Panorama April 2019

Education comes with a price.

LADUE PANORAMA NEWSPAPER

$$$$$ Read more on pages 12-13.

4.24.2019 VOLUME 67, ISSUE 9 LADUE HORTON WATKINS HIGH SCHOOL 1201 S. WARSON ROAD ST. LOUIS, MO 63124

“What is your favorite scent?”

Meet the

Panorama staff

EDITORIAL STAFF

Editors-in-Chief: Hannah Suffian and Anya Tullman Managing Editor: Katie Shaw

“Lemon cake.”

Head Copy Editor: Adam Rush Design Editor: Felix Hu Photographer-in-Chief: Zach Weller In-Depth Editors: Anna Liner and Ande Siegel

CONTRIBUTING STAFF

Writers: Daniel Chayet, Sophia Liu, Rhea Patney, Cindy Wang and Ethan Willick Photographers: Lindsey Byer, Samantha Fischer, Grace Hensley, Nicole Kalishman, Maggie Lochmoeller, Caroline Powell and Lou Ritter

News Editors: Connie Chen and Sydney Crump

Artists: Anna Cui, Jill Goldwasser, Nathan Lu, Louisia Yang, Danielle Zhang and Michelle Zhou

Features Editors: Katie Holland and Bradford Siwak

Web Editors-in-Chief: Anik Jain and Will Minifie

“Roses.”

“Crayons or cinnamon.”

Sports Editors: Jackson Bry and Jacob Korn Opinions Editors: Cassie Beisheim and Alex Fu A&E Editors: Hugh Chan and Malavika Kumaran Art Editors: Egret Jin and Jackie Zeng Panorama Photo Editor: Carolina Alisio

“The ocean.”

Business Manager: Stephen Bowen Social Media Editor: Sunny Lu

“Cherry car air fresheners.”

Online Photo Editor: Burke Howe Digital Photo Editor: Rose Hauser “My mom’s orange cinnamon rolls.”

Adviser: Sarah Kirksey

Sports Photo Editor: Abbie Hoefer

Letter from the

editors

Editors-in-Chief Hannah Suffian and Anya Tullman A high school education is pivotal to a successful future. A diploma makes post-secondary education and higher-paying jobs much more accessible. According to US News, Ladue High School is the number one non-selective high school in the state of Missouri. However, only mere miles away, the Normandy School District just recently regained its accreditation from the state school board. The differences between schools like Ladue and Normandy are caused by a variety of factors including poverty, segregation and unequal funding. Is there an end to this seemingly infinite cycle? How can Ladue students make an impact on those without access to high quality education? Read more about education inequality in St. Louis on pages 12 & 13.

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Follow @laduepanorama on Snapchat and Twitter, @laduepublications on Instagram and Ladue Publications on Facebook.

Spread design by Anya Tullman

Table of contents

Thank you to our generous

FEATURES

Panorama’s success would not be possible without your support.

NEWS

IN-DEPTH

She’s excited ...................................................... 5 Molly Katzman is Ladue’s hype woman at pep rallies.

HolaHola CocaCola ........................................ 6 & 7 Spanish teacher has a knack for other languages.

Go green ............................................................. 9 The Green Team has expanded its initiatives.

Senior art show .......................................... 10 & 11 Graduating seniors showcase their art pieces.

Boxed in ..................................................... 12 & 13 In-depth looks at educational inequity across St. Louis through the perspectives of community leaders, superintendents and Ladue students.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The great Pano cookoff .............................. 14 & 15 Two Panorama staff members clash in a culinary fight to see whose cooking skills are superior. Find out more on pages 14-15.

SPORTS

Switching up the game ............................... 18 & 19 Junior Max Webb recovers from a knee condition after undergoing two surgeries. However, he has to give up baseball for a less strenuous sport: golf.

OPINIONS

Our

Pano perspective ....................................... 20 & 21 Ladue should incorporate religion into curriculum.

Fake takeout ..................................................... 23 The U.S. has changed Chinese food for the worse.

policy

Panorama is a monthly newspaper that strives to inform and entertain students, staff and community members and to uphold professional standards of accuracy and fairness. The publication hopes to engage the student body by eliciting dialogue among its readers. It aims to reflect the diversity of the population it serves and to observe the journalistic principle of doing no harm. All surveys are completely anonymous. Panorama welcomes letters to the editors. Please bring signed letters to room 1311. Panorama reserves the right to revise submissions as long as original intent remains unaltered.

Panorama is produced 10 times per school year by the newspaper class of Ladue Horton Watkins High School at 1201 S. Warson Road, St. Louis, MO 63124. The publication lab is located in room 1311, (314)-993-6447 ext. 5844. Read more stories online at laduelead.com. Follow @laduepublications on Instagram and Facebook and @laduepanorama on Twitter. Cover design by Anna Liner and Ande Siegel.

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SOPHIA LIU staff writer | @laduepanorama adue High School has a strong reputation for its student athletes and bleachers filled with pumped- up students during games. During halftime, when the field or court gets filled with cheerleaders, a blaring pep band and Ladue’s nationally ranked dance team. Occasionally, spectators will get a special treat when Ladue’s ram mascot, Horton, pops out to mingle with the crowd. According to the activities director secretary, Jennifer Strohbeck, there have been four Hortons in the

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past four years, including the most recent: Aleczander Hines.

Hines, who is currently in his junior year, has been Horton since he was a freshman.

“I enjoy it, it definitely adds to the highlights of my time here at Ladue,” Hines said.

Not only does Horton participate at pep rallies and sporting events, but he also attends events like school fundraisers. However, being a mascot is not always an easy task. The ram suit that Horton wears is extremely uncomfortable and warm for the person running around inside the suit.

“Water breaks and taking off the head are a must because the suit is so hot,” Strohbeck said. “Horton usually doesn’t stay for the whole game.”

Unfortunately, due to time-related issues, Horton has not been as active as the activities office would like throughout the 2018-19 school year.

However, according to Strohbeck, Horton will be brought back in full force next year, participating at majority of the sporting events. v

Q&A WITH ALEC HINES How does Horton get ready for sporting events?

Before games, Horton hydrates a lot to ensure he’s ready to endure the heat from running around all night. He also prepares by stretching before going out.

What does Horton do during games?

Halftime is usually when Horton walks around and interacts with the student section, take pictures and lead cheers. Just the presence of Horton can ignite a fire in the crowd. Horton tends to move around a lot throughout games. You have to keep an eye out for him, he could be anywhere.

Is there a selection process for who plays Horton?

I wouldn’t say there’s much of a selection process. I volunteered to do it. I knew it was something I would like to do and felt comfortable doing.

Does Horton only go to certain games?

Horton picks the games based on a variety of factors.

Horton is a busy man when not at work.

THE MAN BEHIND THE MASK

Junior Alec Hines dresses up as Horton, Ladue’s mascot

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Freshman Molly Katzman brings joy to Ladue every day.

SHE’S EXCITED!

good team member of Ladue High School, and I’m a ninth grader, and I like to say ‘Hi’ to everyone on FaceTime.”

In fact, Katzman is a team player for organizations of ” which she is not even a part. She said she enjoys attending ho’s excited?” An eager freshman waves her pom concerts, theatrical productions and sporting events just to poms in the air as students and teachers cheer her support her friends. on. She grins from ear to ear, and many people “My favorite Ladue event is going to field hockey games in the crowd find her smile contagious. Freshman Molly and playing with my friends and it always Katzman is widely recognized as Ladue’s makes me happy,” Katzman said. “I like to cheer hypeman. on to try to get their goal.”

“All your fans will say ‘due it’ at the pep Our world would be everybody Katzman is not only a supporter of students rally and games,” Katzman said. “I jump a better place with at Ladue, she is also a cheerleader for many around a lot, and I like to get everyone teams at John Burroughs School. Molly’s father, excited.” more Mollys.”

Andy, is a baseball coach at Burroughs and her Katzman, a student in Ladue’s Special oldest sister, Lily, graduated from Burroughs in School District, is a team player. She has 2016. been a member of the Ladue Sparkle Effect “Since the day she’s been able to walk, [Molly has] been for three years and has a passion for field hockey, playing up at John Burroughs and cheers on all the teams,” Andy said. on a club team with other Ladue freshmen and the eighth “All the Burroughs kids know her. She has two schools that grade team at the middle school. she roots for.”

“I like to play field hockey, and the reason I play field Since entering high school in the fall, Molly has forged hockey with these students is because field hockey has close relationships with students from all different grades. been a great sport for me,” Katzman said. “I’ve been a really Senior Annie McNutt said she and Molly became friends one day at lunch at the beginning of the school year. According to McNutt, they just clicked.

McNutt is a member of Ladue’s all female a capella group, Viva Voce. Molly attends many of the group’s performances so she can support McNutt and the other singers. “[Molly] is the most positive and outgoing girl I have ever met,” McNutt said. “Ladue is so [lucky] to have her as their ‘hype woman.’”

TEAM SPIRIT Freshman Molly Andy believes that his daughter’s defining Katzman shows her enthusiasm quality is her happiness. He is most proud of during a Sparkles performance at the Coaches vs. Cancer basketMolly’s ability to make everyone smile and ball game in December. Katzman see the positive aspects of life. has been a part of Ladue’s Spar“[Molly] loves life,” Andy said. “She loves kle Effect for three years. “Supto cheer people on, she loves to see people porting my friends makes me feel happy and all your students engaged and she loves to lead people in to get their [support], “ Katzman cheers. Our world would be a better place said. (photo by Jordan Ganzer) with more Mollys.” v ANYA TULLMAN editor-in-chief | @anyatullman

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Page design by Katie Holland & Bradford Siwak; Art by Jackie Zeng

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Haydee Taylor-Arnold opens up about her passion for learning languages KATIE HOLLAND features editor | @katiieholland

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on estudiantes fantásticas!” An excited profe watches as her students begin to grasp more and more of the Spanish language.

She observes in awe while her Spanish IV class communicates with each other in a language foreign to their own. Haydee Taylor-Arnold takes her job as a Spanish teacher at Ladue very seriously and believes teaching in itself is a privilege.

Taylor-Arnold has been a teacher for 13 years, six of which at Ladue. She currently teaches Spanish to students at levels one and four.

“The most rewarding piece is when you’re working with your students and they start to feel confident and successful when they try and communicate,” Taylor-Arnold said. “It doesn’t matter the level. I have students at level one and students at level four.”

Taylor-Arnold’s passion for language began while she was living in Panama, learning English and working as a tutor in the language before moving to the United States and starting to teach.

She says the way that she was taught the language is extremely different from how she chooses to teach it in her own classroom.

“When I was learning English as my second language, my classes were very traditional and focused a lot on the rules to follow rather than how to communicate,” Taylor-Arnold said.

“I’m still growing in my second language. It’s not perfect, but I’m able to communicate. That’s the goal I have for all of my students — to be able to communicate.”

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Taylor-Arnold’s passion for language doesn’t stop with Spanish. She has recently started to take classes in Mandarin and refresh her knowledge in French.

“I saw the connection between Spanish and French as well as the rest of the romance languages, but I just got so interested in Chinese,” Taylor-Arnold said.

Her interest in learning Mandarin didn’t just appear out of nowhere. In December, Taylor-Arnold was invited to attend a conference held for teachers of Chinese.

“I was seated in the banquet with everyone, but I didn’t have a clue what they were talking about,” Taylor-Arnold said. “The whole thing was just so exciting and I was so interested, so I started contacting teachers in the area and eventually got recommended to take an online Mandarin course.”

Taylor-Arnold’s experience learning Mandarin proves that learning a new language doesn’t come easy, even for those who have been studying language for years.

“It’s hard!” Taylor-Arnold said. “It’s a completely different system. I’ve had to rewire my brain. I tell my students about it all the time.”

Taylor-Arnold’s openness about her struggles with learning Chinese have also helped her students relate to her more as a teacher. One of her students, sophomore Greyson Watkins, believes Tayor-Arnold’s sharing of experiences allows for a better student-teacher dynamic.

“It kind of feels like she’s in the same boat as us when she talks about issues she’s had in learning Mandarin,” Watkins said.

Junior Grace Lane is also in Taylor-Arnold’s Spanish IV class. She feels that her teacher’s approach is ideal to learning Spanish.

“We watch a lot of videos, listen to some songs and read stories in Spanish,” Lane said. “I think these activities make learning a lot more fun than just getting worksheets and taking notes.”

Taylor-Arnold’s reasoning behind sharing her struggles is to gain a better understanding of what it’s like to learn a language for the first time as a student.

“It gives me that change of roles.

You’re not the driver anymore, you’re learning,” Taylor-Arnold said. “I think it’s very important because it makes me question myself and allows me to be comprehensible for my students and understand some of the struggles they may be having learning Spanish.”

Taylor-Arnold believes that taking the steps to put herself in her students’ shoes allows her to foster a stronger relationship with them throughout the school year.

“It’s almost like a self assessment for me,” Taylor-Arnold said. “Being a teacher, being a student, it’s just a cycle that just helps you continue growing.”

This cycle relates to her ultimate goal as a teacher — to make Spanish fun for her students and to create a classroom setting in which her students can openly struggle, learn and grasp the language.

“The overall atmosphere of her classroom is pretty welcoming and intelligent, but still very lively and spirited,” Watkins said. “Profe is very encouraging and energetic during class. She makes what can be a harder class for kids fun." v

Spread design by Katie Holland & Bradford Siwak; art by Jackie Zeng

PROFE FANTÁSTICA Tay-

lor-Arnold greets students by saying “Hola hola” and gets them to respond with “CocaCola.” She has used various calls-and-responses during her time at Ladue.

“It’s just a call to get people’s attention,” Taylor-Arnold said.

(Photo by Bradford Siwak)

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(Photo courtesy of Laura Shea)

Incumbents win Board of Education race ADAM RUSH head copy editor | @adamrush01 SYDNEY CRUMP news editor | @sydneycrump4

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ith a combined 3,859 votes, incumbents Jeff Kopolow and Sheldon Johnson both won their races for the Ladue Board of Education April 2. They fought off first-time challenger Leslie T. Tolliver to return to their seats for a fourth and second term, respectively, with Kopolow securing 39.8 percent of the votes while Johnson defeated Tolliver by a narrow 293 votes — 7.6 percent of voters.

Jeff Kopolow secures fourth consecutive term With his 56 years in the field of education, 39 of which were in the Ladue School District, Kopolow, now one of three directors of the school board, is no stranger to Ladue.

Throughout his past three terms, his responsibilities have ranged from picking Dr. Jim Wipke as the next superintendent of the district to dress code rules to addressing the policies of school safety. Almost any decision that will have an impact on the school, large or small, will likely have gone through both the board and Kopolow himself.

While running for his fourth term, Kopolow had a simple catchphrase he hoped would continue to resonate with Ladue voters: “I was here for you then, and I want to be here for you now.” Since he has spent the majority of his life working in Ladue, Kopolow believes that his unique time and experiences within the district are a vital contribution to the school board.

“At this point, I am the history of the district,” Kopolow said. “I don’t say that with conceit, it’s just the fact that I have been here longer than anybody that’s here right now.

I have a Ladue educator’s perspective. I don’t just live in the community, I’ve taught in it.”

Over the course of his nine years on the board, Kopolow’s main priorities have been completing the high

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school’s renovation project, increasing Ladue’s commitment to diversity and expanding many after-school programs. It was this kind of work that initially attracted Kopolow to run for the Board of Education after his retirement, as he was not content being on the sidelines while more work could be done for the district.

“I wasn’t ready to roll over and play dead, and I felt like I had more to give,” Kopolow said. “I like it here. We’re a good place, and I want us to be a better place. It’s important work, and our students are important.”

Sheldon Johnson returns for a second term As a businessman in real estate and construction, Johnson says he brings a more fiscally responsible mindset to the board. Johnson has helped shepherd the high school through its construction project over the last four years because of his position as treasurer of the board. Johnson has lived in the district since 2002 with his family, and as the father of two daughters who attend school in the district, he was originally inspired to run for the school board with the thought of improving the district for all families throughout Ladue. “[I want to] make sure all of the community feels that they’re being heard and listened to,” Johnson said. “Our number one goal is to educate every student in our district.”

Now in his second term as a Ladue Board of Education member, Johnson’s goal is to continue making progress in the Ladue community. He says his number one priority will continue to be solving the ordinary problems of the school district, whether that consists of managing the budget, upgrading the many education buildings throughout Ladue or even just helping students get through school. Johnson said no matter what the issue is, they will always be looked at through the lens of improving education.

“I think [the most important thing] is providing the best quality education for all our students, while keeping in consideration that we are a good steward to the resources of our district,” Johnson said. v

Green Team promotes clean environment New club meets weekly to maintain school greenhouse and increase green initiatives at Ladue DANIEL CHAYET writer | @chayet_daniel

Madeline Stout said. “We also helped start our school’s first worm farm, which is now being used to break down food waste from the culinary arts classes.” n recent years, both sustainability and green living have One of the major reasons for the revitalization of the gained more mainstream attention. From recycling to Green Team is Faith Connally, a junior who took on a major composting, many have tried to reduce the impact that leadership role this year as Green Team coordinator. Among their lives have on our planet. Within the other things, she has increased membership and plans to Ladue community, a new club has burst introduce green initiatives at Ladue eleonto the scene to promote eco-friendly We are a club for anyone mentary schools. initiatives: the Ladue Green Team.

“Currently, I am working on a curricuthat is passionate about “The Green Team is a group of stulum for the elementary schools,” Connally gardening, the environ- said. “Once it is finished, the Green Team dents and staff members that are working on sustainable projects throughout ment, sustainability or members and I will coordinate with the the school district,” AP Biology teacher [elementary] schools to spread the word anything in between. and Green Team sponsor Monica Bowabout green initiatives.”

- Faith Connally (11) man said. “We’re hoping to encourage Bowman believes that having high community members to get involved as schoolers lead by example will be efwell. It is a district initiative to try to teach sustainability, fective in getting younger students involved. Hopefully, horticulture and the use of native plants because there is she says, the Green Team will be around long enough that an interest right now in the idea from the younger generawhen elementary school students come to the high school, tion — they want to try to make a difference.” they’ll remember when the team visited them and want to Despite being established last year and only starting up continue those efforts. this school year, the Green Team has already accomplished “We’re going to teach sustainable projects and try to many of its goals. Its members have worked to use the new find solutions for a variety of different things,” Bowman green spaces added to the school — like ­­ the green roof and said. “For example, with the math department, [we have greenhouse — and hope to plant vegetation around the been] talking to teachers about how to build butterfly retention pond and improve sustainable practices within houses and the geometry that is involved, so we could the district. possibly build a whole bunch of them and provide those for “We have planted a variety of flowers, fruits and vegelocal schools, and then possibly get that understanding out tables in the greenhouse,” Green Team member and junior into the wider community.” v

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HARVESTING SEEDS Junior Madeline Stoces, AP Biology teacher Monica Bowman and junior Madeline Stout look through packets of seeds at a Green Team meeting April 3. The team has planted hundreds of seedlings in the greenhouse and started a rain garden earlier this year. “I enjoy our planning sessions in the greenhouse,” Stoces said. “Being around the plants creates such a positive environment.” (Photo by Zach Weller) Spread design by Connie Chen & Sydney Crump

GO GREEN Junior and Green Team coordinator Faith Connally waters plants at a meeting April 3. Connally’s Girl Scout Gold Award Project and her passion for nature inspired her to take on a larger role with the Green Team after she joined in November 2018. “All I truly want is to share the principles of Green Team with members of our school, as well as the others in our district,” Connally said. (Photo by Zach Weller)

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Senior artists

display their work

Senior Art Show exhibited in new spaces from school renovation CINDY WANG writer | @cindy_wang_123

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hroughout the month of April, the Senior Art Show takes over Ladue High School’s new art gallery and surrounding space, including the main student entrance and the commons. Works of art including paintings, drawings, digital art, ceramics, photography and more are all available for fellow students, teachers and community members to view.

Coordinated by art teacher Daniel Raedeke, the Senior Art Show exclusively features artwork created by the graduating class of 2019. All seniors, including those not enrolled in art classes, have been encouraged to showcase whatever art they would like and as much as they are willing to bring in.

“The Senior Art Show is an opportunity for the graduating class to exhibit and showcase the work they’ve produced over their four years in high school,” Raedeke said.

For seniors Ayjay Sierra and Michelle Liu, the Senior Art Show is a great way to show everyone in the community what they have been working on. Ever since sophomore year, Sierra has been creating new art and reflecting on her work, partly in preparation for her opportunity to display it in the Senior Art Show.

“I have several pieces up,” Sierra said. “Out of all of them, my favorite is one called ‘Consumed’ that is done in chalk and charcoal that originally was just going to be my friend’s eyes, but ended up being something really different but cool.”

For the art show, Liu is exhibiting a painting of her maternal grandmother, a sketch of her maternal grandfather and an ink drawing of her mother. In addition, Liu truly appreciates the opportunity to display her artwork in the Senior Art Show.

“The Senior Art Show displays a variety of artists that are underrated and no one talks about,” Liu said. “I think it’s important to highlight the different styles and art that people create.”

According to Raedeke, the art show also allows students to present their work in a more professional environment.

For teachers, the Senior Art Show is an opportunity to reminisce and appreciate the growth of their students over their four years in high school.

“I think it’s cool because you see all of the students who come through your classes through the year,” Raedeke said. “You might have had a student freshman year, and they come display something senior year, and it helps you remember all of the students who come through the art program.” v

Q&A with some of the seniors featured in this year’s art show g Bi

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Morgan Burke What was the inspiration behind your art?

The original meaning was going to be a take on plastic in the environment and how that’s bad. I went to Spoede so that’s why I did Spoede Turtles. Senior year I thought I’d go out with a bang. news

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Spread design by Connie Chen & Sydney Crump

In Remembrance of Grandma

Michelle Liu What artwork are you displaying in the Senior Art Show?

I am displaying a painting of my grandma who passed over five years ago, a quick sketch of my grandpa and an ink drawing of my mother. This is all from my mom’s side of the family.

What compelled you to create art and display it in the Senior Art Show?

I’m compelled to [create] art because of the craft and what it means to truly create something.

Priorities

Ayjay Sierra What are your thoughts on the Senior Art Show and its significance?

I think the Senior Art Show allows for people to show their talent and see their improvement over the course of four years. I’ve been looking forward to this since I was a sophomore and always looked back on my work, asking “Is this good enough for the Senior Art Show?”

If not, I’d just pitch it or store it away until I could fix it to be good enough for the show.

11news laduelead.com

ANNA LINER in-depth editor | @liner_anna ANDE SIEGEL in-depth editor | @andesiegel

School districts of St. Louis County have segregated access to financial resources lthough it is only 15 minutes shadow] said that at our school there’s away from Ladue High School much more technology that’s used, and and a district in St. Louis County, she felt that if they had that, their stustudents do not often hear about the dents would be more motivated to do Normandy School District. Neverthemore learning and to work harder. She less, Normandy Schools Collaborative said that [Ladue] was very different, is celebrating its first full school year too, in the sense that it was a much no longer being unaccredited by the more serious environment.” state school board. The most significant The structural causes of segregated change to a district when it becomes schools can be traced back decades unaccredited is that students may into the history of St. Louis. Saras transfer to a nearby accredited district Chung is the executive director of at no cost to SkipNV, a research agency them. According that aims to inform the to St. Louis Public public on the need for Radio, nearly systematic change of [It’s] not that money is 600 Normandy education in St. Louis everything, but when students took the County. She created the you have high need and organization because option to transfer to other schools she saw the effects of less dollars, you’re only last year, with historical racism, such as setting the system up Normandy paying redlining — a discriminato perpetuate poverty for the costs of tory practice that denies over and over again. their transfers. various services to On the surlow-income communiface, Normandy’s ties with a high concensituation seems like an tration of racial minorities isolated incident of a school district’s — on our education system. poor academic success rather than “The policies that created the strucany outside influence. But the drastic ture of education in St. Louis today — it differences that separate the quality of was specifically written into laws and education between districts has never zoning [through] redlining,” Chung said. been an isolated incident for St. Louis “[In some districts], realtors wouldn’t County. Sophomore Leetal Cohn saw even show people of color certain this herself when she and another stuhouses in certain neighborhoods bedent from Cultural Leadership — a high cause they were afraid of white flight. school program that engages students’ So there’s lots of historic racism [in] the cultural awareness — swapped schools ways that we draw our districts and in for a day as each other’s shadows. Cohn the way that our tax base works … [It’s] went to Vashon High School in the St. not that money is everything, but when Louis Public Schools District, which, you have high need and less dollars, despite major economic differences, is you’re only setting the system up to just 21 minutes away from Ladue. perpetuate poverty over and over “Vashon High School was very again.” different from Ladue in the sense [that] This institutional cycle of poverty they definitely don’t have as much has kept schools like Normandy sociofunding as Ladue does,” Cohn said. “[My economically distant from Ladue. Dr.

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Art McCoy, the superintendent of the Jennings School District, has personally seen how this entrapping structure affects the Jennings community and its students. According to McCoy, Ladue has a much higher tax base and much larger, wealthier homes, which can predispose the Ladue community to being less likely to notice the institutional effects of poverty.

Nevertheless, Jennings has undertaken unique efforts — such as being the first in St. Louis County to have a school district-owned homeless shelter and school health clinic — to help ensure that, despite being in an impoverished area, Jennings performs at similar levels as the more wealthy schools in the St. Louis area. “[It’s about] really making a difference in the lives of kids or in the community,” McCoy said. “My favorite part [about my job] is really changing the trajectory of the community and the lives of children in ways that haven’t been done before.”

McCoy emphasizes that it is the duty of communities with more privilege to contribute financial resources and time to help the educational system of St. Louis County. While making efforts to acknowledge and help less privileged school districts does not benefit the Ladue community directly, Cohn has learned from experience the importance of doing so. She believes it is essential for Ladue students to care about the quality of education throughout St. Louis so they can begin to correct the inequality in the region.

“I think that it’s really important to acknowledge what we have here and not take it for granted,” Cohn said.

“Remember the fact that there are definitely a lot of people out there who do not have as much as we have at Ladue.”v Spread design by Anna Liner & Ande Siegel

jennings $16,500

per capita income

$30,947 median household income

437th best school district in MO

university city $47,532 $57,546 per capita income

normandy

median household income

$19,254

432nd best school district in MO

per capita income

$34,177

median household income

452nd best school district in MO

clayton $61,693

per capita income

ladue $110,261

per capita income

$91,531

median household income

3rd best school district in MO

$203,250 median household income

2nd best school district in MO

Sources: US News, Niche, Census Reporter and St. Louis County

color key: $$$$

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webster groves $45,644 $88,619 per capita income

median household income

16th best school district in MO

This infographic shows the correlation between the wealth of the people in a school district and that district’s level of academic success for six out of 24 total districts in St. Louis

13 in-depth laduelead.com

THE GREAT PANO Cookoff HUGH CHAN A&E editor | @hugheychan

art by DANIELLE ZHANG and JILL GOLDWASSER

Two of the best chefs on the Panorama staff face off in a culinary battle, serving an entrée and dessert that each feature a special ingredient to a panel of three judges.

WELLER’S ENTRÉE: CAPELLINI WITH SHRIMP AND CHERRY TOMATOES Jackson: For the most part, I’m extremely impressed by Weller’s dish.

Even with a time constraint, he managed to make and roll pasta by hand, and it came out perfectly. The shrimp is seasoned well, but overall, I think the dish could use a kick of flavor. Rating: 89/100 Hugh: I thought the shrimp was undercooked and needed more seasoning. The pasta, while quite tasty, was drowned in an overly acidic sauce.

However, the presentation was really elegant. Rating: 84/100 Jill: The pasta of the dish was truly spectacular, but the dish needed something more. The tomato purée was amazing, but Weller would’ve benefited from adding more overall flavor to the dish. Rating: 84/100

ENTRÉE INGREDIENT: SHRIMP

AVERAGE ENTRÉE SCORE: 85.67/100 WELLER’S DESSERT: MAPLE, STRAWBERRY AND CHOCOLATE S’MORES Jackson: The fact that Weller made his own marshmallows greatly impressed me, and the presentation was restaurant-worthy. It was a little too sweet at times, but overall it was exquisite. Rating: 93/100 Hugh: The maple and chocolate s’mores were definitely sweeter than I preferred, but the strawberry s’more added a nice burst of tartness, and the dish’s presentation was awe-inspiring. Rating: 89/100 Jill: Weller’s technique and effort were clearly reflected in this dish, and there are hardly any real criticisms that come to mind. Rating: 95/100

DESSERT INGREDIENT: GRAHAM CRACKERS

AVERAGE DESSERT SCORE: 92.3/100

FINAL

Winner: ZACH WELLER

Chef Weller

”

Throughout my life, I’ve dabbled a lot in cooking, especially in middle school, where I went through a big cooking phase. My plan for the cookoff is just to go with the flow.

ZACH WELLER

14

A&E

4.24.2019

”

JUDGES’ NOTES: Both of Weller’s dishes lagged somewhat behind Beisheim’s in terms of flavor, but overall, his creativity, use of ingredient and prowess in presentaition helped him to edge out Beisheim to win the cookoff.

TOTAL AVERAGE SCORE: 88.9/100

Spread design by Hugh Chan & Malavika Kumaran; photos by Zach Weller

MEET THE JUDGES

JACKSON BRY

HUGH CHAN

THE FOOD CRITERIA TASTE

PRESENTATION

50

20

TOTAL 100

USE OF INGREDIENTS

CREATIVY

15

15

JILL GOLDWASSER

BEISHEIM’S ENTRÉE: SEARED SHRIMP TACOS ON A CORN TORTILLA Jackson: The shrimp is cooked very well and has a nice spice to it, while the lettuce adds some variety in color and texture. However, my taco was completely swamped by the avocado sauce, which overpowered all other components of the dish. Rating: 86/100 Hugh: I actually really enjoy this dish. The heat of the shrimp compliments the flavors of all ingredients. My only criticism is the unpleasant texture of the tortilla and how easily it crumbles. Rating: 89/100 Jill: I didn’t get nearly enough avocado sauce on my taco, and it could’ve balanced out some of the salt. However, the shrimp was well spiced and the flavor of the shrimp clearly shone through. Rating: 87/100

AVERAGE ENTRÉE SCORE: 87.3/100

ENTRÉE INGREDIENT: SHRIMP

BEISHEIM’S DESSERT: CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE PEANUT BUTTER CAKE Jackson: Beisheim’s cake was perfect flavor-wise, and the icing was insanely delicious, but the presentation was extremely sloppy and the graham cracker wasn’t integrated into the dish enough. Rating: 79/100 Hugh: The cake was moistly sweet and both the peanut butter and chocolate clearly came through, yet the graham cracker was used far too conservatively for it to shine in the dish. Rating: 82/100 Jill: It definitely tasted amazing, but the presentation was careless and Beisheim failed to use the graham crackers effectively. Rating: 76/100

AVERAGE DESSERT SCORE: 79/100

Loser: CASSIE BEISHEIM JUDGES’ NOTES: While Beisheim’s dishes were seasoned more adequately than Weller’s, she had issues with consistency. She came up short in points awarded in presentation and use of ingredient, especially in the dessert round.

TOTAL AVERAGE SCORE: 83.15/100

”

RESULT

DESSERT INGREDIENT: GRAHAM CRACKERS

Chef Beisheim

I’ve been baking since I was young, but I’m definitely less experienced than Weller in terms of cooking.

Honestly, going into this competition, my goal is just to beat Weller.

”

CASSIE BEISHEIM

15 A&E laduelead.com

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Athlete of the month: sophomore Ethan Deutsch

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How have you contributed to the team’s success?

I try to help out the team as best as possible, if that’s even putting the ball in the net or helping someone else get a goal.

10 assists

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Personally, I would like to see the team have a winning record and make the D2 playoffs.

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How does it feel to be only a sophomore and one of the biggest contributors on the team?

It feels good. I give a lot of credit to my fellow attackmen, Gus Vazquez and Jackson Morose, who give me a lot of assists. It’s really fun putting the ball into the back of the net. I’ve done it since a pretty young age, and I have a lot of experience.

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16

Stats as of April 12; through five games

senior

Girls soccer May 4 vs. Villa Duchesne 11:30 a.m.

Girls lacrosse May 10 vs. Belleville West 5 p.m.

Baseball May 19 vs. Fox 4:30 p.m.

17 sports laduelead.com

Switching up the ga

Junior Max Webb switches sports after major knee surgeries RHEA PATNEY writer | @rheapatney

crutches and did physical therapy at least twice a week. As time passed, he began to notice significant developments in his fter an intense, two-part knee mobility and eventually was able to walk. surgery Oct. 29, 2018, junior Max “Once I started walking, that’s when I Webb knew he had an important really started noticing a lot of improvements decision to make. In addition to the long with muscle building back up and flexibility,” road of recovery ahead of him, he also had Max said. to decide whether his primary sport, baseAfter his recovery process started coming ball, would still be in his future. to a close, Max made the decision to no lonWebb has played competitive baseball ger play baseball. Instead, he decided to start since he was a kindergartener in Columplaying JV golf because of the similarities bia, Missouri. As his career progressed, he between the baseball and golf swing. He also began to notice excessive pain in his knee appreciated the individuality of the sport. and eventually went to the doctor. That’s “I like that golf is a lot more dependent when he learned he had an osteochondral on yourself,” Max said. “If someone makes defect in his right knee. a mistake in baseball, you feel like “I didn’t have any you just want to blame them, but in blood flow going to the golf, you can’t really blame bones in my knee, so Once I started walking, anyone else. I really like that the bone got brittle and mentality.” that’s when I really started breaking off,” This surgery didn’t only started noticing a lot Webb said. “I lost three help Max physically; it also centemeters of bone, but of improvements with changed him as a person. for a lot of people it’s less learned many lessons muscle building back up Max than that.” he will continue to carry and flexibility.

To treat his condiwith him, and his family also tion, Webb received two discovered how great his surgeries on his knee at the Washington capacity for success is.

University Children’s Clinic. During his first “I learned that Max has a lot of character surgery, doctors implanted new bone and determination,” Harold Webb, Max’s onto the top of his knee, using screws father, said. “No one is free from challenges to increase the blood flow. The second in life, but adversity is just part of growth.” occurred four months later when doctors In the five months since the surgery, Max took the screws out of the bone. After this, has made a near full recovery and will continthe recovery process started. ue to play golf. He has hopes of participating “The first day he got his surgery he was in competetive out-of-school tournaments really tired and down,” freshman Victoria this summer.

Webb, Max’s sister, said. “The next week “Just keep powering through,” Max said. or two, all he did was lay on the couch and “You are going to have your low points stay inside because he couldn’t walk.” and you’re going to feel like you can’t get At times, his recovery was a long and through [surgery and recovery] but you will, hard process. Max spent eight weeks on and it will be better afterwards.” v

A

“

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sports

4.24.2019

Spread design by Jackson Bry & Jacob Korn

ame

ROAD TO RECOVERY Knee scar showing, junior Max Webb sits in the baseball dugout.

Webb underwent a two-part knee surgery Oct. 29 and decided that playing golf instead of baseball was better for his health.

(Photo by Carolina Alisio)

19 sports laduelead.com

rewriting

HISTORY

Ladue needs to step up its religious inclusion in history courses

editorial

4.24.2019

20

Spread design by Cassie Beisheim & Alexander Fu; art by Nathan Lu

T

he rise of modern religion has been one of the key factors in world history. Both used to promote peace and war, religion motivates people to make change. Unfortunately, this change is not always effective or moral. Religion has also inspired some of our most shameful atrocities throughout history, going back to forced conversion of Native Americans and continuing to prosper today in groups such as ISIS. Alongside this, those of faith are also subject to horrific hate crimes.

Saturday, March 16, 50 individuals died in Christchurch, New Zealand. The suspect went into two mosques in the area and killed as many individuals as possible. He was later found to have had a 73-page manifesto explaining his Isalamophobic beliefs. Religious intolerance is an unfortunately inevitable reality in our world, but that does not mean that we cannot combat it.

We must recognize this issue of religiously motivated hatred on a larger scale. We live in a time where students witness swastikas being formed with red solo cups on social media. We see the bombings of mosques so frequently it hardly blinks an eye. We make and hear jokes about mean teachers being referred to as Nazis, think of terrorism when we see a woman in a hijab and imagine Osama bin Laden at the sight of a man in a turban. These signs of religious bias often stem from a lack of education — ­ and Ladue can make a conscious effort to change that.

Within our own community, there are various steps we can take in order to lessen our ignorance to the reality of intolerance.

Primarily, Ladue can push for change through

the reformation of our history courses. Right now is the perfect time for this. With Ladue’s history curriculum under reconstruction, it’s time we add in more about the varying religions that are prominent in our society.

Incoming freshman will now be required to take a world studies class, and there simply must be an adequate amount about world religion. There must be a required course that teaches students in depth about the pillars of Islam, how and why Jewish people have consistently been displaced throughout history and just how the various branches of Christianity have come to be. While there was some effort towards this in our middle school years, learning these things at a more developed age could have a large impact on one’s maturity. By gaining a depth of understanding of the various developments and oppressions every major religion has experienced, we will not only better understand our political climate today, but be more well-rounded. A recognition of the complexity of our religious history is imperative for the development of intelligent, considerate and tolerant students.

As a school, the reform of our history curriculum will be the most effective change.

Alongside that, as a student body we must become aware of ourselves. We need to discontinue our light-hearted culture of making religiously intolerant jokes and assumptions.

By changing our attitude around religion, we can begin a change that we will carry with us throughout the rest of our lives. Belief will never cease to be a major factor in the identity of the majority of our planet, and we have a duty to become more aware of it. v

editorial

21laduelead.com

not a choice

The horrific things LGBT+ people still go though today

“

Y

ou make every day a special day just by being you, and I like you just the way you are,” Mr. Rogers said to his gay friend known as Officer Clemens. With the rise of homophobia and neo-Nazism, people are attacked in modern times for being the way they are. People are using religion and prejudice to promote hatred, and that is unexceptable.

According to the United States Department of Justice’s most recent statistic, in 2017 there were 1,338 hate crimes based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

While not a number that appears in this statistic, many LGBT+ people are sent to religious conversion camps or forced into conversion therapies such as electric shock therapy. According to the William Institute, by 2018 approximately 698,000 LGBT+ Americans had undergone some form of conversion therapy.

Conversion therapy is not supported in any way by science. As Psychology Today puts it, “conversion ‘therapy’ isn’t therapy at all.”

Firstly, conversion therapy is trying to cure a non-psychological condition. According to the leading diagnostic tool for psychologists, the DSM-5, being LGBT+ isn’t a mental disorder, rather it is a “normal and acceptable dimension of human development.” There is no reason to subject people to such a fate if there isn’t even a mental problem to begin with.

Secondly, according to WebMD, electric shock therapy doesn’t work in most cases and tends to be used as a last resort.

Electric shock therapy is a form of negative reinforcement.

According to Psychology Today, positive reinforcement is much more effective. This means that electric shock therapy shouldn’t be used as a piece of reinforcement of actions, rather it should be used as a means of treating conditions such as mental illnesses like depression.

The worst of all: it is estimated that 20,000 LGBT+ youth will receive conversion therapy by the time they turn 18. That is 20,000 preventable cases of torture of a minor.

Unfortunately, this ‘therapy’ is supported by people of authority such as the current Vice President Mike Pence. When it comes between religion and psychology, the Vice President should be siding with scientific fact.

This needs to stop. Today minority groups are still persecuted. As a society we shouldn’t support organizations that endorse conversion therapy. Instead, we should take a lesson from Mr. Rogers and come to appreciate everyone for the way they are. v

opinions

4.24.2019

22

Page design by Cassie Beisheim; photo illustration by Sunny Lu

ETHAN WILLICK writer | @weirdo_willick

"chinese" takeout.

Come on, America Our country’s take on Chinese food is frankly appalling ALEXANDER FU opinions editor | @alexlfu

W

some insight:

ednesday, Feb. 20, McDonald’s released a new food item available only on the breakfast-exclusive McCafé menu: donut sticks. Now, for anyone who views this as a sweet new snack, nothing seems odd. They’re just fried dough coated with cinnamon. Soon, however, some Chinese news outlets began to take notice. That is because China has a street food called Youtiao, or fried dough sticks, minus the sweetness, and they’ve been around for quite some time. I deign to say the U.S. McDonald’s is stealing a sacred recipe that offends the great Far East cuisine. This, however, is part of a larger trend of the U.S. adopting ideas from China over the decades, ultimately birthing a category with mixed reception: Americanized Chinese food.

To clarify, no, I don’t think Panda Express is complete trash. I can eat it just fine, but this fast food chain might just be the most influential, yet also most misrepresentative, symbol of Chinese food today. Orange chicken is NOT from China, nor are crab rangoons.

In diners these days, you also see General Tso’s chicken. Need I finish that thought? It is these foods that define Chinese food to Americans. Although the dishes I mentioned were created

by Chinese people, they did not originate from the mainland. The rise of this cuisine is served to fit an American palette, and thus, Americans see Chinese food through a narrow, warped lens.

If I were to describe the western perception of Far East cuisine, I would refer to a story of a relative of mine.

She befriended a white woman many years ago who moved to Malaysia because her husband originated there.

After experiencing the country’s culture, she remarked to my relative that there are flavors and tastes in Asian food that westerners cannot even fathom. Asian cuisine in general uses more forms of heating methods, cooking methods, spices and seasonings. If westerners grow up eating foods created by a limited variety of ingredients, they become accustomed to choosing the simplest option, even when many choices are offered.

As such, even when Chinese restaurants in the U.S. have these massive menus with over a hundred items to

honey walnut shrimP

veggie fried rice

It may hail from Hong Kong, but Americans mostly eat it. It also has mayo. That’s very western.

Fried rice never fails, but come on, this is so basic.

Simplicity is not what makes Chinese food good.

pick from, people prefer not to explore and end up with the same dishes on their table: sweet and sour pork, General Tso’s chicken, chow mein, chicken fried rice, the entire Panda Express menu, etc. It is overwhelming, I understand, when presented with so many choices. But ignorance is not bliss.

People are missing out on the good stuff that was brought here from across the pond. When I hear Americans say, “Oh, I don’t like seafood,” I shoot them a skeptical look and think, “Well, if all the seafood you eat is grilled salmon, tuna, fish fillets, fish sticks and MAYBE lobster, I can see why. Wait until you see how Asians prepare seafood. Then, we will talk.”

For anyone signing up for the March 2020 field trip to Beijing, I hope you try to make the most out of it. I have been to Beijing several times now, and I can tell you that one week in Beijing is not enough to experience what Chinese food has to offer. So, when you arrive there, if you are able to buy things or sit down at restaurants, try either McDonald’s, KFC or Pizza Hut. After that, go explore, and open your horizons to a very rich and different cuisine. You will be mindblown. v

rangoons You tell me if cream cheese is Chinese. No worries, I’ll wait.

beijing beef

orange chicken

My mom is from Beijing, and she just gives this a weird look. Enough said.

Also, it barely has spice.

There’s a reason why the owner of Panda Express will never expand his chain into China.

Page design by Cassie Beisheim & Alexander Fu

23 opinions laduelead.com