism, and it will educate others who read the article on serious topics that may affect them now or in the future.

Leaders will be held accountable and future leaders understand they have to uphold their integrity, morals, and set the standard for how someone in power is supposed to act.

White House visit should not be mandatory OPINION

Avianna Hoppes sports editor

Are sports teams obligated to visit the White House?

Normally, when an American sports team wins a championship, the President of the United States invites them to the White House, and they accept the invitation. With a controversial president like Trump in office, that tradition is in jeopardy.

Teams first began visiting the White House in 1865 and, although players have been opting out of going to for many years, the number has increased dramatically. This is specifically because of Trump. For example, when the Chicago Cubs won the World Series in 2016, they purposely moved their White House visit with Obama four days prior to Trump being sworn in, once they found out he got elected. A number of other players and teams have decided not to go, such as Chris Long, Lindsey Vonn, and the entire 2017 Golden State Warriors roster.

Many athletes have faced criticism for not going, but they are well within their rights not to go. Although people say that it is an honor to be invited to the White House (which it is) and that athletes should not make it political, players should not be forced to go if they do not like Trump.

If a player strongly dislikes Trump, then they should not go just to go. Yes, it may be seen as a political move, but that is not the end of the world. If a player accepts

the President’s invitation, then they are in essence agreeing with the President and agreeing with what he stands for. Since Trump is very controversial - his morals often called into question - players and coaches are hesitant to stand by his side and support him.

Many athletes have received backlash for trying to mix sports and politics (which athletes skipping the White House visit is definitely political), but not going to is not going to affect anyone, except for that player and the president. Only bad things will happen if a person is forced to meet and honor someone they do not like, such as President Trump. Since many players have publicly criticized Trump prior to winning a championship, it would not make any sense for them to go and it might be hard for them to “fake it” if they have previously voiced their disapproval.

The players may be the ones getting criticized for not going, but that goes both ways. On numerous occasions, Trump has not invited or rescinded the invite simply because he does not like a player or team. If Trump wants to make championship teams visiting the White House non-political, then he needs to put his ego aside.

One solution is to let the team come to the White House, but they do not have to meet the president if they do not want to.

PRESS

THE THE NEWSPAPER OF CACTUS SHADOWS HIGH SCHOOL IN CAVE CREEK, ARIZONA

Editors in Chief Brook Bowman Kassidy Wheeler Opinion Editor Kassidy Wheeler In-Depth Editors Maja Peirce Austin Hagan The News Editor Brook Bowman Sports Editor Avianna Hoppes Features Editor Morgan Reimer Creeker Editor Annie Sogaard Spotlight Editor Julia Knies Photo Editor Blake Dorame Staff Frida Alvarado, Ryan Bartholomew, Emma Bauer, Hope Black, Jo Breese, Mia Brito, Grace Carey, Brendan Donaldson, Devin Dorough, Lucas Dufresne, Connor Green, Riley James, Logan McDade, Evan Myers, Ethan Penington, Raven Ramirez, Grant Richardson, Lauryn Stornelli, Max Sotelo, Miah Thirion

Editorial Policy: The CSPress is published by the Journalism class of Cactus Shadows High School. The NEWSpaper serves the students and staff of Cactus Shadows High School and as a connection to the surrounding community.

The objective of the CSPress is to publish a factual, informative and entertaining the NEWSpaper, and to provide a forum for the expression of diverse viewpoints.

The Comments and views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, the adviser, or all CSPress staff members.

The CSPress is also published online, at cactusshadowscspress.com.

The editors reserve the right to reject any material that is libelous, obscene, or poses an immediate and material disruption to the educational environment.

WE VALUE YOUR Comment. EMAIL YOUR LETTER TO CSPRESS.Comment@gmail.COM The CSPress values Comments from its readers. If you have something to say about anything you have read, please write a letter to the editor and send it to cspress.Comment@ gmail.com. Letters must be typed, less than 100 words in length and signed. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit for length. The CSPress will not print letters that are obscene, libelous or that target an individual.

Advertisements that are obscene, misleading, or illegal to minors will not be printed. The CSPress reserves the right to reject any advertisement. To place an ad, contact the adviser or the Advertising Manager at (480) 575-2493.

The CSPress is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association, the Journalism Education Association, and the Arizona Interscholastic Press Association.

The CSPress Cactus Shadows High School P.O. Box 426 Cave Creek, Arizona 85327 (480) 575-2400

October 19, 2018, Volume 10: Issue 2 School enrollment: 1822 Number of copies printed: 1100

6 ● October 19, 2018

COMMENT THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

Vaping making a national impact 1 Vaping happens all over the country

Vaping is a national epidemic. Nearly three million high school students use e-cigarettes and they even do it during school hours. It is easy to conceal and people do not believe that it has the same harmful affects as smoking cigarettes. It sometimes can be grouped as a gateway drug, because, once students start doing it they will begin to experiment with other drugs, which will give them more than a buzz.

2 Highly addictive with high levels of nicotine

One of the most popular forms of e-cigarettes are JUUL’s. JUUL is worth around $15 billion and is currently under government investigation for marketing schemes that target young adults and teenagers. The reason for this is because many of the products are named flavors that will appeal to young people. The use of flavors like mint, mango, and creme appeal to younger audiences. Many adults blame the FDA for their early inaction and failure to regulate the product earlier when it first appeared in 2015.

3 The fight to regulate e-cigarettes

E-cigarettes are usually less harmful compared to cigarettes for individual’s health, but they still have highly addictive properties and the presence of toxins still exists. The FDA hopes to get tobacco companies to gradually cut their levels of nicotine in their products. The FDA is also cracking down on companies selling to minors, sending out 1100 warnings to new offenders, and 131 fines to repeat offenders.

3KASSIDY WHEELER

Blowing away students’ future OPINION

Electronic cigarettes are very addictive to teens all around the country. The Food and Drug Administration is considering banning them if the companies that sell them don’t show a decrease in teen usage. E-cigarettes should be banned because of how it is affecting teens these days.

First of all, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of high school students using e-cigarettes has “skyrocketed by about 75 percent.” Researchers are saying that teens are getting addicted to these e-cigarettes because of the flavors that they come in and how they are kid friendly flavors.

Examples of these flavors are cotton candy, wildberry, and gummy bear. The idea is that, if the companies stopped making these flavors, vaping wouldn’t be so addictive. Teens wouldn’t view vaping as good if they didn’t include flavors that they like.

Teens are motivated to vape for the first time because it is considered “cool.” It is also extremely easy to vape everywhere and anywhere. Teens are doing this all the time throughout the day and they are able to get away with it very easily. In school, students are always in the bathroom using some sort of e-cigarette, and the staff aren’t able to watch over every bathroom, so they can’t do anything to stop it.

Another problem is that teens do not think of e-cigarettes as bad for you, because it isn’t as bad as regular cigarettes. They just hear that they are better for you than cigarettes and don’t hear the other part about they are still bad for you.

There are some reasons why they shouldn’t ban e-cigarettes. One reason is that they help people over 18 quit smoking by vaping instead. And vaping is definitely better than smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco.

And, of course, there is the very real

problem that it is very hard to get teens to stop anything. There continues to be problems with marijuana and alcohol use among teens, and it’s definitely not going to be easy to get them to stop vaping. More education may help, but often teens do dangerous things because they don’t believe it will harm them.

But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. The FDA is considering banning online e-cigarette sales, and has ordered five brands to submit plans showing how they will prevent teens from using their products.

This is a step in the right direction, but we should go further. The FDA should make customers show their IDs if they look like they are under age.

This problem needs to be fixed soon so that this generation doesn’t get worse with their vaping addictions.

Grant Richardson staff writer

Vaping addictions are affecting teenagers

4 ANNIE SOGAARD

Teaching without certification is acceptable Brendan Donaldson, staff writer, discusses how teaching without certifications impacts students and schools OPINION

Brendan Donaldson staff writer

Teaching without certifications

A current hot topic in education is whether or not teachers need to be certified to teach. In Arizona, it is not necessary to be certified in order to get hired, and there are teachers at Cactus Shadows who are not certified. These teachers seem to be more than capable of teaching the classes that they teach. Teachers should not have to be certified, because they have the potential to be amazing teachers without certification.

Even though these teachers are not currently certified, they must meet certain requirements in order to teach. First, they must have graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college. Second, they must be enrolled in a qualified program to become certified. These teachers have two years to complete the certification process.

Another reason to hire teachers who aren’t certified is that there aren’t any certified teachers available. Because of the low pay, Arizona is currently experiencing a huge teacher shortage. While

non-certified teachers usually lack the experience that most certified teachers have, their experience does not usually impact their teaching ability. In 2017, Arizona schools hired 1,035 “underqualified” teachers.

Something that not many people are discussing is: why are these teachers willing to leave more lucrative careers to come and teach? They will make less money teaching, and yet, they still want to teach. This means that they are probably very committed to doing a good job, and may bring some experience from their previous careers that will be beneficial to their students.

Some would argue that hiring uncertified teachers is a bad idea because they have not received specific training in teaching. In reality, because of their degree, it is certain they are experts in their subject area, which means they have the knowledge needed to teach the students. Every potential teacher is interviewed, and we can assume they will not hire people that they see unfit for the position, and it is not like they are just pulling strangers

off the street to teach math classes.

Another thing to consider is that for teachers who are getting their teaching degree while they are teaching, it will be a little chaotic during the school year.

The fact is that in Arizona there may not be enough teachers without these humble individuals who are not certified and are choosing to pursue this line of work. If there weren’t enough teachers, the students would be negatively impacted with over-sized classrooms, which would also affect the teachers who are certified and working. This would have the potential to completely leave high schoolers undereducated by making the classes too big for enough teacher and student interaction.

Students in class with uncertified teachers do not usually notice that their teacher is not certified, which speaks to the fact that many of these teachers know what they are doing and how to do it. Instead of complaining about uncertified teachers, let’s be thankful we have enough teachers in our classrooms to educate us.

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS COMMENT

OPINION

Does tech in thwe classroom benefit students?

Yes

October 19, 2018 ● 7

OPINION

No

With the world changing around us every day and new technology coming out overnight, one of the biggest questions being asked is whether or not technology needs to be in classrooms. While many would say technology does nothing but distract kids, there are other sides to the story they are not seeing. Most people think of students getting distracted by their phones in the classroom, but who they don't think about is the students who need technology just to keep up with other students.

Connor Green People are forgetting about the six and a half million special needs students who deserve the same opportunities as every other student. With staff writer 13 percent of the nation’s public school students being special needs students, there are not enough trained professionals to give these students the best chance.

49 of 50 states reported a shortage in special education professionals, and with a shortage in teachers already, things do not seem to be getting better.

That is when technology comes into play. With some of the recent advances in technology, it is easier now than ever to have personalized learning plans and individual help. With technology like touch screens, text-to-speech, and other assistive devices similar to light signals, special needs students can excel in the classroom. Technology is not the solution for everything, but it can help in ways people do not notice.

Technology does not only help special needs students, it can help in all classrooms. With new tech coming out all the time it is hard to keep up, but if students learn how to use new tech, then it only makes life after school easier.

Of course, there are examples of technology distracting rather than helping. While it is understandable that students would try to take advantage of this opportunity, a few kids who don't care about their education should not be the deciding factor on whether or not the students who care get technology in their class.

Students nowadays have access to all the information they want in their pocket, making it hard for some to see the point of school. But if class were inviting and not as much of a bore, some of these students may gain motivation. This happens all the time already with a website called Kahoot. Kahoot is a great example of how technology can be used to promote a student’s learning, without distracting students.

Although funding is is hard to find and not everyone feels that technology helps the classroom, if given the opportunity, schools should incorporate tech in any classroom possible because it helps students prepare for the real world.

With technology like touch screens, textto-speech, and other assistive devices similar to light signals, special needs students can excel in the classroom.

In recent years, the world around us has evolved drastically, introducing wave after wave of technology. Many schools embrace new technologies, feeling that they are beneficial to students’ learning. But, in fact, the negatives outweigh the positives, and schools should limit student exposure to technology.

First of all, there are physical concerns from the Environmental Protection Agency regarding long term exposure to wireless devices and the connection humans have to their computer screens.They predict that this seemingly harmless mechanism may turn into a nationwide epidemic, discouraging exposure to students who have video screens in front of their faces or computers in their laps, even if they’re at school.

In addition, it is widely acclaimed that digital devices in the classroom could lead to a disconnect, according to a survey done by The Pew Research Center. In some cases, students find themselves gravitating towards their phone and what it offers, rather than their peers, and the social interactions that they offer.

In fact, since the smart phone was introduced in 2012, studies have shown that teen depression has increased, and social interaction has decreased. According to a study published in the Atlantic Monthly, “there is no question, the more time teens spend looking at screens, the more likely they are to report symptoms of depression.”

During an advisory, students watched a TedTalk delivered

by Manoush Zomorodi on the affects of smart phone technology. She made a convincing case for boredom, claiming that much of our creativity comes when our minds are not engaged in other activities. If this is true, then schools should try to get their students off of their devices as much as possible.

There is no argument here: we live in an age where technology is almost always accessible. It is not possible for schools to prevent students from being addicted to their phones. But, by limiting technology at school, students would be forced to gain the necessary skills needed to create a project or report using the resources provided in the library or on the bookshelf in a classroom.

Without technology at school, perhaps students would focus on new things, not cling to the known world where they spend the majority of their time behind their screens. Students may actually get caught up in focusing on the lesson plan that is intended for them to learn and understand in the classroom.

Lauryn Stornelli staff writer

“There is no question, the more time teens spend looking at screens, the more likely they are to report symptoms of depression.”

\LAURYN STORNELLI

The Report Card D = 9.3%

From a survey taken on 10/12 of 132 total students, 100 seniors for Senior Splash

F = 3.1% A = 28.9% Homecoming Grade

C = 15.5%

A

C = 3.0%

A = 5.0%

D = 3.0% F = 3.0% F = 18%

B = 16.6%

A B

B

B = 28.0%B

C

C

D

D

D

F

F

F

A = 74.3%

C = 37.0%

B = 43.3 Homecoming

A

D = 12.0%

C

Arizona Fall Weather

Senior Splash

\ KASSIDY WHEELER

November Tear Sheets OPINION

6 ● November 16, 2018

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

As we see it: the Editorial

Debating the dress code The dress code policies have been part of an on going discussion for a while. The editorial staff discusses changes for Administration and students to reach a compromise

PRESS

E

very girl remembers the first time they were dress-coded by an adult.

Being called out for what they are wearing can be both embarrassing and confusing, sending the message that what a girl wears is directly related to how she is treated.

For most girls, this sexualized mentality starts at a young age and continues into adulthood. Little things like holes in jeans, spaghetti straps, and not wearing a bra have become the peak of controversy inside schools.

In this climate, a woman’s body and choices are given more importance than their education, character, and beliefs.

According to Change.org, more than 400 petitions have been filed against school dress codes in America, most of them asserting that school dress codes are “sexist or unfairly enforced.” We do not feel that schools should focus on dress code for these reasons and for the loss in learning time that results from students having to change their clothes.

Historically, girls have been subjected to a stricter dress code than men. During the Puritan era, girls couldn’t show their ankles without risking consequences. Things have changed a lot since then, and women are not restricted in the same way.

Even today, we live in a society that judges a women for what she wears.

Many times, girls are dress-coded because their clothing is deemed “distracting” for boys, the idea being that their bodies cause boys to lose concentration. Creating an atmosphere where boys are led to believe that it is acceptable to allow what clothing girls wear to distract them in a learning environment, will never help them mature. Assuming that all boys are distracted by exposed shoulders and girls wearing shorts makes it seem that all boys are incompetent when it comes to controlling their focus and maturity levels, which is untrue. The rules put into effect should help boys mature to men and show those who still might be lacking in maturity that women can wear whatever clothing they want, and that it is up to them to control themselves, not women.

Of course, there are situations where dress code is completely necessary in order to enforce some sort of regulation for a professional environment. We understand the need for dress codes. What needs to change are the shaming tactics used against young girls. Taking away their class time, making them wear bright, silly shirts, and yelling at them in front of their peers is not the solution.

THE THE NEWSPAPER OF CACTUS SHADOWS HIGH SCHOOL IN CAVE CREEK, ARIZONA

Editors in Chief Brook Bowman Kassidy Wheeler Opinion Editor Kassidy Wheeler In-Depth Editor Maja Peirce Travel Editor Austin Hagan The News Editor Brook Bowman Sports Editor Avianna Hoppes the Life Editor Morgan Reimer Creeker Editor Lauryn Stornelli Spotlight Editor Annie Soogard Photo Editor Blake Dorame Health Editor Julia Knies Style Editor Grace Carey Staff Frida Alvarado, Ryan Bartholomew, Emma Bauer, Hope Black, Jo Breese, Mia Brito, Brendan Donaldson, Devin Dorough, Lucas Dufresne, Makenna French, Connor Green, Riley James, Logan McDade, Evan Myers, Ethan Penington, Raven Ramirez, Grant Richardson, Lauryn Stornelli, Max Sotelo, Miah Thirion Editorial Policy: The CSPress is published by the Journalism class of Cactus Shadows High School. The NEWSpaper serves the students and staff of Cactus Shadows High School and as a connection to the surrounding community.

The objective of the CSPress is to publish a factual, informative and entertaining the NEWSpaper, and to provide a forum for the expression of diverse viewpoints.

The Comments and views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, the adviser, or all CSPress staff members.

The CSPress is also published online, at cactusshadowscspress.com.

The editors reserve the right to reject any material that is libelous, obscene, or poses an immediate and material disruption to the educational environment.

WE VALUE YOUR Comment. EMAIL YOUR LETTER TO CSPRESS.Comment@gmail.COM The CSPress values Comments from its readers. If you have something to say about anything you have read, please write a letter to the editor and send it to cspress.Comment@ gmail.com. Letters must be typed, less than 100 words in length and signed. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit for length. The CSPress will not print letters that are obscene, libelous or that target an individual.

Advertisements that are obscene, misleading, or illegal to minors will not be printed. The CSPress reserves the right to reject any advertisement. To place an ad, contact the adviser or the Advertising Manager at (480) 575-2493.

The CSPress is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association, the Journalism Education Association, and the Arizona Interscholastic Press Association.

The EDITORIAL represents the consensus view of the members of the Editorial Board.

The Editorial Board members are Brook Bowman, Kassidy Wheeler, Maja Peirce, Avianna Hoppes, Morgan Reimer, Annie Sogaard, Julia Knies, Blake Dorame, Austin Hagan, Lauryn Stornelli and Grace Carey

4 MIA BRITO

The CSPress Cactus Shadows High School P.O. Box 426 Cave Creek, Arizona 85327 (480) 575-2400 November 20, 2018, Volume 10: Issue 3 School enrollment: 1822 Number of copies printed: 1100

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

November 16, 2018 ● 7

COMMENT

The college path is not for everyone Sometimes college does not guarantee success, and in the current economy it is still possible to succeed without a degree

Receiving a bachelor's degree is not necessarily required to be successful in life, and many people can change the world or earn a higher salary if they do not go to college.

While going to college can be helpful in the long run, and is the right choice for many people, according to the United States Department of Education nearly 70 percent of students who attended schools with open admission policies, failed to receive their bachelor's degree within six years.

For higher paying jobs, there are careers that do not require a college degree. For example, careers in the military, police, or fire department are possible without receiving a bachelor's degree.

Some famous people who did not go to college, but did well for themselves, include Henry Ford, Bill Gates, Stephen Spielberg, and Rachel Ray. This does not mean that that the possibility of success becomes higher, but it is still certainly possible. The work ethic of those people are arguably far beyond those of their peers, they were determined to make a name for themselves, and that is why they were able to succeed without a degree from a college.

There are many ways to be financially successful without a college education. For example, acquiring knowledge through self-exploration on the internet and gaining experience from internships or alternative education options, such as trade school, can help people expand their skill portfolio. Learning in-demand skills, which the majority of employers desire, will improve how employers see job candidates.

Some of these skills can be as simple as showing ability to communicate, willingness to work with others, and expressing thoughts clearly.

The most important thing is to never give up on pursuing a dream.

Even though statistics show people who attain a degree tend to have better job security and stay ahead of the unemployment curve, that option does not suit everyone, and if everyone in life is destined to follow the same path while working the same nine to five job, there will be no variation in ideas, creativity, or business style.

The Center for American Entrepreneurship says that entrepreneurship increases productivity, innovation, and it creates jobs for others.

In the United States, one of the most impactful ways to contribute to the economy is as an entrepreneur. Beginning with a sole proprietorship, working up to a partnership, and eventually franchising the companies ideas to expand their capital and increase their overall growth has created business moguls who did not go to college like Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg and Michael Dell.

Individuals need to discover their passions, and if it requires a col-

OPINION

lege education or not.

A college education can give graduates a better opportunity to find the job they need, but not the job they want. One example of this is with dentistry, to become a dentist, it is necessary to complete four years of college in order to earn a bachelor's degree, pass the Dental Admissions Test, study four more years to earn a Doctor of Dental Surgery or Doctor of Dental Medicine title, and then obtain a license from the state board of dentistry in order to practice. In the United States National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health it has been concluded that the stress and workload dentists undergo contribute to anxiety disorders and clinical depression. Even though making a median annual salary of $160,000 seems great, all that money cannot fix a serious decline in someone's mental state.

College is not necessary for success, if someone is passionate about what they do, they can still be successful. People who do not see college as a favorable option, still have many opportunities in other industries, but it is important to be cautious of the risks that come with the pursuit of happiness and creating the reality that most people dream of.

Evan Myers staff writer

Highest paying jobs without a bachelors degree 1 Air traffic controller

Controlling the skies, protecting passenger and pilot safety, and directing the movement of aircrafts is one of the best careers for people without a college degree. This profession only requires a two year associates degree and people in this field made a median wage of $120,000 in 2016. Work experience is not necessarily required, but long-term on-the-job training is needed to make ensure the safety of planes in air.

2 Nuclear power reactor operators

Operating and controlling nuclear reactors is a high paying and important job for not having a college degree. These operators are only required to have a high school degree to begin their work in the field. There is only an outlook of 500 job openings throughout 2026, and the median annual salary from 2016 was around $90,000.

3 Transportation, distribution, and storage managers

The job of these managers is to make sure that products are transported, distributed, and stored within government regulation and company policies. Job openings throughout 2026 are projected to be around 9,500 and the median annual wage in 2016 was $96,000.

3 KASSIDY WHEELER

OPINION

Religion and science in classes should not mix The debate to change school standards has been underway for a long time, and it will determine the future of what students will learn in the classroom Religion in the classroom has been a topic debated since our nation was founded, with Thomas Jefferson writing that we must build a wall between Church and State. The debate continues to rage in the media and even within schools themselves.

A prime example of how people want more religious influence in classrooms is the theory of evolution and creationism. However, including religion in classrooms would have an overall more negative effect on students.

Religion has been the cause of countless problems around the world. Religious discrimination exists even in America with how many public figures seem to say things to demean Muslims. It has even started wars, like with what is happening with the Israelis and Palestinians. The religious conflict between them has led to a war with thousands of people dying.

Now, school would hopefully not elevate to where someone is killed in a religious action, but religious discrimination is something I have seen even on campus. Kids are constantly being harassed because of their religion if it is made public.

Religious practices in the classroom would force everyone

to be more open about their religion, which is a good thing, no one should be afraid to share their religion. Although, having everyone be more public with their religious affiliations, could open the door to harassment because of their faith.

Around campus, I hear people constantly being targeted because of their beliefs. Having a system where people are now forced to tell everyone their religion could only make the problem pronounced. While the obvious argument to this would be “No one would ever do that,” just listen to how students talk to each other around campus.

Teenagers are rough, especially on each other at school.

People may even be insulting another person in a joking matter, but that person they are insulting does not take it like that.

While comprehension of religion is important to education, as even the American Civil Liberties Union conceded that a proper education is impossible without understanding the role that religion has played in shaping society, it still does not have a full implementation of religion in the curriculum.

For example, in a world history class, a person will learn

Ryan Bartholomew podcast producer

about different civilizations, and their respective religious beliefs. Understanding the thought process that goes with that religion is key to understanding why certain civilizations like the Aztecs were prone to war. It was part of their religion.

Having a good understanding of religion, especially in how it helped to shape America into what it is today.

However, classrooms are for education and learning, not preaching. Linda K. Wertheimer wrote an article for NBC describing how having a religiously influenced school was at best awkward, and at worst, it could have caused serious backlash.

“My parents and I did nothing, though we knew the school was violating the Constitution’s Establishment Clause prohibiting the promotion of one religion. We were afraid of backlash; we were the only Jewish family in the school system,” said Wertheimer.

Classrooms should never be a place that students feel they will be looked down on or discriminated against because of their religious views. Religion being kept separate from the classroom is a requirement to keep a safe and healthy learning environment.

8 ● November 16, 2018

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

COMMENT

OPINION

Grace Carey

OPINION

Should celebrities be involved in politics?

Yes

No

style editor

Makenna French staff writer

In recent years, celebrities have been seemingly more active in politics than ever. From all corners of the world, they have been voicing their political beliefs, through various manners.

This has raised some concern with everyday men and women.

The words “celebrity” and “famous” go hand in hand, to some it would be a dream come true to have there words uttered about them, to others, it would be a nightmare. With social media being so prevalent in today’s society, there is bound to be some controversy about who should be saying or posting what.

There is an argument that those with a larger platform than the average person, should be keeping their mouths shut about which candidate they believe would best suit the whole.

While this is a valid argument, many disagree with this for a number of reasons.

Asking someone who has built an empire for themself to simply fly under the radar when it comes to politics is absurd. No matter what kind of net worth or following they have, they still deserve to speak their mind openly and freely, without fear of the backlash that they are currently receiving.

When someone is asking about another person, they would most likely expect to hear some adjectives describing them possibly, funny, nice, kind, or even mean. Although, when someone is famous, that is often all they are: just famous.

The word famous is so overused, that at a certain point, it is almost pathetic to hear. Just because someone is considered famous, does not mean that they have any more or less value than any of us. They are just like us, normal people.

The First Amendment is arguably one of the more important amendments. It consists of five basic freedoms, giving to those in the United States. The amendment states that congress may not punish people for freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, or petitioning the government. The ratification of this amendment gave way for everyday people to express their opinions, without fear of prosecution; therefore, a celebrity should not need to hide his or her beliefs.

People deserve to voice their opinions, especially in the United States, even unpopular ones need to be heard. It is understandable why people agree with the argument which states that celebrities and politics should be separated, however, the other side of the argument needs to be voiced as well.

No matter how “famous” someone is, they are still a person. Their platform does allow them to reach a greater variety of people in a quicker time, but they should still be able to have a voice in something other than their favorite brands and who should and who should not win an oscar.

Celebrities like Beyonce, Jay Z, Katy Perry, and Alec Baldwin could be described as Democrats. Dwayne Johnson, Clint Eastwood, Adam Sandler, and Tom Brady, on the other hand, could be described as Republicans. There are even some celebrities that straddle the fence, like Taylor Swift.

Because of this wide variety of influencers, there is bound to be some disagreement on who the “right” candidate is. Most of these celebrities are acquaintances or even friends. Just because their friend posts something about their endorsement of a Democratic candidate, does not mean that they will text them with a laundry list of reasons that they are in the wrong.

The bottom line is quite simple, it is important to hear opinions from all sides of the equation. For this years Mid-Term elections, if 50 percent of people eligible for voting in the United States voted, it would be the highest turnout in history.

Celebrities, no matter how well known and influential they are, deserve a voice in political matters. They are just ordinary people, trying to do what they believe is right.

The Report Card

A = 4%

\KASSIDY WHEELER

From a survey taken on 11/6 of 100 total students

C = 11%

B = 9%

F = 37%

1

C = 22%

D = 28%

With the big platforms celebrities have, they have started a lot of controversy in politics. Celebrities are very influential, especially when it comes to social media, any young fan of said actor, singer, or influencer would most likely follow their icons and what they believe in.

All it takes is just one Tweet or Instagram post to cause a whole big uproar. People are constantly re-posting things celebrities say on a daily basis. While everyone has the right to their first amendment right to say whatever they believe, sometimes there is not always a right time to enforce it that strongly. If people want to learn about any political or maybe even a legal issue, there are plenty of experts to learn from.

Instead of choosing to search for information sources that may be helpful in learning about a situation, people are always most likely to choose something that is more entertaining. Which is why there is so much turn towards celebrities. That is their job, to entertain people. That is why all of the Twitter arguments and threads are so common to read in a political situation. Everyone knows them and everyone cares about what they are going to say because celebrities are “always right” on the internet. Everything they do is perfect in their fans’ eyes.

An example being Kanye West, when he got bashed for supporting and loving the President. It was all over Twitter. People unfollowed him and were mentioning him for weeks. People cared so much because it was Kanye West posting about it.

Everything everyone does turns into something political nowadays and most do not even have a real understanding of the problems being faced. Politics are everywhere, social media, sports, and it is now a large part of everyday life.

It is hard for people to go to a sporting event because everything is so political. Not everyone wants to see a celebrities political views, and not everyone cares about them either. It has turned into almost an everyday thing. There is always drama somewhere about what a certain person said and how it is such a big deal. People want to see good stories, get away from the real world for just a little bit and not have opinions forced on them.

Another example is when Nike started a campaign with Colin Kaepernick and made him the face of their advertisement, it got very controversial very quickly. People were furious. They started burning their Nike items and posting it online. They were talking about how disrespectful it was to the flag. All because one football player kneeled during the national anthem at a football game. Others followed him and started kneeling as well. Just because he did what he believed in, he got negative feedback from people everywhere.

Using their platform is not beneficial because no matter how they explain themselves there will always be people who disagree.

For similar reasons, why would you ask a celebrities advice on vaccinations when you could ask a doctor, someone who actually studied and practices medicine.

Celebrities getting political is not always beneficial for them, so why do they continue to do it? Maybe for publicity or maybe they actually think they could make a difference in certain situations. However, when it really comes down to it, it does not matter how rich they are, or how big and popular they may be on social media, their vote is the same as everyone else’s vote.

School efforts to recycle

F = 15%

B = 3%

F = 38%

A = 11%

2

1 2

3

3

4

4

5

5

D = 37% Juul assembly

A = 8%

1

D = 11%

2

B = 42%

3 4 5

C = 24% Nest at football games

\ KASSIDY WHEELER

December Tear Sheets OPINION

6 ● December 21, 2018

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

Addressing the vaping epidemic Nicotine addiction amongst teens is becoming a serious issue, and there needs to be an effective way to help people instead of putting them further into the dark.

The United States Government has recently announced that it will crack down on electronic cigarettes in order to prevent minors from using vapes. Banning vapes, or getting rid of flavors to make them less attractive to minors, will only contribute to worsening nicotine addiction, and it creates a far more dangerous way for young people to acquire drugs.

The “just say no,” anti-drug message which took off in the 1980s under the Reagan Administration, has failed miserably. In 1983 the Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program (D.A.R.E.) was founded to combat drug use by minors. However, a study by the Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency found that D.A.R.E. actually increased drug use in teens.

The reason for this is not perfectly transparent, although it is believed that through the program kids were taught about more extreme drugs, and they thought that alcohol and tobacco are innocuous by comparison to other drugs such as opioids.

Vaping use is very dangerous, and even though it may seem harmless, it still has severe side effects on developing brains and lungs. The answer to preventing minors from going down a dangerous path of substance abuse is not to ban the substances, but to educate them on how to use moderation to prevent overdoses.

Drug addiction is a health issue, and arresting people or punishing them by banning the substance they are abusing, will never make the problem go away. This will only make them find other means to acquire that drug that they want.If the country bans vapes the same way it banned opioids, America will have a whole new addiction crisis to deal with.

From 1898 to 1910, heroin was a legalized drug produced by Bayer, and after heroin was made illegal, scientists made synthetic versions of it like Oxycontin. According to an investigation done by the Los Angeles Times, doctors were found to be overly prescribing Oxycontin, while the company of Purdue, who produced the drugs, made over $31 billion by 2016 off of other people's addictions. Purdue issued an internal sales memo to push for higher doses of their product in order to earn more money. Once lawmakers made prescription opioids more diffi-

cult to get, the price of opioids from third party dealers decreased drastically, allowing for addicts to purchase opioids more easily.

Comparing banning nicotine to banning opioids may seem extreme, but it is the same concept. Once popular e-cigarette flavors from companies like “Juul” are banned, it will lead kids to get their products from a far less reputable source, which is dangerous, because this can allow for the creation of synthetic types of flavors and chemicals. Instead of full on banning e-cigarettes or the flavors they come with, the government should find an effective way to provide safe healthcare to address the issue of addiction in teens.

One of the ways they can do this is by funding healthcare centers such as “Insight.”

Insight is a health center in Vancouver where people come to inject their drugs under medical supervision. Donald Macpherson is the Executive Director of the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition, which oversees companies like Insight.

“Last year on Thanksgiving weekend, 33 people overdosed at Insight on Fentanyl, and none of them died, because professionals were there to help. Sadly, down the street at a hotel room, a young woman overdosed alone and she died,” said Macpherson.

Fighting nicotine addiction with improved healthcare, where individuals can slowly escape their addiction, with the help of doctors and loved ones, will lead to a decrease in teenagers receiving irrevocable damage to their lungs and developing brains. If there is to be a successful reduction of nicotine addiction among teens, the approach to fighting it must be different than how the country has handled the opioid crisis. Everybody has vices, but what is important is acknowledging those habits and learning how to control them.

As we see it: the Editorial PRESS The EDITORIAL represents the consensus view of the members of the Editorial Board.

The Editorial Board members are Brook Bowman, Kassidy Wheeler, Maja Peirce, Avianna Hoppes, Morgan Reimer, Annie Sogaard, Julia Knies, Blake Dorame, Austin Hagan, Lauryn Stornelli and Grace Carey

THE THE NEWSPAPER OF CACTUS SHADOWS HIGH SCHOOL IN CAVE CREEK, ARIZONA

Editors in Chief Brook Bowman Kassidy Wheeler Opinion Editor Kassidy Wheeler In-Depth Editor Maja Peirce Travel Editor Austin Hagan The News Editor Brook Bowman Sports Editor Avianna Hoppes the Life Editor Morgan Reimer Creeker Editor Lauryn Stornelli Spotlight Editor Annie Soogard Photo Editor Blake Dorame Health Editor Julia Knies Style Editor Grace Carey Staff Frida Alvarado, Ryan Bartholomew, Emma Bauer, Hope Black, Jo Breese, Mia Brito, Brendan Donaldson, Devin Dorough, Lucas Dufresne, Makenna French, Connor Green, Riley James, Logan McDade, Evan Myers, Ethan Penington, Raven Ramirez, Grant Richardson, Lauryn Stornelli, Max Sotelo, Miah Thirion Editorial Policy: The CSPress is published by the Journalism class of Cactus Shadows High School. The NEWSpaper serves the students and staff of Cactus Shadows High School and as a connection to the surrounding community.

The objective of the CSPress is to publish a factual, informative and entertaining the NEWSpaper, and to provide a forum for the expression of diverse viewpoints.

The Comments and views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, the adviser, or all CSPress staff members.

The CSPress is also published online, at cactusshadowscspress.com.

The editors reserve the right to reject any material that is libelous, obscene, or poses an immediate and material disruption to the educational environment.

WE VALUE YOUR Comment. EMAIL YOUR LETTER TO CSPRESS. Comment@gmail.COM

\ KASSIDY WHEELER

How to help someone with nicotine addiction according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse 1 Accept the problem and decide to quit

Accepting that a problem is present is the most difficult part when it comes to quitting. Deciding to quit and cut off using vapes that contribute to nicotine addiction is essential to beginning the process of recovery.

2 Anticipate the struggles that come with quitting

There will be many rough patches when fighting nicotine addiction. Withdrawals and breaking the habbit will be difficult but far from impossible. Try to take up other small activities that would take the place of using a vape product. For example, drink water or tea out of a straw to replace the constant want to smoke something. Use oral substitutes like gum, small carrots, or hard candy.

3 Let people know

If people know, then they will try to help as much as possible. Friends and family can help detract from picking up a vape or will positively push a person into furthering the fight against their addiction. If loved ones see someone they care about starting to fall back into their previous patterns of addiction, they can deter their decision to smoke. It is easier to fight addiction with someone else than to try it all alone.

4 Do not give up

There will be periods of time where it will feel like the world is ending and the nicotine addiction will never go away. However, keep the fight going and it will eventually be overcome. Use close friends to help talk about issues and fight through recovery.

3 Kassidy Wheeler

The CSPress values Comments from its readers. If you have something to say about anything you have read, please write a letter to the editor and send it to cspress.Comment@ gmail.com. Letters must be typed, less than 100 words in length and signed. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit for length. The CSPress will not print letters that are obscene, libelous or that target an individual.

Advertisements that are obscene, misleading, or illegal to minors will not be printed. The CSPress reserves the right to reject any advertisement. To place an ad, contact the adviser or the Advertising Manager at (480) 575-2493.

The CSPress is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association, the Journalism Education Association, and the Arizona Interscholastic Press Association.

The CSPress Cactus Shadows High School P.O. Box 426 Cave Creek, Arizona 85327 (480) 575-2400 December 21, 2018, Volume 10: Issue 3 School enrollment: 1822 Number of copies printed: 1100

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

December 21, 2018 ● 7

COMMENT

OPINION

Avianna Hoppes sports editor

OPINION

Should schools require foreign language classes?

Yes

The Report Card A: 5%

From a poll taken on 12/18 of 100 students

C: 2%

B: 0%

D: 18%

“I wouldn’t say it gave me too much academic benefits -- for my future maybe, but to be quite honest, I don’t remember most of what I’ve learned.”

“It has been proven that learning a new language can even help the child learn more about the linguistics of their natural language.”

A: 9%

B: 6%

C: 30% A

F: 30% F: 31%

B

B: 11%

A

A

B

B C

C

D

D F

D F

D: 29%

Cardinals Season

For many students in high school, Math, English, History, and Sciences are the biggest challenges to getting a good grade. But for some, it is the extra classes they do not need that are bringing down their GPAs. While some careers require a second language, most do not, making these classes pointless to the majority of students. Instead of making language a requirement for college, taking language classes in high school should determined by the interests of each individual student.

One reason to eliminate this requirement is that a majority of students do not even remember what they have learned in their high school language classes.

“I wouldn't say it gave me too much academic benefits -- for my future maybe, but to be quite honest, I don’t remember most of what I’ve learned,” said Irelynn Hukill, a junior who has taken Spanish up to the 5-6 level.

A study by Inside Higher ED shows that only 12 percent of college students could continue to use their new language fluently and confidently, and up to eight percent said they do not remember even a single word.

Another reason foreign language should not be required is that students who struggle with learning a new language could be using that class time for something more beneficial to their career. Students who would rather go into a job like engineering or being a mechanic would more than likely benefit from workshop-based classes rather than a foreign language. With all the new CTE classes meant to come to Cactus Shadows from next year’s partnership with EVIT, students could use their time for a CTE class in their field of interest instead.

Some will argue that everyone should learn a second language just because of the possibility of it being required in a career later on. It is true that many students are too young to have decided what career they will ultimately pursue, so it could be they end up choosing a career that requires a second language, but they didn’t take any language classes in high school. However, if a person truly needs to know a language for a job, they can take classes in college, or even enroll in an advanced language acquisition course like the Rosetta Stone.

Another argument in favor of foreign language is that there are proven cognitive benefits. Studies show that language learners have improved memory, problem-solving and critical thinking skills, enhanced concentration, ability to multitask, and better listening skills. While these are all positive results, the problem is that not everyone has the aptitude for learning another language. Instead of getting these benefits, they end up struggling and often failing. The resulting loss in GPA can affect their future in a negative way, making it harder for them to get into college.

Instead of focusing on foreign language acquisition, perhaps we should be spending more time teaching the English language. Maybe because of the advent of social media, texting, and smart phones, many young people barely can speak the English language to its full potential. Overall, students do not always need a language class. Those struggling with school alone could use that class period as a study hall, or to pursue a course more in line with their skill set.

4 EMMA BAUER

A: 4%

C

F: 75%

NO Connor Green staff writer

Many high schools have stopped requiring students to take a language in order to graduate, instead they are offering it as an elective. Students should be required to take at least two years of a language in high school.

A world language may be optional for high school, but it is required for college. Universities in the state of Arizona require at least two years of a language in order to get accepted, and many out of state schools require three.

This reason alone should be enough to make schools require a foreign language. Requiring students to do this can open up so many doors after high school and expand their options for college. Students who take a language have more colleges that will accept them, giving them a better chance to get in a good college. A foreign language is not only required to get into college, but also a part of many undergraduate and graduate degrees. College is hard enough already, so why not force students to get ahead of the it in high school.

According to Psychology Today, it has been proved that learning a new language can even help the child learn more about the linguistics of their natural language. Understanding linguistics is important because it can give a student more depth in their thought process, which can better their understanding of assignments relating to real world applications.

Kids in the United States are uncultured compared to kids in other countries such as Europe. Taking a language class teaches kids about another culture and can expand their views. Countries that lead the world in education, such as China and other European countries, are all bilingual. Citizens can speak two or three languages, which helps in the education department, an area that the U.S. is lacking. Foreign languages have been proven to boost test scores in other areas because of the way it forces the brain to think. If people could speak another language, that would help with the gap in this society between English and non-English speakers. Students taking a foreign language will no doubt make our society better.

One of the main reasons why students choose not to take a language class is because they think it is too hard, but that is not true. Beginner level Spanish and French classes are basic and easy. Even taking the most simple Spanish class will give them a taste of another culture and can help them get into college by filling the language requirement.

Another reason why schools should require a world language is because it can pay more in the future. Many employers are willing to pay more in order to keep and hire bilingual workers. Employes who speak a second language can make five to 20 percent more in their hourly wage.

Psychology shows that it is easier for kids to learn another language than it is for adults. Most adults who only speak one language coming out of high school will never learn a second language. That reason alone should make schools require a world language.

Being bilingual can also help later in life, because of the way it forces the brain to work, people who speak more than one language suffer less from age-related cognitive decline such as alzheimer's and other types of dementia. A team of scientists examined medical records of a Toronto hospital found that patients who were bilingual were diagnosed with dementia about three or four years later.

New Year’s Resolutions

C: 23%

D: 27%

F

Spirit Week

8 ● December 21, 2018

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

Christmas should not be commercialized

PURCHASING POWER Jacob Biggs shops for Christmas presents at Target. In his cart he has over $100 worth of products. Unfortunately, he still has to purchase more gifts for family members. 4LOGAN MCDADE

Where is the water?

This year is the 21st year of Arizona’s long-term drought. If Arizona does not step up its game with water preservation, there will be dire consequences. Water conservation is necessary and important for people to still be able to live in Arizona.

The importance of water in AZ With 40 percent of Arizona’s water coming from Lake Mead, a drop in the lake’s elevation will have detrimental effects on Arizona and the surrounding states. Now only 38 percent full, cuts will eventually have to be made if the elevation keeps dropping.

A federal shortage declaration will be put into play if Lake Mead’s elevation drops below 1,075 feet, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

However, the elevation was already at 1,079 feet at the end of August this year. While the levels fluctuate frequently, it is predicted that the elevation will permanently be below 1,075 feet as soon as May 2019.

Though the population has

OPINION

Christmas is a really big family holiday, and what started as a religious holiday has been taken over by commercialization. The arrival of Christmas items in stores seems to be growing earlier and earlier as the years go by. Instead of being a time to focus on the real meaning of Christmas, it has become a time to spend a lot of money.

Decorations used to be put out after Thanksgiving, but now many businesses are putting them up even before Halloween. It seems to go from Halloween straight to Christmas, with no mention of Thanksgiving in between unless it is Black Friday or Cyber Monday related.

Rather than focusing on the season itself and the celebration of it, people are more worried about what to buy as gifts. Christmas has been drowned in a competitive present-buying frenzy. Parents go crazy about getting their child the perfect gift. The competition of who will get this person the best gift, who will get their kids everything they ask for, and who got the greatest deals on games and new technology like, new phones and video game consoles.

The holiday had become more about money than anything else. The focus has changed entirely to what you will buy. There is commercial after commercial with new items to get him or her the newest toys companies are selling. It is never about spending time with family.

According to Investopedia, the average adult estimates that they will spend at least between $885- $1,000 on Christmas presents each year, if not more. Christmas is the greatest time of year for retail. The more people buy, the more money they make.

In addition to spending money on gifts, people go all out on decorating the outside and insides of their homes. This has also become a competition, where many families may feel forced to spend money on decorations just to keep up with their neighbors.

All of this focus on money creates stress. What should be a time to spend with family, has become anxiety-producing. This needs to change. Instead of people worrying about the perfect gift, people need to sit down for a second and take a look at what Christmas truly means to them. Is it really about spending money? Or is it about something bigger?

This Christmas, maybe we should all take a moment to reflect. After all, just because retailers have decided Christmas is all about money doesn’t mean we have to agree.

Makenna French staff writer

Christmas has been drowned in a competitive present-buying frenzy. Parents go crazy about getting their child the perfect gift.

OPINION

Water is an essential component to life on Earth, and it is necessary to contribute to saving as much water as possible.

increased, the amount of water Arizona uses per year is about the same as it was over half a century ago. This is because of developing technology in infrastructure and water conservation. As the population continues to grow and climate change has a larger effect on the planet, water conservation will become more important, especially in Arizona.

How the state planned Governor Doug Ducey proposed a plan to preserve Lake Mead; however, this plan has not been followed through. The plan is to complete a drought contingency plan to leave more water in the Colorado River to conserve the water level of Lake Mead. Putting together a water-cutback plan is a complicated task, but it is necessary.

Arizona needs to do better According to a scorecard by the Alliance for Water Efficiency, a nonprofit organization focused on the

sustainable use of water, Arizona received a B+ on water efficiency and conservation. While better than most of the other states in the country, there are still two states that received a higher grade than Arizona: California and Texas. With those two states having the highest populations in the U.S. but also the highest grades on the scorecard, they both clearly put a lot into their water conservation efforts.

The scorecard outlined many different points of water conservation efforts, such as shower and toilet water consumption regulations. Both Arizona and Texas were commended for their drought plan requirements, but Texas had a slightly more detailed one, putting it slightly ahead. As of 2012, two big differences between what California and Texas have that Arizona does not are water consumption regulation for toilets and urinals and volumetric billing. Volumetric billing is billing based on how much water a customer has used instead of a flat rate.

Implementing these changes would not only give Arizona a higher grade on the scorecard, but it would also be beneficial to everyone who lives in the state.

How people can help There is no clear-cut solution to the water issue, nevertheless, efforts can be made to slow the use of water.

Starting with an improved water cutback and drought contingency plan is likely the best way to go.

Efforts made in Arizona to use less water include building less pools, decreasing the amount of grass lawns, and using more energy efficient appliances. A few ways Arizona residents can help conserve water are by embracing the natural desert plants and running sprinklers and drip systems at night so that there is less evaporation.

While Arizona has made very valid and beneficial attempts to conserve water, more has to be done if people still want the state to be inhabitable.

Julia Knies health editor

As the population continues to grow and climate change has a larger effect on the planet, water conservation will become more important, especially in Arizona.