Kaneland Krier Volume 51 Issue 3 by Kaneland Krier

ACKNOWLEDGING THE UNCOMFORTABLE

Confronting important topics that are often avoided can cause discomfort, but is necessary for growth

Although it’s not always easy, confronting the issues that matter to us but aren’t freely discussed is important. We firmly believe that discomfort, although not ideal, is vital to expanding our ways of thinking and breaking out of our comfort zones. As we were brainstorming the theme for this issue, we decided it was necessary to acknowledge uncomfortable topics. To guide us, we asked ourselves two questions: What are topics that matter to us, but aren’t talked about? What are issues that are hard to swallow, but are important? As you read this issue, we urge you to consider where society might be if we never acknowledged uncomfortable topics, and what that would mean for humanity. After all, when has complaisance resulted in advancement?

Jasper Paulson

Carli Filek

Nate Sand Zoe Gannon Audrey

ROHLWING STARTS AS SUPERINTENDENT

After semester as deputy superintendent, Dr. Kurt Rohlwing officially takes over

as Superintendent of Schools

BY SARAH SLATTERY

Design and Photography Executive

Dr. Kurt Rohlwing replaced Dr. Todd Leden as the new Superintendent of Schools for Kaneland School District 302 at the beginning of second semester.

Rohlwing shadowed Leden as deputy superintendent throughout the fall to prepare for the transition when Leden retired at the end of first semester. Leden worked as Kaneland’s superintendent for nine and a half years and has enjoyed his experience immensely before turning the job over to Rohlwing.

“Rohlwing has been really dedicated getting to know the people,” Leden said. “As I’ve said a number of times to our staff and community, education is really a people business.”

Rohlwing was hired for the job during the 2023-24 school year, and he went through a multi-stage interview and hiring process.

“On his resume, all of these [other candidates] put ‘Dr.,’ rightly so. They’ve earned it,” Board of Education President Addam Gonzales said. “But Kurt just put ‘Kurt Rohlwing.’ We didn’t find out that he had a doctorate until [we flipped] to the back of his resume. It shows a hint of modesty and a more personable aspect…we wanted someone that was relatable. Not someone who sits in the ivory tower, so to speak.”

Rohlwing’s experiences through the interviewing process and working as deputy superintendent have prepared him for the mid-school year shift in roles.

This transition had been planned, and it gave Rohlwing more time to prepare for the job. All of his preparation has also allowed the Kaneland community to see his true character and personable side, other than just his interviewee side.

“Every time I meet with him, you just feel like there’s a good connection,” Gonzales said. “I think it’s really his knowledge and ability to be personable that I like.”

Rohlwing has many plans for the rest of the school year and for his time

as superintendent. One of his major focuses is making the April 1 referendum vote pass.

“My goal is that whatever the direction the board goes, my goal is that they pass it, and we are able to make some significant strides in terms of giving the community the type of high school they deserve,” Rohlwing said.

Rohlwing has reached out to members of the community regarding the contents of the referendum proposal. He held several town hall meetings throughout the Kaneland community and has reached out to each type of stakeholder within the district, including students, teachers and parents.

“I’ve had the opportunity to have small meetings with every group of staff [in different ways], and by doing that, outreach becomes less of a thing and just kind of a way we do business,” Rohlwing said.

Rohlwing and other administrators are working hard to communicate and get the public to vote in favor of the

referendum since the previous attempt in April of 2023 was unsuccessful.

“[The day for the public to vote on the referendum] uncomfortably falls during spring break,” Rohlwing said. “So, if people will not be around, I encourage early voting.”

Rohlwing will continue to go into the community and attend various events to keep district residents updated on the referendum and his plans for the rest of the semester.

“I had such a great time in the fall getting out to different things,” Rohlwing said. “I look forward to seeing what the rest of the year entails.”

As for Leden, he is still trying to determine what he will do now that he is retired.

“I started school at the age of three or four, and that’s all I’ve done,” Leden said. “I’ve gone to school my whole life…I’ve loved [each experience, and] from all the different places [I’ve worked], I would definitely say that Kaneland is the best that I’ve had.”

Photo by Sarah Slattery

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kurt Rohlwing works with Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent Julie Orphal in his new office. Rohlwing began as superintendent at the beginning of second semester after spending the fall shadowing the previous superintendent, Dr. Todd Leden.

EXPECTATIONS FOR NEXT TRUMP TERM

Reelection predicted to hit immigration and economic policies hard,

incorporate conservative values

BY ANNA GATZ Editor

President-elect Donald Trump will be inaugurated into office on Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol building after winning the election on Nov. 6, 2024.

Trump won 312 electoral votes against his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, who won 226, while also becoming the first Republican to win the popular vote in two decades. Trump won crucial swing states on the promises of mass deportation and a reformation of the U.S. economy.

The election of Trump is historic for a few reasons. Trump is the first convicted felon to win the White House and the second president elected to serve two non-consecutive terms.

On Trump’s official website, he outlines his “20 core promises to make America great again!” These include sealing the border and mass deportation, rebuilding the American economy and changing education into his ideal school vision.

Of the list of 20, Trump’s top two promises are to “1. Seal the border and stop the migrant invasion,” and “2. Carry out the largest deportation operation in American history.”

Trump and his running mate JD Vance’s main campaign initiative is to crack down on immigration, and Vance estimates that they could remove one million people per year. Trump plans to utilize the military, government workers and diplomats to get the job done. Mass deportation would require additional immigration judges, detention beds, officers and other unpredicted expenses.

The American Immigration Council estimates the costs under the assumption that around 20% of undocumented immigrants would self-deport. “The cost of a program aiming to arrest, detain, process and deport one million people per year... would average out to $88 billion annually,” they write.

A poll from AP VoteCast showed that around half of Trump voters viewed the U.S.-Mexico border and inflation as the most influential issues

Cartoon by Zoe Gannon

factoring into their voting decisions.

On issues of the economy and taxes, Trump plans to extend his 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which cuts corporate tax rates, reducing corporate taxes by 15% and eliminating income taxes on Social Security benefits.

“The Trump campaign has also put forward several trade policy proposals to impose new taxes on imported goods and services including a 10 percent across-the-board tariff on all imports and much higher targeted tariffs,” according to the University of Pennsylvania.

However, some experts believe that the raising of tariffs would lead to global economic instability and higher prices for consumers. With concern over the price of everyday items, economists argue that Trump’s plan will increase those costs. In most cases, consumers end up paying for tariffs.

Trump will also specifically target China in trade policies. His goal is to prevent the import of goods like electronics, steel and pharmaceuticals while also preventing Chinese ownership of U.S. real estate and infrastructure, specifically in the energy and tech sectors.

In addition to immigration and taxes, Trump has also made plans to dismantle the Department of Education.

Trump’s website calls for “[cutting] federal spending for any school pushing critical race theory, radical gender ideology, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content on our children” under promise number 16. And promise number 18 explains Trump’s plans to “deport pro-Hamas

radicals and make our college campuses safe and patriotic again.”

The Trump campaign also plans to end tenure laws for teachers and adopt merit pay in its place. This means that teachers would get performance-based pay. Trump has also suggested certifying teachers who demonstrate “patriotic” values or follow the “American way of life.”

Trump is charged with 34 felony counts due to hush money payments made to a sex worker claiming the two had sex. The original Nov. 26 sentencing of Trump is delayed with no current date set to reschedule. How a criminal conviction will affect the Trump presidency is still up in the air.

However, the July Supreme Court ruling in Trump v. The United States stated that presidents have immunity for acts committed in office. This immunity extends to official acts only. The ruling was brought to the court in regards to election interference in 2020 and the 2021 Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol attack. How this will apply to Trump needs to be determined in relation to three unsettled indictments: one in Georgia for election interference, one in Florida for the mishandling of classified documents and one in the District of Columbia for alleged attempts to interfere in the results of the 2020 election.

Trump’s promises on mass deportation and a better economy were the foundation of his campaign. But whether those promises are to be fulfilled is yet to be determined. Millions of eyes will watch on Jan. 20 to see what another Trump presidency holds.

ISRAEL-HAMAS CONFLICT CONTINUES

Humanitarian concerns worsen already severe war in Gaza

BY EMMA WEINTRAUB Editor and Podcaster

On Oct. 7, 2023, the Palestinian militant group Hamas staged an attack on Israel that resulted in over 1,200 deaths and 134 hostages taken.

While the attack was a key turning point, this conflict has spanned from the creation of Israel in the 1940s until today.

Many Jews sought refuge after the Holocaust and turned to Palestine, however many Palestinians opposed the infringement onto their land. Unable to solve the tension and violence, the Unit ed Nations (UN) voted for Palestine to split a piece of its land as a home for the Jews and named it Israel. From there, fighting between Jewish and Arab militias only intensified. Within a year, Israel con trolled most of the land. Without a peace agreement and as Isra el continued to take more land, fighting continued for decades.

500 trucks of aid per day, which is still on the low end of what was needed. During the war, the most trucks that entered Gaza in a day was 250, but in October of 2024 the average was 71 per day. This has led to a widespread hunger issue across the country and famine conditions in Northern Gaza. This is due to Israel blocking aid from entering and also because of robbery and destruction of these aid trucks.

Since the attack in October 2023, Israel has violently retaliated. According to a report by the Congressional Research Service, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants a complete victory over Hamas and also seeks to destroy their military and the Palestinian state. There are daily reports of air strike deaths, blocked humanitarian aid and hostages taken by Israel.

Gaza and its people are currently in ruins. As of Jan. 6, the Gaza Health Ministry reports a death toll of about 47,000. Additionally, the Associated Press (AP) reports that over 2,000,000 people have been displaced by Israel’s attacks, often leading them to reside in tent camps with little food or water.

There have also been major issues involving Gaza receiving essential humanitarian aid. According to the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), before the war began, Gaza would receive about

In response to the aid crisis, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin sent a letter on Oct. 13 proposing an ultimatum with the Israeli government. This included various demands, including Israel allowing 350 trucks to pass into Gaza per day or the United States would cut arms shipments. Israel made no effort to obey this order.

As reported by Al Jazeera, an Arabic news network, there have been discussions of various ceasefires throughout the entire war. On Nov. 22, 2023, there was a successful four-day ceasefire allowing for the release of 50 Israeli hostages and 150 women and children from Israeli pris -

ons. Netanyahu refused a permanent ceasefire immediately following this release as it did not fit with his agenda. Egypt and Qatar proposed a mediation that consisted of three phases: a six-week ceasefire during which Israel and Hamas would be able to negotiate and Israel would withdraw from Gaza allowing Palestinians to return to their homes, then an exchange of hostages, and finally the commencement of a Gaza reconstruction plan. Hamas agreed to this ceasefire, but Netanyahu refused. In December, the United States vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution that would call for a permanent ceasefire, which they would do three more times. In the most recent vote, 14 out of 15 council members, including allies of the United States, voted yes, but the U.S. continues to refuse until there is a resolution that is linked to a hostage release.

On Oct. 28, 2024, South Africa submitted a 5000-page document to the UN’s top court accusing Israel of genocide. A total of 10 other countries, including Palestine, Chili and Spain, have petitioned the court to join the case. Israel now has until July 2025 to respond. Similarly, the United Nations International Crime Court has issued an arrest warrant on Netanyahu, former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas Commander Mohammed Deif for war crimes and crimes against humanity. This conflict has expanded beyond the borders of Israel and Palestine, as Israel has shifted to combat with Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Iraq as well. Additionally, there is little progress in terms of ceasefire negotiations for Hamas and Israel, but Israel and Lebanon have come to a truce. The future of this complicated conflict is unknown, but the devastation from this war will have a lasting impact in the years to come.

A pin points to Gaza, which is currently facing a war between Hamas and Israel. Repeated ceasefire failures have resulted in a continuing conflict and worsening humanitarian conditions.

PhotobyAudreyWalker

AMENORRHEA ENDANGERS ATHLETES

High activity levels are one possible cause of the loss of a menstrual cycle

BY ZOE GANNON AND SOPHIA SCHROLL

Co-Sports

Activities Executive and Cartoon Manager, Editor and Social Media Manager

Imagine being a female cross country runner who makes sure to eat healthily, train daily and get enough sleep. You feel like you’re in the best shape of your life, but then you realize you’ve missed your period for the last three cycles.

Amenorrhea, defined by the Mayo Clinic as the absence of menstruation, is common in athletes who exercise extensively, such as gymnasts, dancers and cross country runners. Although it is a common occurence in female athletes, it is not healthy and shouldn’t be treated as though it is normal.

Athletes experiencing period loss may feel scared by the foreign name, but it is not a disease, rather a symptom of a likely curable condition. Treating amenorrhea could be as simple as adjusting behaviors, but it could also require medication or surgery.

“I’d typically have the athletes document or journal their day in relation to food habits, training habits, sleep habits and more, and based on symptoms and other factors would refer them to see a physician,” Kaneland athletic trainer Maggie Walker said.

In the case of athletes specifically, it is important that they seek medical help when they notice the loss of their period for more than three cycles. Medical professionals can then give their diagnosis of what could be causing this and what steps the athlete can take to recover. Although amenorrhea is not life threatening, it can cause future conditions and complications if not treated.

cycle occurring. This type of amenorrhea can occur due to chromosomal abnormalities, genetic problems, pituitary gland issues or underdeveloped reproductive organs.

Secondary amenorrhea is when a

According to the Mayo Clinic, complications can include infertility, osteoporosis, cardiovascalur disease, pelvic pain and psychological stress.

Primary amenorrhea occurs when an individual reaches the age of 15 and has not had signs of a menstrual

person misses their menstrual period for three or more cycles after previously having a regular menstrual period. This type can occur because of pregnancy, some birth controls, chemotherapy or radiation therapy, certain medications, stress, poor nutrition or excessive exercise.

“When I was 13, [my parents] had concerns because of my thyroid,” senior and dancer Hanna Williams said. “I went to a doctor, and I went for four years because I didn’t get my period until junior year for even the first time. I went to multiple doctors, and they ended up saying that it was because I was so active.”

It can be daunting when it feels like there is no one to talk to about this subject, and it may even feel embarrassing for some to bring it up to their family or friends. Despite what might seem abnormal, amenorrhea affects 1 in 25 women, according to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

“It was frustrating because I didn’t know when [my period] would happen, and you don’t want the embarrassment of bleeding through,” senior and dancer Annabelle Lillie said.

Some athletes might feel as if their condition is unrecognizable and that the important figures in their lives, like teammates, parents and physicians, will overlook their symptoms.

“I think that this topic has been kind of pushed to the side and has been referred to as ‘normal,’” Walker said. “However, it is not normal and could cause several problems later, such as poor bone accrual and low bone mineral density.”

According to Oxford Academic’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, secondary amenorrhea can lead to estrogen deficiency in approximately 55% of affected women and premature ovarian failure due to autoimmune disease.

For teens, these problems might not occur right away, but their chances will increase each year if there are no preventive measures taken, such as seeing a physician or slowing their excessive exercise.

Graphic by Sophia Schroll

PRESSURES OF COLLEGIATE RECRUITING FOR ATHLETES MADRIGALS BRING CHEER

BY BOBBY LEAVEY AND EVAN WHILDIN Editors and Broadcasters

Almost all high school athletes, at one point or another, aspire to make it to the next level: college sports. However, many don’t know the process or how to decide where they want to play in college. No matter what division an athlete wants to play in, there is often a combination of internal and external pressures and influences that go into a student-athlete’s decision.

“The pressures and stress are that while you’re being a student and an athlete, you also have to be a salesman,” Department Chair for Student Services Erin Shore said. “And that’s really uncomfortable for athletes because more times than not, we’re a humble breed. So when we get attention or send highlights, it’s almost bashful, but that’s just part of the work you put in. The praise is sometimes hard to take, so when you get coaches giving you attention or recruiting you, sometimes we’re a little too modest.”

The recruiting process is quite complicated for athletes. The difficulty comes because there are so many other athletes who are trying to accomplish the same goal of competing at the next level. There are a variety of components that go into competing collegiately, which is why it could be beneficial to have people to go to for advice. Student-athletes want to find the college that is the best fit for them.

Senior pitcher Evan Ross, who is currently playing for the varsity basketball team, has recently committed to play baseball at Illinois Wesleyan University at the Division III level.

“I definitely didn’t feel pressure to commit to a certain school,” Ross said. “I obviously wanted to find a good fit for me. I was getting more pressure from friends and family because they were just all wondering where I was going. Obviously it takes time, and it’s part of the recruiting process.”

While using other people’s input to help determine a college is one potential way to get guidance, it can also create unnecessary pressures on a student-athlete. A lot of that pressure is self-induced, as athletes have a tendency to develop very ambitious goals for

themselves. Additionally, athletes have to balance all of the pros and cons of their potential options.

“When you’re talking about just the academic side of what to look for, you want to look at the fit, the distance, the size and then, above all, you really need to be responsible with your financial decisions and making sure that it’s a good expense,” Shore said.

Even if an athlete finds the perfect fit for them, earning a scholarship is not something that comes easily. According to the official NCAA website, out of the 7,109,290 total male and female high school students who compete in basketball, baseball, cross country, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, water polo, wrestling or softball, only 6.36% (452,198) play at the NCAA level. In Ross’s case, only 8.1% (38,849) of high school baseball players go on to play at the collegiate level, with 3.2% (1,243) playing at Division III schools.

Earning a scholarship of any kind is not something to take for granted, considering how few athletes earn them each year. It’s easy to stress during the recruiting process because only so many athletes get to continue playing at the next level. However, it’s important to remember your needs come first, and finding the right place to play and develop is a priority.

BY OLIVIA COTTER Editor and Columnist

Dressed in delightful Renaissance attire and singing with beautiful voices, the Madrigals are a highlight of the holiday season. Many people have positive memories of listening to their serenades of festive and jovial music. The Madrigals put in an extreme amount of effort to perform for us.

The Madrigals’ season starts with a rigorous audition process, which includes each student submitting a video audition, singing in front of a judging panel and then singing with the entire ensemble. After the ensemble is finalized, the members rehearse in class and after school. For the Madrigal Dinner, the ensemble has to memorize over 20 songs and various skits. Some Madrigals struggle to balance school, extracurricular activities and the Madrigal Dinner. “Lots of people don’t understand how much work and time we have to put in to make it sound as good as it is,” junior Idrees Ali said.

Because the members put so much time into the ensemble, they are a tight-knit group. Every year during parent-teacher conferences, the group travels to the Stronghold Camp in Oregon, IL, to bond and practice their songs. This year, two former Madrigals got married in North Carolina and multiple former Madrigals attended the wedding. “It is pretty amazing to see how the bonds formed through the shared experience of Madrigals last,” choir director Bryan Kunstman said.

They are not only responsible for singing each song accurately, but also for leaving the audience with a memorable experience. “The goal of the singers is to perform the music with intention and musicality in such a way that hopefully will leave the audience inspired,” Kunstman said.

The Madrigals have a sentimental mantra to unify and uplift them. The mantra was carried on from each generation of Madrigals. “The phrase ‘we are one Madz’ comes from the idea that we are an ensemble,” senior Sydney Pflipsen said. “In order to be an ensemble, we have to make sure that we sing and perform as one.”

Kaneland alumni Parker Violett and Max Woodward sign their letters of intent last spring to play baseball at the collegiate level. Choosing which school to commit to can be a stressful process for future college athletes.

Photo by Sarah Slattery

EXAMINING MEN’S MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA

BY CHARLIZE LANDA AND JASPER PAULSON Editor and Ads & Business Design Executive, Broadcast Executive and Copy Editor

Growing up comes with mental health issues for most people, both men and women. Throughout recent decades, mental health care has become more normalized. However, the male side of mental health often seems to be overlooked and even judged. Society puts men on a pedestal to exclusively demonstrate strength, so when men display emotions, they can be viewed as weak.

When the societal norm is to silence men’s emotions, men can begin to fear expressing their feelings to mental health professionals and supportive people in their lives. If we are constantly bottling our emotions, it can lead to additional pressure. Junior Steven Maxwell, though, is quite open about his struggles with people he trusts. But at the same time, Maxwell is affected by the societal norm that men should always be emotionally resilient.

“I am always trying to present myself as alright even if I’m not because I fear making people uncomfortable when I talk about my emotions,” Maxwell said.

When faced with judgment from society, men can often turn to a toxic form of masculinity. Toxic masculinity is an exaggerated expression of traits that are traditionally seen as masculine. For instance, traditionally, men are seen as the more violent gender. With toxic masculinity, a man could exhibit that trait to prove their worth to other people. An individual’s toxic masculinity formed by a lack of mental health acknowledgment can become dangerous not only to the people around them, but to themselves as well. It can often lead to further mental health problems. When not addressed, this could lead to a vicious cycle of toxic masculinity and depression.

when injured or emotionally struggling,” according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). “Suppressing mental health issues, such as depression, trauma and anxiety, can worsen symptoms and precipitate isolation, loss of jobs or friends and even suicide.”

When mental health issues aren’t being addressed, it can cause people to feel hopeless and worsen their problems. Suicidal thoughts can begin to form, consuming people’s lives. If men are constantly masking their feelings, reaching out for help when they begin to have these thoughts can seem impossible. In 2022, men died by suicide almost four times more than women, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Although people with suicidal thoughts may believe seeking assistance is pointless, finding that help can ultimately save their life.

“Women represent a higher percentage of calls to crisis hotlines worldwide, despite men having higher rates of suicide,” according to the Journal of Mental Health.

Men are less likely to seek help because of the stigmas around them showing vulnerability.

EMOTIONALLY RESILIENT

VENTINGTO FRIENDS

“Toxic masculinity opposes mental and physical health treatment even

Junior Dino Piemonte is able to be honest with himself when regarding mental health issues. He has recog -

Photo by Anna Gatz

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988

nized a stigma about men’s mental health in the world around him.

“I feel people may not want to hear a man’s suffering because it may seem uncomfortable and not normal,” Piemonte said.

That uncomfortable feeling can cause men to feel like they need to disguise their feelings. Piemonte believes that this bottling up combined with the heavy expectations on men from society leads to worsening mental health. However, there can be ways to remedy that. School psychologist John Markovich advises men to find out how they want to deal with their mental health.

“We all deal with things differently,” Markovich said. “Some people want to problem-solve when they talk to somebody. Some people just want someone to listen. If they don’t want to talk, you can find a different way.”

Markovich believes it is important to remember that men have dealt with judgment regarding their mental health for a long time. In society and family situations, men are perceived as stoic and the ones to let things go. Markovich explains that in order to help people, there might be alternate ways to ease their stress about getting help. For instance, he advises getting up and doing something during a conversation instead of just staying still and discussing.

TOXIC MASCULINITY

“Get up and walk so there’s not the pressure of thinking, ‘All we’re doing is sitting here talking,’” Markovich said.

While men may avoid confronting their mental health, acknowledging it and getting help can improve their lives. Markovich says that the first step is just asking for help.

THINGSBOTTLING UP

“There’s just so much judgment around [therapy] from family members or even from themselves,” Markovich said. “They feel like they’re weak. You’re not weak. It takes a lot more strength to go and ask for help than to just sit there and suffer.”

MEDICAL EXPERIMENTATION:

BY CLARA SAROS Editor

You walk into a large, dark room. It is pitch black, lit only by a single light on a table. An old man with hair that stands on end and large circular glasses looms over it. In the darkness, you hear the faint screams of hopelessness and terror and the rattling of cages of both man and beast.

This is the vision that most people associate with the terms medical or psychological experimentation. While evil scientists may not be universally accurate, many terrible experiments are. At the same time, medical and psychological experimentation is important to further our understanding of human minds and bodies.

Modern researchers have a set of ethics in place to control their experiments and prevent and reduce the trauma of the person who is participating. According to Pfizer, a multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation, medical clinical trials are done in stages. First, they are tested on animals. Next, they are sent to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Once they are approved, only then are they tested on humans who agree to the process. The Institutional Review Board must deem at all of these levels that the work being done is humane.

“I run classroom experiments all the time on my students, and they don’t walk away traumatized,” AP Psychology teacher Daniel Ferrel said. “They walk away a little more enlightened.”

However, experiments did not always have the same ethical guidelines in place. One of the most wellknown experiments was the Nazi

Medical

Experiments that occurred during World War II. Their experiments fell under three different categories. They tested drugs and medicines, survival measures for military personnel and experiments that sought to discover the difference and superiority of the German Aryan race.

Their tests on men, women and

A COMPLICATED HISTORY

children held no regard for the suffering and trauma of their test subjects. According to The Holocaust Encyclopedia, prisoners from concentration camps were put through high altitude tests to determine the maximum height one could jump out of a damaged aircraft. They were injected with diseases to test for potential cures and exposed to phosgene and mustard gas to test treatments and preventative measures. According to an oral history at the Holocaust Museum, a woman named Ruth Elias had her breasts tied off so German experimenters could see how long it took her baby to starve. She eventually killed her child to keep them from suffering longer. These are only some of the experiments that occurred.

This was a horrible part of our world’s history, but such experimentation is not only conducted by major villains. Germany has another famous experiment, although this one is more recently coming to light. The Kentler Experiment was led by a man named Dr. Helmut Kentler who, according to the Irish Times, was considered a “great success” until his death.

In the 1960s, Germany had multiple scandals involving pedophiles. In order to solve this problem, Kentler came up with an idea to cure pedophiles of their attraction to children. Kentler’s idea was to place foster kids in the homes of pedophiles so that the children could have a loving, safe place and the adults could learn to care for the children and thus be cured of their sexual interest in them. However, they faced abuse instead of the intended care. This experiment was only discovered in 2022 when the children, who are now adults, started speaking up.

In the 1960s and 70s, the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) conducted experiments on prisoners at the California Medical

les Times reports were “applied directly on the skin and intravenously, along with placing small cages with mosquitoes on or near inmates’ skin.”

Another experiment involves a woman named Henrietta Lacks. Her cancer cells were discovered to be unlike other cells in the sense that they doubled every hour instead of dying like cells normally would. Her cells were biopsied in 1951, and without her knowledge, they were used in many more experiments. An article by Johns Hopkins Hospital, which conducted the experiments, reports that her cells were used to find the COVID-19 vaccine.

Facility. Over the years, UCSF faculty memebers experimented on 2,600 men with various substances including pesticides and herbicides, which the Los Ange -

Many unethical experiments were conducted on numerous groups of people throughout history. While they are tragic and caused trauma, some greatly expanded our knowledge. In the end, it comes down to what researchers and scientists can and cannot do from an ethical and moral standpoint.

“Students understanding ethics - what is good, what is not good and how to revolve their life around making ethical decisions - is valuable on a personal level,” Ferrel said.

Medical and psychological experiments are still very important to science, and modern clinical trials hold value. Unlike many past experiments, most modern ones provide knowledge to not only the participants, but also public records. Most unethical experiments have a severe lack of documentation to be studied, thus they are rarely discussed.

“I feel like people should be informed about what all is going on,” junior Madisyn McLean said. “It would be interesting to learn about, but also to just know because there are some sketchy things that go on.”

Dr Helmut Kentler

Cartoon by Faith Maschman

Graphic by Sarah Slattery

by Sarah Slattery

Photo

A DREAM SHAPED BY FAMILY AND GRIT

From late start to a varsity starter, Freddy Hassan proves that dedication and commitment pays off

BY CARLI FILEK Social Media Executive

At 6-foot-7, senior Freddy Hassan’s presence is hard to miss in the halls of Kaneland High School. But it’s not just his towering height that sets him apart from his peers; it’s his determination, work ethic and the inspiration he draws from his family that truly make him stand out.

Despite his athletic build, Freddy’s journey into basketball was anything but typical. He started playing the sport later than most, which meant that he lacked the prior knowledge and experience that comes with years of playing. He initially played on the B team in seventh grade and didn’t begin taking the game seriously until his freshman year.

“When I was a kid, I actually loved basketball,” Freddy said. “I didn’t really play though because my parents are Nigerian, so they didn’t know how to get me into it.”

Despite this initial barrier, his journey was shaped by an extraordinary support system, starting with his mom. Financially, she supports him by paying for club teams and training, along with taking off work to come to his games.

“My mom works so hard,” Freddy said. “She came to America to give us a better life than she had. Every time I’m trying to be lazy, I just think about that. It pushes me a little harder.”

Inspired by her sacrifices, he channels one of her sayings into every practice and game: “If you’re going to put your time into something, make sure you give 100% of your effort.”

Alongside his mom’s support, his younger brother Jeffrey has also been a huge inspiration. Jeffrey has been playing basketball for only three years, but he has already shown his passion for the sport. Jeffrey’s dedication has inspired Freddy in many ways.

“He’s only a sophomore, and he already works really hard,” Freddy said. “I just love to see that. It makes me want to work harder too.”

Though until this season their time on the court has been limited, their bond goes far beyond the game. For Freddy, Jeffrey’s more than a brother. He’s a motivator and best friend.

“We push each other to get bet -

design by

Clara Saros

ter,” Jeffrey said. “I look up to him and how hard he works.”

His family’s love and support has shaped Freddy’s determination to succeed, and he has set his sights on excelling in basketball.

“They’re the most important things to me in my life right now, after God,” Freddy said. “I do everything for my mom and brother.”

After Freddy’s freshman season, he realized that if he wanted to secure a spot on varsity, he needed to take basketball seriously. He dedicated himself to rigorous training, joining a club team and spending countless

“

“They’re the most important things to me in my life right now, after God. I do everything for my mom and brother.”

- Senior Freddy Hassan

“

hours working on skills, particularly dribbling and shooting.

That summer, Freddy played on the varsity team during the high school’s summer league games. By the end of the summer, his hard work seemed to pay off when head coach Ernie Colombe confirmed Freddy’s spot on the varsity team for the upcoming year.

“I was really happy,” Freddy said, reflecting on the moment. “That made me want to work harder, though, because I had to be ready to play. I didn’t want to be on varsity and sit on the bench.”

Since then, Freddy has continued to make his mark. Now, as a multi-year varsity starter, Freddy looks back on one of his favorite memories of his high school basketball journey: receiving the Most Valuable Player award at the Plano Christmas Classic tournament in 2023.

“That was really a big step forward with him,” Colombe said. “It seems like it really boosted his confidence.”

Colombe saw that growth firsthand and believes it’s Freddy’s work ethic and dedication to the sport that sets him apart from others.

“He’s always asking what he can do or what he should work on,” Colombe said. “Sometimes you get players who ask you that and they don’t follow through. He’s been a kid from day one who’s always asked those questions and then backed it up.”

Over the years, Colombe has witnessed his development as both a player and a leader. Beyond his dedication, Freddy’s character and energy have left a positive impact on his coaches and teammates.

“His teammates enjoy being around him, and they can count on him,” Colombe said. “If something’s going on, Freddy’s always there to help.”

Basketball has been more than just a game for Freddy. It’s instilled in him values like responsibility and persistence that extend far beyond the court.

“It’s always deeper than the game,” Freddy said. “There’s always something you can learn from a mistake.”

Off the court, Freddy balances his time between family, friends and another passion: track and field. Competing in high jump, Freddy has represented Kaneland at the IHSA State competition twice. He says that his track experience has sharpened his basketball skills.

“Track definitely helped with my athleticism,” Freddy said. “It’s a lot of running and a lot of jumping.”

But track has offered more than just physical benefits. As a multisport athlete, Freddy has gotten better at time management, balancing track season with club basketball and schoolwork.

Looking ahead, Freddy remains uncertain whether his future lies with basketball or track, however he’s excited about the possibility of competing at the collegiate level. Regardless of the path he chooses, one thing is clear: The lessons he’s learned and the inspiration from his family will continue to guide him every step of the way.

EMBRACING UNCOMFORTABLE REALITIES

AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THE PROCESS OF GROWTH

No one likes to feel uncomfortable. It’s an awkward and upsetting feeling that most people actively avoid. However, it’s important to acknowledge what makes us uncomfortable in order to grow, whether that is in school, friendships or emotional wellbeing.

We generally choose to not acknowledge the things that we find uncomfortable because we, as humans, seek to fit in. It is important as a community to break this cycle and face the facts: feeling some embarrassment, awkwardness or uneasiness is normal. Society must accept that any situations that challenge us or push us out of our comfort zones are natural and can come with benefits.

The only way to get over a situation that makes you uncomfortable is by diving head-first into it. This can look like many different things, especially for high school students. Regardless of the situation, we can often grow from facing what is making us uncomfortable.

Receiving constructive criticism is one situation when we feel discomfort. Almost every student wants an A in their English class, for example, but let’s face the reality of it: for the most part, students would prefer to avoid a conference with a teacher and be told what they did wrong in order to potentially improve their grade.

“When we receive constructive criticism, we view it as, ‘I’m not good at this,’ or we view mistakes as something bad that we did rather than viewing them as areas of growth,” English teacher Christina Staker said. “We have a tendency as a culture to celebrate every little thing young kids do and give participation trophies just for completing a task, rather than teaching growth mindset from an early age.”

Most students avoid conferencing with a teacher because they fear criticism, and that is understandable. Teens typically feel the need to be right all the time, but we aren’t. Understanding that mistakes let us learn and improve is vital to the success we find in our education.

“Constructive criticism should al -

ways come from a desire to help an individual grow and strengthen their skills,” Staker said. “Accepting constructive criticism means accepting the opportunity to reach your full potential. Dreams, happiness, success... none of it is achieved by just sitting back and waiting for it to happen to you. You need to work hard and struggle to achieve these things.”

Feeling comfortable enough to approach a trusted adult or teacher and ask for help is crucial in the learning process, but what is just as important is having a good support system. You want friends who will help you and lift you up when you’re struggling, whether it is in school, life or relationships.

It is an unfortunate truth that as we age, we might lose ties to those we love. Most teens no longer have those elementary school friends they swore would be their “best friends forever,” and that’s not a bad thing. Growing apart is just a reality of growing up. There are points in time where teens realize that those they chose to be friends with when they were younger are not necessarily the right people for them now.

It is easy for teens to look past small red flags in a friendship and cherish only the good time they have with a friend. We, as humans, crave the attention that is found within relationships, so if there is one minor inconvenience, we typically act like it doesn’t bother us and move on. The problem is that one minor inconvenience can grow into many other inconveniences until the relationship becomes unhealthy.

“Even if they are little problems, bring them up,” junior Sarah Syed said. “So many people are so scared to say something because they think that they are causing too much trouble or they will lose the friendship, but if you bring those small problems up, you save yourself from a whole lot of problems in the long run. Speak up.”

An unhealthy relationship can severely damage a person’s self-worth, which is crucial to avoid as teenagers. If you can address an initial minor inconvenience, maybe you will avoid the larger fallout. If addressing an incon -

venience creates a bigger problem, then maybe that person isn’t meant to be your friend in the long run.

It is completely okay to cut off a friendship, especially if it is a toxic one. Once you leave that friendship where you feel undervalued, you will be so much happier, but it does take some time to get there.

“[People] are afraid of what other people will think about them,” Syed said. “Or they are afraid of what the person might say about them or do to them. But in the end, fear is what holds most people back.”

Yes, it can be uncomfortable to address social problems, especially as teenagers who are commonly told to not talk back. However, having the courage to address a problematic issue within a friendship is essential to maintaining healthy relationships. And it is important to remember that not all relationships are meant to last forever, and that is okay. It is okay to grieve the loss of relationships that meant a lot to you.

Some topics can be very uncomfortable, but it is essential to acknowledge them for the health of a relationship. Many people tend to suppress their emotions to avoid discussing and dissecting them, but this can be detrimental to one’s mental health.

“We are expected as human beings to suffer in silence, and there is an expectation that a little bit of suffering is good for us,” Kaneland High School social worker Emily Dremel said. “We just need to talk about it. Talking about things always makes it easier.”

Oftentimes, the only way to overcome an issue is by acknowledging it first. Only after that can a person start healing.

If they choose not to confront the issue, emotions can start bottling up. Bottling emotions is risky because,

STORY BY SOPHIE THILL AND FAITH MASCHMAN

eventually, that bottle will fill up. Once that container is unable to hold any more suppressed emotions, it will begin to overflow, and those issues will spill everywhere. It is important to confront issues to avoid any spillage.

There are several outlets that people can use to acknowledge and talk through their issues. These may include friends, family, support groups and therapy. Any form of therapy can be beneficial because it provides a patient with coping mechanisms, guidance, confidentiality and an objective outlook.

There is no specific formula for how to move on and deal with problems. It is crucial to acknowledge this reality, as not getting appropriate help can lead people to unhealthy coping strategies, like detachment and even substance abuse. Unhealthy approaches to healing can impact one’s ability to handle and manage life as a whole.

While dealing with the mental and emotional effects of coming to terms with a problem, self-care can help a person heal and grow from the experience. While for some it might mean

a spa night with skin care and productive activities, self-care can also mean taking time to cry and unleash all of one’s emotions in a safe and private environment.

“Self-care is going to be a key component of how we deal with [our individual issues],” Dremel said. “If we are not kind to ourselves, really acknowledging what we need, we are never going to be able to move past things.”

Above all, one must not shy away from experiences that are awkward or could cause pain or embarrassment. Avoidance of problems rarely solves them. It only lets them fester. Facing the issues that affect us is the key to moving past them.

Making a tough decision can be uncomfortable, but if a decision makes you feel discom -

DESIGN

SOPHIA SCHROLL

fort then it comes with an opportunity for

We grow when we face our fears and sit in discomfort. Acknowledging the uncomfortable is essential to the success that we find in our lives, and it is the key to growth.

TRAUMA: SHARING ISN’T ALWAYS CARING

BY HADLEY SPRINGER Editor and Cartoonist

Pain can carve you up and leave you empty. It can leave you with the inability to refill what you need. It will have you clawing at others to fill that void. Pain destroys and creates. Pain breaks people, but it also builds deep rooted relationships. Sharing such pain can be dangeous and needs to be done carefully, so it is up to those in pain whether or not those relationships drown or grow.

Relationships are built from a base of shared joys and pains. With those who are close to us, we share everything from our greatest moments to our most vulnerable traumas. Just as others’ victories can break relationships with jealousy, sharing trauma can break it down with imbalance.

Everyone has their own struggles, some more than others. The greatest show of pain comes in the form of emotional trauma, which is “a term used to describe the challenging emotional consequences that living through a distressing event can have on an individual,” according to the Center for Addiction and Mental Health.

Trauma is more than just an unsettling memory. Symptoms can range from mild to major depending on the event and how the person perceives and deals with it. Personality changes, restlessness, paranoia and upsetting dreams or memories are common, according to the National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). When trauma is left unprocessed, disorders can develop, such as PTSD.

When dealing with large emotions, leaning on parents, mentors, friends, partners and professionals is imperative. It is always good to trust someone enough to be vulnerable with them, but boundaries are a need for both parties involved.

Therapists are one of the most helpful resources for emotional support. However, people tend to open up easier to those they already have built relationships with and trust. Especially for teens, this tends to be the way we go.

Despite friends being a great outlet for our deepest struggles, people close to us do not tend to have the tools to help.

“If you just put on a horrifying, gory, scary movie and I wasn’t prepared for

that, do you think that’s okay? Probably not,” Kaneland High School social worker Calista Sarabia said. “People are not always mentally prepared for [hearing about deep struggles].”

We are a species strongly impacted by emotion. Just the thought of another person going through traumatic things is generally enough to elicit deep compassion and empathy.

Whether or not we personally know a dying person, our reaction is often the same: compassion. We see ourselves through others, so seeing someone go through things that could happen to us hurts.

Junior Bianca Garcia titles herself the “therapist friend.” She acts as an outlet for her friends. This is a great thing to do, but it is important to keep ourselves in mind. Garcia mentions she has never been “scared away” from a friend because of their struggles, but admits that she has experienced depression as a result of being the “therapist friend.”

Garcia learned to prioitize herself, which allowed her to improve her mental health. But a lot of people do not have the self-awareness to take that step. Not only can the knowledge of another struggle make you struggle as well, but it can also trigger your own traumas.

Someone may come to you for help with family instability, but if what they share with you is in line with your own trauma then you can lose the ability to help. Triggers are hard to work around, especially with traumatic memories. At times, the same emotions you felt in the moment will resurface; you can become completely disconnected

from the present.

“You have to decide: Am I the right person to be telling this information to? Is it harming our relationship, or is it helping us become closer and share things together and flourish?” Sarabia said.

Boundaries in relationships are very important, especially when there are delicate emotions in play. Garcia is a perfect example of how to set boundaries in situations that involve excessive sharing of trauma. Garcia was able to recognize when she needed a break, so she communicated with those who relied on her that her own mental health had been declining.

She proceeded to set hard boundaries while still being empathetic by saying, “I understand you’re going through things and you need someone to talk to, but I can’t be that person right now.” Without this boundary, her relationships would have suffered. “I wasn’t taking on so much of their stress, and that was a good thing for me,” Garcia said. “They were still able to tell me some things. I think it worked well for both of us.”

Life is hard enough as it is. Between the delicate balance of surviving while remaining happy, there is no need to carry any more stress than what is necessary.

Empathy is one of humans’ greatest gifts to give, but without boundaries, you will crack right along with the cracked. You can’t take the glue of one structure to fix another and expect both to remain standing. Sometimes things require experience you lack.

“It’s really hard to suggest something to a person when their life is completely different from yours,” Garcia said.

While it is important to help others up, so is holding yourself up to do so. If tough things like boundaries are not discussed because “you are scared of being uncomfortable, then you are never going to have the opportunity to be comfortable,” Sarabia said.

Even Sarabia has moments where she feels like a “deer in headlights” when talking to students. We are all humans who make mistakes, carry our own weight and feel emotion deeply. Trauma is a heavy weight to carry, so we must keep in mind that weight transfers and be mindful of how and with whom we choose to share it.

Page design by Charlize Landa

Photo by Sophie Thill

A student enters social worker Calista Sarabia’s office. Mental health professionals can be an alternative for sharing stuggles instead of friends.

656: the number of mass shootings in America in 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive. 4,512: the amount of adolescent deaths from gun violence in 2023. 4,512 sons, daughters, siblings, friends and above all, people. This number may seem surprising to you. However, according to President-elect Donald Trump’s reference to an Iowa school shooting at a campaign rally in January of 2024, “We have to get over it.”

Teens all over America are begging for change. We cannot continue to sit in math class imagining the school supplies that surround us as weapons. The immense anxiety induced by frequent overhead announcements is not acceptable.

Trump's plan for change? More guns. According to Agenda 47, a collection of Trump’s policy plans that he wants to implement when he is in office, he supports districts that allow teachers to carry weapons at school. Growing up, we are taught in school that the government is here to protect and help their citizens, but these types of responses make it hard for many to believe that. This presents an ultimatum: Protect the lives of American children or prioritize guns.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) outlines the reasoning behind fewer restrictions on guns in America. They claim that since criminals by definition do not follow the law, they will find ways to get around stricter gun laws anyways. While this is technically true, this is not a logical argument. It is like saying speed limits are ineffective because people will speed anyway. Further, they argue that the more good people who have guns, the less crime there will be. But how can we control which people have guns with the cur-

design by Sarah Slattery

rent relaxed background checks?

After a 1996 school shooting in the United Kingdom that killed 16 children and one teacher, privately owned handguns were banned within one year. America's response to school shootings, on the other hand? Tweets and speeches of “thoughts and prayers” and “never again.”

From 3,000 Marjory Stoneman Douglas students walking out of their classrooms in unified disapproval, to March for Our Lives (a student-led gun control organization) protesting outside of the White House, teenagers have spent years asking the government to stop being dormant.

It is vital that more people join in with these efforts. Women did not get the right to vote and segregation did not end by people sitting quietly and hoping that the government would change on its own. The civil rights movement was mostly teenagers and young adults participating in different protests to get the government to change their ways; we must do the same. Attending protests, getting involved in our community and encouraging our state representatives to take action on gun problems are a few ways we can create a change.

More thorough background checks, a ban on assault weapons and increased attention on preventing illegal gun purchases would decrease the amount of mass shootings in America. However, with a Trump presidency, a conservative Supreme Court and a Republican majority in both the House and the Senate, these changes are unlikely. It is of the utmost importance that America’s teenagers are not discouraged by the lack of care for their lives, but instead inspired to take the action desperately needed.

EDITORIAL

Editorial

Cartoonists

Gannon, Teaghan Hardy, Hadley Springer and Adrianna Wells

ADVISORS

EDITORIAL POLICY

Editorials represent a majority opinion of the Editorial Board and are not necessarily the opinion of Kaneland administration, staff, students or parents. The Krier Editorial Board consists of designated Advanced Journalism students: Isa Alba, Olivia Cotter, Lucas Fiedler, Carli Filek, Zoe Gannon, Anna Gatz, Teaghan Hardy, Olivia Krasuski, Charlize Landa, Bobby Leavey, Faith Maschman, Jasper Paulson, Nate Sand, Clara Saros, Sophia Schroll, Sarah Slattery, Hadley Springer, Casper Suehs, Preslee Sutherland, Sophie Thill, Audrey Walker, Emma Weintraub, and Evan Whildin. Students make all publication decisions. Letters can be sent to the address above or emailed to krier@ kaneland.org. Letters must be signed (names may be withheld under extraordinary circumstances as deemed by the editorial staff) and must be under 300 words. The Editorial Board has the right to work with writers to edit for clarity and length. Any material that is potentially libelous, obscene or disruptive will not be published at the discretion of the Editorial Board. All decisions to publish or not publish letters are made by executive editors. The Krier has been an open forum since 1974. As an open forum, we restrict editing to staff members only; prior review and editing are prohibited by people outside the staff.

Cartoon by Teaghan Hardy

Stacy Layton

Cassie Cramer Jakub Chelbek Serenity Roberts

STAFF

Aleena Alrifaee, Areli Arredondo, Kayla Baumann, Lori Bowers, Grace Brunscheen, Alex Crocker, Ollie Fair, Greta Falk, Kate Homco, Annika Jones, Quintin King, Alondra Mendoza, Maxwell Montalvo, Audrey Noring, Zavier Nothnagel, Ellie Olp, Morgan Olson, Ally Reilley, Ansley Ruh, Christopher Ruiz, Savana Sanchez, Hannah Secrest, Yasmin Talabani, Gavin Vaughn, Diajah Ward, Prema Weichun, Michael Werth, Rayln Wilcox, Noah Witz, and Jeremy Ziller

SEX EDUCATION

WRITTEN BY DESIGN

AUDREY WALKER SARAH SLATTERY

School-taught sex education, although sometimes controversial, is an important part of preparing adolescents to engage in safe relationships in their future. However, Kaneland students are getting much of this vital information later than Illinois guidelines recommend. For student health, I believe the Kaneland district should revise its sex education curriculum to teach students key topics earlier and to better align with state guidance.

Sex education is more than just teaching about sexual intercourse. It encompasses topics such as communication, consent, contraceptive methods, healthy relationships, human development, gender identity, self-esteem, sexual orientation and more. Access to this education is very important and should not be withheld or postponed as teenagers are maturing and exploring relationships.

As explained by the Guttmacher Institute, a sexual and reproductive health research organization, “Sex education is vital to adolescents’ healthy sexual development, and young people have the right to information that is medically accurate, inclusive, and age and culturally appropriate in order to make informed decisions about their sexual behavior, relationships and reproductive choices.”

“SEX EDUCATION IS VITAL TO ADOLESCENTS’ HEALTHY SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT.”

Although the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) website shows that

sex education is optional for schools to provide, Kaneland does incorporate it into some health classes, along with teaching the state-mandated Erin’s Law. Kaneland is a non-abstinence based school, according to Director of Educational Services 6-12 James Horne.

To develop the health curriculum, a team of health teachers, instructional coaches and administrators work together to identify content based on state and national standards. They primarily look at the Illinois State Goals for Physical Development and Health.

“That’s what we use to develop it,” Horne said. “It’s at the foundation of how the curriculum has been developed.”

These standards contain little mention of many sex education topics. The Illinois General Assembly does, however, identify specific sex education standards in its State Goals for Learning and Learning Standards. These standards, officially called the Illinois Learning Standards for Comprehensive Personal Health and Safety and Sexual Health Education , are the same as the national standards. Although still optional, these standards could be used to tailor the sex education at Kaneland to best align with national guidance. On a district checklist for implementing sex education instruction, the ISBE writes, “Schools may choose and adapt the age and developmentally appropriate, medically accurate, complete, culturally appropriate, inclusive, and trauma-informed curriculum that meet the needs of their community.”

When I looked at these standards, I noticed a significant disparity between what Kaneland Harter Middle School teaches and what is recommended for those grade levels.

While a few topics are included in the Illinois State Goals for Physical Development and Health standards, including STDs and HIV, the functions of male and female reproductive systems, puberty, the fertility cycle, and dating behaviors and violence, many topics are not. And when I compared the KHMS seventh and eighth grade health proficiency tables to the national standards, even fewer topics were explicitly outlined. While in-class instruction might cover more than what is written, the proficiency tables only include the topics of puberty, communicable diseases (which include STDs), healthy relationships and communication and refusal skills.

Design by Sarah Slattery

Important concepts including contraceptive methods, sexual orientation and identity, gender identity and expression, pregnancy testing and options, and others are not covered.

Although Kaneland does not base its curriculum on these standards, the state and national sex education standards do list what age groups certain topics are best suited for. And when I compared the standards with what is being taught at Kaneland, the majority of the content that is suggested for the middle school age group isn’t even introduced until high school. The first time Kaneland students are learning about some topics, such as contraceptive methods, is in their ninth grade health class, when they are 14 or 15 years old.

For some kids, though, this is already after they’ve become sexually active. Kaneland High School health teacher Jenna Thorp agrees.

“I would think it would be naive to just assume that people are not being sexually active [in middle school],” Thorp said.

As a teenager, I’ve heard my fair

share of stories from my friends and classmates. Some teenagers, including middle schoolers, are certainly having sex. What concerns me and should concern parents and school administrators, though, is how unsafe this sex is. I’ve witnessed the panic of pregnancy scares, heard tales of unprotected sex and even had to educate a peer that she could not get pregnant from performing oral sex.

So, teens are clearly engaging in sexual activity. But are they educated on the risks beforehand?

The Guttmacher Institute reports that “among teens reporting penile-vaginal intercourse, fewer than half (43% of females and 47% of males) received this instruction before they first had sex.” This is a concerning statistic because if teens haven’t received sex education instruction before they are engaging in sexual activity, they might not know how to protect themselves against pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases.

A common misconception is that teaching sex education will promote engaging in sexual activity or encourage students to begin sexual activity earlier than if they had not received sex education instruction. However, this is false.

The World Health Organization states that “young people are more likely to delay the onset of sexual activity – and when they do have sex, to practice safer sex – when they are better informed about their sexuality, sexual health and their rights.” So, if anything, teaching sex education at the middle school level might actually delay sexual activity. Parents are supportive of this, too.

According to a 2023 poll by Planned Parenthood, “84 percent of parents supported having sex educa -

tion taught in middle school.” However, some parents are still uncomfortable with their child learning these topics.

“84 PERCENT OF PARENTS SUPPORTED HAVING SEX EDUCATION TAUGHT IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.”

- PLANNED PARENTHOOD

“When we get parent emails, it’s usually on one of the sex ed units,” Thorp said. “Either they are uncomfortable with the content, or they think that we’re talking about it a lot.”

If parents or students are not comfortable with students learning about sex education, the ISBE and Kaneland Handbook both state that students do not have to participate in sex education instruction if their parents opt them out.

It’s important to note that KHMS health instruction is limited to one-quarter classes during a student’s seventh and eighth grade years. Quarters average 43 days each, providing little time for expansive education.

“When you go through and you identify your priorities, there are things that are focused heavily upon and then there are things that are, you know, probably not as heavily focused on,” Horne said.

Adding a sixth grade section or extending the class to be semester-long, like at Kaneland High School, are ways of incorporating more sex education instruction.

Insufficient sex education isn’t just a problem affecting Kaneland. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 2022 school health profiles, only 24.2% of U.S. schools taught all 22 of the identified sexual health topics in grades 6, 7 or

Design by Sarah Slattery

8. Illinois came in even lower with just 19.9% of schools teaching all topics. While comprehensive sex education at the middle school level isn’t necessarily implemented at every Illinois school, it should not be avoided in our district.

Do parents and administrators want to take a chance and hope their child isn’t having sex until after they receive sex education? Or will teenagers do it anyways, whether or not they’ve learned how to be safe? To me, educated decisions are always better than uneducated ones. Teenagers should have access to all of the important information they need to make safe decisions, and educating them early is key to preventing risky choices later in their teenage years.

Thorp also believes that access to sex education is important because some topics, such as contraception, are relevant to adolescents for reasons other than sexual activity.

“I’ve always had the stance that I think it’s good to educate and to understand,” Thorp said. “Contraceptive methods, like hormonal methods, aren’t just used for sexual activity. So I think that it is good for females to understand and know what happens to their body.”

The Kaneland health curriculum is up for review next year, which could bring shifts to the current curriculum.

“There’s always the potential for change any time the curriculum is reviewed,” Horne said.

My hope is that more sex education topics can be incorporated into the middle school health curriculum to provide students with the best chances of safe and healthy relationships in their future. Giving students necessary information before they become sexually active is crucial to their health and is a needed change in our district.

HOW TO TURN JEALOUSY INTO GROWTH

How to beat jealousy and

BY OLIVIA KRASUSKI Editor and Columnist

Jealousy and mistrust can surface in any relationship, often sparked by small doubts or insecurities. Whether it’s worrying over a harmless friendship or feeling lingering doubt about someone else’s actions, these are experiences many have faced. Although they’re natural reactions, jealousy and mistrust can strain a relationship if left unaddressed. So, how can you manage these feelings? Strategies like open communication and self-reflection are among the many ways to turn these emotions into opportunities for growth.

According to the article How to Deal With Jealousy and Insecurity in a Relationship by Sheri Stritof on verywellmind.com, jealousy arises as a response to a perceived threat, often rooted in the fear that someone else might be trying to gain the attention or affection of your significant other. Occasional jealousy is normal, but when it becomes too intense or irrational, it not only damages your relationship, but it can be destructive and potentially dangerous to your well-being. Being able to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy jealousy is important to the success of your relationships.

grow not only your relationship, but yourself

jealousy by creating constant comparisons and misunderstandings over who someone interacts with online. Jealousy may also be driven by a person’s low self-esteem or their fear of being betrayed or abandoned. The key factor to managing jealousy before it spirals is being able to recognize what triggers your jealousy in the first place.

Self-reflection is a very useful tool for managing jealousy and mistrust. Taking the time to examine your feelings can help you identify whether

you feel because if you’re not open, you won’t have good communication,” junior Lilly Leuer said.

It’s important to express your concerns instead of letting them build up, allowing both of you to find solutions together. By being honest and listening to each other, open communication creates a stronger foundation for trust and can help prevent jealousy from damaging your relationship.

Understanding how to build trust within a relationship is crucial, especially since it’s the bedrock for managing jealousy and preventing misunderstandings.

Normal jealousy might look like feeling a bit uneasy when your partner spends time with someone else, but it doesn’t interfere with trust or communication. Unhealthy jealousy, though, can lead to constant suspicion, controlling behavior or even manipulation. It’s important to recognize when jealousy shifts from a natural feeling to an unhealthy pattern that can harm both the relationship and your own well-being.

Jealousy and mistrust can be triggered by several factors, often rooted in insecurities or past experiences. For some, previous relationships where trust was broken can lead to lingering doubts that carry into new relationships. Social media can also heighten

they’re coming from past experiences, insecurities or assumptions. By understanding where your feelings are coming from, you will be able to approach them with a clearer perspective and avoid projecting them onto your relationship. Self-reflection can also encourage personal growth, allowing you to build confidence both in yourself and your partner.

Open communication is essential for building trust and addressing jealousy in a relationship. Being able to talk openly with your partner about your feelings can clear up misunderstanding and reduce assumptions.

“You have to be open about how

“You have to go into a relationship trusting someone, otherwise you’re not going to have trust for your partner,” Leuer explained. “That’s a key thing to have in a healthy relationship.” Trust often begins with small actions like keeping promises, showing up when you say you will and consistently being honest. It’s also important to be transparent in a relationship. By being open and honest about your intentions and actions, it creates an atmosphere of trust. Over time, these efforts help strengthen relationships and reduce feelings of insecurity, creating a foundation where both people feel respected and understood.

Dealing with jealousy and mistrust in relationships isn’t easy, but understanding these emotions and how to manage them can make a big difference. Recognizing what causes jealousy, taking the time to self-reflect and building trust are all important tools that can guide you towards a healthier relationship. By making the effort to address jealousy rather than letting it build up, you’re not only strengthening your bond with your significant other but also growing as a person. By applying these strategies, you and your partner can build a relationship where both feel secure and supported, even when challenges arise.

Photo by Sarah Slattery

Junior Lilly Leuer looks at herself in a mirror. Self-reflection is a useful tool to discover where feelings of jealousy or mistrust come from and how to move past it.