Jan/Feb 2019

b&w

BLACK AND WHITE JAN/ FEB 2019 VOLUME 27 ISSUE 4

GENERATIONS

GENERATIONS This issue of the Black & White analyzes the similarities and differences in generations. In school, teachers have seen their students and their past classmates cheat. However, the school system itself has increasingly advanced and continues to place pressure on the students. Through the ages, the American Sign Language has become more prevalent in the United States. Even the pressure on student athletes surrounding sport scholarships has increased because of the financial toll it takes to attend college. And classic movies, what has caused them to withstand time? Take a look at the past and explore into the future through the generations.

JAN & FEB When Jay Rice ‘94 brainstormed the name of our paper in 1991, it was not because of the ink color. For the last 26 years, our mission has been to bring our audience stories from the school, community and nation, told clearly and without exaggeration--in black and white.

Editorial Board

Editor-in-chief Andrew Maresca Print Editor Obsee Abbajabal Online Editor Ada Basic Feature Editor Taylor Siebert Story Editor Brooklyn Dilley Sports Editor Evan Newcomb

Staff Writers

FINE PRINT Black & White is published solely by the Johnston High School newspaper staff. It is an open forum. In accordance with Iowa law, students assign, edit material and make all decisions of content.

Editorials represent the opinion of a majority of the editorial board. Editorial and opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the advisor, school officials or the district.

Letters to the editor must be signed. Like all material, letters may not be libelous, obscene or an invasion of privacy. To write a letter to the editor, or report an error in the issue, please contact the editors at jhsblackandwhite@gmail.com.

Say Hello

Cecilia Allemagne Parker Anderson Riley Anderson Payton Blahut Duncan Christakos Caroline Christensen Annie Culbert Cameron DeRoos Kylie Emery Kara Green Paul Heggen Elizabeth Jones Joel Kellar Akshaya Kumar Erina Lee Sophia Longo Karla Lopez Siri Mandava Marandah Mangra-Dutcher Ashley Marsh Jacob Marren JD Norris Jenna Olson Charlie Pattinson Ben Pegg Julia Richards Colt Smallwood Ben Williams

Instagram: @jhsblackandwhite Twitter: @jhsnewspaper Facebook: JHS Black and White

INSIDE LOOK

10 Advancing school, Advancing Minds

News

4 The Big Give Wrestling Show Choir

5 Girls’ Basketball Tiffs Treats Speech & Debate Boys’ Basketball

Feature

6 The Art of the A

8 The World According to: Mark Schillerstrom 10 Advancing School, Advancing Minds 14 1 in 1700: Quinn Long

Editorial

16 Acknowledging the Signs

Opinion

18 Unplug from the Social Drug

Sports

20 Committing to Competition

Arts & Entertainment 22 Connection in Classics

4 | news

BRIEFLY words & layout | Andrew Maresca

THE BIG GIVE The Big Give is an annual fundraiser held by Student Council. All funds raised were donated to Project Silence No More, a local suicide prevention organization created by alumni Marcus Miller, Luke Johnson, Tristan Coaldrake and Kelsey Caffrey. The Big Give consisted of Coin War, Winter Formal, a bake sale and a basketball raffle.

Rylee Matthews ‘19 counts coins collected by Samantha Robilliard’s class.

Photo by Andrew Maresca

WRESTLING The varsity wrestling team beat Des Moines North-Hoover, Jan. 31, 66-8. The meet was at Johnston. Eight matches were forfeited by Des Moines North-Hoover as a result of them not having a wrestler for the weight, making up 48 of Johnston’s 66 points.

Tyler Christenseb ‘19 and his opponent, North-Hoover’s Dalton Davis, face off.

Photo by Brooklyn Dilley

SHOW CHOIR Innovation and Synergy show choirs competed at the Davenport Great River Invitational on Feb. 16. Synergy placed first in the prep division and Innovation placed first runner up in the open division. In the midst of a snowstorm, the four buses of students, chaperones and directors pulled off in Newton, and stayed the night in three different hotels.

Both choirs will compete at the Heart of America competition March 9.

Dana Thacker ‘19 performs the choreography of the girls number in Innovation’s show.

Photo by Cecilia Allemagne

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL The girls’ basketball recently wrapped up their season with a win 65-50 win at Ankeny. The girls finished the season with a 19-2 record and ranked number one overall in the state. Nineteen is the most regular season wins in school history. The girls competed in the state tournament from Feb. 25-March 2.

Macy Thompson ‘19 prepares to pass the ball at the the game against South East Polk.

Photo by Evan Newcomb

TIFF’S TREATS Students can help cancer patients by donating to TIff’s Treats, a student council project. Tiff’s Treats was created by student council advisers Kari Gray and Rachel Jensen. Student Council has three collection sites at the high school. All donations are put in cancer care packages and distributed to local patients. Some items that can be donated are tissues, lotions, gum, lip balm, etc.

Rylee Matthews ‘19 counts coins collected by Samantha Robilliard’s class.

Photo by Andrew Maresca

SPEECH & DEBATE The speech and debate team competed at the West Iowa District Tournament hosted at Valley Southwoods. Four debate teams and three speech contestants competed. From the speech team, Morgan Alaimo ‘19 qualified in Dramatic Interpretation. Taylor Siebert ‘20 and Akshaya Kumar ‘20 made it to the sixth round, finals. The speech and debate team has one more tournament in their season.

Taylor Siebert ‘20 and Akshaya Kumar ‘20 debate the affirmative side against a Valley team.

Photo by Jackie Liang

BOYS’ BASKETBALL The boys’ basketball team has won their last game at Des Moines Roosevelt 76-60. The boys finished with a 15-6 record and will compete in the substate tournament to attempt to qualify for the state tournament for a second straight season.

Reid Grant ‘21 goes up for a shot in a game aginst Southeast Polk.

Photo by Evan Newcomb

6 | feature

C

heating on assessments has been

on, then I would say there’s some form of cheating

happening since the beginning of

that occurred.” The Spanish department was

education, and has consequently

forced to stop assigning daily homework due

created a game of cat and mouse between teachers

to the fact that so many students cheated that it

and students. The students are constantly trying

became pointless.

to invent new ways to get away with cheating,

In the days before technology, cheaters had to

and the teachers are forced to come up with ways

get creative in order to avoid getting caught. Some

to prevent it from happening. The gap between

would write things on their shoes, others used flip

generations has resulted in a change in creativity

phones, and some students would use ancient

when it comes to cheating.

versions of instant messaging. MSN Messenger

Both sides also have different definitions

appeared to be a popular choice, it was released in

of what qualifies as cheating. “It changes

1999 and terminated in 2013. “I remember I had

by assignment, it changes by situation,”

a computer science class [in college] that people

Spanish teacher Peggy Fox said. “I

used to use MSN Messenger,” business teacher

would say anytime that a student

Rod Wiebers said. “That was brand new at that

is not demonstrating their own

point, there were people that would get to know

knowledge of a skill, I would

the one person who knew how to do it and during

consider it cheating. If

a test they would message that person and they

they could not do that skill or if

words | Ada Basic design | Obsee Abbajabal & Siri Mandava

would give them the answers.”

Different

methods

of

cheating

require

they couldn’t

different prevention strategies. For some teachers,

reproduce

that means not giving tests on block days to

t h a t

stop the spread of answers. For others, it means

later

creating different versions of tests for different class periods. “I guess it depends on if you want to call it academic dishonesty to communicate test questions to each other, especially if there’s a day in between, like a block,” physics teacher John Chai said.

“Some would say that’s just part of it

TH E A RT OF THE

A

With increasing technological advances, teachers are forced to re-evaluate their methods of cheating prevention.

because

that’s

the

teacher choosing to give a test on that day. I still think it’s academic dishonesty to tell the other class the questions so that’s why I try to change some stuff on there.”

That method works well for teachers who

today, students

give written tests, but those that do not face

were not able to use their

some extra challenges. “Whether right or wrong,

watches to cheat their way through a test, which

I have where they can’t use their cell phone as a

made getting away with it even more thrilling.

calculator during my tests, because they have it

Nowadays students are running out of ideas

on their computer, they can use a calculator there,

which results in teachers having to make up

movies, people would write things on the

but then you have to go around and make sure

new methods of cheating for them. “I’ve always

bill of their hat, and to me that’s probably one of

kids don’t have multiple tabs open,” Wiebers said.

wondered what would happen if you tattooed a

the reasons why there’s a no hat rule,” Chai said.

Teachers are now forced to take extra

physics equation on yourself, it’s like ‘Well you

Students have gone to great lengths to cheat on

precautions to ensure that assessments are done

can’t tell me not to look at my tattoo’ but at that

assessments, and the ones who have fallen short

honestly. The biggest challenge they have to face

have provided teachers with interesting stories.

is technology. Many teachers have adapted a no

“I had a student in Spanish II turn in a project,

Apple Watch rule because some students were caught cheating with them. “We recently got information from another department, they heard some students talking in their class about cheating in Spanish and using their watches to do it,” Fox said. “So now you have to take your watches off. I mean we try as much as we can but we’re one person against 34 in a classroom, so it happens, we don’t see it.”

Cheating

may

even

be

unintentional.

According to students, cheating has become effortless. “I really don’t do anything,” student said. “Honestly, so many people cheat that you are usually sent something without even having to ask. Often times pictures are taken of the test or answers are memorized, and then written down.”

Unfortunately, all students have to pay the price when someone is caught cheating.

Although some teachers do not believe that this

“We always have to think, when we create a project, when we create a speaking test, when we create a quiz, we always have to think about the cheating aspect. What could happen? How could we prevent it from occurring?”

is necessary, they do take the extra precaution.

“I do think teaching upper level classes like physics and AP physics, my students tend to be

and I looked at it and I called the student over and I asked, ‘Can you tell me what these sentences mean?’,” Fox said. “They looked at it and they hung their head and said, ‘No, I don’t know what they mean,’ and I said, ‘I don’t know either because this is in Russian’. So they obviously Google Translated their entire project and selected the incorrect language to submit it in.”

There are a variety of reasons as to why students cheat. Some want a good grade, others are under pressure whether from peers, parents or themselves, and some just want to see if they can get away with it. “I think that pressure for some students is so great that they feel the need to cheat,” math teacher Julie Probst said. “And maybe they think that that’s the easier way than to actually learn it, or maybe they think that no matter what they do, they’re not going to be able to get an A in the class.”

If caught, many teachers prefer to deal

Peggy Fox

with cheaters behind the scenes. Usually, the punishment includes a conversation with the

pretty trustworthy,” Chai said. “Another teacher

point I would bet that you just have it memorized,

teacher followed by a type of reassessment. The

brought up that they did see a student using an

so there’d be no real point to that,” Chai said.

teacher also has the option of taking the offense

Apple Watch. So I just decided let’s eliminate the

“That’d be an interesting method to see somebody

to administration, but many hesitate to chose

problem before it becomes a problem.”

try. I wouldn’t encourage it!”

that option. “The thing is, a lot of students don’t

Many students understand the rules and bare

Some students may not be ready to commit to

know how we deal with it because it’s all behind

no hard feelings towards teachers who choose to

a tattoo of a physics equation, yet many will risk

the scenes,” Fox said. “We don’t do those things

put these necessary precautions in place. “I have

getting caught looking off of their neighbor’s test.

in front of other students. Sometimes I think kids

never been in a class where I think a teacher has

However, teachers have caught on, and started

think that kids are getting away with cheating

taken it too far,” student said.

to implement measures to curb this old method.

when really there’s a lot of things going on behind

“Common things were like what you see in

the scenes that they may not be aware of.”

Before technology was as prevalent as it is

8 | feature

Photo provided by Mark Schillerstrom

THE

WORLD

ACCORDING TO....

Mark Schillerstrom SOCIABLE BUT NOT SOCIAL Katelyn Winkler (‘19): He’s really kind. He genuinely cares about his students.

Ed Walker (English Teacher): We talk about everything. We talk about English, and there’s a wonderful book in our profession, it’s by a guy named Peter Elbow. Funny name. And it’s called “What is English?”. And basically, it comes to the conclusion that

TO THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW HIM, MARK SCHILLERSTROM SEEMS LIKE A STOIC, THOUGHTFUL ENGLISH TEACHER. BUT A CLOSER LOOK REVEALS A WHIMSICAL, CREATIVE SIDE. words | Brooklyn Dilley design | Payton Blahut

the difference between English and other professions is that our content is everything.

So we have students working on English with sports content, gender content, creative content. So because English teachers have content that essentially is everything, Mr. Schillerstrom and I talk about politics, we talk about travel, we talk about art, we talk about creative writing. He and I are members together in a creative writing group. You name it, we’ve talked about it.

Schillerstrom: While I would characterize myself as sociable, I’m not highly social.

Walker: He and his wife have been guests in my home several times.

Schillerstrom: No, [other teachers and I] don’t hang out.

much traveling as we’d like, and as we hit retirement, we’d like to do more traveling.

KINO THE CLOWN Schillerstrom: There are certain things that my wife just tolerates. And she tolerated that. I got her to do it one time, but she didn’t really enjoy it very much so she didn’t do it after that, which was okay. I don’t think it embarrasses her; she’s more

Walker: I think Mr. Schillerstrom has a very active mind, and wants to see different places, just like I do. So we share that interest and passion.

Schillerstrom: We went to Alaska two summers

apt to tell people that I do it than I am.

ago, and that was a really nice trip because it was

Walker: I was surprised, but then I was able to

back to.

see Mr. Schillerstrom entertain as Kino, at a child’s party. And I realized how that illustrates something about him, which is that he’s so creative, and really is just a born performer.

Which one wouldn’t know if one didn’t know him.

Schillerstrom: It started 33 or 34 years ago...at that time, the clowning in churches was a pretty popular kind of thing... It just was really an interesting experience. And after the service, I went up to the minister and asked if, next time they did this, if they did it again, I could participate.

Kristi Miller (English Teacher): It was kind of surprising to me, because he kind of puts on a serious demeanor. But the more you talk to him and get to know him, the more you see the side of the whimsical...Kino came to my daughter’s third birthday party, and it was really awesome. So it’s been really cool to see that.

Schillerstrom: Just like everything else, you think there isn’t much to it, and then once you get beneath the surface of it, there are all kinds of layers and things. Of skills and information and things that go beyond your imagination.

Walker: It was interesting because I answered the door at the party, and he was already in character.

And he never stepped out of character the entire

a part of the country that we’ll probably never get

Winkler: He told me about his trip to Alaska, and that was really cool. He seemed really invested in Alaska. (laughs)

NALI Schillerstrom: The current dog is a year-and-ahalf old now. She is a miniature goldendoodle, so she’s about 32 pounds. She is highly active and not necessarily very obedient at this point in time.

Her name is Nali, short for Denali, we got her the summer that we went to Alaska. We were debating names all the time, so we just decided to name her after the mountain.

Laura Paul (‘20): The first time I remember him talking about his dog, I missed the beginning of the story and I honestly thought he was telling us a story about one of his kids’ first night home from the hospital. That was until I heard him say she was talking and walking around, and I was like, “Hold up, what kind of superhuman baby is this?”

Precious Pate (‘20): We watched a livestream of his puppy at some sort of doggy daycare one time and it was the cutest thing ever.

RETIREMENT Schillerstrom: Before Thanksgiving, to be honest, I sat down Sunday morning and I had five sets of essays to do. And I had to plan between

time he was there. And it was so fascinating.

Thanksgiving and Christmas for the next six sets

TRAVELING

but I never got to the five, and it just occurred to

Schillerstrom: [My wife and I] haven’t done as

of essays to come in. And I got my six sets of plans me that maybe 42 years of that was enough.

Walker: I’m very happy for him, and I’m very sad for myself and for my department, and for the school.

Schillerstrom: While I still enjoy it, you kind of see the signs. It’s time. And sometimes I have a hard time walking away from things when I should, and as I get older, I’m like, okay, it’s not always bad to walk away from things. It’s just time to walk away.

Miller: He’s got some big plans for what he wants to do when he retires, so I’m really happy for him. I’m really sad for myself, and I’m sad for our department...He’s someone that I go to a lot for guidance, he always has resources to help. If I need something for class, he’ll say, like, ‘Oh, I have this great short story you should try, have you thought about doing this?’

He’s helpful that way as a teacher, but he also will like give you lunch money if you forget your lunch money, and everytime I have a baby, he gives me a book to read with my kids that we love, he’s just great to have. And I think that it’s going to be really not the same without him.

Walker: I think that Mr. Schillerstrom is the wisest teacher that I have ever known, he’s a man who has taught me more about teaching English than I think any colleague ever has. It’s just going to be a very different situation with him not here.

10 | in-depth

ADVANCING SCHOOL, ADVANCING MINDS Compared to in the past, schools are offering and students are taking more advanced classes.

words | Kylie Emery and Annie Culbert design | Julia Richards photo | Andrew Maresca

M

arcus Miller ‘15 was one of

Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics,

many students who decided

AP Computer Science, AP Biology, AP

Social studies courses that are not AP

to

Environmental Science, AP Chemistry, and

include Topics of History taken in ninth

AP Physics.

grade, World Studies, United States History,

take

an

abundance

of

advanced classes in high school. For Miller,

Explorations, and Digital Storytelling.

and many others, trying to balance those

AP Psychology is another advanced course

American Government, and Principles of

advanced classes with other activities such

that students can take as well. Some students

Economics. In addition, there are many

as sports, music, jobs and a social life was

are also given the option to join the Extended

different elective courses that students can

difficult. “My junior year, I way overextended

Learning Program, more commonly known

choose from.

myself,” Miller said. “I remember I would go

as ELP.

to marching band at 7 a.m., then go to school.

There are many possible explanations as changed

to why school is more accelerated today, one

Then right after school, cross country, and

drastically in the sense of which classes are

being that people want to stand out. “I think it

then right after cross country, I would go

required and considered “advanced”. “High

just keeps getting more accelerated because

right to show choir which started at 6 p.m.

school yes, is very different than it was when I

everyone starts taking more APs or doing

and didn’t end until 10 p.m.” Miller would

was in school,” social studies and ELP teacher

more extracurriculars to set themselves apart

then go home and complete his homework

Sue Cline said. “But I think that difference is

from everyone else,” Angela Cai ‘19 said.

until late at night and sometimes, the early

reflected in the entire system, not just high

“Then everyone starts doing that and the bar

hours of the morning.

school. Because I know what I was expected

just keeps getting raised.” Cai believes that

to do in first grade is now the bare minimum

taking a large amount of advanced classes

Recently, more students have been taking classes that used to be taken later in their school career. More advanced and AP classes are being offered today compared to in the past. “Over the past decade, the number of students who graduate from high school having taken rigorous AP courses has nearly doubled,” according to the College Board.

Some causes for this trend include cultural and societal competition.

Accelerated classes are being offered to students as early as middle school. In sixth or seventh grade, depending on how advanced the student is, Compacted Math is offered to those that want to advance their math as much as possible. Accelerated Science and

However,

high

school

has

“The pressure to get

is not necessarily healthy, however. “I’ve

high grades, it’s not

good on anyone’s mental health,” Cai said. “I

healthy. People have

of advanced classes and is like ‘yeah, I’m fine

different goals, people have different resources

definitely learned a lot, but I don’t think it’s don’t know a single person who takes a bunch mentally.’ It is a lot, they’re all difficult and the work adds up.”

Anjali Dhawan ‘19, believes that the reason for pressure to take advanced classes

available to them, and

comes from various sources, including varied

people have different

to take advanced classes is] probably because

motivations in life.”

Marcus Miller ‘15

cultural and societal standards.“[The pressure of world competition, because I know my dad is from India, and he would have taken the math I’m taking now in middle school,

Advanced Language Arts are classes offered

in kindergarten now. They’re expected to be

that was just a normal thing for them to do,”

to willing eighth grade students. Unlike the

reading before they’re out of kindergarten!

Dhawan said. “I guess that we’re just trying to

other core classes, an accelerated history

That just blows my mind!”

catch up to their standards and move faster

course is not offered until 10th grade, where they get the option to take AP World History.

The non AP science courses include

and faster with each grade. When it comes to

chemistry,

the whole accelerated students thing, parents

There is a wide variety of AP and advanced

Environmental Science, physics, and electives

always want to be like, ‘oh, my kid’s smart,

courses that students can take at the high

such as Zoology, Botany, and Forensic Science.

let’s make them do smarter things because

school.

For

foreign

language,

Physical

Science,

biology,

students

There are math classes that are not AP,

they’re smarter than all the other kids.’ There

can take AP Spanish or AP French after

such as Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II,

will be parents that complain that their kids

completing Spanish or French 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Trigonometry and Topics, and Pre Calculus.

not taking algebra in fifth grade.”

English and history courses available

English courses that are not AP include

Cline believes that the competition can

include AP World History, AP US History,

Freshman English, Integrated Language

benefit students with more opportunity.“I

Advanced

Arts,

Arts, and any of the Frameworks courses.

think the options are wider, and you can go a

AP Language and Composition, and AP

There are also Capstone English courses

lot further.” Cline said.

Literature and Composition.

that are available to seniors and are more

Another possible explanation is simply

advanced or intensively focused. Capstone

that the world is accelerating in general.“I

courses include Advanced Speech, Creative

think

Integrated

Language

In the science and math departments, students can choose from classes such as AP

it

has

accelerated

just

because

12 | in-depth

everything around us is becoming so accelerated

anyway,”

Johnston

There are advantages and disadvantages

a lot of negative things, particularly when it

alumni

to taking a lot of advanced classes at once.

comes to mental health.”

Madison Symber ‘14 said. “In order to keep

One disadvantage is the amount of stress that

Miller also experienced the stress and

up with how fast everything is changing, we

some students feel or have felt in the past.

pressure to do well. “It was definitely an

have to accelerate our education. It can be

“Junior year was definitely hard because I

unsustainable way of living,” Miller said.

bad, though, because it puts a lot more stress

had a lot going on, and with dual enrollment

“I was stressed out and I was miserable. I

on students.”

classes, there’s a lot of pressure to do well,”

accomplished a lot, but at the end of the day,

Miller believes that despite what many

Cai said. “With other classes, if you do badly,

it didn’t matter. Those experiences, while

students say, people do use what they learn

it impacts your high school GPA, but if you

great, I don’t think were worth sacrificing my

in high school. “There’s no doubt in my mind

do badly in the dual enrollment course, you

well being or my mental health.”

that whether it’s direct or indirect, I have

hurt your high school GPA and your college

utilized skills that I’ve acquired while in high

GPA.”

Another

disadvantage

is

that

some

students felt like they were not learning and

school,” he said. “I do use AP Psych a lot, and

Miller is also a Johnston alumni and

retaining as much as they could have. “I know

I do use Calculus sometimes. In terms of life

co-founder of Project Silence No More,

for me, personally, I just memorize things for

skills, that’s partly my fault because I never

a

to

the test and that’s good enough,” Cai said.

took any of those classes, so I didn’t learn

destigmatizing the conversation surrounding

“Which is definitely bad because grades just

those in high school.”

nonprofit

organization

dedicated

mental health. He feels that there are both

perpetuate that culture of ‘you need to do

However, some of the methods and

advantages and disadvantages to these

whatever it takes to get this grade.’ The actual

studying habits that are taught or picked up by

societal changes. “In one sense, it’s good

learning then doesn’t matter.”

high school students are unhealthy and cause

for students who are looking for more

Symber agreed that society is very focused

problems later in life. “I didn’t remember

opportunities to challenge themselves, but

on the grades themselves. “I think, ideally,

anything from high school, because I had

in a way, it creates an unhealthy culture of

society wants us to retain the knowledge, but

so much going on.” Symber said. “I would

competition,” Miller said.

“It undermines

in reality, it’s more focused on the grades,”

memorize what I needed for the test, purge it,

the purpose of school because it’s no longer

Symber said. “To get into Iowa State, the

then get rid of it. By the time I got to college,

about learning the material as much as you

first thing you have to submit is a transcript

I was just relearning stuff I learned in high

can. It’s about getting the GPA that you

showing your grades. You don’t get in on

school. I should have been ready, but I was

want. It also causes folks including myself to

your knowledge, you get in on your grades

so overwhelmed by everything I had to do.”

overextend themselves, and that comes with

from school. They look at the grades before

Advanced Pathways Offered at JHS SCIENCE

9

Biology

10

Chemistry

MATH

9

Geometry

10

Alg. 2/Trig Pre-Calc

the person.”

wouldn’t say it stressed me out too much,

because you go your entire life thinking

There are other disadvantages to a heavy

but now as I’m involved in more activities, it

‘things should be easy for me.’”

course load as well. “I think when you take

definitely gets to be a little much at times,”

advanced classes, you can get conditioned to

Kloewer said.

Cai encourages students involved in accelerated programs or taking AP classes

think you’re above everyone else,” Symber

Taking ELP at such a young age does

to be careful with the amount of work they

said. “If they’re already an advanced student,

have advantages. For example, these students

are demanding from themselves. “Don’t take

but they can’t handle some AP class, they

get priority when it comes to selecting their

on more than you can handle,” Cai said. “Try

might think ‘why am I such an idiot?’”

classes. However, there are also disadvantages.

to do things because you enjoy them. Life is

Despite the disadvantages, there are advantages to taking these advanced classes, such as the benefits that it has to the brain.“I know I probably won’t use a lot of the stuff I learn, but Mr. Brooks, the calculus teacher, said ‘even if you won’t use calculus, it’s like weight lifting for your brain,’” Cai said.

ELP is another option for students who want to accelerate. Students can be enrolled in the Extended Learning Program as early as elementary school. “I think in third grade of

a lot more fun when you enjoy the things

“I did not care as much as

you’re doing.”

I should’ve about learning,

remember to care for themselves.“Take care

but rather I was too

Symber encourages these students to of yourself, watch your mental health, study hard, and figure out your studying style

concerned about winning

early,” she said.

this competition of grades”

much pressure on themselves as he did. “Try

Marcus Miller ‘15

Miller also hopes students do not put as not to overextend yourself,” he said. “That temptation is going to be extremely high. One

elementary school was when I started going

“You make all these kids feel special,” Cai

of the biggest things that I’ve taken away as

out of class to do different classes,” Kloewer

said. “We had this mentality for a really long

I look back, is you’re not going to remember

said. “I took a test at the end of second grade,

time. Then most of us never really tried

the things you learned in your classes. What

and they pulled some people out of it. Then

throughout most of school because things

you will remember are the friendships that

they just asked me if I wanted to and I said

were easy. Once you get to high school, that

you make. You will remember the memories

‘sure, why not?’”

doesn’t work anymore. A lot of us never

that you have with your friends. You won’t

Although usually minor, Kloewer does

learned actual work ethic. Everyone just has

remember the school stuff, so cherish the

get stressed balancing ELP with other

a hard time, and things aren’t easy anymore.

memories that you have with your friends.”

extracurriculars she is involved in. “I

That makes you feel like you’re a failure

11 11

Physics

AB Calc BC Calc

12 12

Any AP or Electives

AP Stats Comp Sci

*Order of classes shown are part of most common advanced pathway

1/1700:

QUINN LONG

FROM SOPHOMORE TO SENIOR, ONE STUDENT WAS RANDOMLY CHOSEN TO TELL THEIR STORY words | Elizabeth Jones layouts & photo | Erina Lee

O

ne morning, Quinn Long ‘20 goes to visit the offices. His associate brings him down and

opens the door for him. As he travels through the offices, he happily greets everyone he meets. This is a typical day for Long. “He likes to talk to other [people],” Diane Davis ‘21 said. “He really does like saying hi.” Later in the day, Long might visit the library to say hi to librarian Ruth Thoreson.

Long cannot see, but he has learned to recognize his friends by their voices. “He’s blind, but he can hear very well,” special education teacher Heather Menke said. “So he is always listening to what’s going on around.” Long can be shy, but he enjoys

Quinn Long plays with the parachutes during the Summer Games.

having conversations and making jokes.

For fun, Long enjoys listening to stories

on point every time.” When a song is playing,

partner if she wanted a fishy stamp or a dead

and watching videos. Some of his favorites

Long will bob his head and bounce to the

fishy stamp. Long was sitting next to them

are hockey and cartoons. When asked if he

beat of the music.

and overheard the question. “And Quinn just

likes hockey, Long exclaimed, “Yes!” For cartoons his favorite is “Franklin.”

His favorite classes are Peer PE and Peer Art. Last semester Davis was his partner for

bursts out, ‘Dead fishy,’” Davis said. “That was pretty funny.”

Music is also a big part of his life. His

part of the class. Since Long is blind, they

Right now in Peer Art, the class is making

favorite genres of music are current music,

mostly focused on tactile art. Focusing on

paper mache animal masks. Long and his

rock, and country. “He likes to listen to

textures and and other senses allows Long to

partner, Skylar Robinson ‘20, are making an

different music,” Menke said. “He’ll have

participate in class with his friends. One thing

elephant mask. “He really likes art,” Robinson

the choices throughout the day, you know

he enjoys is the sponges they use to paint

said. “He likes touching a lot of the art work.

country or rock.” He also likes to play piano

with. “Not necessarily to do the art with you,

He likes helping out.”

in his free time.

but he will just hold them,” Davis said. “It‘s

“You can put on any music and he will just dance in his wheelchair,” Davis said. “He is

just the texture of it.”

One time in Peer Art, Davis asked another

Quinn Long works on his art project during seventh period Peer Art class.

Long’s painting of a tree, with help from special education teacher Heather Menke.

When Long has a break, he enjoys snacking on popcorn and orange soda.

16 | editorial

A

S The editorial is an opinion held by the editorial board of the newspaper and is a collaboration of the board. It needs a simple majority to pass. This month’s vote was 6-0.

L

ACKNOWLEDGING THE SIGNS

I

n our nation, whether it be on a grand scale

fill-in bubble sheets and lengthy multiple choice

like the United States, or on a small scale

questions can become very tedious after a certain

like Johnston, Iowa, it is not uncommon to

amount of time and discourage an interest in

hear many mindless complaints and remarks be

learning. However, less of a standardized test and

made about our school system or the Common

more of an interactive conversation, ASL learning

Core curriculum. Ranging from the rigidity of

would most likely be much more enjoyable for

classes to the unfairness of grades, students from

students and teachers alike. Lisa Noe, a sponsor

all over have expressed a common dislike in our

of the ASL Club, confirms this idea. “I think it’s

current school system. But, in this age of making

much easier to learn from a teacher as opposed

progressive changes to class options and grading

to a book, so you can see the movement and place

practices, new and previously overlooked classes

of your hands,” Noe said. “It really would be all

should be considered for some attention. Among

communication instead of paper and pencil.”

these changes, one in particular stands out: ASL

Regardless of student interest and unique

(American Sign Language) should be offered as a

teaching styles, learning ASL could prove very

class in schools.

beneficial for students in their future careers or

ASL, while not as commonly spoken in the

livelihoods. Not only in teaching or interpreting,

United States as Spanish or French, is still the

as ASL provides a whole range of opportunities in

sixth most spoken language in the United States.

terms of communicating with others, including

The option to learn such a prevalent and useful

careers in healthcare or encounters with different

language should be at least offered to students in

groups of people who may be deaf or hearing-

this country, and could even help those new to this

impaired. “It’s not a handicap, it’s a way of life,” Noe

country and still in the process of learning English.

said. “I think anytime you can learn more about

“It’s a less overwhelming approach to getting that

someone’s culture or their language and be able to

foreign language credit for students who may

communicate and bring them in so they don’t feel

already be bilingual, trilingual, and come and be

like an outsider, it would be a good thing.”

expected to learn either Spanish or French,” Anna

Overall, the benefits of ASL should be enough

Janni ‘20, the student leader of ASL Club, said. “We

to have some sort of representation in schools,

could offer this, which could supplement their

and, as student interest is certainly apparent (given

English learning.”

many students would jump at the chance to learn

For as long as public education has existed,

it in place of Spanish or French), it should be at

student interests have been given little regard in

least offered to those students. If this is not to be,

deciding what classes are taught at schools. High

there are many affordable programs in the Des

school in particular is the most opportune time to

Moines area that offer ASL courses, and there is

explore such interests. Instead of demanding that

currently an ASL club at the high school open to all

students learn either Spanish or French, which,

students interested in learning the language. But, if

a lot of the time, prove especially futile in their

offering ASL as a class is taken into consideration,

use in the real world, students should have the

the time to offer it is now, when students’ young

opportunity to be fully engaged in a course that

minds are still developing and still apt to learning

teaches ASL, a language that allows those who

other languages. “The sooner that you start with

learn it to communicate in the simplest ways with

foreign language, the better off you are and the

the deaf or hearing-impaired.

more interest there is going to be learning in that

An interesting feature of an ASL class would be the lessons and the exams. Standardized testing,

language and continuing to grow in those areas,” Noe said.

18 | opinion

UNPLUG FROM THE SOCIAL DRUG words | Riley Anderson design | Andrew Maresca

For a daily diary visit jhsblackandwhite.com

S

elena Reese ‘21 wakes up to her

audience member. It has also perpetuated the

In the last 24 hours, Johnson was on Snapchat

beeping alarm and rolls out of

anxiety that accompanies some people’s fear

for four hours and 16 minutes.

bed, ready to start her day. She gets

of missing out.

Johnson has two accounts on Instagram,

ready for school, surprised at how quickly she

Many social media users fall into the

a main account and a spam, one of which

moves with no distractions. Not once does

endless cycle of scrolling, but they are not to

she posts on daily. “Only the friends that I

she stop to check her phone, and before she

be blamed. Social media platforms such as

talk to constantly and family would be able

knows it, she is out the door, feeling refreshed

Instagram are specifically designed to have

to contact me over text, call and Facetime,”

and ready to face the day.

an endless scrolling feature. This allows for

Johnson said. “I feel like a part of me would

“After I got them, I used them for like a month. They had the shininess that happens when you get something new, and then eventually the shininess of the new thing dulled, and I didn’t want it anymore.”

Katelyn Jurasek A social media detox, or a social media

users to continue looking at posts from the

be gone [without social media].” A social

cleanse, is when an individual abandons

people they follow while simultaneously

media cleanse would be out of character for

all forms of social media for a set period of

losing track of time. Before they know it,

Johnson. “People would think I got in trouble

time. One popular reason people go on social

users have put in hours of screen time on

because I’m always on my phone, or people

media detoxes is to improve their overall

these apps.

would think I’m ignoring them.”

mood; it is easy to feel competitive among

To Katie Johnson ‘21, anything that can

peers as to who posts the most pictures with

be used to communicate with other people

has witnessed firsthand how social

School therapist Amy Ziegenhorn

their friends, or simply who has more friends.

is considered social media, including texting.

media affects people of all ages.

This constant competitiveness can quickly

“If I wasn’t on social media, I would want

“I think that social media is

lead to anxiety and/or depression.

it more,” Johnson said. She actively uses

very influential in people in

Social media is often seen as a large

Snapchat, Instagram, Reddit, and Facebook.

general, not just teenagers,”

popularity contest, and anyone with an

In the past 10 days, she spent an average of 10

Ziegenhorn said. “I can

account and a wifi connection serves as an

hours and 30 minutes on her phone each day.

see a lot of adults who

TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL SOCIAL MEDIA CLEANSE • Where to start • Reflect on how much you currently use social media • Accountability • Tell your friends and family about your new goals decision to delete Snapchat. She considers

can’t get their noses out of their phones.”

She believes that social media plays a

social media any form of app that you can

heavy role in self esteem and self confidence,

see other people’s life on. “It causes a lot

as well as how teenagers view friendships.

of problems and I didn’t feel like it was

“Teenagers derive their self esteem from

benefiting me anymore. I think it was hurting

social media, they derive their understanding

me more than anything,” Reese said.

of how they fit into the world,” Ziegenhorn

Katelyn Jurasek ‘20 considers social media

• Find Alternatives • Find other activites to consumer your new freetime

to be any app or website that allows someone

said.

A detox from social media gives people

to share their life with people, whether that

permission to live in the present. Instead

would be with friends, family, or random

of taking a picture of the sun setting, and

people. Jurasek witnessed her friends using

captioning it with something like #blessed,

social media, which contributed to her

people on a detox allow themselves to be

wanting to use it as well. “All of my friends

present and enjoy what is happening right in

had it, it seemed like the majority of people

front of them. They have no need for likes or

had it, and I wanted it too,” Jurasek said.

followers, so they feel no obligation to

Social media has not had a big impact on Jurasek’s life. The few apps she does have, she

share that moment.

Reese has several social

does not use that often. “After I got them,

media accounts, but

sure, I used them for like a month. They

made

had the shininess that happens when you

the

• Set limits • Set time limits on apps, or delete them all together

get something new, and then eventually the shininess of the new thing dulled, and I didn’t

• Start small • Do not completely cut all social media all at once

want it anymore.”

She

uses

Snapchat

in

moderation,

and refrains from scrolling aimlessly on Instagram. “Some people are addicted to social media, but there is definitely a way to have it in your life. You just have to be self aware.”

• Reprioritize • See where you would rather spend your time

20 | sports

Committing to

Competition B

ecoming a scholarship athlete is not easy. It takes hours of hard work and dedication. Athletes have

to deal with the pressure of going through the difficult world of college recruiting.

Head baseball coach Michael Barta has learned all about the scholarship world in his coaching years. “The scholarship world is a cutthroat business that you throw a 17-yearold kid into and luckily for them they have us coaches and their parents to help them through the process,” coach Barta said. “A lot of schools will offer 20 scholarships when they only have 15 and cut the five that aren’t good enough and just tell them to find somewhere new to go.”

Coach Barta believes that the University of Iowa is the gold standard for recruiting as he has had almost no troubles with them. A big reason for that is University of Iowa Athletic Director (AD) Gary Barta (no relation to coach Barta) plays a big role in Iowa’s recruiting process. “The pressures of a highly-recruited young person are significant and the same no matter what school is recruiting them,” AD Barta said. “To help them we try to be fully transparent and encourage prospects to include their support system in the process.”

Coach Barta believes there are more external pressures to recruiting than internal pressures. “I don’t think there is internal

words | Evan Newcob design | Payton Blahut

pressure for athletes from us coaches or their teammates, however; kids have a lot of

The average athletic scholarship pays for $10,500

Only four sports can get full rides which are football, men and women’s basketball and women’s volleyball.

1988-89 it cost $17,010 for a private four-year degree which increased to $35,830 in 2018-19.

Around 2% of students get sports scholarships

external pressure from social media, friends

have been huge supporters of me and have

McDermott has felt the burden of the

from other schools and college coaches,”

not forced me into anything,” Coleman said.

recruiting process. “I had a lot of pressure

coach Barta said. “When you are playing

“Coach (Brian) Woodley and coach (Rod)

going into games because any college

in front of college coaches that is pressure

Wiebers made things easier by talking to

recruiter could be watching,” McDermott

because they only see you in those couple

the coaches at NDSU (North Dakota State

said. “However, it helps because two of

moments and they judge how you handle

University) and allowing me to focus on the

my biggest supporters are my friends

yourself and how you perform.”

high school season.”

Maddie (Mock ‘20) and Regan (Nesheim

Anthony Coleman ‘19 knows all about the pressures of being recruited because he is

“The scholarship world is a

‘19) who I have been playing basketball with since first grade. It really helps to

cutthroat business that you

play with them.”

camp, North Dakota State was giving out

throw a 17-year-old kid into

pressure of being recruited is the pressure

four scholarships to defensive backs and two

and luckily for them they have

to go NCAA Division I. “I believe that

us coaches and their parents

go Division I and I don’t understand it,

going to North Dakota State next year to play football. “During the summer after a football

had already committed that night,” Coleman said. “I felt pressured to commit then and there.”

He did not end up committing that night and he decided to push it off until after his last high school season. “Being recruited was a pressuring situation, but I tried to focus

Coach Barta believes the greatest

there is this terrible pressure on kids to

to help them through the

because what is the point if you aren’t

process,”

don’t you go somewhere where you can

Michael Barta

trying to go pro,” coach Barta said. “Why get on the field and have a coach that loves you as a player and person and you

on it after the season so I could focus on

Maya McDermott ‘20 has been dealing

playing well during the season,” Coleman

with the recruiting process for quite a while.

said. “I don’t think the recruiting process

“In seventh or eighth grade I was invited

McDermott has found the perfect

ever affected my high school performance

up to camp at UNI (University of Northern

school for her though. “I love the coaches,

though.”

Iowa) and during my freshman year UNI

I love the environment, I love the school

can play four years on a team and love the entire experience.”

Having people for support is one of the

started recruiting me,” McDermott said. “The

and I know a lot of kids who are going

ways that many coaches recommend players

pressure was there because I was wondering

there,” McDermott said. “UNI is my

to alleviate pressure. “We encourage kids to

if this is where I was going to end up and if I

home.”

include their parents in on the recruiting

was going to like the coaches.”

Coleman also found his perfect fit at

process and we try to help kids by attending

Coach Barta thinks recruiting that early is

North Dakota State. “I love the coaches

the National Baseball clinic and talking to

out of hand. “Recruiters have to make earlier

and I liked Fargo because it reminded

college coaches to help them out,” coach

and earlier decisions by projecting where

me of Des Moines,” Coleman said. “I felt

Barta said.

15-year-old kids are going to be as seniors

like I had a better connection to NDSU’s

because if they don’t another team will beat

coaches because it seemed like they cared

them to it,” coach Barta said.

more than other coaches.”’

Coleman has involved his support system greatly in his recruiting process. “My parents

22 | arts & entertainment

CONNECTIONS IN CLASSICS words | Colt Smallwood

Credit: Metro Gold Mayer

The Wizard of Oz

Credit: 20th Century Fox

Star Wars IV a New Hope

design | Cameron DeRoos

Credit: Universal Studios

Back To the Future

Lifetime Gross

Lifetime Gross

Lifetime Gross

Year Released

Year Released

Year Released

Rotten Tomatoes Rating

Rotten Tomatoes Rating

Rotten Tomatoes Rating

$25,739,442

Aug. 5, 1939

98%

$775,398,007

May 25, 1977

93%

$381,109,762

July 3, 1985

96%

E

veryone knows about “classic” movies; from hearing about them from our parents and grandparents to English teacher Ed Walker’s classes on Reading the Screen and Digital Storytelling, most students have at least a grasp of what movies are considered classics. But what actually makes a movie a classic? Is there some set of characteristics or commonalities that pushes movies like “The Wizard of Oz”, “Star Wars”, and “Back to the Future” into pop culture immortality?

First up, the student side. It seems that a sizeable portion of the student body has seen at least one of the three movies mentioned before, and several have ideas on why they’ve held up the way they have. Cole Meyer ‘20 has a theory that has to do with story types going back to ancient times. “I believe that it has to do with archetypal story structure; the same kind you see in Ancient Greek plays like ‘The Iliad’ and stuff like that. These same elements are reused again and again and again because as humans it just appeals to us.” Along with the aspects of reusable story structures, he thinks that part of the reason is how each movie is so character-centered. With “The Wizard of Oz”, each character has their own goals and flaws, but they are simple enough that they don’t distract from the main story of getting Dorothy home.

Chris Jordan ‘21 also thinks that both “Star Wars” and “Back to the Future” hold up, with quite different reasonings. With “Star Wars”, personal preferences start coming in, simply stating “ ‘Star Wars’ is probably the best known movie franchise.” With “Back to the Future”, he thinks the relatability comes from the teenage leads.

Towards the opposite end of the generation gap, there is Reading

the Screen teacher Ed Walker with a connection between all three, “The three films you selected … are, even though they’re dated in some ways, they have these universal themes that pretty much everybody keys into.” Along with that, he posits that the direction of each of them is so well controlled that there are no boring moments. More specifically on “The Wizard of Oz” he says, “ ‘The Wizard of Oz’ is as close to a perfect movie I know, based on the fact that there’s not a single part that I wish would hurry up and be over so we could get to a better part.” With all three, their simplicity works in their favor. “Star Wars” follows The Hero’s Journey archetype almost to the letter, but people still love it. “The Wizard of Oz” is about wanting to return home, “Back to the Future” about wanting to change the past, and people all relate to those concepts.

Librarian Sally Corcoran has a differing opinion on why “Star Wars” has stayed as relevant as it has, but it’s less nostalgic and more commercial.

“The fact that they kept making sequels and sequels kind of kept it fresh in everyone’s mind.” With the other two movies, the mood swings back to messages and ideals from both “The Wizard of Oz” and “Back to the Future”.

With “The Wizard of Oz”, the classic values and the messages about family draw in everyone, and with “Back to the Future”, the retro styles plus the predictions of our current future from the 1980s is great to look back on.

From what it seems, all three films have simple common traits that most people can connect with. All of them follow storytelling devices that have been used for thousands of years already, and will be used for thousands more. They may be predictable sometimes, but have lasted for this long and will continue to.

DRAGON SCHOLARSHIP FUND ANNUAL AUCTION

Join us Saturday, March 2, 2019 at the West Des Moines Sheraton for a casual night of fun, food, and fine auction items!

6:30-10:30 p.m.

Attire: Casual...Wear your Johnston colors or other casual gear!

Silent & Live Auctions | Hors d'oevres | Music & Entertainment

Register Online at dragonsf.org

Aspen Handyman Services OVEN BAKED SUBS

SINCE 1979

Get a free quote online or call (515)443-3131

515•253•3907

Download the Planet Sub app for deals!

Enter Delivery Radius or Need to knows

JHS ad 2.5.indd 1

2/15/19 1:02 PM

5717 Hickman Road

Proud Supporter Morgan Stanley is proud to support Johnston High School

The Woods Beier Henderson Group at Morgan Stanley 505 Market Street, Suite 300 West Des Moines, IA 50266 515-224-9195 www.morganstanleyfa.com/woodsbeierhenderson

© 2018 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC.

MECH

BC006 CRC 2327404 12/18 CS 9438839 12/18

JOB INFORMATION 9438839 / 604536990

PROJ. NO.:

JOB NAME:

WM Mkt Byrnes WBH group LocAd

TRIM SIZE: FINISHED SIZE: BLEED: POST-PROD.:

SPECIFICATIONS 7.666" × 2.333"

7.666” × 2.333” NA

NOTES Dupe and update 8761883