Lowell The
December 2014, Volume 222 No. 2
HELLO DOLLY Star alum Carol Channing visits 10
NEW TEACHER CONTRACT 4
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Lowell The
MAUPIN VISITS
December 2014
GOLF GOES GOLD
NOT JUST A SCARF
RUPPERT SHINES
Esteeemed columnist and author pays a special visit to the school
Redemption as AAA championships and MVP Rachael No
Athlete of the Month and soccer star Alex Ruppert
What it means to be Muslim at Lowell
By Luming Yuan
By Emily Teng
By Cynthia Leung
By Noreen Shaikh
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THELOWELL.ORG: COMING SOON
XC trumps mud, sweeps champs
By Rayming Liang
Tweets from @TheLowell
More Upcoming Web Stories
‘I HAVE A CONFESSION’
Crossfire between two reporters. Is dishing out online worth it? By Ophir Simayof and Danielle Flores
PIMP MY COMPUTER LAB
Alumni Association funds 32 new iMacs for library By Gisela Kottmeier
WATCH OUT, EINSTEIN!
Students intern with multiple professional STEM organizations through science research program By Joseph Kim and Noreen Shaikh
A response to last issue’s misprint LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear readers of The Lowell, As many of you may have seen, we mistakenly published a story that was titled “The average SFUSD teacher is absent more than the average student” in our on Oct. 31 print edition. Usually, when a story does not have a byline, it is considered an editorial, which represents the opinion of the entire staff. However, this was a personal opinion written by me. I have heard reactions of anger about the fairness and quality of information, curiosity about the issue, and frustration that editors
inserted a disclaimer instead of standing by the article. The main source for this opinion was an Aug. 19 article in the San Francisco Chronicle, “S.F. teachers miss more school than students on average.” This article said that SFUSD teachers are absent an average of 11 days per year, while students are absent an average of 6 days per year. As the editor of the Opinions and Editorials section, I found this issue of teacher absences worth researching, as it is of interest to the Lowell student body and larger community.
The rough draft, which was published, does not tell the entire story of teacher absences because it uses the Chronicle article as its only source. • The author of the article seems to assume that the 201213 statistics based on a study conductedby the National Council on Teaching Quality will remain static, and consequently projected a number of average absences for this year. • Teachers are contractually given 10 absences per year, and SFUSD allows teachers to selfreport a reason for their absence.
The data provided by the Chronicle included professional development days, which are days taken by teachers for work purposes. In order to bring the most accurate data to The Lowell’s readers, I am in the process of researching information more specific to Lowell, and how we could find potential solutions We are also investigating how this preliminary draft got published, so that mistakes like this will be avoided in the future. Samantha Wilcox Editor-in-Chief
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Teachers respond to misprint on absences Dear Lowell community,
To the Editor:
I was quoted in an article that was inadvertently published in the October 2014 issue of The Lowell. The quotation was accurate, but it was only a small part of what I said. I would like to make clear that I realize that my colleagues work extremely hard and I respect them immensely. I don’t question their professionalism and I certainly don’t judge anyone for taking a personal day. That is precisely why I think it is unfortunate that a very small minority of teachers take an excessive amount of time off, which pulls the average to a misleadingly high number. It makes all of us look bad when the Chronicle publishes these numbers. So, I think the issue of teacher absences is a legitimate concern, but I wish the reporting had been more balanced. Some teachers asked where I got the idea that teachers were disproportionately absent on Fridays and Mondays. This information can be found on page six of a fairly lengthy report called, “Teacher Absence as a Leading Indicator of Student Achievement,” that was published in 2012 by the left-leaning non-partisan group, Center for American Progress. It relied on data obtained by a national survey done by the Office for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Education. Adam Michels Social Studies Teacher
In reference to the opinion piece in The Lowell magazine [Oct. 31, 2014; see ‘Letter from the Editor’-Ed.] that argued for increased oversight of teacher absences, I would like to put a human face on the numbers and policy you are advocating. I understand the article was printed in error. I would like to offer a way to deepen your thinking about the argument you are putting forth. While students and teachers are part of the same system and operate in the same buildings, the roles they fill are different. Some teachers are parents and have children they care for, perhaps missing school when their children are ill. Some teachers are caring for their aging parents, and may need to miss school to do so. And some teachers themselves may need to take time from school to care for their own health issues. Currently the school district has a humane policy that permits teachers to decide when to take time off from school, whether for reasons of illness or personal leave. Several years ago my father was facing the last years of his long and productive life and I wanted to spend time with him before he died. The only problem was he lived 3500 miles away from me, in the Boston area. So yes, I took Fridays and Mondays around weekends to visit my dad in the last year of his life. I also took uncomfortable red-eye flights to minimize the travel time and the disruption to my students
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and classes. That year was a difficult year, but I was comforted by knowing that I was able to take the time to see my dad. My brother’s story was different. He is a physics teacher, who lives near Boston. He had been appointed executor of our father’s estate, and as executor, needed to take time off from school to take care of the business of the estate. It was very stressful time for my brother as he tried to fulfill the duties of both roles. His school district has a much stricter policy, where teachers face scrutiny if they take too many sick days, and he feared that his absences from school would result in administrative action against him. This is what you are proposing – administrative scrutiny of teachers who have multiple absences. Numbers and statistics are clean and clear, but students and teachers’ lives cannot and should not be reduced to numbers. Averages are particularly misleading because they lump all individuals into a group that does not represent individual differences well. Peoples’ lives are messy, and yet what is needed is a policy that takes such messy needs into account. The current policy does a pretty good job of that. So be careful in your use of numbers. Do use qualifiers – some, many, may, often – to better define the terms of your argument. Have some compassion for the people behind the numbers. Cathy Innis English Teacher
Students forced to go to extreme measures to cover the increasing cost of Advanced Placement exams. Illustration by Stephan Xie.
Editors-in-Chief
Andrew Pearce • Sam Tick-Raker Samantha Wilcox • Michelle Wong News Whitney C. Lim, Michelle Wong Sports Amber Ly, Andrew Pearce, Sam Tick-Raker Features Luke Haubenstock Opinion Madelyn Chen, Samantha Wilcox Reporters Celena Chang, Ophir Cohen-Simayof, Danielle Flores, Luke Haubenstock, Joseph
Kim, Gisela Kottmeier, Cynthia Leung, Stephanie Li, Rayming Liang, Amber Ly, Tyler Perkins, Arthur Register, Rachael Schmidt, Noreen Shaikh, Emily Teng, Luming Yuan Illustrators Camilia Kacimi, Christine Van, Stephan Xie Photo Editor Zoe Kaiser Photographers Karina Huft, Aida Irving, Zoe Kaiser, Amber Ly Multimedia Editor Ariel Yuan
Social Media Manager Michelle Wong Business Managers Jason Li, Carissa Ng, Gabe Schumm Web Manager Srinand Paruthiyil
Advisers
Samuel Williams Samantha Yu
2014 NSPA Online Pacemaker 2012 NSPA Print Pacemaker 2011 NSPA All-American 2011 NSPA Online Pacemaker
2009 NSPA First Class Honors
2007 NSPA All-American 2007 NSPA Web Pacemaker 2007 CSPA Gold Crown
Published by the journalism classes of Lowell High School, Room S108, 1101 Eucalyptus Drive, San Francisco, CA 94132 Phone: (415) 759-2730 Internet: thelowellnews@gmail.com, thelowellads@ yahoo.com; http://www.thelowell.org. All contents copyright Lowell High School journalism classes. All rights reserved. Students, to join The Lowell, email thelowellnews@gmail.com or sign up for Journalism 1 Block 7 or 8. The Lowell and The Lowell on the Web strive to inform the public and to use their opinion sections as open forums for debate. All unsigned editorials are the opinions of the staff. The Lowell welcomes comments on school-related issues from students, faculty and community members. Send letters to lowellopinion@gmail.com. Letters must be signed. Names will be withheld upon request. We reserve the right to edit letters before publication.
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DONE DEA By Celena Chang, Tyler Perkins and Michelle Wong
AL? United Educators of San Francisco and the district reach a tentative agreement in quest for all teachers to afford life in the City
Teacher union members David Zeeman, Erin Bird and Bryan Marten stand in front of the flagpole.
Photo By Zoe Kaiser
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hey teach their subjects. They write recommendations. They almost went on strike, but didn’t. The teachers’ union, United Educators of San Francisco, and the district reached a tentative agreement on Nov. 24 after nine months of contract negotiations. The agreement awaits approval by UESF members. This financial agreement is one of the largest recent teachers’ contracts in the state of California, according to UESF and the district, and is one step towards helping teachers to afford to live in San Francisco, one of the most expensive cities in the country.
What if the agreement passes? If it doesnt?
If the agreement passes, teachers will not get the 12 percent salary increase all at once. All UESF members will first receive a check equivalent to 2 percent of the past six month’s salary. The rest of the increments will be added every six months over three years. At the end of school year 2017, the comThe new contract includes a 12 percent salary increase for all UESF pounded raise will total 12.61 percent over members over the next three years. It also includes a statement that re- each members current salary, according to Teachers struggle to compete with opens the negotiations on salaries if district revenues exceed projections Melvin. in next year’s budget. All of the non-monetary terms, such as the proposals on the increase The district and UESF have been negotiating the next three-year of elementary school teacher prep-time, will go into effect immediately. contract since February. In fall 2013, the members of UESF voted that A statement in the agreement says that if the district gets more money a salary raise would be their number one priority in the negotiations, than expected, they will reopen salary negotiations. according to AP Environmental Science teacher If the agreement is not ratified, the negotiaKatherine Melvin, who is a Union Building tion process restarts. “If the agreement is not Committee Co-Representative, High School The new contract ratified, we risk losing all of our accomplishCommittee Co-chair and Member of the UESF includes a 12 percent ments. The district can choose to keep or lose Bargaining team. salary increase for all anything we agreed on and we’ll have to start Teachers have not had a raise for eight years. all the way from the beginning,” Melvin said. UESF initially proposed a 21 percent raise UESF members over Also, if the agreement does not pass, a over three years. The district counter-proposed the next three years. district-wide strike is back on the table. In order that the numbers from their budget could only to get a larger raise, the district would have had afford an 8 percent growth over three years. to unfund other programs, according to Melvin. Both the union and the district used state The district will meet with the union again to discuss next steps if projections of income to the district to set their initial raise offers. The the tentative agreement is not approved by UESF members, according district initially used a more conservative number issued by the state that to district Chief Communications Officer Gentle Blythe. Blythe did not assumes a worse scenario, while the union used a number issued by the specify which district programs would be compromised if a higher salstate based upon current growth, according to Melvin. ary raise is proposed. Melvin said the district income increase could have funded more The process has been long and strenuous, especially for those on the than the raise agreed upon, but money was allocated to other projects. bargaining team for the union like Melvin. “My negotiations binder is Before the agreement was reached, the union had voted to authorize 7 inches thick,” she said. “I’ve attended 40 meetings of negotiation since a vote on a strike. February and I’ve missed class and time with family for the cause. I feel On Aug. 14, 87 percent of SFUSD teachers attended a general mem- like essentially every time we negotiated, they were saying, ‘Can’t you bership meeting at George Washington High School and 99 percent of see that there’s not enough money for you?’” the teachers present voted “yes.”
What’s the agreement and how was it reached?
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e with San Francisco’s rising cost of living. The district sits in the stands as mediators. Illustration by Christine Van
What’s not in the agreement? Despite the salary raise proposal, some of Melvin’s concerns are still not addressed in the proposed agreement, such as helping members with family and health care. “There were a couple of things that were very close to my heart that the district just shot down,” Melvin said. “Some of our members have multiple children and paying health care is very hard. Also, I wanted to propose for teachers to be able to place their child in a school within a mile of their workplace. It makes sense in many ways. ‘I’m not late to work, my child is not late to school.’ But the district just dropped that.” Some teachers are not satisfied with the agreement. “Did we get change? Yes. Do I feel it was a level we should be happy with? No, I think we could have done better,” math teacher Alexander Wilson said. Other teachers believe that a strike would have been costly. “I think in the end we would have lost more, because we would have been without pay for whatever period of time,” member of the Union Building Committee Carolyn Nickels said, “I think if all things are equal we probably got the best deal we could.” Nickels said that the tentative agreement is the best deal UESF could have gotten regarding the benefits of elementary school teachers and paraprofessionals. “I think a number of objectives or goals were reached during negotiations.” Nickels said. “We have to look at the paraprofessionals who hadn’t had any improvement in their working conditions
and their contract and realize that progress was made for them. We also have to look at elementary school teachers who now will enjoy more prep time and more opportunities to meet with other teachers to do common planning. Those are two really important outcomes aside from the salary issue.”
“If the agreement is not ratified, we risk losing all of our accomplishments.”
What’s the problem? Teachers have not received a raise from the District for eight years, according to Melvin. “The only reason we had a raise was because of Proposition A, but the raise we got was from property tax--not from the district,” Melvin said. Passed in 2008, Proposition A, a parcel tax, which is paid by property owners in the city, was meant to increase teacher salaries, to support teachers’ professional development, and to improve technology in schools. Representatives from UESF stressed the importance of keeping teachers living in the communities they serve, but this goal has become increasingly difficult as the cost of living in San Francisco has been See CONTRACT on pg. 29
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Author Armistead Maupin shares his book Tales of the City in an auditorium presentation on Oct. 22.
PHOto by zoe kaiser
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groundbreaking. controversial. celebrated. Armistead Maupin presents Tales of the City, this year’s One City One Book selection By Luming Yuan
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an Francisco is often known for its Bohemian spirit, but there was a time when many saw “underground culture” lifestyles as highly controversial. One author, who wrote to challenge these notions, visited Lowell to inspire future writers. His series has been described as “an extended love letter to the magical San Francisco” by the New York Times Book Review. Armistead Maupin, author of the Tales of the City book series chosen by the San Francisco Public Library for its One City One Book reading program, came to the Carol Channing Auditorium to share his books and the events that inspired them during Block 3 on Oct. 22. The series, which started as a daily column in the San Francisco Chronicle in 1976, features a young girl named Mary Ann Singleton who comes to San Francisco just for a visit but ends up so consumed by what the city has to offer that she decides to stay. She embarks on adventures with characters such as a hippie named Mona Ramsey and a gay man named Michael Tolliver, characters that would have been considered controversial at the time the books were written. Local readers will recognize locations in San Francisco such as Twin Peaks, the Sutro Bath House, the Legion of Honor and the de Young Museum in Tales of the City. English teacher Cathy Innis, who has been Lowell’s contact person for One City One Book since it began in 2005 and arranged for Maupin’s visit, expressed her appreciation for the series and its author. “Some characters in the book deal with controversial personal issues that Maupin brings alive,” Innis said. “It has helped readers understand how a hippie or someone who enjoys cross-dressing or is gay can be acceptable.” Maupin shared how difficult it was to write about gay characters by telling a story about how his editor on the Chronicle made him record the number of straight characters and homosexual characters in order to ensure that homosexual characters did not exceed the number of straight characters. When English teacher Lorna Galang found out that Maupin was
coming, she decided to teach Tales of the City in her Novel class. “I wanted my students to find the connection between the city in which they live now and the city about which Maupin writes, and be proud that they are a part of this Bohemian spirit that still thrives,” Galang stated in an email. “I also wanted them to see that not all novels have to be a slog; some can even be fun to read.” English teacher Sharn Matusek, who brought about 90 of her students to the book talk, said that she has admired Maupin since he published his earliest books in the Chronicle. “I remember Maupin in the 70s as being topical and influential, and now he is an iconic figure in San Francisco history,” Matusek said. “My students found Maupin funny and refreshingly outspoken; he spoke on a person-to-person level, as opposed to adult-to-youth.” Maupin also offered some advice for aspiring writers in the audience. “You have to just sit down and write,” Maupin said in his book talk. “You have to accept that it’s not going to be beautiful at the beginning.” The book talk was a source of inspiration for students in attendance, senior Neha Malik expressed. “There’s this stereotype that writers are really introverted and reclusive and I’m sure there are writers on the quiet side but I’m a writer, or an aspiring one at least, and I’m definitely not the shy, quiet girl,” Malik said. “It was interesting and refreshing to see a successful author who was as outgoing as Mr. Maupin.” Although the current San Francisco, with all of its tech startups, differs from the San Francisco Maupin knew when he was first penning his series, he said that he still appreciates the city. “I try not to be grumpy about the new San Francisco,” Maupin said during the book talk. “The new San Francisco is how all these new artists have come. They have the same right to dream in this place as I had.” One City One Book is an event that occurs citywide, where residents are encouraged to read a certain book for the year. Copies of the book are stocked in the libraries and displayed in the windows of bookstores. v
“My students found Maupin funny and refreshingly outspoken.”
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HELLO CARO Class of ’38 alumna Carol Channing makes an appearance at the school’s Carol Channing Auditorium
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ROL!
all photos by zoe kaiser
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arol Channing, class of ‘38, winner of three Tony awards and Hello, Dolly! star, visited the school on Nov. 6. Despite not having her hearing aid in for the beginning of the presentation, she entertained the audience with stories about the school. “Everything I needed to learn, I learned at Lowell,” she said. Channing surprised Lowell faculty and students when she expressed her opinions on Lowell students’ intellect when she stated, “When you all graduate, you will discover that the rest of the world is dumber than you are.” She also complimented the students: “You look so much more beautiful than we did back then.” v
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Senior quarterback Antonio Hughes rushes the football in the Battle of the Birds game against the Washington Eagles on Nov. 1. Photo by Amber Ly.
BREAKING TACKLES Varsity football finishes season 2-4, unable to advance to playoffs due to lack of preparation. B y R a c h a e l Schmidt
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he long and demanding season for the Lowell’s varsity football team came to an end on Nov. 14, where the Cardinals were defeated by the Lincoln Mustangs 40-8 in their last game for the league. The Cardinals started off their football season strong with a close 34-28 win against the Burton Pumas. This had set up their hopeful and passionate fire to play that lasted throughout the rest of their games. “It was a close game, and our defense was definitely tested,” sophomore running back Martell Coleman said. “But as a team, we managed to pull through. That win brought a lot of confidence in us to keep playing throughout the season.” Prior to their final game, the team lost 27-18 in the Battle of the Birds against the Washington Eagles. Senior quarterback Antonio Hughes suffered from a broken collarbone in the final quarter of the game. Without Hughes for the rest of the year, the Cardinals continued to play on. “It’s sad to see my teammates go down and not be able to play,” senior running back Zach Toy said after the Battle of the Birds. “But when they go down, it gives me more fire, and I want to play and never leave the field [for them.]” Afterwards, the Cardinals lost the Nov. 7 game against the Mission Bears 46-8 as well, finishing the season off with an overall standing of 2-7, and a league standing of 2-4. Winning their two games would have granted the team a spot in the playoffs, but their inexperience proved to be too great a burden. “We weren’t ready for a couple of these games,” Coleman See FOOTBALL on pg. 28
Most Valuable Player: Antonio Hughes The Lowell has selected senior quarterback Antonio Hughes as the Most Valuable Player. Hughes was a crucial part to the Cardinals’ game plan throughout the season, in all aspects. During the Battle of the Birds, Hughes switched between five different roles, including his normal role as a quarterback. “He’s a tough guy,” Chan said. “He’s fast, he goes after the ball. He’s good all-around.” During this game, however, Hughes succumbed to one of the many dangers that comes along with playing football, and broke his collarbone. “I feel pretty sad, because it’s my senior year,” Hughes said after the Battle of the Birds. “Plus, I feel like I’m letting my team down.” Hughes will try to recover over the winter, but is unsure whether he will play for Lowell’s baseball team in the spring or not. v
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TEEING OFF B y Emily Teng
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OWELL SENIOR Rachael No grips her putter tighter as she takes a few practice swings, adjusting her angle to counter the slope of the green. The 20 feet between her ball and the hole loom before her. Both her teammates and the opposing Washington players watch from the side, fingers crossed and breaths bated. She knows that the title of individual champion rides on this one shot. Taking a deep breath, No steps forward, takes aim, and carefully taps the ball. Both teams hold a collective breath as the ball shoots forward, true to its target, curving with the green’s slope–and drops into the hole. With this rare 20-foot putt, No helped the girls’ golf team defeat the
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Junior Vivian To takes a swing in the semifinal match against the Lincoln Mustangs on Oct. 29. Photo by Aida Irving Washington Eagles 441-499 to claim this season’s championship title on Nov. 3. No took the title of individual champion with a score of 83. After she tied with Washington player Allison Wu for the best individual score on the last hole, the two proceeded to a playoff round to settle the score. The two players were evenly matched after they hit their first shots in the same place, but No found herself at a disadvantage after hitting her second and third shots in a bad position, according to No. However, No made a full comeback when she sank her memorable putt for a four-shot par. “The fact that I won was a miracle,” No said. “Because even though she had an advantage, I ended up making my shot while she missed hers. That
just emphasizes the importance of short game in golf, which is something that I’ve been trying to teach the team the whole year, and this is actual proof to help them understand.” No’s playoff putt was the most outstanding moment of the game, according to senior Kayla Choi. “Rachael made an amazing final putt to come back with the win,” Choi said. “We were all so happy for her and we all knew that she worked so hard for that medal. We cried and screamed and it was an amazing moment.” The team lost to Washington in the championship match 267-281 last season, making this year’s victory even sweeter. “Losing to Washington last year was really rough, so the fact that we won this year just makes me incred-
Girls’ golf gains redemption by defeating last years’ champs, the Washington Eagles, in the AAA title match on Nov. 3.
ibly happy and proud to be part of this team,” senior Emily Brandau said. “It also feels great to win since I’m a senior. It’s like going out on a high note.” The Cardinals’ victory in the championships was not the first time they beat Washington this season. In their previous game against the Eagles on Oct. 20, the team beat its rivals 206-228, despite the setbacks caused by the rain and the pressure from its loss to Washington last year. “We were playing the only school we lost to last year, so the match was extremely nerve-wracking,” No said after that match. “The score was really close and there was a lot of pressure riding on this. Even if Wash messed up, we couldn’t just slack off and take it easy, we had to use it as an opportunity See GOLF on pg. 28
Most Valuable Player: Rachael No In addition to ranking as the individual champion of the championship match, No earned the title of The Lowell’s Most Valuable Player of the season. Her constant desire to both improve her skills and focus on the whole team’s weaknesses pushed her to be the best golfer she could be, according to No. “My dad is the co-coach, and at this final game I tried to utilize everything he had taught me over the course of the whole year,” No said. “Usually, each week I tried to focus on one aspect of my game, and this time I tried to compile everything. That’s what really helped me win, trying to piece every part together.” v
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Athlete of the Month:
ALEX RUPPERT
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Senior forward Alex Ruppert jumps up for a header in the Cardinals’ 2-0 victory over Galileo in the championship match on Nov. 8. Photo by Karina Huft.
GOALS GLORY GOLD Senior forward Alex Ruppert leads soccer team to victory, scoring goals in both the semifinal and championship matches. By Cynthia Leung
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hen the boys’ soccer team needed an assist or goal this year, they knew they could count on senior forward and Athlete of the Month Alex Ruppert to pull through and lift the squad’s spirit. During the season, Ruppert switched from a lone striker to an underneath forward, the player behind the striker, in hopes to make more thorough passes and create more attacks. This switch was successful. On many occasions, Ruppert contributed assists, which helped during crucial moments in close games. During a home game against the Gateway Gators on Sept. 4, the Cardinals conceded two unanswered goals, allowing their opponent to tie the game 2-2 in the second half. “It seemed as if we had let our heads drop but Alex just kept going and going, never letting up,” sophomore forward and midfielder Cian O’Dwyer said. “He got his reward as he created the winning goal for us.” In addition to his assists and goals, Ruppert displayed leadership skills that encouraged his teammates. “Anytime he saw players with low energy or intensity, he would push and refocus them,” head coach Juan Lopez said. “Sometimes players recognized his ability to work hard and would do the same.” According to O’Dwyer, Ruppert had an infectious attitude that affected his teammates and the game. “He pulled us through playoffs by showing a determination and energy that should be admired by everyone,” he said. “His first goal in the playoffs was
from more than 25 yards out and it set the tone for the rest of the postseason to come. Without his energy and determination, our winning the championship would’ve been as an incredibly difficult task.” But Ruppert constantly tried to improve. During a preseason game on Aug. 29 against Lick Wilmerding, he missed a penalty shot, something that sparked more practice. “Everyone always expects penalty shots to be converted, so when I missed, it was a huge blow to my selfconfidence,” Ruppert said. “To get over it, I took it one game at a time. I worked on doing the little things right and then worked up from there. I also worked a lot on my shooting so if I was given another chance at taking a penalty, I would score it.” Ruppert’s hard work paid off as the Cardinals came back strong this season, beating the Galileo Lions 2-0 in the championship. “His best moment was when he scored the first goal in the championship because it had a big impact,” Lopez said. “It summarized his season and how he worked so hard and tried not to let his teammates down. He became a leader and with that came a higher respect for the game and good work ethic.” The final game served as a high point for Ruppert’s milestone season.“Finally being able to win the championship my senior year is incredible,” Ruppert said. “Knowing that all of our team’s hard work in the past years finally paid off was one of the best feelings ever. What happened after the referee blew his whistle felt like an out of body experience. Almost euphoric.” v
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Jew Crew and Peace in the Middle East paint over vandalism at the M-Oceanview stop on 19th Avenue and Eucalyptus Drive. Photo Courtesy of Josh Horwitz
RELIGIOUS CLUBS COVER HATEFUL VANDAL
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s tensions between different religious groups escalate in the Middle East, America too is experiencing signs of religious tensions. Two clubs at Lowell are working together to counter this. Peace in the Middle East co-president junior Subha Shawasheh is a Muslim and has noticed instances of Islamophobia in the media. “Seeing stuff in the media definitely has an effect on how people look at American Muslims,” she said. “They come up with these stereotypes and these assumptions. You hear people talking about them all the time, about ISIS and how all Muslims are bad and connected to these types of things.” Recently there was a controversy when anti-Islamic advertisements sponsored by American Freedom Defense Initiative appeared on San Francisco MUNI buses. These ads said “Today’s moderate is tomorrow’s headline” and showed two pictures, one of an ‘everyday’ Muslim and one of a militarized terrorist. Religious tensions were also visible in Lowell’s neighborhood when anti-Islamic graffiti appeared on a wall and fence near the ‘M’ MUNI stop on 19th Avenue and Eucalyptus Drive. The wall was covered with several hateful messages such as “Islam is evil” and “Muslims hate you.” Two clubs at Lowell—Peace in the Middle East and Jew Crew— 18 v
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BY TYLER PERKINS teamed up to paint over this graffiti on Oct. 3, according to Jew Crew sponsor and math teacher David Zeeman. The clubs walked from Lowell to the bus stop where they used green paint to cover it. It took about an hour and a half during which time the club members had to dodge trains, according to Jew Crew president junior Josh Horwitz. Horwitz believes firmly in religious freedom and was bothered by the graffiti. “I think one of the most important things about America is the fact that everyone deserves their basic rights, which includes the right to free speech, but more importantly, the right to practice religion freely,” he said. “I think when anyone is trying to insult someone for their religion, or belittle them because of it, that’s an issue regardless of what religion they are.” Zeeman came up with the idea to paint over the graffiti after students alerted him of it. “A number of my students are Muslim and they take that bus, and it hurt my heart to know that they would be sitting at the bus stop with those awful words right there at eye level,” he said. Zeeman believes that painting over the graffiti helped create a safer environment for practicing Muslims. “I teach some of the most amazing students who are Muslim and I never, ever want them to feel bad about their faith and about who they are — especially at their school or in their school community,” he said. “This should be a safe place where they feel
ISIS IS NOT ME
BY NOREEN SHAIKH
I CLUBS ERASE HATE
LISM NEAR CAMPUS welcome and loved and not like they are in a community that hates them.” Though the clubs represent two groups that are sometimes at odds in the Middle East, they came together to make the community a nicer place. “It was an excellent opportunity to find two clubs with similar ideals to partner on a very socially important event, and I think what I’ve taken out of it is a perfect bond—that we can always have that club to count on,” Horwitz said. “I hope that’s what they took from it as well.” Shawasheh also took a lot from the experience. “It was a good experience for us to come together and work together,” she said. “I feel that it helped break the barrier between us and we are doing something good for us and the community.” The two clubs later shared a table at the Fall Festival on Nov. 21, according Shawasheh. In exchange for a spot at the table, Jew Crew agreed to give Peace in the Middle East 25 percent of its profits to donate to Gaza. Though the graffiti was unfortunate, it brought the two club closer together. “Right now in the world there is a lot of tension between Jews and Muslims and what’s nice is that at Lowell, the two clubs are coming together to fight that kind of hatred,” Zeeman said. “It’s nice that at this school, we are really working towards peace and getting people to understand one another.” v
am sure you have heard about the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria — otherwise known as ISIS — on the news or from your peers. ISIS is a radical sect of Islam that is attacking, kidnapping and killing innocent people who do not conform to their harsh rules. I am a Muslim, and I do not believe in ISIS’s ways. Reports of ISIS in the media lead people to believe all Muslims are hateful and dangerous. Wearing the hijab does not make me a terrorist. I am a human with only good intentions. I have the same goals as most Lowell students: to do well in academics. I am also a president of Peace in the Middle East, a club which fundraises for war-torn countries in the Middle East. As a club, we try to spread positive energy by educating students in our club about the different cultures and religions in the Middle East through games. Last spring we raised about $130 for the Syrian Sunrise foundation to help people in need. As a peaceful club, we also shared a table with the Jew Crew at the past Co-Curricular Day. My co-club president and I were very pleased about the two clubs working together and in the end both clubs were profitable. As a Muslim who wears the hijab to school, I have to say that it is challenging to navigate stereotypes and be considered for my accomplishments instead of my religion. I was bullied in middle school for wearing the hijab. It was a very tough time for me since I did not have many supportive friends who were going through the same thing I was and all that my friends knew was what they saw on the news. Once in middle school there was a fire alarm at school and everyone had to evacuate. When everyone was outside, one of my classmates who was in front of me shouted “I bet a terrorist did it” and he turned around and pointed at me and said “Look there’s one right there.” I remember many other students laughed at this. I do not know Arabic but I read the Quran in English translation and it still speaks to me. ISIS is comprised of Sunni Muslims — a majority branch of the Muslim faith — but their actions are not in line with common Islamic beliefs. The Quran, a sacred book that Muslims follow, states in many verses that harming others in any way is prohibited. Verse 6:151 in the Quran says, “And do not kill a soul that God has made sacrosanct, save lawfully”, while verse 5:53 says, “… whoso kills a soul, unless it be for murder or for wreaking corruption in the land, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind; and he who saves a life, it shall be as if he had given life to all mankind.” Jihad, in the Muslim faith, means ‘holy war’ or an inner struggle. ISIS uses this umbrella term to justify their violence. To many Muslims, Jihad is not about killing innocent people, fighting out of hatred or killing other people because of disagreements. As many believe, the greater jihad is the internal struggle towards good moral character. It is the duty of every Muslim to strive towards good deeds and to refrain from evil actions, such as hatred and See PERSPECTIVE on pg. 28
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Who Wears
Short Shorts? P ut those short shorts away, and hide your flip flops. According to the new SFUSD dress code, both of those are violations along with crop tops, halter tops and others because they are considered a “distraction,” a “disruption,” or “unsafe.” Students and parents signed a contract at the beginning of the year agreeing to this new policy. The Lowell did a survey of four registries, one from each grade, to ask students their opinions. Here are a few issues we found.
The dress code restrictions on girls’ clothing forces some girls extra time assembling school-appropriate outfits. “I always think twi wearing any shorts, skirts, dresses, or rompers to school,” Class of 201 Relations officer Katie Guan said. “If I do, I would go on a long sea pair of spandex or shorts to wear under.” It also assumes that guys cannot help themselves and get distr short shorts. However, about 50 percent of guys said that they never other students’ clothing disrupted their education. “As for it being d and distracting, it’s not,” Mojabi said. “It’s rude to say that guys can’ their actions around girls that are wearing short shorts because we can ourselves. We are not animals.”
1. The dress code discriminates against girls. 2. Distraction is not a good justification Currently, the SFUSD dress code prohibits students from wearing shorts shorts, crop tops, halter tops, and many other items. Considering the fact that these are traditionally women’s clothing, the conclusion can be made that there is more dissent on the female side. In The Lowell’s survey, 83 percent of students who disagreed or strongly disagreed with the dress code were females. With this, some may say that the dress code affects girls more than guys. “I feel that the dress code really is just targeting girls,” Class of 2017 Vice President Kian Mojabi said. “I’m not saying strict dress codes should be enforced upon guys either but it just doesn’t seem equal.”
In theory, when a student is punished for violating the dress co are being punished for wearing clothes that are distracting other disrupting others’ education, or being a safety hazard. But accordin survey, over 85 percent of students thought that their own clothing w distracting. About 60 percent of students said that they were never d by other students’ clothing. “If a belly button or a thigh is going to someone in class, that certain someone is the one to take responsib the ‘distraction.’” Guan said.
3. The dress code is vag
“What is unsafe footwear?” One respondent wrote this next to o survey questions. The district dress code never explicitly specifies mo rules. For example, the district does not define short shorts or what as “unsafe or inadequate footwear.” According to the survey, when students were shown four pairs of different lengths and asked which pair were short shorts, answers ran 65 percent for the first pair, 28 percent for the second, 3 percent for third and fourth pair, and 28 percent for none of the above. The ima taken from American Eagle’s online store and listed as “shorties,” “m “Bermudas,” but none were listed as “short shorts.” Students may be c when shopping since most labels for “short shorts” are named someth The district should give examples of violations of the dress code o
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The Lowell December 2014
By Cynthia Leung
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images of clothes that violate it or are appropriate for school. Also, the school administration could hold a presentation describing what is appropriate or inappropriate for school and answer questions that students may have.
4. Students should be more involved in the process. The new contract came with the expectation that the school would enforce the dress code. The results from the survey show otherwise. Seventeen percent of students said they have knowingly violated the dress code but have not been punished for it. Since teachers also play a role in monitoring dress code violations, the rules should be more clear to make their jobs easier and to prevent unnecessary and embarrassing consequences. “Once in my reg, two of my friends were harshly called out in front of the class and were taken outside the room for a talk, so during those incidents the enforcement seemed really unfair,” Guan said. Currently, the dean decides whether or not a certain item is against the dress code, but the decision should be open to students as well. “If it’s [a student’s clothing] put into question, it goes to me to decide,” Dean Ray Cordoba said. “Staff and administrators are part of this consensus. Students also come tell See SHORTS on pg. 28
Do you consider these short shorts?
66% 27% 3%
of participants
of participants
of participants Data from a survey of 120 Lowell students The Lowell December 2014
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v The Lowell November
Senior Danielle Flores shows off her shaped eyebrows. To achieve the look, she has her brows threaded at Hollywood Eyebrows for shapeliness and waxes at New York Nails for clean sharpness. Fills in eyebrows with MAC’s eyebrow 2014 pencil: Lingering; Milani Brow fix brow kit; MAC’s Prep + Prime BB cream underneath arch. All photos by Zoe Kaiser.
ON
FLEEK
As the eyebrow craze reaches a well-groomed peak, here is your guide to the inside world of all things eyebrow.
C
By Danielle Flores
onfidence and beauty are shown more and more through makeup. Nowadays, people go to great lengths to have their eyebrows done and filled in. But why put the time and effort? Though it might not have been considered as important in previous generations, the obsession over done eyebrows has only heightened and their importance highlighted. The whole eyebrow phenomenon recently blew up with “Eyebrows On Fleek,” a viral video posted by user Peaches Monroee on Vine — a social network that revolves around 5-to-6-second long clips — that established the trendy phrase and brought the craze over nicely done eyebrows to surface. According to Vine Achievement Awards, “Eyebrows on Fleek” is in the top four being considered for “Vine of the Year.” “On fleek,” just like “on point” is used to describe brows that are well done
in terms of shape, color and form. All around celebrities are not only using this word but singing about it, like young American singer and actress Ariana Grande who performed “Eyebrows on Fleek,” live on Music Television (MTV) early this year. Since the Vine came out, “on fleek” has become a common expression to describe anything that is on the right track, or is looking good. Even well-known food-chain businesses and restaurants such as International House of Pancakes (iHOP) have posted on their own social twitter account “pancakes on fleek.” “When my eyebrows are on fleek, my day is on fleek,” senior Rene Barron said. Many girls and guys began to notice their eyebrows after seeing this infamous eyebrow Vine. “‘Eyebrows on point’ was just starting to get around and I was like, ‘Ew mine are so ugly!’” senior Anabell Gimena said. “There was a party coming up so I was like ‘I need to get them done.’”
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But the eyebrow phenomenon did not just surface due to a popularized Vine. Having “on fleek” eyebrows goes beyond just adhering to the video — it also promotes confidence. “It personally makes me feel better knowing that my eyebrows look okay,” junior Melanie Inouye said. “I feel like eyebrows are something people in today’s society really notice.” At the end of the day, a great deal of confidence stems from appearance, and for both boys and girls, having clean and defined eyebrows really make a difference in how a person can feel about himself or herself. “I wanted to get my eyebrows done to help raise my self esteem,” senior Melissa Chan said. “After doing my eyebrows, I feel like I’m glowing and I feel better about myself.” For many girls, getting their eyebrows done is a rite of passage. “My mom said it was time to look like a big girl,” senior Janifer Cruz said. For some, eyebrows inspired by adored movie stars and actresses add to the idea of young girls coming-of-age. “I’m named after Holly Golightly from Breakfast At Tiffany’s. Audrey Hepburn [who plays Golightly] has these amazing brows,” senior Katherine Balistrieri said. “I’d like to think my brows transport my look from modern to classic.”
Senior Katherine Balestrieri does her own brows by following her natural curves and filling them in to enhance shape with NYX Eyebrow Pencil and Too Faced Brow Envy Kit.
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Junior Hina Iwata creates her signature eyebrow style by herself with Maybelline Define-a-brow and NYX eyebrow powder.
Girls are not the only ones who get their eyebrows done. “My mom encouraged me to keep my eyebrows neat and clean so I went and got them done,” junior Jonathan Acevedo said. “Now I keep doing it because I like how they come out. I think eyebrows just make me more secure about my face. Just like when I don’t get a haircut, I don’t feel clean and neat when I don’t get them done.” After being interviewed, a handful of students with exceptionally O.P. (on point) eyebrows have agreed to reveal their beloved eyebrow salons with The Lowell. Because all brows are different, finding the right place and shape for you really comes down to trial and error. Many students have started this process by venturing out around the city in search for the perfect eyebrow place.
Natural Nails
Address: Flood Building, 870 Market St, San Francisco, CA Phone: (415) 989-3412 Cost: $10 Wax/Thread: Wax “I get mine done downtown at the James Flood building at a place called Natural Nails,” Chan said. “My friend recommended it to me because she had a friend who went there whose eyebrows looked O.P. [(on point)]. It’s only $10, and I recently recommended it to a friend and she loves it.” From Market Street, students can hop onto the 14 MUNI bus toward Daly City and get off on Mission Street to find some other treasured places to get their eyebrows done.
Golden Nails
Address: 5817 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94112 (415) Phone Number: 469-9376 Cost: $6 Wax/Thread: Wax “What makes Golden Nails special is that the lady who does eyebrows does them exactly how you want them to come out,” senior Angelica Reyes said. “It is only $6 so it’s very reasonable.”
New York Hair & Nail
Address: 3483 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110 Phone: (415) 285-8679 Cost: $8 Wax/Thread: Wax Many students also go and visit New York Nail, an itty bitty salon and nail shop that does eyebrows for $8. The women that does it is also fairly good. Some students care less about the shape of their eyebrows and just want to get their eyebrows cleaned.
a twisting motion, removing the entire hair follicle. “My first time I did waxing, but then later on I decided to just stick to threading because it grasps the shape of my eyebrows much better,” senior Simran Kumar said. Rani Threads in Mission District on 20th is a great place to go to get eyebrows done for $7. “The prices are low which is nice and Rani is super funny, so the overall atmosphere of the place is great!” Others go as far as out of the city to thread.
Ziba Beauty
Address: 43 Serramonte Center, Daly City, CA 94015 Phone: (415) 562-9295 Cost: $12 Wax/Thread: Thread “I go to Ziba at Serramonte,” Gimena said. “I ask for Monica. I go there because that’s the first place I went to get them done and Monica does my brows perfectly.” Although Ziba might be a little bit pricier than other salons, Gimena recommends this salon for both eyebrow cleaning and shaping.
Zen Beauty Spa
Address: 221 West Portal Avenue San Francisco CA 94127 Phone: (415) 661-6852 Cost: $8-12 Wax/Thread: Wax “I go to Zen Spa in West Portal, where they have reasonable prices [ranging from $8-$12] for good eyebrows,” senior Olivia Kanes said. “I ask for the waxer to just clean them up; no shaping.” Waxing is always an option at the mentioned salons but some students thread. According to The Source Holistic Centre, threading, which is an ancient form of hair removal originating in India, is when a thin cotton thread is pulled along unwanted hair in
Senior Anabell Gimena gets her eyebrows threaded at Ziba Beauty. She uses Sonia Kashuk Spoolie, NYX Auto Eyebrow Pencil,Sonia Kashuk Clear Brow Gel to fill them in.
Junior Jonathan Acevedo gets his brows done at Hollywood Eyebrows, where he asks for a cleanup without any trimming to keep his brows’ original shape.
Hollywood Eyebrows
Address: 3251 20th Avenue Suite 137, San Francisco, CA 94132 Phone: (415) 564-7777 Cost: $10 Wax/Thread: Thread From the outskirts of San Francisco to the heart of downtown, there are places everywhere that students can go to get their eyebrows done. Luckily for Lowell students looking to become a part of this phenomenon, there is a popular local threading shop located on the lower level of Stonestown Galleria called Hollywood Eyebrows. “I like this place because it’s cheap for eyebrows and they make them look really nice,” Acevedo said. According to Rita Dawadi, a threader at Hollywood Eyebrows, threading last longer than waxing and is a more natural process because threading doesn’t involve using chemicals. “ Eyebrows are important because they are framework to your face,” Dawadi said. “We offer a natural way to get hairs off your skin.” To senior Kala Jones, the environment is safe, clean, and threading doesn’t break her skin out. “They keep my eyebrows on fleek.” Jones said. v
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Varsity football wraps up season From FOOTBALL on pg. 13 said. “That is, we weren’t prepared, and we didn’t have enough real experience in playing these types of games. It showed in the way we executed a couple of plays that we didn’t know what to expect in the outcome.” Head coach Danny Chan saw a similar problem. “Our inexperienced players definitely made us a bit weaker,” he said. “I thought our guys would step up to the new challenges the style brought. Some did, but others lacked confidence.” Despite the trial-and-error for this season, Chan intends to add more basic football fundamentals next year with more emphasis on the blocking and tackling aspects of the game. “We didn’t really tackle well this season,” Chan said. “Each individual position forgot their assigned spots on the football field during plays. To learn from this, I’m hoping to have a more rigorous spring practice session involving more contact drills.” Chan is hoping these new practice sessions will allow the players to be more confident in how they react when the ball is in the air. This will come in handy when the Cardinals reuse their style for next year, while adding new aspects to it as well. “We will have the same style, but with a different ‘wrinkle’ depending on whoever the Cardinals go up against next season on the field,” Chan said. “We stick to this style because it has worked for us in the past, and has given us our team’s identity. But, we need to work on our style so we’ll be in better positions to win. We need more reaction to the ball rather than doubt and thinking on the fly.” v
Girls’ golf conquers rival, claims title From GOLF on pg. 15 to take the lead. Every shot mattered.” Looking back, head coach Robert Ray said that the team has grown the most in consistency, allowing the Cardinals to step up their game and beat Washington. “In last year’s championship match we did not play our best or even close,” Ray said. “This year even when we were not playing our best, we knew it would only last one or two holes and we had the ability to shake it off and par the next hole. Also the focus this year was really high, and after the loss last year the girls were determined to give it their all by practicing and playing more, and it has showed because all eight girls were shooting their best scores ever.” The team came in 11th place when they advanced to the Nor Cal State tournament on Nov. 10 at The Club at Crazy Horse Ranch in Salinas. v 28
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Muslim’s viewpoints on ISIS and peace
From PERSPECTIVE on pg. 19 anger. A Muslim fights the personal jihad with his or her heart, words and actions. Unfortunately, the reality is that within any group of people, there will always be some that are good and some that are bad. It is important to understand that while some violent groups claim to be Muslims, it does not mean that their religion encourages them to participate in the violent actions. No religion should be discriminated against because of the actions of the people who follow it. In the end, religions should not be blamed for the mistakes humans make. v
One of my classmates who was in front of me shouted ‘I bet a terrorist did it’ and he turned around and pointed at me.
‘Short’ shorts?
From SHORTS on pg. 21 us if anyone is wearing something questionable. We help police each other.” But students do not have a say in the final decision. If a student group, such as the Lowell Student Association or the Student Body Council, could contribute to decisions on dress code violations, the process would include peer review and be more fair. The consequences of violating the dress code, such as a referral to the dean or a call home, can be questionable and unfair because of their negative effects. “I feel like no one should feel victimized by being sent to the dean’s office and receiving warnings,” Guan said. “It makes one feel insecure about themselves and held back from wanting to dress up the way they want.” With all these issues and problems, the SFUSD dress code should be revised in order to be more effective and fair. By taking small steps, such as specifying certain topics in the dress code, SFUSD can clear up confusion students may have and create a stronger policy. v
Tentative agreement in teachers’ contract negotiations proposes salary increase From CONTRACT on pg. 4 increasing while teacher salary has not. “Around 70 percent of SFUSD teachers and paraprofessionals live in San Francisco, but we really want all teachers and paraprofessionals to be able to stay and work in the city,” UESF Vice President Susan Solomon said. AP Chemistry teacher Bryan Marten, who lives in the East Bay, is one of the teachers who have been affected by the affordability crisis in San Francisco. “The entire trip to school takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes, so it is very time consuming,” Marten said. “From my home, I walk 10 minutes to BART, take the 40-minute BART trip, and then at Daly City switch over to the 28 bus up 19th Avenue to Lowell High School. Thirteen years ago, when I lived in San Francisco, I tried to buy a house here, but instead I bought in the East Bay for a number of reasons including because it was more affordable,” he said. Teachers who live outside the city also have very little time to engage in the community they work in, or the one they live in. “It makes things feel disconnected.” biology teacher Erin Bird said, “I’m being part of two different communities, and I do not spend much time in either of them. I leave the school community very
early and I get home very late.”
How does this affect students?
There can be indirect influences on student experience at school. “It is impossible to measure, but certainly, some teachers are not happy with the agreement and might find themselves going home earlier or not staying for clubs. Another possible impact is that younger teachers, with the cost of living so high, might move on,” Melvin said.
“I’m being part of two different communities, and I do not spend much time in either of them.”
What will happen at Lowell in event of a strike?
If a strike were to occur, UESF will ask schools to close down and the students and parents not to cross the line, according to Melvin. Melvin said that the Union would most likely organize “freedom schools,” gatherings of students in public places like parks to make up for loss of class time. Before the tentative agreement was made, principal Andrew Ishibashi said that his number one priority is the students’ education and he plans to keep the school open in the event of a strike by hiring substitute teachers. v
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