The Tattler: Are We Stuck in the 1950s? October 2019

OCT 2019

THE TATTLER

Tattler Staff Editors-in-Chief: Lilly Behbehani Josh Garber Emma Volkers

Contributing Editors: Rachel Auerbach Isabel Danzis Grace Harrington

Managing Editors:

Feature Editors:

Opinion Editors:

Art Editor:

News Editor:

Style Editors:

Business Managers:

Sports Editors:

Charlie Kannapell Dan Shapiro Alex Waterman Yael Chiappori Anna Hirst Liv Moffit Natalie Schwartz

Cover composed by Yael Chiappori Photo from the Tattler Archives Special thanks to Bela Omoeva and Grace Carter

Juliana Capizzi Anna Hoover Mia Romano Jason Grayer

Dylan Greenhouse Eli Davis

Eli Glickman Sonali Hettipola Ethan Tiao

Monique Boateng Semhal Negussie

Backpage Editors: Juliana Blayney Jackson Hermes Karina Vasudeva

It was the homecoming pep rally of 1984. Students drove onto the track in floats attached on the back of convertibles. Cheerleaders held big blue and gold pom poms on the sidelines. Walls surrounding the field were painted with the names of seniors and sports with the occasional “Beat Whitman” snuck in. At the conclusion, students strolled down East-West Highway with balloons and streamers in their wake.

Fast forward to the Homecoming pep rally of 2019. Fall sports teams jog across the field, as the student section cheers them on. Cheerleading, Poms, Boys Poms, Juggling, and B-CC Moves take turns entertaining the crowd. Approved sheets painted by students hang on the fence of the newly minted Baron Dome. At the conclusion, students disperse back to their classrooms.

The tradition of the pep rally is one, among many others, that the B-CC community prides itself upon.

Like many traditions, the pep rally provides a sense of familiarity, maybe even comfort.

But, when do traditions become outdated?

When is it time to create new traditions?

In this edition, we take time to look back on our school traditions and what they stand for. We reflect on our past, in order to create a better future for ourselves and our school community.

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Are We Stuck In the Past?

By Dylan Greenhouse and Eli Davis

After the pep rally for the first football games, one community member took to the B-CC listserv to pose the question: is B-CC stuck in the 1950s?

To Stand Or Not To Stand

By Eli Glickman and Ethan Tiao

Read the Tattler opinion columnists’ takes on whether or not students should stand for the pledge.

It’s Not Just a Black and White Issue

By Aranza Lara

IB English 12 classes are learning about racism against African-Americans. Lara examines what this means for Latinos at B-CC. Can be read in Spanish and English.

Committed to the Game: Field Hockey

By Connor Sapin and Drew Nealis

So far, three Barons have committed to college for field hockey. Who are they are where are they going?

Homecoming Pictures

By Various Photographers

See how the Barons looked at Homecoming 2019!

FEATURE

ARE WE STUCK IN THE PAST?

BY DYLAN GREENHOUSE AND ELI DAVIS

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t was Friday, September 13th, and B-CC was holding the first pep rally of the year on the brand new Guckeyson field. Students paraded the bleachers in their blue and gold outfits; football captains hyped up the crowd for the game that night; grades clashed in a series of competitions; and poms, cheer, and chamber chorus performed to the attentive audience. The goal of this mini pep rally was to hype up the student body before the first football game of the year. Finally, after four long years of waiting, the class of 2020 had a field of their own, to call their home, and everyone should be happy…right?

Shortly after the pep rally, a B-CC parent, Carrie Wofford, wrote an email on the B-CC PTSA

listserv critiquing B-CC’s pep rally culture. In the first line of the email, Wofford asks, “is there a way to move our high schools out of the 1950s in terms of its glorification of the Football team?”

The email’s central point is that the pep rally primarily promoted male athletes, especially the football team, which is the only fall sport team that is all-male. “Given Title IX, why is B-CC making all the kids focus on Football?” she wrote.

“It would be so easy to make it about school spirit. [There is] no need for 1950s style sexism and football obsession.”

Many B-CC parents related to Wofford’s analysis of the pep rally, many thanking her for pointing out the “1950’s culture” and supporting the celebration of all teams.

However, Liv Moffitt, a school-wide Spirit Chair, said that “she is responding to the first pep rally which wasn’t really a real pep rally. It was just to showcase the new field, we just happened to put football as the main team represented because they had a game.”

Likewise, several members of the football team were offended by the post. Lucas Carvalho, a senior on the football team, believes that Wofford does “not understand that high school football is something that can bring the school community together.” He holds the opinion that the football team doesn’t receive enough respect from the school community, specifically mentioning that B-CC TV consistently mocks their performance.

Some of the same people behind B-CC TV created the Baron Pride 2019 Homecoming video. The Baron Pride 2019 video highlighted many of the athletic teams at B-CC, especially the football team. This widely-admired video, however, drew criticism of a different kind. “I love the video,” said one B-CC parent, “but it’s a pity that it doesn’t portray pride in other aspects of B-CC culture.”

Ben Moran, one of the creators of the Baron Pride video, defended the video, saying “the Baron Pride video is by far the most inclusive video about school spirit that has come out of B-CC. Every sound in the video was played by a B-CC student, alumni, or teacher. The Baron Pride video represents far from a school that’s stuck in the 1950’s.”

In her listserv post, Wofford also questioned why B-CC did not also celebrate its plentiful academic achievements. In her post, Wofford brings to light the absence of academic teams from the rally who likewise contribute to the school culture. She makes the case that showcasing the Chess and Math teams would encourage more students to join them, and therefore help our school-wide academic ranking. In a follow up

email with The Tattler, she said that “currently, academic teams are definitely treated as less important than sports teams at B-CC.” Graham Hillman, B-CC senior and captain of It’s Academic and the Forensic Team, agrees that B-CC could do a better job of recognizing nonathletic competitions since many of the teams have received impressive accolades for their victories. “Our Speech and Debate teams regularly top the county standings. Our Model U.N. and Mock Trial teams excel at the tournaments they attend. Our Physics Olympics team won the whole state two years ago.” Hillman added how it was a shame that these accomplishments were not recognized due to lack of knowledge of the existence of these teams.

“If you asked a random B-CC student about these teams, though, they probably couldn’t tell you the first thing about them or the people who put so much time and effort into making them regional and statewide contenders,” Hillman said.

Maura Vanderzon -- the mother of two B-CC female athletes, one of which is the Captain of the Debate team who won the county-wide Debate Championship -- believes that the “Debate Championship [win] last year was quite an accomplishment and should have been recognized and celebrated just as if the football team had won the MoCo title.” She views the extensive hours of hard work and preparation that her daughter puts in for her debate competitions as being just as important, if not more so, than all of the practices and workouts undertaken by the athletes.

Some students at B-CC thought the email misrepresented the point of the pep rally, alluding to other events such as the junior and senior academic achievement assemblies. B-CC athletes have been waiting nearly four years to play in front of a home crowd, busing to Tilden and Walter Johnson for games and practices. On the same note, school-wide President, Hayden Renaghan, mentioned that “it is unrealistic to include all 200-plus clubs at a pep rally.”

According to Moffitt, “In order to include clubs, we let clubs perform, like B-CC Moves, Step, and Juggling. The spirit committee does the best job they can to foster an inclusive environment in B-CC.” Despite disagreeing with Wofford’s key argument, Moffitt does admit that “if [she] was a mother and saw the pep rally from a distance, [she could] see why the post’s writer would think this.” But as a student who organized the event, “there are a lot of factors that contribute to the pep rally.”

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FEATURE

WHAT WERE THE ’50S AT B-CC LIKE, ANYWAYS?

BY ISABELLA KREIDLER In order to see if we are stuck in the 1950s, we should step back in time and see the progress, if any, that has lead us to where we are today.

Since the 1950s, the role of women in sports has transformed completely. Today, Title IX requires schools to have both male and female sports teams, and women have opportunities to become world-champions.

The listserv post brought up the glorification of cheerleaders in “short skirts” that displayed 1950s sexism. The Tattler contacted two members of the class of 1957 and 1959, two of which were cheerleaders.

In 1957, Sally Steininger was B-CC’s head cheerleader and Patricia O’Toole was also a member of the squad.

Steininger remembers writing a letter to the principal at the time, Mr. Pyles, asking if the cheerleading team could “please, please do cartwheels?” Ms. O’Toole noted that they had to make their own pom poms. “It took forever!”

In response to the email saying that B-CC has “1950s style glorification of the football team,” O’Toole said that “of course

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the football players were glorified [back then], but that’s just the way it was.’’ She added that no one at that time was “woke.”

“The real difference then was [the challenges women faced] getting into college. They admitted something like five men for every woman,” said Steininger. In 1959, when she graduated, about 10% of white males graduated from a four-year college with a degree, compared to just above 5% of white females.

Both women also noted the role that misogyny played in women’s careers at the time. “I could give you an earful about sexism in the workplace,” said O’Toole. The difference in career options for women was also stark.

Women could become “a secretary, a teacher, or a nurse,’’ said Steininger. “That was about it.”

Both women are nostalgic about their time at B-CC. “I have so many fond memories from there,’’ said Steininger.

“It was a more innocent time, you know?”

Alanna Smith-Miller and Charlotte Siegel are current B-CC cheerleaders. Although cheerleaders today are far from making their own Pom-Poms, Miller notes that they still

have to ask permission to do certain moves. “[We] have to talk to our coach and the administration and ask ‘can we do this dance?’

So that they don’t get mad at us. It’s kind of frustrating,because the things that we want to do we can’t because it’s ‘too suggestive,” said Miller.

In response to the original email, saying the pep rally “glorified short skirts,” Miller said that “pep rallies are usually in preparation for football games to boost attendance. It doesn’t glorify short skirts, it just happens that the, say, the entourage is with the football team.”

Seigel mentions that the skirts are required to be a certain length, or else we’ll get in trouble with our coach. “Other athletes wear skirts,” adds Miller, “but it just so happens that we jump and kick and dance, and so it just looks more suggestive when its really not.”

So although we’ve come a long way from the 1950s, in promoting girls sports teams and confronting inequality where it exists, some things are still the same.

Cheerleading team of 1957. Interviewed above are Sally Steininger Rigway (middle first row), and Patricia O’Toole, (far left second row)

OPINION

attler’s TAKE TAKEake

B-CC Traditions

IMAGE COURTESY OF JAN JASINSKI

BY DAN SHAPIRO

B-CC pep rally mid 1980’s: some traditions might be fun to bring back (ex. floats at pep rallies), other traditions are better off left in the past (ex. offensive mascot name -- see banner above).

SHOULD WE STAY TRUE TO OUR SCHOOL TRADITIONS? WHICH B-CC TRADITIONS ARE OUTDATED (OR NOT)?

THE TATTLER SHARES ITS TAKES: “Upholding traditions is an important part of the high school experience. I find them to be fun, and it builds a sense of community among me and my classmates. Although some traditions may be outdated and need to be addressed, we should try to keep to our roots when it is possible.”

--Jaden Wallach, Senior

“Given our administration’s [practices] and not having a home field, it has been hard for our class to keep many of our traditions. I think it is a good sign that our new administration is open to reviving some of our traditions. Nevertheless, I think that not all traditions should be upheld or brought back. For example, Color Day was discontinued for the better: it was dangerous, even if we were not there to witness it.”

--Hayden Renaghan, Senior “While traditions may build community among classes, teams, and friends, some traditions at B-CC can be exclusionary. For example, many members of our school may feel left out of painting the spirit rock on East-West Highway. Although there is no actual barrier to partaking in painting the rock, not everyone is comfortable joining in on the activity.”

“I believe that we should try to uphold our traditions of senior pranks; they have been on the decline recently. They show that we, seniors, are still high school students who want to have fun.

With that being said, I think that we need to be considerate about which pranks we attempt to avoid damage to school property.”

“I see Senior Jerseys as an inclusive and fun tradition at B-CC. It heightens school spirit and gives our class a sense of camaraderie, when we all have the same shirt to wear which commemorates that it is our last year together. Although ordering a jersey may have been seen as exclusive to certain friend groups in past years, I think we did a good job of including everyone this time around. Anyone could have reached out to the organizer and ordered one.”

“I think the tradition of boys having to ask girls to school dances is ridiculous. Many boys do not want to ask a girl for a variety of reasons, including being too shy. Coupled with much pressure to not attend a dance if you do not have a date, many students feel excluded from our school dances. Creating alternative methods to find a date to a dance, such as a Sadie’s dance where girls ask boys, may address the problem.”

--Sol Gehring, Junior

--Jack Branthover, Senior

--Juliana Blayney, Senior

-- Griffin Boswell, Senior

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FEATURE

B-CC TV: The Grind Behind the Shine PHOTO COURTESY OF YAEL CHIAPPORI AND B-CC TV

BY JULIANA CAPIZZI AND ANNA HOOVER Prior to the electrifying pep rally that featured all the fall sports team in preparation for the Homecoming game, B-CC TV released a creative hype video. The video included various Baron athletes describing their proudest moments in their B-CC sports careers. This Baron Pride video, directed by Camilo Montoya, is one of the incredible projects B-CC TV has produced.

B-CC TV is just one of many student-run media in the B-CC community. Although it is possibly the most well-known source of B-CC media to the students, it is by far the newest.

Barons have been reading The Tattler since 1926, and Chips since 1937. B-CC TV was created in 2016. Because of its regular episodes, the show features more timely news than The Tattler is able to. B-CC TV is able to offer a contrast to these more “traditional” publications, with its short weekly episodes that cover local news, school sports, and include creative skits. The show is also unique in that it features more humor than any other student publication, and is often full of fun and lighthearted segments, such as student interviews during lunch and sports team montages.

B-CC TV is nearly a century younger than The Tattler, starting only three years ago in the fall of 2016. Prior to B-CC TV, weekly episodes of Wake Up B-CC were aired. Wake Up B-CC, which ran from 2006 to 2015, differed from B-CC TV in many ways, mainly in that it was broadcasted live. While the editing of B-CC TV is part of what makes it unique, the previous show was not edited at all and aired live each Friday.

Another way the two shows differed is that Wake Up B-CC was much more focused on news and

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information than B-CC TV. Although many students and teachers enjoyed the live show, Ms. Pagán, a new AP Literature teacher at the time, saw its potential to become even better. “[Wake Up B-CC] appeared very disorganized,” said Pagán. She recalls being surprised given how creative all the kids at B-CC were.

She saw creativity and inspiration in many of her students, and proposed to administration an overhaul of the show. She decided to re-brand it as B-CC TV and make the switch from a live show to a pre-filmed, edited show. In the fall of 2016, Ms. Pagán and six students formed the cast and crew of B-CC TV. The first season of the show was difficult due to the limited number of students writing, filming, producing, and editing the show.

“It was tough to organize the distribution of all the jobs with so few students, but as the year went on, characters emerged, and strong personalities, creativity, and organization came together to make the show work,” said Pagán.

Since the start of the show, both the skill level and number of students producing the show have increased, and as a result, the show’s quality has increased as well. This year, there are around 30 students in the class. Senior Camilo Montoya, one of two executive producers of B-CC TV, has been working on the show since its first year, when he was a freshman.

“A lot has changed since I started B-CC TV; the cast has grown so much this year, and with that came a lot of structural changes,” said Montoya.

“We added a lot of organization, which

allowed some students to lead, while others are following so that they can become leaders in following years,” said Ben Moran, the other executive producer.

The cast members dedicate hours, in and out of the class, in preparation for the show’s weekly viewing. “We’re always thinking about [the show],” Montoya said. With the growth of the class over the years, there are more students now to fill the empty roles and help out in the production. On Wake Up B-CC and even the first year of B-CC TV, cast members would switch roles of editors, sound directors, writers, anchors, and cinematographers. Now, with the large team assembled, there are definite roles for each member, allowing the show to run as smoothly as possible.

The team is not only dedicated to their work, but also to the other students in the class.

Some members stay for hours after school brainstorming topics for the next show, editing, and filming the segments. “Most Thursdays we are here until very late at night. We’ll often be getting texts from our parents asking when we are going to come home,” said junior Liana Rosenblum, a producer of the show this year.

All the time spent together brings the cast closer. “We have become a friend group at this point. It’s like you get added to it when you join the show. We spend literally so much time together. It’s impossible not to like the people on the show,” said Montoya.

“We have become especially good at communicating with each other and being honest with each other because of how much time we spend together,” said Moran.

FEATURE

TEN TEENS LILLY BEHBEHANI, HAYDEN RENAGHAN, AND EMMA VOLKERS

HOW COMPETITIVE IS THE COLLEGE PROCESS in your area? How is it affecting your mental health? What would you change about the process if you could? The month of October brings an influx of new change into the lives of many teens

“The college process is super competitive in my school because I go to a selective enrollment school where you have to test into the school to attend. There is a lot of academic toxicity at my school and degradation of others based off of their school choices. The student body can give off a very elitist vibe sometimes. If there was anything I could change about the process, it would be to take away standardized testing. I personally don’t think it’s an indicator of how successful you are going to be in college.”

Chicago, IL

“The college process in my area is relatively competitive, and this is exaggerated in my classes and programs within school. it is absolutely negatively impacting my mental health, and everyone around me is constantly stressed and hyper competitive, which doesn’t help. I would change the process to be free if i could, and I would also make it more transparent and uniform across the board so that kids that can afford special counselors or go to schools with involved counseling don’t have such a disproportionate advantage.”

Oakland, CA

“It's pretty competitive, although a lot of people decide to go to and get into Penn State because their parents work there. I'm stressed out about college because I don't know what I want to do with my life or where I want to go but I'm taking a gap year so that takes some pressure off of it. I wish there was less pressure in general and less of a rush to get through school as fast as possible” Bellefonte, PA

“The college process in my area is really competitive and has been pretty stressful at times. I just feel like I am just putting my life on hold until I’m done with all my college stuff. I think the essays are just so much work and I would prefer schools didn’t ask for them, but ik that’s kind of unrealistic.”

Newport Beach, CA

“In my area, people usually don’t make it to college, so the ones that really want to, it becomes a harder competition. Right now, I’m the most stressed I’ve ever been. If I could change anything about the process, it’d be to fill the applications step by step over a course of August and September.”

Miami, FL

“The college process in Miami in general is a very competitive process, the first 3 months of our school year are even dedicated to it along with our studies. How it affects my mental health you say? I’m depressed and I’m not getting into a good university.”

Miami, FL

“I think the college process is quite competitive, not just in my area but in the whole United States. I feel that the stress of getting into college is very high and it affects my mental health in a way of not knowing. You try your very best and become vulnerable with each step putting a lot of anxiety into my life. I’m not sure if I could change the process because it is so direct and straightforward.”

Steamboat, CO

“The college process isn’t too competitive in my area because we have tons of schools ranging from under 100 miles away. I’ve been very stressed out trying to get my test scores up for scholarships, which resulted in me cutting 3 inches off my hair. I would make there be more than 24 hours in a day because I cannot do this much in such little time.”

Lenoir City, TN

“The college process is very competitive in my school. Many people act like it is not, but those people are the most competitive ones. Most people in my school and where I live in general are applying to similar schools so that is what makes it the most competitive. The college process is very stressful and on top of playing a sport and school it is only harder to prioritize... I think there should be a limit that there can be only two additional supplements. It is ridiculous that I have some schools that have 6 or 7 supplements..”

Briarcliff, NY

ILILLUSTRATIONS BY YAEL CHIAPPORI AND MOLLY BUSIS

across the nation. As the November 1st deadline steadily approaches, seniors across the nation are rushing to finish their college applications. In this edition, we wanted to hear how the college process pressures different teens from different areas. Here’s what they said:

The college process here in Boston is very competitive. Being in the heart of top schools, you really have to make your application stand out.

The whole process is definitely stressful and puts a huge toll on your body and mind. Going to the gym and resting more seem to be balancing the stress out though! I think it’s unfortunate a lot of colleges do not look at applicants from a larger perspective. Many students have other priorities outside of school like taking care of their of their households and having other jobs. There is only so much that you’re able to say in a personal statement without being too personal.

Boston, MA

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NEWS

PHOTO BY THEA HEGEWOOD

B-CC SAYS GOODBYE TO OFFICER TISDALE

by griffin boswell Officer Tamara Tisdale has departed from B-CC this past month after serving as the School Resource Officer for the past two years. Officer Tisdale’s last day at B-CC was Friday, October 11. She has been assigned to Sherwood High School, a more convenient option closer to where she lives.

Since 2013, Officer Tisdale valiantly upholds that she has “always worked at a high school,” serving as a resource officer in the Montgomery County at several other schools, including Quince Orchard, Rockville, Whitman and Walter Johnson. But, she has especially enjoyed her time at B-CC. “I loved being part of this community,” says

Tisdale, “building close relationships with the students, as well as the security team here.” To Tisdale, security doesn’t just mean protecting students from the outside, but helping to make students feel comfortable talking to her. “I want to be an approachable figure to a student, someone you can come up to and talk to.”

Despite her wonderful time at B-CC, Officer Tisdale has dealt with several unfortunate circumstances, including Homecoming, where she has had various issues with student consumption of alcohol.

“It was difficult, seeing students showing up to the game impaired, not like: you had a drink, but physically impaired,” said Tisdale.

However, Tisdale believes that drinking

issues at Homecoming and Prom have been in a decline since students have started being held more accountable for breaking the law.

Yet, determining what punishments students should receive has also been difficult. “In my line of work, Principals vary the way they deal with students committing crimes,” Tisdale said. This has made her work more difficult; however, their new head of security has made her job more consistent across the board.

Nevertheless, she hopes to leave behind a legacy, so others could remember her as “a good listener, and someone who can always give advice.”

MCPS OFFICIALS HOLD MEETING AT B-CC IN RESPONSE TO RECENT TRANSITION OF PRINCIPALS by maddy abate Montgomery County officials held a meeting at B-CC for parents to learn about the principal transition process after former principal, Dr. Jones received a promotion. The meeting was announced for September 25 through an email to parents and staff advertising an opportunity for them to understand how the county plans to ensure a smooth change in administration.

Dr. Kimberly Statham, the MCPS Chief of School Support & Improvement, Diane Morris, the MCPS Area Associate Superintendent, Sean McGee, the Director of Learning, Achievement and Administration, and Dr. Frank Stetson, the Principal Mentor to Interim Principal led the meeting. Interim Principal Dr. Shelton Mooney and former Principal Dr. Jones were absent.

The meeting started at 8 p.m. and was packed

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with staff members and parents by 7:50.

Parents continued to trickle in and take seats waiting to get the answers for questions they desperately sought. The audience was filled with parents of the B-CC community, some of whom were staff members. To appeal to a sense of community, the panel introduced themselves by noting their personal connection to B-CC and the surrounding area. The meeting began with Dr. Stetson explaining how he is acting as a mentor to Dr. Mooney, not a supervisor.

Tension began to grow during the Q&A portion of the meeting as parents asked a variety of questions and many voiced their concerns about the abrupt shift. There were questions about the panel’s experience with finding a new principal after the beginning of the school year. Others questioned the recent

increase in teacher turnover rate at B-CC, as well as the lack of communication between the central office and the middle schools. According to various parents attending the meeting,

“Does this panel and/or the Central Office have any experience with choosing a new principal after the start of the year?

Would you say that it was successful? Would the parents of the students agree?”

The meeting ended with a collective thank you from the panel, and a continued, quiet frustration among the parents.

OPINION

BY ELI GLICKMAN Standing for the pledge of allegiance is a highly controversial issue at B-CC today. Most are familiar with this scene: the bell rings marking the beginning of second period. Over the P.A. Speaker, the pledge rings out; a small fraction of the class instinctively stands, as they do every day, while others sit. I believe students morally should stand for the pledge of allegiance because standing symbolizes respect for our nation and national unity.

Students, however, are not obligated to stand for the pledge. The landmark Supreme Court case, West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, ruled that the free speech clause of the First Amendment protects students from being forced to salute the flag or say the pledge in school. The rights enshrined in the Constitution are vitally important to the fabric of this country. As such, I am not advocating for any policy that forces students to stand for the pledge. However, I believe that, as a symbol of unity and respect for American values, students should stand for the pledge.

Jules Capizzi, a junior at B-CC, said that she stands “out of respect and because [America] is a great country.” Respecting the country comes in a lot of different forms, yet they primarily circle around the sacrifices of our service members.

“Brave men and women risk and give their lives for this country every day. When you don’t stand for the pledge, I believe that you’re insulting the memory of every service member who has put their own lives in jeopardy so others can live the

American dream,” said senior Bryce Hartigan.

Respect for soldiers is of paramount importance.

America’s soldiers put their lives on the line every day to ensure that we are free and that we are safe.

Above all else, I believe people should stand for the pledge as a matter of national unity. In a deeply divisive time, it is crucially important that people find common ground and unite.

The American flag and its ideals represent the best of all of us; they represent the universal goals we all stride towards: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Junior Toby Berlinski said that “[he stands] for the pledge, because, as an immigrant, [he feels] grateful for the country that [he] moved to -- the U.S.” He feels “like even if [someone is] not saying the pledge, [they] should stand up and respect the pledge and the flag and what the pledge means to America.” What standing for the pledge means to America is that we are loyal. Not simply to America’s weaknesses or checkered history, but to the values put forth by our founders in the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. America faces many problems, but the way to solve them is not through self-righteous divisiveness. It is through national unity, through a joint effort to repair problems and build a society that is better than the one we have now. This starts with the little things, like standing in respect for the pledge.

Patriotism, the love for our country, is not support for its problems or any politicians, but support for its values and morals. As President Teddy Roosevelt put it, “patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand

ILLUSTRATION BY YAEL CHIAPPORI

TO STAND...

by the president.” To those who dislike our president, stand because you believe that he does not represent the best that America has to offer; do not sit out of spite. Spitefulness will never solve our problems, but only entrench both sides and make them worse. Let’s all stand together for a better America, free of racism, antisemitism, political divisiveness, and hate. Let’s stand together for the troops who sacrifice, and for our collective goals of a country that works for everyone: a country based on equality and liberty.

...OR NOT TO STAND

BY ETHAN TIAO “One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” echoes through the halls of schools across the country. Students exercise their First Amendment right to respectfully stand or remain idle in their seats -- a liberty solidified by the 1943 Supreme Court case West Virginia School Board v. Barnette.

Amidst an era of extreme political polarization, not rising for the pledge evokes strong emotions from both sides of the political spectrum, and many believe that every U.S. citizen has a moral obligation to stand and pledge.

I firmly disagree with this statement. The act of pledging is a nebulous, but significant devotion.

One that essentially binds oneself to our country’s flag: a symbol of the United States of America.

If every person in this country carries a moral obligation to rise for our pledge, then instead of standing as a result of indoctrination, we must take a long hard look at whether everyone in our country can identify with the words manifestly stated in our pledge and whether our country’s leaders and society act in accordance with them.

And that’s where the problem arises. Our country does not hold itself true to the promises proudly proclaimed in our pledge. While I wholeheartedly respect those who stand in respect, the clear discrepancies between the words in our

pledge and our country’s treatment of certain ethnic, social, and religious groups eliminate any moral obligation one may have to rise.

“Liberty and justice for all” ring throughout our school, but time after time, they fail to ring true for African Americans, immigrants, LGBTQ peoples, Muslims, and more. Freddie Gray, Trayvon Martin, and Emmett Till -- all stripped of liberty and justice in their dying breaths -- are only three names from an extensive list of victims whose fates were determined by our country’s innate prejudice towards African Americans; members of the LGBTQ community are still refused service in some areas of the country; and in 2016, Louisiana ratified legislation that prevented immigrants from joining in marriage. How can we expect these students to love and pledge their loyalty to a country that fails to acknowledge its responsibility to reciprocate those gestures?

On top of that, our country is clearly not “indivisible.” To be indivisible is to be able to rise above difference. When our President vehemently pushes to ban Muslims from entering the country; when we commit hate crimes against one another based off of our identities; when anti-Semitic symbols like swastikas are found on the walls of our school bathrooms and in front of Synagogues; it’s evident that we, as a country, still have a long way to go before we can fulfill the

promise of “indivisibility” etched into our pledge.

I also do not believe that sitting for the pledge is disrespectful to our veterans. By shifting the narrative to portray people who “sit down” for what is right as disrespectful, we are shifting focus away from the unchecked racism and xenophobia that plagues our country.

When people look at the decision to not stand for the flag with such a narrow-minded view, they are rejecting the very freedom that this country is supposed to represent. Our veterans fought so that we could have the right to stand up and sit down for what we believe in.

If we truly are the greatest country in the world, then we must build upon the foundation our troops died fighting for and continue to grow together.

If we settle for where we are now, then we will soon be unfit to carry our aforementioned title.

We do not have a moral obligation to stand for 31 words that fail to apply to so many people in our country - people who are the victim of our country’s inability to shed our discriminatory past. Instead, our moral obligation, as people who experience the wealth and happiness this country has to offer, is to fight alongside the oppressed people who, from the dawn of our nation’s history, have been denied the “justice and liberty” that our pledge promises them.

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OPINION

WHAT ISN’T WORKING WITHIN THE CLIMATE CHANGE MOVEMENT

BY LAURA JULIA FLEISCHMANN The Amazon is burning, ice is melting, and temperatures are rising. Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time. While our world leaders choose to hide in the shadows, youth have spoken out and are spearheading the climate change movement. On September 20th, students from across the world took to the streets in the largest climate mobilization ever - a huge beacon of hope for climate activists. This all seems great, so what is wrong within this climate movement? I bet you have heard of Greta Thunberg. But have you heard about Xiuhtezcatl?

Severn Cullis-Suzuki? I have talked to a variety of different activists within the climate movement, and the same problem keeps recurring: whitewashing.

Black and brown activists who have been active in the climate movement for years are not getting the attention they deserve. Greta Thunberg has been labeled as the catalyst who sparked the movement.

But is that really true? Or was it her whiteness that allowed her to capture the attention of the public in ways that minorities have yet to experience?

It is not that these activists have been silent.

It’s that the media chooses not to listen to them.

Why is it that black and brown communities have contributed the least to climate change but are disproportionately affected? The answer is environmental racism. Polluting industries tend to be located in the middle of communities of color, hurting them the most. We cannot run this movement without these important voices. Those most affected should have the chance to have their voices heard.

This is not saying that Greta’s work is not important. It is! I truly believe that Greta’s is amazing. She has caught the attention of global leaders and spread a message that resonates throughout the world. But, we simply cannot forget the underrepresented communities whose voices need to be amplified in this fight.

Why is Greta the screen and they are not? Is it because of white privilege? The answer is most likely yes. Teresa Montoya , a sophomore and active advocate within the climate movement, told me that “there have been young indigenous leaders long before Greta Thunberg, but their voices have not been heard.

I believe Greta is so inspiring, but if we are going to be praising her for her environmental work, we should be listening to the indigenous children whose communities have been protecting the earth and have been on the front lines of the climate battle. They have been in this fight for way longer.” I couldn’t agree more.

This whitewashing is a problem within all justice movements and is not just unique to this one. White activists, including myself, need to listen to other voices and pass the Mic to them. We need to take it upon ourselves to become educated, and mostly, we need to speak up when we see only white voices being heard.

BY ANNA-LOUISE COBAU The Catholic Church has been an integral part of my life. My family attends Mass every Sunday, and I attended Sunday school from kindergarten to eighth grade, when I was confirmed, becoming an official member of the church. As a part of the Catholic community, I was shaken to my core when news of sexual abuse within the church took the national media by storm.

A recent report by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice had calculated 4,329 priests and deacons were accused of sexual abuse. Catholics everywhere responded in outrage and confusion at the incomprehensibly high number of victims and perpetrators. The church attempted various reforms to combat this new information, the most recent of which was on June 13, 2019, when the United States Roman Catholic bishops voted to install a new oversight system to prevent future abuse.

These reforms were too little too late for many parishioners who felt deeply betrayed by an institution they looked to for moral guidance, many choosing to leave the church altogether.

The effects of these wide-scale crimes also had a grievous impact on the teenagers within the church, much like myself. We are at an age when we must start taking our faith into our own hands, and choosing what, if anything, we will follow and believe. The immeasurable pain that this scandal has caused our community is forcing us -- many for the first time -- to question

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who exactly we are listening to every Sunday.

One young Catholic, Jules Capizzi, when asked if the scandals affected her comfort in attending confession and listening to the priest’s sermons replied, “Oh, of course!” She went on to describe how close the scandals were to her parish and her concern for those near to the convicted abusers: “I was a little shaken up.”

As a young parishioner, Capizzi is one of many, myself included, who must decide for themselves if being a part of the church means accepting these violations.

Personally, I believe that the teachings of the Catholic church and the abuses that took place within it should be thought of separately, and there is an important distinction between the institution and the criminal actions of the individual.

Other young churchgoers seem to agree. A former B-CC student said that the scandals “add hypocrisy to some of the teachings,” but that the core morals remain the same. So while the effects of the abuse is certainly felt among young people, we appear to still value the church’s teachings as separate from the abuse that took place.

As I continue to explore my faith, I am sure that these abuses will have a significant impact on my choice of whether to stay a member of the church.

However, to me, the church’s fundamental teachings in no way excuse the horrifying acts committed, and the crimes should not be the only reflection on an institution whose main tenant is love.

GRAPHICS BY YAEL CHIAPPORI

STUDENTS QUESTION THE CHURCH IN LIGHT OF SEXUAL ABUSE

OPINION

It’s Not Just a Black and White Issue

BY ARANZA LARA This year in my IB English class, we started off discussing a crucial topic: race. We are currently reading Ta-Nehisi Coates’ “Between the World and Me”, an autobiographical account of Coates’ experience growing up in Baltimore and how he comes to learn that all aspects of American society put black people at a disadvantage and endanger their lives. Reading and discussing this book is absolutely critical as it covers racism that is extremely prevalent in American society. It is unfair, however, that the topic of race in our curriculum is being limited to a discussion that there is only a divide between blacks and whites in America.

We have had various discussions about the hardships that black people face and how they are chastised by institutions like schools and the police. We have read and examined famous texts by black icons like Martin Luther King Jr and Malcom X. These are all topics and texts that should always be central and imperative in our school curriculum, not once, however, has the issue of Latinos or any other minority in the U.S been discussed or even mentioned in my class. I wondered if I was the only person who noticed, or was concerned about this omission. Besides me, there were only two Latinos in the class.

Considering the political climate that we live in today, that we have failed to look deeper into the subject of race. Why is it that it is impossible for my non-Latino peers to distinguish a Mexican from a Nicaraguan? Why is it that not once in any

of my classes at school have we discussed the fact that Latino children are being separated from their families? We have to start broadening our discussions about race, and start teachings and conversing about Latino history in our curriculum.

September 15th marked the beginning of Hispanic Heritage month, a month where the contributions of Hispanic and Latinx Americans to American history and culture are recognized. I have only had conversations about the significance of this month with my Latinopeers. Last year during Black History Month, there was controversy nation-wide over the fact that there is only one month of celebration and recognition of black history and culture, when it is indispensable to celebrate black history and culture constantly without a time frame. As this same notion should be applied to

“In school we should be taught about the struggles and achievements of the Hispanic and Latinx community the same way that we are taught about the struggles and achievements of black people.”

Hispanic Heritage month, there are too many people who fail to recognize the importance of the month or even that it has significance at all.

In school we should be taught about the

struggles and achievements of the Hispanic and Latinx community the same way that we are taught about the struggles and achievements of black people. We need to be taught about Latino icons in America like Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. We need to be taught about events like the Zoot Suit riots, where 200 sailors descended upon Los Angeles and severely beat numerous chicanos, stripping the suits from their bodies. We need to be taught about Mendez v. Westminster, where plaintiff Sylvia Mendez sued after being rejected from a “whites only” public school in California, which paved the way for Brown V. Board of Education and played a crucial role in the desegregation of public schools in America. We need to start to actually recognize and familiarize the B-CC community with the immense impacts that Latinos and Hispanics have had on this nation .

The Tattler, for the first time in four years, is proudly publishing content in Spanish. The first time articles were ever published in Spanish was when my sister, now a senior at NYU, founded and lead La Vida; the Tattler’s initial attempt to create a more culturally aware content to address a population that is often misrepresented and misunderstood at our school. As I attempt to unite and represent silenced voices of the Latinx community with my writing, I commit to continue the conversations of differences that tend to be seen as a dichotomy rather than looking in between the lines to see what lies in the gray areas, and how we need to talk about them.

No es solo un problema de blancos y negros POR ARANZA LARA Este año escolar en mi clase de Inglés de BI empezamos el año discutiendo un tema esencial: la raza. Actualmente estamos leyendo el libro “Between the World and Me” escrito por Ta-Nehisi Coates. El texto es un recuento autobiográfico de la experiencia del autor al crecer en Baltimore, donde aprende los aspectos que en los Estados Unidos ponen en desventaja a la gente negra, incluso amenazando sus vidas.

Leer y discutir este libro es crucial porque cubre un tema que es extremadamente importante en la sociedad de los Estados Unidos. Sin embargo, es injusto que en nuestro currículo el tema de la raza esté limitado a la división entre negros y blancos en Estados Unidos.

En clase hemos tenido varias discusiones sobre las privaciones que enfrenta la gente negra en la calle y por culpa de instituciones como las escuelas y la fuerza policial. Hemos leído y examinado textos escritos por famosos iconos negros como Martin Luther King Jr, y Malcolm X. Estos todos son temas y textos que siempre tienen que ser centrales e imperativos en nuestro curriculo. Sin embargo, no se ha mencionado el tema de los Latinos y otras minorías en Estados Unidos. Me pregunté si yo era la única persona que notó, o era preocupada de la omisión.

Cuando miré alrededor del salón me di cuenta que, contandome a mi, solo había dos Latinos en la clase. Es impactante que, especialmente considerando el clima político en el cual vivimos hoy, hemos fracasado en ver el tema de la raza más allá del blanco y el negro. ¿Por qué es imposible que mis compañeros que no son Latinos puedan distinguir a un Mexicano de un Nicaragüense?

“Tenemos que ampliar nuestras discusiones sobre la raza, y empezar a enseñar y conversar sobre la historia de los Latinos en Estados Unidos.” ¿Por qué en ninguna de mis clases en la escuela hemos discutido el hecho de que niños Latinos están siendo separados de sus familias? Tenemos que ampliar nuestras discusiones sobre la raza, y empezar a enseñar y conversar sobre la historia de los Latinos en Estados Unidos.

El 15 de Septiembre marcó el comienzo de el mes de la Herencia Hispana, un mes donde las contribuciones de Hispanos y Latinos a la historia y cultura de Estados Unidos son reconocidas. Solo he hablado sobre este tema

con mis compañeros Latinos. El año pasado durante el mes de la Historia Negra, hubo mucha controversia a nivel nacional sobre el tema de que solo hay un mes devotado a la celebración de la historia y cultura negra, cuando es indispensable celebrar historia y cultura negra constantemente sin un periodo de tiempo.

Esta misma idea debería de ser aplicada al mes de la Herencia Hispana, pero hay demasiada gente que no reconoce la importancia de este mes y ni siquiera que tiene algún significado.

El Tattler, por primera vez en cuatro años va a publicar contenido en Espanol. La primera vez que hubieron artículos publicados en Espanol fue cuando mi hermana, ahora una senior en NYU, fundó y dirigió La vida; el esfuerzo inicial que hizo el Tattler para crear contenido más culturalmente consciente para incluir y dirigirse a un grupo que es tergiversado e incomprendido en nuestra escuela. Al intentar de unir y representar las voces silenciadas de la comunidad Latina con mis palabras, me dedico a continuar las conversaciones de diferencia que suelen ser vistas como dicotomía en lugar de ver lo que hay entre las líneas para ver que se encuentra en las áreas grises, y como debemos de hablar sobre ellas.

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COMING NEXT: THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME

JOIN US FOR TEEN NIGHT FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2019

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SPORTS

Committed To The Game: Field Hockey Edition

BY DREW NEALIS AND CONNOR SAPIN

The 2019 Field Hockey roster is filled with talent and the potential to go deep into the playoffs. The Barons roster is back-boned by the three experienced senior girls, Kate Lee (Midfield), Vivianna Arnold (Defender) and Emma Volkers (Goalie). Emma, Vivianna, and Kate will all be continuing their athletics at the collegiate level. Throughout years of club and high school field hockey, the trio has been through it all, side-by-side. These three Baron athletes have been putting in hard work each year, earning the right to play at the next tier.

After walking across the stage in May, senior midfielder Kate Lee will be attending Tufts University in Massachusetts. Tufts is a small private research university that competes in Division III athletics in the NESCAC, the North Eastern Small College Athletic Conference. In the future, Kate will play against fellow Baron Emma Volkers in conference play. The Jumbos are currently ranked fifth in NCAA Division III for field hockey and are perennially in contention for the NCAA championship title. For Kate, the recruiting process was pretty easy, involving a few clinics and camps at the schools as well as two recruitment tournaments. She officially decided on Tufts this past September because of its “strong field hockey program” and “great academics.”

This season, the Barons midfielder’s main focus is to “help the team succeed”. She further noted that the team is “stacked this year… it’s looking good for us the rest of the season.” The third-year varsity midfielder will be looking to help lead the Barons back to a long-awaited field hockey title.

Vivianna Arnold In the Fall of 2020, Vivianna will be attending the University of Rochester in New York.

Rochester plays at the Division-III level for sports and competes in a very competitive conference: the Liberty League. Vivianna described the recruiting process as “grueling”. She attended many clinics and overnights at schools, followed by phone calls and in-person meetings with coaches. She was drawn to the university, saying, “Rochester’s open curriculum and school size along with their competitive field hockey program stood out.” Vivianna received her offer around May of junior year but officially decided to join the Yellowjackets field hockey team over a few other schools in August of this year.

Vivianna played field hockey for the first time as a freshman playing JV, moving up to varsity for her Sophomore year. She gives credit to B-CC for “enabling her to play in college.” With the commitment process behind her, Vivianna looks to work hard on the high school and club teams to improve her skills and focus on her academics to keep her spot with Rochester. She hopes to finish her high school career with a medal around her neck.

Emma Volkers Between the posts stands three year varsity goalie Emma Volkers., who has defended the goal as a starter her last two seasons with the Barons. Volkers started playing field hockey in middle school, making the transition to the goalie position in eighth grade. Her dreams of playing her favorite sport at the next level came true in August, when she committed to Bates College. A private liberal arts college located in Lewiston, Maine, Bates is home to the highly competitive Division-III Bobcat Field Hockey Program. Emma described the recruiting process as “really fun,” saying she “had the opportunity to travel and meet some really talented players and teams.” Bates was Emma’s first choice, so when she was offered a spot on the 2020-21 roster she said, “I had a few offers but...it didn’t take long at all for me to commit there.” “Bates is super competitive,” Volkers said, “combined with the fact that they have really good academics [she] was drawn to it.” “Also,” Volkers added, “I love Maine.” Emma plans to work hard in school to keep her grades up for Bates and her skills up with club, and hopes to backstop B-CC field hockey to the state championship this Fall.

GRAPHICS BY CHARLIE KANNAPELL

Kate Lee

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STYLE

HOMECOMING 2019

BY CORA HAFER Halloween is upon us, which, if you’re not a ten-year-old kid trying to figure out what costume to wear, means incredibly overpriced candy and way too many pumpkin spice latte jokes.

While the parties and horror movies can be great, many teenagers this time of year find themselves missing the rush of excitement they used to get from going door-todoor and begging strangers for candy. Some even decide to go the extra mile and trick-ortreat anyway, which brings us to the age-old question: how old is too old to trick-or-treat?

While there really is no definite cutoff age, some places have made it their job to decide for the trick-or-treaters. A town in Canada has a law that bans anyone over the age of 16 from trick-or-treating, punishable with a $200 fine. In Chesapeake, Virginia, (only four hours away from Bethesda) anyone over the age of 12 that is caught trick-or-treating could face a fine, or even six months jail time.

Why are these places so adamant against teens getting into the Halloween spirit?

Some adults are concerned that teens will wear scary or inappropriate costumes, be rude to people giving out candy, or try to take the experience away from younger kids. When kids ranging from six to 11 were asked how old is too old to trick-or-treat, most said somewhere from 15-18 years-old, with the exception of a few who said 100 and six-year-old Horace Mann Elementary School student, Juliet, who said “I’ll never stop trick-or-treating! It’s too much fun!”

When teens were asked the same ques-

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tion, many said that the best cutoff age was about 14 or 15, but it was still acceptable to trick-or-treat until high school graduation.

So if not trick-or-treating, what is Halloween about for teens? Some said that it is less about the candy and more about hanging out with friends. Junior Kadijah Bah has started the new tradition of going to Markoff’s haunted forest with her friends every Halloween season. Still, Bah has a longing for the Halloween of her youth.

“Honestly, [my favorite part] is just watching other kids enjoy Halloween because I can’t really [enjoy trick-or-treating] anymore,” said Bah. “Halloween just kind of sucks now because you get so hyped for it, and then you realize that you’re older and you can’t do everything anymore. Dressing up isn’t as fun as it used to be because when you’re a kid, you can be anything you want. And now, it’s just like ‘I guess I’ll be a cat.’”

Junior Derya Taspinar agreed, “I feel like when you’re a kid, you’re not really thinking about what other people expect of you: you just want to get loaded up on candy. Not that Halloween isn’t fun now, I like the scary movies and stuff, but it’s just not the same.”

What do children under the age of 13 think that they’ll do on Halloween when they get older? “I’ll probably just stay at home and hand out candy,” said 10-year-old T.J. “I’m not gonna dress up and trick-or-treat anymore once I’m a teenager.” First-grader, Ryan, had a more positive outlook. “I’m going to carve pumpkins all by myself! I won’t even need mommy’s help!”

Many teenagers who were asked these questions agreed that as they grew older, cel-

ebrating Halloween became less about the actual day, and more about the season. While younger kids look forward to trick-or-treating on Halloween night, many teens prefer to lay back and enjoy the fall weather and seasonal trends that come along with it.

But just because they aren’t trick-or-treating doesn’t mean they aren’t dressing up, right? Well, four out of the twelve teenagers asked said they were planning on wearing a costume. In contrast, all twelve of the younger children asked said they were planning to dress up and go trick-or-treating.

All the young trick-or-treaters knew exactly what they were going to wear. Henry plans on being a blow-up dinosaur, while his twin sister, Zoe, is going as a zombie bride. Both Ryan and his little brother Luke are planning on being Captain America.

Sophomore, Lauren Berkowitz, is still trying to decide whether she’s going to be something “low-key” or not dress up at all.

Although Halloween can be fun for older kids, many agree that since the holiday is meant for children, the spirit tends to die as we get older. As we get closer to the 31st, many are faced with the same question: are teenage years really the death of Halloween?

GRAPHICS BY DERYA TASPINAR

The Death of Halloween

BACKPAGE

THE RATTLER

BY JULIANA BLAYNEY, JACKSON HERMES, AND KARINA VASUDEVA

Your Horoscope.

By the Backpage Astrologers.

Aries: You will face some tough questions about life this week. Expect dilemmas, such as what the fourth root of 22667121 is, and whether Mike Wazowski winks or blinks.

Taurus: November holds many blessings for you. For example, funnel cake is currently buy-one, get-three-free at Giant.

Gemini: The love of your life will leave you after they realize Dr. Phil will treat them better.

Cancer: Felt another emotion, did ya? Cry about it.

Leo: Although you may feel like you are alone in the world, there are actually over 7 billion people! You’re not special.

Virgo: You may become a person of great panache, verve, and sagacity, but you won’t be sure because you don’t know what those words actually mean.

Libra: Your daily routine will be thrown for a loop when you exit your house only to find you’ve lost the ability to make basic decisions.

Scorpio: Mercury rising in your sign has indicated that it might be a bit hotter, since that’s how a thermometer works after all.

Sagittarius: You will soon find out that your particular method of getting into college is a felony. Use the upcoming moon transit to research more legal paths.

Capricorn: Jealousy is a disease...get well soon.

Aquarius: Beware that someone may call ICE on you if you say you’re an “alien xD” one more time.

Pisces: The planets do intend to play with your life, but that still doesn’t explain your fascination with Percy Jackson.

Montgomery County Considers Age Requirement for Kitchen Appliances In response to a sudden uptick in the number of kitchen-utensil-related incidents, Montgomery County is considering an age requirement for the purchase of kitchen utensils and appliances.

“We don’t think someone under the age of 18 should be able to walk right in to Williams and Sonoma and buy a spatula,” says a county board member, who requested anonymity, “And don’t get me started on cinnamon-flavored or cinammon-scented or whatever brooms. I think they make those just to appeal to teenagers.”

Blenders, food processors, spatulas, woks, hand mixers, pans and hundreds of other items will all be included under the new rule if passed.

B-CC Junior Warren Wilson had an older brother who admitted to using a fake ID to buy a kitchen set. “It was worth the whisk,” said Wilson.

In light of these reports, PTA members from across the county have formed a coalition: Parents Against Kitchen Appliances (PAKA). PAKA has been petitioning for the local government to take a stand and instate age requirements for Montgomery County residents seeking kitchen appliances.

Members of PAKA are hosting a peaceful protest this weekend at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, just off Rockville Pike.

Erasing their Mark: Meet the Winners of Bethesda’s “Worst” Teen Awards For the past eleven years, the recipients of the Bethesda Magazine’s Extraordinary Teen Awards have garnered the attention and respect of many from Bethesda and beyond. However, many people raised complaints that these teens weren’t reflective of Bethesda’s entire student population.

To provide a more comprehensive overview, The Tattler has introduced a new award: Bethesda’s “Worst” Teens. Here are the 2019 nominees.

Senior Abigail Cent is on a quest to achieve the lowest attendance record in MCPS history. Currently held by 2015 graduate Joe Mama with an astonishing 1,067 absences (all excused), Cent is close behind with 981 excused and 2 unexcused at the end of her junior year. Cent is on track to best Mama’s record before graduation -- in the unlikely event she is able to graduate.

“I go to one class a day,” Cent said, “I call it the Minimum-effort Approach. I don’t want to get expelled but I don’t want toend my streak.”

When asked about her 900 “orthodontist-related” absences, Cent closed her mouth and backed away slowly out of the second floor exit.

When asked about Cent, Ms. Smith, B-CC math teacher, said, “Who?” True Antsy, a junior, is steadily approaching Joe Mama’s record as well.

“I knew I was racking up absences, but I never thought I’d get to this level,” said Antsy. “Joe Mama’s record is MCPS lore, but after actually contracting Mono after faking it so many times, my absences have gone through the roof. Now that I’m in the running, I’d like to thank my parents, God, and the random dude that lent me his water bottle after a dope lifting sesh. No ragrets.”

Montgomery County Pupil Personnel and Attendance Services has unsuccessfully attempted to contact Cent and Antsy.

Interview with a (Struggling) Baron As part of the Rattler’s attempts to integrate multiple perspectives into this publication, we will conduct interviews with random Barons to publish their thoughts on everyday life at B-CC. In this edition, we spoke to a senior about B-CC daily life.

Your grade didn’t have any home games throughout all of your time at B-CC. How does it feel to finally have a field and be able to attend home games?

“The bleachers are a great place to study for my four Higher Level IB exams. The crowd was a little rowdy, though. Since I’m taking four HLs, I’m gonna have six exams this spring. I had to start studying early.”

What clubs are you involved in?

“I don’t have time for extracurriculars, since my four HLs take up so much of my time. I usually just go home right after school and finish all of the homework I have because I’m taking four HLs.” What do you think of B-CC TV? “I can’t afford to take the time out of my day to watch B-CC TV. I usually use those fifteen minutes to power nap, study for a test, or draft my IA. But most of the time, since I’m taking four HLs, the teachers won’t even play it because we have so much material to go through.”

How did the battle over the parking passes treat you? Do you have a spot in the student lot?

“Actually, last year I developed debilitating scoliosis because of the sheer weight of my homework from all four of my higher level classes and all the IB textbooks that I had to bring to school and back home. Obviously, I couldn’t make the walk to and from Waverly every day, so I got a doctor’s note that said I had to have a pass.”

Any final words for the underclassmen?

“Make sure you take classes you really enjoy, and don’t get caught up in taking all the hardest classes if it means you don’t get to try something that

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