The Wooster Blade, Volume XVIII, Issue 11 by The Wooster Blade

THE WOOSTER BLADE

WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT NEWSPAPER • 515 OLDMAN ROAD, WOOSTER, OH • MARCH 10, 2017 • VOLUME XVII, ISSUE 11

The Wooster Blade draws inspiration from popular “Humans of New York” blog and shares the stories behind local faces. Graphic by Matt Lorentz. Photos taken by Madison Culver.

ON CAMPUS

Learning foreign languages promotes increased global awareness SARAH HOPKINS The Pew Research Center states that “only 25% of American adults self-report speaking a language other than English” according to the 2006 General Social Survey. Associate Professor of French and Francophone Studies at the College of Wooster, Dr. Harry Gamble, notes that acquiring the knowledge of a foreign language can help students to become more adaptive thinkers, diversify their awareness of other cultures and deepen their understanding of the English language. WHS Spanish Dept. member Christina Matthew also encourages students to learn more about foreign languages and cultures. “[Learning a foreign language] opens your whole world up to different cultures and people,” Matthew said.

In Wooster City Schools, students have the option of taking a foreign language beginning in seventh grade, if the student has high math scores and is enrolled in Algebra, according to Matthew. Studies done by the Cornell

Language Acquisition Lab found that students who learn a foreign language at a young age are better able to maintain focus in the classroom and not give in to distractions outside of

What’s Inside?

FOREIGN LANGUAGES exploring the importance of languages

WEIGHTED GRADES the effects of implementing next year

O-HUDDLE PROGRAM program impacts Edgewood students

EDUCATION analysis of nationwide gap of diversity

the lesson at hand, according to “Learning a second language is good childhood mind medicine, studies find” on news.cornell. edu. “Cognitive advantages follow from becoming bilingual. These cognitive advantages can contribute to a child’s future academic success,” Barbara Lust, linguistics and developmental psychology expert, said in the article. Gamble encourages the early start of foreign language study, saying, “By getting going earlier, students in the US can stand out and begin reaping the benefits of having a second language.” Una King, fourth grade teacher at Kean Elementary, formerly taught Introduction to Languages at Edgewood Middle School, which allowed students to learn about various languages and their cultures before choosing one to study in high school. “It gave [the students] a little

bit of experience with the choices they could take, so that they could make a better choice...they got to play around with the languages a bit and make their own informed decision about what they should take,” King said. King supports the idea of integrating foreign language more in elementary school, as it comes more naturally to younger students. “The older you wait to start learning a foreign language, the more difficult it is, so I am absolutely a believer in the earlier the better,” King said. The class stopped being offered in 2011 due to course requirements, according to Matthew. Currently, at the elementary level, foreign language is not taught and has not been for as long as Karen Arbogast, Director of Elementary Education, can remember. However, elementary schools incorporate cultural studies

through literature, social studies and guest speakers, according to Arbogast. “I love the idea of children learning a new language at an early age. To embed a new content area/subject into the current school day schedule might be difficult due to time, vertical progression and staffing,” Arbogast said. Arbogast noted that an alternative option would be to integrate foreign language classes into after school programs. According to Matthew, in the past there have been foreign language after school programs in the district, but they stopped being offered several years ago. According to the ODE’s website, there are no graduation requirements for foreign language. However, at WHS three years of one foreign language or two years of two different languages is required for an honors diploma.

RACHEL WOOD

a marriage of two languages— English and Latin.” In fact, the article continues, over half of English words derive from Latin. For an example of its use, the Latin root “pater,” meaning “father,” is the root of many English words, including patriarch, patriot and patronize. Due to the commonality of such Latin words, Debbie Sidle, former WHS Latin teacher, reported that learning Latin is an invaluable tool to improving one’s English language skills. “If you can improve your Latin vocabulary, you can improve your English vocabulary…Legal terms, [scientific] terms, animal and plant kingdoms… all use Latin words,” Sidle said. Sidle also noted that many students gain a deeper understanding of English grammar after having studied Latin, knowledge that aids students in learning other

Romance languages. Dr. Josephine Shaya, Classical Studies professor at the College of Wooster, noted that the decline of Latin in American schools means that “Students are missing the incredible literature written in Latin… Students are missing out on a [literary] conversation that has been going on since antiquity and continues up to the present.” While translations of many Latin works exist, Shaya adds, “To read a translation is to read an interpretation…when students read Latin they gain an insight into ancient culture and history through their writings—and they can be the interpreter.” Whether curious about ancient cultures, hoping to improve language skills, or eager to explore timeless literature, students across the nation still study this classic language.

In the early 20th Century, over half of American public high student students studied Latin, according to an article entitled, “Teaching of Latin in Schools— Enrollments, Teaching Methods and Textbooks, Issues Trends and Controversies” on education.stateuniversity.com. While far fewer students study Latin today, the influence this language has upon our culture has certainly not diminished. While Latin is often referred to as a dead language because it is no longer spoken conversationally, it lives on in the words we use every day. An article by Cheryl Lowe, entitled “Top 10 Reasons for studying Latin” on memoriapress.com reports, “English…is a hybrid language,

THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | MARCH 10, 2017 | PAGE 3

Weighted Grades:

Administration works on new policies

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ILLUSTRATION BY LEAH SIM

THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | MARCH 10, 2017 | PAGE 4

ALEXANDER THOMPSON webmaster

In comparison to last year, Edgewood has seen about a 40 percent drop in disciplinary referrals including detentions, in-school suspensions and out-of-school suspensions, according to Edgewood Principal Dean Frank. Frank attributes the decline to the involvement of the Boys and Girls Club, changes in communication between teachers, students and parents and the introduction of a mentoring program called O-Huddle at the school. Frank says Edgewood has been using the program for the last two years, but the program was strengthened

by the $100,000 Community Connectors Grant from the State of Ohio that the Boys and Girls Club of Wooster received. Kathy Mullen, O-Huddle’s Wooster Site Coordinator, said 70 students are in active mentorship at Edgewood. Frank explains that students are referred to the program by teachers or administrators and may only take part with their parents’ permission. Most mentors are community members, like retired teachers or business owners; all mentors are trained by the program and are background checked. Most students in O-Huddle meet with their mentors once or twice a week, during a study hall or at the end of a period during which they have a class

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scheduled, said Frank. O-Huddle mentors also meet

“WHEN STUDENTS ARE ENGAGED WITH INVESTED ADULTS, THEY UNDERSTAND THEIR ROLE AND IMPACT IN THE WORLD,” MULLEN SAID. with their mentees during breaks from school to make

sure they are staying on track. According to their website, all O-Huddle mentors have made at least 97 home visits to their students and put in 4,496 volunteer hours. Beyond mentoring, O-Huddle has started a variety of initiatives at Edgewood, which include efforts to increase parent engagement, rewarding students for good behavior, and raising girls’ self esteem through the O-Huddle Fairy Godmothers program, which gives nominated girls prizes, according to Mullen. Mullen said, “Research indicates that as student assets increase, negative behavior and conduct problems decrease. When students are engaged with invested adults,

they understand their role and impact in the world, thus improving their effort and outcome.” Mullen also provided the results of a 2016 survey which showed broad teacher support of the program at Edgewood, with 90 percent believing there was greater access to mentoring and believing that mentoring was a good use of time. Frank explained the program’s value saying, “Sometimes we’re doing everything we can within the 180 school days, but then we brainstormed as to what else we can do for our most needy kids.” O-Huddle, Frank said, was adopted as one way to support students outside of the standard school day.

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THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | MARCH 10, 2017 | PAGE 5

ALEXANDER THOMPSON webmaster

Editor’s note: This is a continuation of The BLADE’s reporting on the demographics and minority hiring from the Feb 17 issue by looking at national data. Nationwide, there is a gap between the number of minority teachers and minority students, according to a 2015 report by the Albert Shankar Institute. While a little over half of the students in U.S. public schools are minorities, 17 percent of their teachers are as well. Roger Ingersoll and Henry May, of the University of Pennsylvania, published a 2011 study in The Consortium for Policy Research in Education, which examined the reasons for the gap. The pair found that while the number of minority male and female teachers has risen 92 and 97 percent respectively between 1988 and 2008, there are incredibly high turnover rates among those teachers.

Ingersoll & May explain that the gap exists because these teachers are heavily concentrated in schools in large cities with few resources. Brian Kisida, of the University of Missouri, who has researched the gap between minority teachers and students for years, said there were at least three ways in which having minority teachers increases achievement for minority students. Kisida said minority teachers can reduce something called ‘stereotype threat.’ “There’s a common stereotype out there that female students aren’t that good at math and then the idea with stereotype threat is that because they know about that stereotype it brings an added level of stress to them when they’re taking a math assessment and it causes them to do worse,” Kisida said. The professor said having a minority teachers is a constant reminder that minority-based stereotypes can be overcome. Kisida also pointed to bias, “It

might not be the most pleasant thing to think about, but as much as we try, we all still have some implicit bias that can kind of shape our understanding.” The third advantage, that minority teachers provide minority students, is in the perspective they bring to the

classroom. Kisida said that the ways minority teachers act as cultural translators helps them relate material from classes to student’s lives. Kisida and some of his colleagues examined a large data set from Florida in 2014.

A representation of diversity in WCS district

Teachers

=1% of population

By Alexis Florence

teams. Forrest not only coaches WHS future runners, but she runs in her free time. She is a part of the Vertical Runner running club and has completed seven marathons in her life. Forrest has also completed two 50 kilometer races. She likes to challenge herself through exercise. “I like to challenge myself by running multiple races in one weekend,” Forrest said. Forrest also enjoys participating regularly in yoga. She enjoys spending time with her cat and visiting her nieces in Cincinnati.

Students

White Multiracial Black Asian Hispanic Am. Indian GRAPHIC DATA COMPILED BY AND COURTESY OF DR. MICHAEL TEFS

Jill Forrest is the French teacher at WHS. Along with teaching, she helps to coach the middle school

Jill Forrest

“Our largest improvements amounted to about one month of additional learning in a school year. That’s the upper bound of what we found in the study, there were plenty smaller than that,” Kisida said of the impact they found of having a same-race teacher.

Joel Schmidt

By Holly Miller

Joel Schmidt, Social Studies Dept. member, has been competitively road biking since 1986. Schmidt said his love for bike riding began in his home state of Northern Minnesota where his dad first taught him how to ride. Since then, he has competed in over 350 road races. Schmidt travels all over, and said, “You can pick a road in a 50-60 miles radius and I’ve rode it.” He said his favorite thing about road biking is going on challenging rides on his Trek Bike, which is his favorite of the nine bikes he owns. He does not use them sparingly seen as he jokes, “I probably have the record of the most bikes destroyed which is 22.” He said he rides five to ten miles every day and you might even see him on his way to WHS in the mornings, when the weather permits.

FOCUS

Wayne College to host Wayne The fair will act as a gathering for various entrepreneurs and hobbyists to display and share their creations JOHN GORMAN The University of Akron Wayne College will be hosting Wayne County’s first Mini Maker Faire on May 20. According to makerfaire. com, the first Maker Faire began in California in 2006 by Maker Magazine, a magazine highlighting entrepreneurs and DIYers worldwide. According to their website, the main reason the fair was created was to be a gathering of crafters, hobbyists, artists and entrepreneurs to gather, show their projects and discuss what they have learned. In charge of the Wayne County Mini Maker Faire is Tom Hammond, member of the Support Service office at the University of Akron Wayne College, who describes the fair as, “a family-friendly showcase

of invention, creativity, and resourcefulness.” According to Hammond, one of the driving forces behind the creation of the event was the desire to provide DIYers a venue to show examples of their work and interact with other like-minded individuals. One such individual is WHS student Jon Michel (11) who will be displaying his fouroctave marimba, which he created at the Romich Maker Space in Creston. “All you need is a passion for something and the drive to invest time, money, and effort into creating it. Finally finishing whatever you’ve made is the most amazing feeling in the world,” Michel said. Anyone interested n participating in the Mini Maker Faire must fill out an application by April 1, which can be found at waynecounty. makerfaire.com.

What’s Inside?

MINI MAKER FAIRE UA Wayne College to host hobbyist fair

MIGRATION SENSATION bird lovers gather at Killbuck Marsh

READING GUARANTEE report card discusses literacy

Deadline to apply to participate in the Mini Maker Faire

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Mini Maker Faire at the University of Akron Wayne College Graphic on the right by Austin McCully. Photos courtesy of Tom Hammond at last year’s Mini Maker Faire at Akron.

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Tom Hammond and Rod Steinach explain their creation.

Students take part in ADAM KIRK The Wayne County Performing Arts Council spring production, Anne of Green Gables, will open on March 10 at Wooster Foursquare Church. This play is a take on the book Anne of Green Gables, and follows Anne’s life from her childhood in Avonlea, to her time teaching as an adult. “This cast has people ranging from the age of 6 to the age of 60 and older, you get to watch everyone grow so much throughout the course of the show,” Olivia Sleek (12), who plays the role of the older Ruby Gillis, said. advantage and an exciting challenge. “Acting as a multigenerational cast, we try to keep each other on task and help the younger members of the cast as they are going through this new experience,” Carpenter said. Assistant director Sheryl Villegas is excited for the show and grateful to all those involved in its production. “These kids are doing an amazing job. They’re all so talented and hardworking, we feel very lucky to have this cast,” Villegas said. Performance dates for Anne of Green Gables are March 10-11 and March 17-19.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | MARCH 10, 2017 | FOCUS | PAGE 7

Bird enthusiasts flock to Killbuck Marsh for Shreve’s

Migration Sensation RACHEL WOOD his spring, only a short drive from the city of Wooster, one can be awed by natural beauty and abundant wildlife in every direction. Every year, thousands of bird and wildlife enthusiasts converge on northeast Ohio’s hidden treasure: Killbuck Marsh, a spring migration stop for over 100 species of birds, according to Lynda

“Every year, thousands of bird and wildlife enthusiasts converge on northeast Ohio’s hidden treasure: Killbuck Marsh.”

Price, a staff member at the Wilmot Wilderness Center. Killbuck Marsh, along with nearby Shreve Lake, Brown’s Bog, and Funk Bottoms, comprise Ohio’s largest natural inland wetland complex, according to shreveohio.com. This 5,671 acre area is home to

“The area is also renowned for the few weeks, every spring, when thousands of migratory birds arrive at the Marsh.” birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects and mammals that inhabit the marsh year-round, but the area is also renowned for the few weeks, every spring, when thousands of migratory birds arrive at the Marsh, according to Price. Some of these birds are non-native to Ohio and only use Killbuck Marsh as a brief stopping point, making this event an exciting time to spot unusual birds only able to be seen locally during this brief migratory period. To celebrate this event and aid visitors in appreciating these birds, the Village of Shreve will be holding the 17th annual “Shreve Spring Migration Sensation” event on March 18.

“...an exciting time to spot unusual birds.” Naturalists and environmental speakers will give lectures in Shreve Elementary, according to shreveohio.com. Past lectures have ranged

Illustration by Leah Sim

from instruction in recognizing bird song to world patterns of bird migration, and past lecturers have included renowned author and international researcher, Ken Kaufman, according to shrevemigration.org. Furthermore, Price adds, family-friendly activities take place at the school throughout the day, where visitors can learn about, and even touch, some of the marsh’s birds and salamanders, and take a closer look at the plants and microorganisms that play an important role in the marsh food chain. Additionally, “For those that visit the stations, there are ‘birders’ with spotting scopes to help point out interesting birds. People can bring their own binoculars and spotting scopes if they have them,” Price noted. Most of the migrating birds come from the southern United States, and while some will spend the summer in Canada, others stay in Killbuck Marsh, building nests and raising their young. “These birds are water dependent…that’s why they have to go south in the winter, they need to go where the water doesn’t freeze…Killbuck Marsh is an ideal environment for these birds because it has open water, but also shrubs and grassy areas which provide cover in which the birds can nest,” Price reported. While scouting through the brush and near the water, visitors should keep an eye out for the species frequently spotted; a list can be found on shreveohio.com/migration-sensation. However, visitors may also spot bird species not on the list. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife notes that on average, one or two new birds are added to the Ohio list each year.

“The Shreve Migration… strives to promote the importance of this valuable wildlife resource to the local community.” “The Shreve Migration…strives to promote the importance of this valuable wildlife resource to the local community,” Price explains. Whether one is anxious to add new birds to a “life list” or simply a nature enthusiast, Price urges everyone to explore Killbuck Marsh during migration season. It is certainly a sensational way to welcome spring and enjoy the local ecosystem.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FOCUS | MARCH 10, 2017 | PAGE 8

Senator’s former Press Secretary speaks at College of Wooster ADAM KIRK On Feb. 20, Symone Sanders spoke at the College of Wooster to a crowd of over 200 students, faculty and members of the community. Sanders currently works as a political correspondent for CNN and last year, at the age of 25, was the national press secretary for Bernie Sanders’ campaign, making her the youngest person to ever hold the position according to The Providence Journal. Before speaking, Sanders was introduced to the audience by Chadwick Smith, senior at the College of Wooster and president of the Black Student Association. Smith thanked Sanders for coming and spoke on himself and the rest of the students.

“It is truly an honor to be here with someone has seen and done many of the things we wish to see and do,” Smith said. Sanders said her primary goal in speaking to the students was to drive positive social action, especially amongst young people. “We live in a world that is in dire need of our contributions,” Sanders said. Throughout her speech, Sanders used the term “intersectionality” many times, saying it is important to broadcast ideas and movements outside an individual’s social With the use of intersectionality, Sanders believes that young people can accomplish their goals. “This is a prime time for young adults to chase their dreams,” Sanders said. Following the speech, Sanders

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHADWICK SMITH

made time for the audience to engage in a question and answer

session with her, allowing for comments on the lecture, as well

as broader issues. Members of the Black Student Association, as well as other students from the College of Wooster, approached the microphone to question Sanders about her experiences and ask for advice. Multiple audience members, including those from outside of Wooster, appreciated Sanders’ comprehensive responses to their questions. “It was nice to see a clear sense of direction from a vocal member of a movement gaining traction around America,” Mount Union student and Pittsburgh native Jake Alston said. More from Symone Sanders can be heard in her appearances on CNN. For more infomation on the Black Student Association and details on their upcoming events, go to the College of Wooster website at www. wooster.edu.

Department of Education looks into literary standards AMBER SWIGART

The Ohio Department of Education’s District Report Card assigned the Wooster City School District an F rating in K-3 Literacy for the 2015-2016 school year. According to the online ODE report card, letter grades are assigned according to a district’s ability to help students who are not on track to reaching

“... Students in grade three have had to meet a Third Grade Guarantee in reading. This means that third grade students throughout Ohio must pass either the Ohio AIR test or, in Wooster’s case, the NWEA, an approved alternative assessment, in order to be promoted to fourth grade. The passing cut scores on these tests has increased each year. For example, last year on the NWEA, a student needed a 186, and this year, a student needs a 196. On the AIR test last year, a

and before school tutoring. Karen Arbogast, WCSD Director of Elementary Education, states that Title I resources are allotted through the district based on level of need. “The WCSD uses Title I funds primarily for reading teachers, literacy coaches, parent/community involvement, professional development and supplies. needs by building. Buildings must be prioritized and ranked by appropriate per pupil expenditures,” Arbogast said. Despite the district’s low rating in K-3 Literacy, Title l teacher Karen Linch highlights one factor that is not represented in the district report card: progress after summer school. According to Linch, a student who does not pass the AIR test at the end of the school year must go to summer school, culminating in another NWEA test.

GRAPHIC BY MATT LORENTZ

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THE WOOSTER BLADE | MARCH 10, 2017 | PAGE 9

ESTELLE SHAYA

business manager experience. According to Adams, the humanities, such as art, music, religion or literature, are ultimately what people live The humanities have long held for. a place in society and education. Adams said, “All of us To this day, there is a continued experience them all the time, recognition of their importance it’s just a matter of how much to the world. we put into them.” He added According to the Stanford that the study of the humanities Humanities Center, the is important in understanding humanities are, “The study something that is a core part of of how people process everyone. and document the human The study of the humanities, experience.” Falling under such as in liberal arts education, can also help in the development religion, classics, literature, of a world-view and essential language, art, music and history. skills for success in life. From a historical perspective, Lisa Kastor, the Director of the humanities have been Career Planning at APEX, the important in shaping Western College of Wooster Career civilization and culture. Center, said there are three key Bryan Ehrlinspiel, WHS Social components of a liberal arts Studies Dept. member, said, education that are applicable “The humanities and arts have beyond the classroom. Kastor served as some of history’s, said these are being able to Western and beyond, most see issues from a broad point valued primary sources and of view, connecting one’s commentary on their times.” education to the real world Ehrlinspiel added the arts and having full immersion have been just as important in experiences that allow students recording and describing the to understand the world around times as written words. them. Dan Adams, WHS Music Dept. Studying the humanities can member, said the humanities are help students be informed especially important because about the present and can help to shape future decisions, Ehrlinspiel said. Preparation for future careers Why the humanities are important:

What’s Inside?

a closer look at the A&E section

HUMANITIES IN SOCIETY the role art plays in the world today

SEAN WORTH a talented WHS alum uses his baking talents

FINE ARTS FESTIVAL showcasing the talent of creative students

THE OUTSIDERS photos that show the progress of the play

LITTLE WOMEN features on the faces of the drama production

the humanities. Sarah Bolton, President of the College of Wooster, said the humanities, and intellectual breadth so that as you go out into the world... you have that base on which you can build new knowledge

and learn new skills.” One of the most important aspects of the humanities, and a reason they need to be studied, is, “To cultivate appreciation for the immense variety of the ways that peoples and societies live and think,” according to an article by Gabrielle M. Spiegel, president of the American Historical Association, printed in Perspectives on History in January 2008. The humanities serve many have been essential historically and in the modern world. Opportunities humanities:

the

There are a wide variety of opportunities for those who choose to pursue studies in the humanities. Kastor said skills learned from a liberal arts education, a key component of which is the humanities, can be areas. Chief among the skills Kastor mentions are excellent reading and writing skills and competence with other languages or cultures. Data collected by the Career at The University of Tennessee, “Humanities” Continued on page 10

THE ROLE OF HUMANITIES IN SOCIETY: an in-depth look at the service art provides to the world as a whole

Illustration by Leah Sim

THE WOOSTER BLADE | A&E | MARCH 10, 2017 | PAGE 10

Sean Worth makes a huge impact by baking tasty treats for good causes OLIVIA SLEEK

trends editor A WHS alum class of 2012, Sean Worth, has decided to put his baking talents to good use. A few years ago, Worth made brownies and various other treats, and his parents, Troy and Deana, would sell them to the money made was then donated to the History Club’s fundraiser, which was The Wounded Warrior project. This time around, Worth decided he wanted to try his hand at making treats. His ingredients: eggs, peanut butter, pumpkin, cinnamon, and whole perfectly safe for dogs to eat,

“Humanities” Continued from page 9 last revised in 2011, indicates some of the areas humanities pursuing later in life. In philosophy, students pursued education, ethics, law, areas, social and community services, government and communications following the granting of their degrees. In English, students pursued writing and editing, technical communication, publishing, education, advertising, public relations, business and law. In classics, students pursued education, the arts, government, business, industry, law and medicine. Under each of these areas, the data collected showed students took. According to Bolton, “For any particular area of the humanities, there are really important connections between

Sean Worth works on treats. according to Worth. Worth also works at Buehler’s Milltown, but as his hours were being cut, he wanted to

possible things one could do in the world.”

ACCORDING TO BOLTON, “FOR ANY PARTICULAR AREA OF THE HUMANITIES, THERE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE STUDY OF THOSE FIELDS AND A WIDE VARIETY OF DIFFERENT POSSIBLE THINGS ONE COULD DO IN THE WORLD.” When humanities students take their degrees into the world to pursue a career, their starting

make more income. He decided to start making his treats, according to Worth. Worth states baking has given him something to pass the time, as well as giving him a chance to spend more time with his mother. “I have one employee, and it’s my mom. She works for free,” Worth said. According to his mother, Deana, “Sean is going to donate his money to MPS Society, and T.J., a family friend, had passed away from the disease a few years ago.” MPS stands for Muco-polysaccharidoses, and according to the mpssociety.org, “In individuals with MPS and related diseases, the missing or

the proper recycling process, resulting in the storage of materials in virtually every cell of the body. As a result, cells do not perform properly and may cause progressive damage throughout the body, including the heart, bones, joints, respiratory system and central nervous system.” So far, Worth has baked over 850 treats since starting his business in September of 2016 and has donated $150 to the foundation. He plans on donating $300 to $400 in the future. The treats sell for $5 for two bags. If anyone would like to purchase dog treats, they can contact Deana or Troy Worth through Facebook or school, or contact Sean at sworh0161@ gmail.com.

salaries tend to be below those

according to Kastor, a liberal arts education can help to develop through pushing students to work with their peers and directly with the community surrounding them.

according to The Wall Street Journal Sept. 11, 2016 article entitled “Good News Liberal Arts Majors: Your Peers Probably Won’t Outearn You Forever,” by George Anders. The article stated that as time progressed, the gap between the salaries of humanities majors and their eventually disappeared. The article found that the top 10 percent of achievers in the humanities earned more than their counterparts in science and their careers. Most of all, the humanities help prepare students for many of employer priorities. According to data from a 2015 report, “Falling Short? College Learning and Career Success,” conducted for Association of American Colleges and Universities, many employers believe skills such as oral communication, problem solving in diverse settings and civic knowledge are all important. These are skills that,

How does WHS encourage the humanities: At WHS, the administration works to balance the humanities with other areas of study such as STEM. More recent class additions have showed a focus on STEM programs. Nolan Wickard, associate principal, said there are a number of jobs in Wayne County for which a STEM education can prepare students, therefore, there has been an increased community desire for such classes. However, Wickard added that these additions have not come at the cost of WHS humanities programs. Wickard said, “The humanities have always been very well represented.”

CONTACT SEAN TO BUY: EMAIL: SWORTH0161@ GMAIL.COM FACEBOOK: TROY WORTH PRICE: $5 A BAG Graphic by Matt Lorentz. Photo courtesy of Deana Worth

Richard Leone, Director of Secondary Education for the Wooster City Schools District, said the administration works to provide a balanced, wellrounded education for every student, while still allowing students to prepare for certain would like to pursue. At the elementary level in the school system, humanities have a strong presence. Karen Arbogast, Director of Elementary Education, said,

and ideals being experienced in our elementary classrooms.” Arbogast also mentioned art and music standards play a part in elementary education. Overall, Wickard said, “Our goal, as an administration, is to create a curriculum that is full of rigor, full of choices.” of humanities courses to students, allowing the students themselves to discover the importance of the humanities individually.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | A&E | MARCH 10, 2017 | PAGE 11

Artists paint a better tomorrow ERIN O’DONNELL

VALERIE ANDERSON

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Artist Bri Raynor (12) has found her place in the art classrooms of WHS. So far, Raynor’s favorite art course has been AP Studio Art because she said she has the freedom to create something new every day. Although Raynor pointed out that the class has a heavy workload, she said that because it is so similar to a college art class, it keeps her motivated to keep improving her work. Surrealist artist, Rene Magritte brings Raynor the inspiration to create original, realistic pieces with a surrealist element. Currently, Raynor said her most practiced art form is painting. She enjoys blending colors and choosing an interesting color pallet. After high school, Raynor is attending Kent State to study interior design. “I’ve been thinking about making art prints of my artwork to sell to help fund my college education,” said Raynor. No matter what, Raynor plans to always continue making art in addition to whatever career she pursues in the future.

cover editor

The first thing Kaylee Peet ever drew as a child was a small umbrella on a sticky note. Now, Peet takes AP Studio Art, is a member of WHAC and brings a sketchbook with her everywhere she goes. Kaylee Peet (12) said she has been doing art for as long as she can remember, and began to take art more seriously her freshman year, when she took her first art class with WHS art teacher Tricia Taggart. Having known Peet for four years, Taggart said she admires her dedication to improvement, and ability to paint realism art. Peet also describes herself as a realism artist, with a focus in portraits. “[My art style] is very detail oriented, very realistic,” Peet said. Taggart agreed, saying, “She is a realist… She is absolutely amazing at realism.” In addition to creating her art, Peet is known as a quiet, positive person, as according to Taggart, “She sits there and grins at everything I say.” Peet hopes to continue her art career after high school.

Elementary students shine in Fine Arts Festival EMMA STRONG feature editor

Artwork by Kaylee Peet and Bri Raynor. Graphic by Matt Lorentz. Fair use background art courtesy of Tony Bowden on Flickr.

The annual, district-wide Fine Arts Festival will take place April 1 at WHS. The festival will feature many forms of art from students in all grades, including that of younger, elementary students. Visual art from grades K-12 is featured, according to WHS Art Dept. member Tricia Taggart. The Fine Arts Festival serves as an excellent opportunity for elementary students to have their artwork displayed, according to Elementary art teacher Ashley Bowman.

Bowman teaches grades K-4 at Kean and Parkview, and, in total, said she will submit 250 pieces to the festival, 125 from each school. “I include as many students as I can since it is such a young age group. I pick who did a good job, but I’m also not going to pick just one kid whose artwork I will submit… I try to showcase my students whenever I can. I love displaying their work in the hallways at Kean and at the Board of Education building, and enjoy the opportunity to also display at the high school,” Bowman said. Although elementary students only have art once a week, Bowman aims to make her curriculum as immersive as she

possibly can. “We have different units of study, each unit lasts three weeks and I teach about things like a famous artist, literature or a season and have their projects based around that,” Bowman said. The Fine Arts Festival is a way to showcase what students of all ages have been working on all year and highlights the importance of curriculums in the arts. “I firmly believe that kids need art. It is a way for kids, especially younger students to have more options in learning,” Bowman said. This artwork will be available to view at the Fine Arts Festival, along with visual and musical performing art from all grades.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | A&E | MARCH 10, 2017 | PAGE 12 Photos by Grant Peabody Graphic by Evan Rice

The Outsiders production MADDY NACCI sports editor

The Outsiders, based on the novel by S. E. Hinton, will be one of two spring plays put on by the WHS Drama Club. The play is being student directed by Adam Kirk (12). The play

follows main character, Pony Boy Curtis, played by Jacob Butdorf (9), as he works to find a place in society while dealing with his tough family life and future, along with violence and competition between his gang, The Greasers, and another gang, The Socs, according to Kirk. The gangs are divided by socioeconomic status. Johnny Kade, played by Stuart Courson (9), and Dallas Winston, played by Jack Neill (11), are Pony Boy’s best friends and are also part of The Greasers, along with Pony Boy’s

brothers. The Socs are made up of Cherry Valance, played by Aleesha Vaughn (11), Bob Sheldon, played by Matthew Lorentz (11) and others. Neill says The Outsiders takes the audience through a plot about different economic groups, showcasing their conflict and struggle. “[The play] is unique because it shows camaraderie of different people who are fighting through life together,” Neill said. Vaughn says this play has challenged her as she is involved in many scenes and has to portray a range of emotions. She says this play is different and will be fun to watch because of all of the diverse personalities involved. The Outsiders, along with Little Women, will be performed March 30-31 and April 1-2 in the WHS PAC.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | A&E | MARCH 10, 2017 | PAGE 13 co-editor-in-chief

Little Women a new production, directed by Drama Club adviser Emily Patterson, is coming to WHS. The production is based off the novel, Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott. The play takes place during the Civil War and is centered around a group of sisters of the

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Hope Kennedy

For (11), Little Women will be the tenth production in which she has participated. Kennedy will be playing Amy March, the baby of the March family. “She’s kind of spoiled and says things that rub her sisters the wrong way,” Kennedy said. Though there were other roles for which she audtioned, Kennedy says Amy has many fun lines and was one of the bigger roles she wanted. According to Kennedy, her favorite part about the production is working with other cast members, as she says it is a good group of people and she finds the rehearsales to be very enjoyable.

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March sisters, and the play basically chronicles their lives while their dad is off at war,” O’Donnell said. Part of the story is the involvement of the family’s next door neighbor, who is played by Joseph Macchetta (11). “The production takes you through the life of the March family, while I, the next door neighbor, try to inch my way into the family by attempting

Little Women makes for a big show

March family. “I’ve loved this story since seventh grade. It addresses four sisters and their mother as they learn to find where they fit in the world,” Patterson said. Erin O’Donnell (11) plays the second oldest sister in the family, Jo March, and explains the general plot of the production. “The main characters are four sisters, who are the

NATE KING-SMITH

Stars of Little Women, (from left to right) Hope Kennedy (11), Hannah Reikowsky (12), Erin O’Donnell (11) and Lexi Noletti (10), appear ready for the spotlight after six weeks of rehearsals and preparations for opening night of their double feature to be held on March 31.

Hannah Reikowsky, (12), who has participated in seven plays and musicals, will be playing

Beth March in this year’s production of Little Women. According to Reikowsky, Beth is a selfless character. While all the other sisters want to grow up and become rich, Beth just wants to make sure everyone is happy and stays together. She said her favorite part about participating in the productions is, “All of the hard work that goes on behind the scenes because there is a lot that people don’t see in the months leading up to the shows.” Reikowsky said she strives to be like her character by being helpful and caring about others as much as possible.

Additional Information Technical Staff

Jacob Gooch (10)- Lights Zach Dreher (11)- Sound Zach Stevenson (12)- Construction

Characters

Beth Clayton (12)- Marmee Daniel Carpenter (11)- Prof. Bhaer Nicholas Cosmo (11)- John Brooke Alexis Florence (10)- Hannah Kate Boyer (10)- Aunt March

to court each of the four sisters,” Macchetta said. Additionally, Macchetta said his favorite aspect of the production is in-depth, but also heartwarming, scenes to make the audience smile. Little Women is part of a double feature production with opening night taking place March 31. The first act of the night is Little Women, followed by The Outsiders.

Lexi Nolletti

(10) is playing her first major role as Meg March in the WHS thespian production of Little Women. Meg March is the oldest sister of the four, just like Nolletti is in her family. Nolletti said she and Meg are also alike because they are both, more than a little awkward. They are also both book worms and, ironically, both involved in theater. Nolletti said Meg is very fun to play because they have so much in common. Other than Little Women she has also played a chorus member in Willy Wonka, Frances Egan in Up the Down Staircase, and was the student director for Godspell. Nolletti is a bit nervous about having such a main role, but she said the cast is great and has been so encouraging and supportive of her along the way.

Erin O’Donnell

(11) is debuting in her first major role of Jo March in the play Little Women. O’Donnell said Jo March is the second oldest of the four March sisters. She is the tomboy of the family, does her own thing and does not care about anyone’s opinion of her. Her youngest sister, Amy, is the total opposite of Jo, and those differences bother her. O’Donnell said her character represents the refusal to conform to society’s idea of what females should be like and how they should act. O’Donnell said that is why she feels a strong connection to Jo. “Female empowerment is something I really admire and am passionate about,” O’Donnell said. Although this is O’Donnell’s first major role, she played a minor role as Jill Norris in last year’s production of Up the Down Staircase. O’Donnell said preparing for Little Women is hard work, but it is a lot of fun and she can not wait to see how it turns out.

Photo by Grant Peabody, blurbs by Hanna Morgan and Kayla Cooper, graphic by Matt Lorentz.

FEATURE

THE WOOSTER BLADE | MARCH 10, 2017 | PAGE 14

151 S Market St.

Graphics by Matt Lorentz and Evan Rice

Eric and Elizabeth Llyod

Emma Strong

L oc

The interior of Sure House coffee provides a quiet environment to work or study.

DROSOS KARDULIAS on campus editor

Sure House Coffee, a local coffee shop owned by couple Eric and Elizabeth Lloyd, is a relatively new addition to downtown Wooster. Eric Lloyd states that he and his wife, Elizabeth, came to Wooster so that she could attend the College of Wooster. While Elizabeth was in school, Eric worked for former local business South Market Bistro. Eric states he has always had an interest in business and advised that future businesspeople experience their industry firsthand before

attempting to start up their own ventures. “Go work for somebody for 10 years, learn as much as you can and work for another small business,” Lloyd advised. Eric expressed a desire for his business to eventually become self-sustaining, in order to be paid well and live a satisfied life. Eric explained that he does not have any specific goals for the direction his business will take in the long run. Wooster, according to Eric Lloyd, is an attractive place to do business because the community is loyal to its institutions, and provides an environment that is welcoming toward businesses.

What’s Inside? a closer look at the Feature section

LOCAL BUSINESSES features on downtown business owners

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FEATURES faculty nominated students

A CLOSER LOOK what teachers do outside of school

AUDREY BEAVERSON Wooster Chamber of Commerce Wall of Honor inductee

LOCAL

COFFEE ROASTING CO.

al bu s iness owners n w o d o w nt

Thri ve

Meatheads Union 147 S Market St.

Adam Nussbaum EMMA STRONG feature editor

A Wayne County native and Triway graduate, Adam Nussbaum, owner of Meatheads Union in downtown Wooster, has over 20 years of experience butchering. Nussbaum began working at Westwood Market, where he learned the trade, his sophomore year of high school, “The shop resembled what we [Meatheads] have now; a traditional style meat shop where meat comes directly

Emma Strong Nussbaum (pictured) has 20 years experience butchering.

from the slaughterhouse, which is 30 minutes away in Jeromesville, to us,” Nussbaum said. This commitment to locality, as well as having a personal relationship between him, his customers and his suppliers is what Nussbaum views as the biggest difference between a traditional butcher shop and a large chain grocery store. “We make all of our own sausages, and smoke them here. All of our recipes are simple and our ingredients tend to be local,” Nussbaum said. Meatheads Union is now its

own storefront on South Market St., but originally shared the same space with Spoon Market and Deli. Nussbaum stated that the collaboration worked well as he was able to supply the deli with meat, and they moved in at the time when downtown Wooster had a rebirth in terms of local business. Nussbaum cites one of his favorite parts of butchering as being able to introduce people to old world or unfamiliar types of sausages and the ability to be creative with recipes.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEATURE | MARCH 10, 2017 | PAGE 15

Stu de nt s

Alexander Thompson

learning into his own hands and works hard in class every day.”

l ce ex

when native French speakers come to visit the class. Outside of the classroom, Alexander runs cross country and track, as well as participating in Speech and Debate and Academic Challenge. After graduation, Alexander plans to spend a year in Belgium as a Rotary Exchange Student.

he foreign lan hin t wit gu a g e d e p a r t

Graphic by Spencer Dilyard. Photos by Jacob Gooch.

By Jacob Gooch

Madison Schroer

By Jacob Gooch

Madison Schroer (8), possibly know more widely as Karin in the Foreign Language Dept., wanted to learn more about her family roots in Germany and Austria. Outside of the classroom, Madison participates in Academic Challenge, softball and volunteers in multiple organizations. that are happening in Germany. Madison is also taking the opportunity to expand her German skills and welcome another individual to the United States by hosting a German a wonderful German student. works hard to improve her German skills.”

Tyler Strand-Fox

By Nicholas Cosmo

language and culture.” Strand-Fox is involved in a multitude of activities, including both high school and club soccer, band, swimming, track and the mountain biking team. a second language is useful in order to interact with people. in my class, and wanted to learn and experience more.” Strand-Fox said that knowing Spanish will help him later in life and he is particularly interested in Spanish culture.

Lexi Nolletti

By Nicholas Cosmo

Lexi Nolletti was nominated by Foreign Language Dept. member Melissa Rooney for recognition as an outstanding student in Spanish classes. Another Spanish teacher, Christina Matthew, said Nolletti received this nomination by stating, “Lexi is one of those students that simply excels at Spanish because she loves it, loves using it, engages in class, really listens and pays attention and this shines through in all of her classroom activities.” Nolletti explains that the diversity and culture is one of the things that makes Spanish interesting to her. She said “My favorite thing about Spanish class is learning about the culture of Spanishto visit them all.” Nolletti is involved in a myriad of activities, including Speech and Debate, Drama Club, orchestra, and student government. She loves Spanish, and said it will help her later in life as she plans to go

THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | MARCH 10, 2017 | PAGE 18

On Exchange: The Wooster Blade catches up with foreign exchange students attending WHS through the Rotary Club.

International student notes differences between American and Italian school systems ISABELLE CANNON

design manager

Lauraao, Corr

a Rotary exchange student from Italy, is over halfway done with her exchange year at WHS. Corrao’s home town is in the city of Cagliari, which is the capital city of the island of Sardinia. WHS is very different from Corrao’s school in Italy. In Italy, Corrao goes to school six days a week for five hours a day, and she does not take the same subjects every single day. Corrao believes that school in Wooster is less stressful than in Italy. “I do not have to memorize more than 200 pages in just a couple of days, and answer questions orally in front of everyone. Also, the teachers here are nicer and willing to help you,” Corrao said. Corrao said the biggest difference between schools in Italy and WHS is that schools in Italy do not have school sports and clubs. School is a much smaller part of the students’ lives as they only go there to study. Corrao is glad she has participated in the Rotary Program. “I’m glad I chose Rotary. Of course I have to follow some rules, but they always organize things to make us exchange students have fun and spend time together,” Corrao said. In Italy, when Corrao is not in school, she is studying or hanging out with her friends. Corrao said she spent most of her summers at the beach with friends, walking around the city or doing rhythmic gymnastics. Finally, being home away from home can be very hard on a Rotary student. Corrao says the things she misses most from home are being able to take a bus to the city at 10 p.m., or going to the beach with her friends and eating french fries on her pizza. Corrao definitely recommends Rotary to anyone who is considering it.

German student discovers sense of unity at WHS ISABELLE CANNON

Photos taken by Chelsea Patterson. Italian

design manager

a Rotary exchange student from G e r m a n y, has made Wo o s t e r and WHS his home away from home. Pennings is from Geldern, Germany, which is on the western side of the Dutch border of Germany. Pennings said his old school has no lockers and the security is not as strict as it is at WHS. He explained that in Germany, students have different subjects every day, and there are more subjects to learn, which totals 12 subjects. After talking about Rotary, Pennings has many positive things to say about his experience with the Rotary program. Although Pennings notes that Rotary enforces some strict rules such as no driving, dating, drinking or drugs while in the new country, he believes the positives outweigh the negatives in terms of their policies.

Lars Pennings,

Pennings said he enjoys the fact that there is always someone to talk to, and also appreciates the fact that people are so caring and do not do so for financial rewards. Finally, he likes how Rotary Exchange takes place all over the world, so it gives a sense of unity for all who are involved with it. Pennings would recommend Rotary to anyone who is interested. “They [Rotary representatives] care about their exchange students and organize meetings where you can meet and talk to other exchange students,” Pennings said. Rotary students stay with a host family to help them in their new country and Pennings is currently staying with Science Dept. Member Jacob Melrose and his family. Finally, Pennings said the classic American hamburger is the best food he has had in America, although he misses his traditional German Schnitzel from back home. While not at school, Pennings enjoys playing tennis.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | MARCH 10, 2017 | PAGE 19

LINDA (WEIXIN) LI:

The journey and acclimation for a student from China living in the United States

I came, all alone, from China in August on a student visa to join my brother and uncle in Wooster. I knew very little English, and everything was hard. In the New York airport, I tried to buy a ticket to Cleveland, but no one could understand me and my phone for translation had lost its charge. Finally, a Chinese boy helped me and gave me his phone number for future help. Chinese schools are very different from American schools. Chinese students have no lockers, spend much longer school days in only one room, and the teachers move between classrooms. Before school, students read aloud in unison in Chinese and/or English. We take turns cleaning the classroom and have lots of homework. We go home late. Mr. Esch teaches me English here and is my good friend. Now, my English is much better. He is very kind, helps solve my problems, and helps me understand test questions and U.S. government. I tell him happy things and sad things. He teaches me wise truth about life and makes me laugh every day. He is a Christian. In China, I had friends who went to church. I often wanted to go too, but somehow never did. Soon, I met another Christian at WHS, Mrs. Crystal Troxell, who has been a huge help to me and has become like my ‘American mom.’ I wanted to go to church with her. My uncle here and my real mom in China, with whom I skype daily, encouraged me to go. I have become a Christian too and go to the teen group there. Recently, I had scary surgery (am okay now), and Mrs. Troxell stayed with me at the hospital, helped me recover, sacrificed time with her family to help me and gave me many gifts—a panda, cookies, candy, a Christmas tree and a Bible, which is now my most precious thing. When Crystal is busy, I have visited with other church moms and become friends with their teenagers. I love Mrs. Troxell and feel her warm love. I know God led me to her. My best school friend is Leah Sim, a Korean girl. We take art together and hang out. I cook Chinese food for her; we share desserts and she teaches me violin. She has such a sweet smile. I thank Jesus who let me meet these nice people. I will keep in touch with them forever. I am so blessed and no longer feel alone. Graphic by Matt Lorentz. Photo by Grant Peabody.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | MARCH 10, 2017 | PAGE 20

SPECIAL NARRATIVES: Students share their individual stories and experiences RIKKI MORRIS

JULIEN LUBELL

SPENCER DILYARD graphics manager

iaminh Nguyen (11) said he is a student trying to make a positive impact here at WHS. He has not always lived here in the United States, his family moved here in 2008 when he was eight years old. didn’t know any English except for the words ‘hello,’ ‘restroom’ and ‘computer.’” Giaminh is interested in photography because he wants to be able to look back at pictures to see how far he has come and the progress he made. “I want to give a big thank you to Mr. Brian Esch, who taught me English since the day I walked into the building and still helps me to this day,” said Nguyen. away from home and became successful no matter how

VALERIE ANDERSON cover editor

ikki Morris (10) has many talents, including: singing, rapping, beatboxing, playing guitar, drums, piano, bass and even playing the violin. But, most of all, he enjoys the art of performing magic. Morris has been inspired by magician Collins Key and his favorite magician, Criss Angel, because they both prove that if you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything. Morris is also thankful for his parents who encourage him to keep learning magic tricks. Morris’ favorite type of magic tricks are card tricks, more specifically the “Two Card Monte” and the “Jumping Aces” trick. “What I like most about magic is the feeling I get when I do a certain trick, new or old, and I see the look of shock on their face when I get done performing,” Morris said. Morris has been performing magic tricks for two years and is working toward his goal of becoming the best magician possible. He also tries to encourage others every day by inspiring them to do whatever they do best. For those who would like to see more of Morris, you can follow him on instagram @ghetto_magician.

Photos by Grant Peabody.

He said he is glad that his family made the decision to move to the United States because of the improved education system. He says he is lucky to have the opportunities that not many people had where he lived in Vietnam. Nguyen wants to give back as much as he gets in life, always trying to be a positive force in school and out. “Something as small as a smile or asking how someone is can do so much for someone,” he said.

GIAMINH NGUYEN

MAUREEN McKEOWN

views editor

aving traveled almost all of western Europe, almost every state in the United States and back, Julien Lubell (11) has been selected by his peers as a standout student at WHS. Within the time he spends in the IB Program, he is also the president of Science Club and is a member of Key Club, History Club, National Honors Society and French Club. One thing that Lubell said is very important to him is learning and making himself aware of past mistakes. “My role model is definitely Yoda, or at least the character he stands for, because he believes in educating the next generation and learning from past experiences. Also he is a pacifist who only chooses to fight to defend and protect others,” Lubell said. Having the ability to experience diverse cultures, Lubell believes that everyone should experience some type of different lifestyle during their lifetimes. “I believe I am different from most people because not only do I hold two nationalities, I also have been to school for multiple years in France and Austria,” Lubell said. Lubell has made a long lasting impact on WHS’s culture and will continue to influence others to expand their horizons.

Graphics by Evan Rice and Matt Lorentz.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEATURE | MARCH 10, 2017 | PAGE 21

Katherine Putka

Photo courtesy of Chad Bever

Chad Bever

Chad Bever balances being a father of two young children, a basketball coach and a WHS teacher. He has been coaching for 14 years and teaching for 10 years. Though it can be hard to balance it all, Bever finds prioritizing and time-management to be crucial. “When I go home, I try to do as little basketball as possible and make that time for my family. You have to have a good support system, and my wife is great and has no problem watching the kids while we have games or practices,” Bever said. Overall, Bever has a lot on his plate, but he enjoys all of it. When it comes to coaching, the good outweighs the bad. “It’s the relationships, without a doubt. That’s why I coach.”

Emily Patterson Photo courtesy of Emily Patterson Emily Patterson is a music teacher at WHS. She leads the many choirs at WHS, as well as being the director of the Drama Club. Patterson explained that between choir and Drama Club practices and shows, she enjoys spending time with her family and her two beagles. She said she is also a lover of the silver screen. Not only is she a frequent moviegoer, but she was also involved in the making of the movie Akron. In addition to her stage experiences, she runs Summer Stage Wooster with her father, Todd Patterson. Furthermore, this past summer she acted, was a stage manager and a part of the crew for two productions at the California Theater. Blurbs by Kayla Barnet, Adam Kirk and Ryan Miller

Photo by CT Graphy

Katherine Putka is an art teacher at WHS. At WHS, Putka is the adviser of the Gay-Straight Alliance and teaches three-dimensional art. Outside of the school, Putka loves to spend time with her niece, nephew and two cats. Furthermore, Putka has a selfmade business selling fabrics and making bows and bowties online. During her time off, Putka is involved in cosplay, which is dressing up as a character from a movie, book or video game. “It (cosplay) is a great outlet for all of my interests,” Putka said. Putka said she often frequents comic conventions where she sits on panels and leads workshops on custom creation. Photo courtesy of Tim Gallagher

Tim Gallagher When he is not teaching AP statistics or precalculus, Tim Gallagher said he keeps himself pretty busy. He can often be found taking care of his daughter, which fills a considerate amount of his time, or swimming in his free time. “I have a daughter now so that is the only thing I’m doing right now,” Gallagher said. In the summer, he tackles new projects, which are mostly based on home improvement. “Five years ago, we moved into a new house...The price was right...but it needed everything. So, for every year I have been in this house, there is a project every summertime. Every year. The very first year we painted rooms. The second year I took on a roofing/deck project, then we had our baby girl, which was really challenging. Then, we put a cement pad in year three...It is just what I do,” Gallagher said. Gallagher said the biggest difference in him outside of school is that he can be more social and humorous as he does not have to work to prepare students for assessments.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEATURE | MARCH 10, 2017 | PAGE 22

Beaverson receives Chamber of Commerce honor HANNAH KNAPIC cover editor

Audrey Beaverson receives the award for the Chamber of Commerce Wall of Honor. From left to right, Justin Starlin, Audrey Beaverson, Andrew Dix and Paul Williams.

Photo courtesy of the Chamber of Commerce

Catering Graduation Parties! 330 - 262 - 0093

The Wooster Chamber of Commerce inducted longtime community member Audrey Beaverson into the Wall of Fame on Jan. 19, 2017. Each year, the Chamber of Commerce receives nominations of individuals to consider for the Wall of Fame. A committee, comprised of former presidents and Wall of Fame inductees, then reviews the nominations, taking into consideration the humanitarian work that each person has done for the community throughout the years, according to Chamber President Justin Starlin. Starlin explained the types of people the committee enjoys seeing on the Wall of Fame, saying that the honor, “...highlights individuals that have done extraordinary works throughout the years… not just in one year, but in many…” Beaverson was chosen for her years of quiet support and quiet giving to the city of Wooster, according to Starlin, which are two characteristics of which the committee thinks highly. Beaverson said she has been a Wooster resident for her entire life, and graduated from Wooster High School in 1946. As a current Wooster resident, Beaverson donates back to her community often, contributing to the College of Wooster, the high school and Wayne County fire and EMS training and divisions. After the passing of her husband in 1984, Beaverson continued to run the freight company, Ken Beaverson Inc., started by her and her husband, but soon created a charity in the Beaverson name in order to give back to the local community. Along with emergency response donations, Beaverson has made contributions to many buildings at the College of Wooster, as well as donating for the installment of the track at WHS. One organization Beaverson holds close is the Humane Society, where her love of animals is put to use through contribution of necessities for the animals. While reminiscing on the path that has led her to her career as a local humanitarian, Beaverson wants to remind students to, “Stay in school, get a good education, and always do what you love.”

SPORTS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | MARCH 10, 2017 | PAGE 23

WHS looks at a possible new drug usage prevention program MADDY NACCI & DREW FRIEDHOFF

stricter education program. On the third violation, students are denied the opportunity to continue to participate in sports editors extracurricular activities. This policy is applied to any programs have been students in extracurriculars started throughout Wooster City Schools in attempt to from grades 7 through 12 decrease drug use and better according to Andy Kellar, behavior; now, another one athletic director at WHS. Kellar says before participating may be on the way that could in athletics, student athletes are be put into place soon at WHS. The current extracurricular required to sign a statement policy in the extracurricular saying they are aware of code of conduct states that if this policy along with the students decide to self report extracurricular handbook. Kellar says the policy is when using drugs, alcohol or tobacco, they lose 10 percent in place for the good of the of their current or next season, students and to keep them from along with completing 10 hours doing things they may regret. “The goal is obviously to of community service and an deter student athletes from approved education program. in activities If student athletes get caught, participating without self reporting, students they should not participate in are subject to lose 25 percent of and, hopefully, the thought their season with the 10 hours of an athlete losing time and of community service and a participation. Hopefully, that’s enough deterrent to keep you strict education program. On the second violation, from participating in those students lose 50 percent of their illegal activities,” Kellar said. Kellar also believes that the season and receive 15 hours of community service and a code of conduct and policy has room for improvement. There may be a new program coming to a closer look at the Sports section WHS with the goal of reducing DRUG TESTING WCS is now drug usage considering voluntary option a m o n g students, which could WINTER SPORTS Recapping alter or affect the WHS winter sports’ seasons current code of conduct WINTER SPORTS Recapping according to Kellar. WHS winter sports’ seasons During the Feb. 28 BOE meeting, ATHLETE FEATURE Dusstyn the Random Reynolds shines in softball Drug Testing Committee, h e a d e d

What’s Inside?

24 25

by committee chair Adam Keating, proposed that the high school adopt the program, Drug Free Clubs of America, and recommended against mandatory drug testing. The committee was formed in response to questions the board received from constituents about drug testing, with the goal to analyze whether random drug testing was something the district should pursue. “We found, in general, that [mandatory drug testing] is a mixed picture. There’s not great evidence to say that doing mandatory drug testing among students changes behavior significantly,” Keating said Keating also cited unintended consequences mandatory drug testing may cause such as the use of other substances and a decrease in student participation in extracurriculars. The national organization Drugs Free Clubs of America, or DFCA, seemed to be the best option according to Keating because of the success it has at the Wayne County Career Center. The program is strictly voluntary for any student who takes a 12 panel drug test, at little to no cost to the student, in which the results are shared with DFCA, rather than the school. If the test comes back with a positive result, the school would not know; only the parents of the students who would get a call from DFCA informing them of their child’s results would know. If the test comes back negative, the student receives a DFCA photo ID card and is subject to be randomly tested throughout the rest of the year. What the program is centered around, according to Keating, is the school giving incentives to those who take and pass

The random drug testing committee recommended, during the last BOE meeting, that WCS adopt Drug Free Clubs of America, a voluntary drug testing program drug tests, citing examples including good parking spots, treats during lunch or teachers allowing a photo ID card to be used as a homework pass. Keating says DFCA is able to be a positive program and target more students than mandatory drug testing would. “This seems to us to be a more inclusive, global and potentially effective program,” Keating said. Along with DFCA, Keating reported at the Feb. 28 that the Random Drug Testing Committee supports the current programming at Edgewood Middle School and suggests that programs such as O-Huddle, Boys and Girls Club and Teen Institute at WHS. Keating would also like to poll students to engage their interests, opinions and level of engagement in current and possible future programs. Student representative on the random drug testing committee Chloe Boucher (11), says DFCA has great potential if it is accepted by the students at WHS. She says there are so many different people and cases in WHS, so finding the right program for all students would be hard, but that DFCA is a promising option. Jean Roberts, Career Connections Program Director at the Tri-County Educational Service Center, was the Career Services Coordinator at the Wayne County Career Center when DFCA was first implemented. Roberts sees the program as having many positive effects. “The idea is to kind of flip peer pressure on its head and give students an excuse rather than just say no. It gives students the ability to say ‘I can’t I might be drug tested’,” Roberts said. Roberts also said that DFCA would be especially effective in Wooster because of all of

the partners WCS has in the community that are already doing work in the schools. Roberts now oversees DFCA for the Ashland West Holmes Career Center along with Hillsdale High School. The Wayne County Career Center, now on its third year using the program, has the highest participation rate in the country, according to Roberts.

“THE IDEA IS TO KIND OF FLIP PEER PRESSURE ON ITS HEAD AND TO GIVE STUDENTS AN EXCUSE OTHER THAN JUST SAY NO... THE ABILITY TO SAY ‘I CAN’T I MIGHT BE DRUG TESTED’,” ROBERTS SAID. Janice Gallagher, WCS BOE member, is in favor of the Drugs Free Club of America because she has witnessed the program’s effects at the career center. “Keating said that we are going to emphasize volunteer and being positive, positive peer pressure. If you suspend kids, they aren’t learning and we are about learning...This is a kind of way of helping kids be responsible,” Gallagher said. Michael Knapic, president of the WCS BOE, also says the program looks promising since it is voluntary. There is no timeline or budget yet for a drug prevention program, but it is Knapic’s expectation that if one were to be accepted, it would be for next school year.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | SPORTS | MARCH 10, 2017 | PAGE 24

Winter

Sports

wimming NATE KING-SMITH co-editor-in-chief

With both the boys and girls swim teams having won OCC this year, WHS is approaching the end of another successful swim season. Christina Matthew, head coach of both teams, is pleased with the swimmers’ performance. “Winning OCC was the highlight of the season. We also had a tremendous sectional meet; we qualified eight boys and eight girls

for districts in all six relays, which has not been done in many years,” Matthew said. Senior captain, Sophia Davis (12) , shared this positive outlook on the season. “We weren’t expecting to perform well this year, but we won the OCC with a decent win-loss ratio,” Davis said. The team has had a great season and performed well in their first ever year of combined practice for both teams.

Upcoming Spring Sporting Events Track and Field: March 28 @ Home vs. Norwayne

Recap

heerleading HANNA MORGAN feature editor

The 2016-2017 Wooster cheer season comes to an end after success in both the winter and fall sports seasons. Wooster varsity cheerleading won the OCC cheer competition for the second year in a row, according to www. occsports.org. The freshmen

squad won their division, defeating Ashland, and JV took third, according to coach Duper Pallotta. The Wooster cheer squads then took on the Ohio State competition on Jan. 29, with varsity receiving third of 11 teams, JV taking fourth and freshmen getting third. Tryouts for the 2017-2018 season were held March 8.

Photos by Grant Peabody and Tracy Morgan. Graphics by Evan Rice.

owling

Tennis: March 27 @ Home vs. CCC Softball: March 25 @ Waynedale Baseball: March 25 @ Home vs. Massilon Boys’ Lacrosse: March 18 @ Kenston Girls’ Lacrosse: March 25 @ Avon Lake

HANNAH KNAPIC cover editor

The bowling team has recently come rolling to an end with the boys final record of 10-11, and the girls final record of 16-5. Lily Conway (11) has been on the bowling team for two years now and said that both the boys and the girls team bonded well together. “We were able to work together despite the different skill levels

everyone had,” Conway said. She added that whether they were on the lanes or off the lanes, everyone was always there to help Coach Tracie Leiendecker said that overall the season was success. “Both boys and girls will be more experienced and stronger from the start of next season,” Leiendecker said. She hopes that there will be more personal and team records achieved next season as well.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | SPORTS | MARCH 10, 2017 | PAGE 25

WHS winter sports wrap up their successful seasons HANNA MORGAN

RESTLING co-editor-in-cheir

The wrestling team finished with a dual meet record of 8-5, tying their all time win record according to captain, Chad Courtemanche. The team placed sixth within the OCC and the season came to a close at districts last weekend. Brad Stoll (11) said he is content with how their season has gone thus far. “The season went even better than we had expected, and we have improved greatly since

YMNASTICS

NATE KING-SMITH

last year,” Stoll said. Additionally, Stoll said because the team is composed of many upcoming underclassmen, he is optimistic about next season. Jake Burns (9) and Brendan Holiday (9) both made it to districts this year as well. Senior captain, Chad Courtemanche (12), said, ”We have improved a lot this year thanks to committed wrestlers an positive attitudes.” The team has had a strong last four seasons, having won 25 dual meets versus the previous 22 wins in the last 10 seasons.

feature editor The gymnastics team’s season has recently tumbled to and end with a record of 4-1, with their only loss being to Wadsworth. Isabelle Pisani (11) joined the team this year and is very proud of how the season has gone. “We made it a great year,” Pisani said. She is very pleased with ending the season with a winning record. Coach Debbie Knapic said that going into the season they were faced with a small, young team albeit with talent. “This group of ladies really stepped up to the plate and worked really hard,” Knapic said. Knapic said she is looking forward to have this same group of girls back next year.

GRANT PEABODY

business manager The girls’ basketball team

GRANT PEABODY business manager

The boys’ basketball team ended with a record of 22-3, including an impressive 19 game winning streak at the start of the season. Although the team had an early play in a 69-60 loss to Massillon Washington, Peyton Bennington (12) said the loss should not overshadow the team’s success

Graphics by Evan Rice Photos by Grant Peabody

they had throughout the season. “All around, the season was great. Although we would have liked to make it a little farther in the pretty good basketball this season,” Bennington said. The team looks to be lead by four returning letterman next season, including Calvin Blair and Colton Sparks.

ASKETBALL

overall record of 20-6 and 11-4 in the OCC. In the postseason the girls lost to Wadsworth 6437. Izzy Rico (11) said that Skylar Clapp (12) was a great senior leader during the season. Clapp also believes the team can only get better because of all the young talent they possess in the juniors and sophomores. “Playing with all these young ladies was amazing, they are going to be a very well rounded squad next year and they have the keys to do great things next season,” Clapp said. Ny Brown (11) said the team wants to build of the successful season with the bulk of the entire roster returning next year.

SPORTS Photo by Jessica Pengal

Striking into Success ALEXIS FLORENCE is an asset because of the Dusstyn Reynolds is a WHS softball player and IB student who will be attending and playing at Case Western Reserve University next year. Reynolds is a softball player for WHS and plays for the club team Ohio Ice Gold. She started playing when she was sevenyears-old and confessed that softball until she was about 10years-old. Reynolds’s coach and teammates recognize her performance as an athlete.

in the Netherlands for United States’ team. The competition was for all ages meaning that at Division One college players.

enthusiasm she brings to the team. Reynolds adds to the team. “She (Reynolds) has pushed us

academics. She is a student in the International Baccalaureate program and said that she has had to spend many late

gives and the leadership she has to tournaments or practices said. academically rigorous program. greatest sport accomplishment is attending the Softball World Cup. When she was just 14-years-

be playing as a catcher for Case Western Reserve University’s softball team.

TRENDS ational goof off day, March 22, originated from a call on a radio show suggesting holiday ideas. A 10-year-old girl named Monica called in and suggested that there be a goof off day. The next day, the local newspaper published an article explaining the need for such a day. On National goof off day, people are encouraged to partake in their favorite lazy day activity, like playing golf, or video games, according to holidayinsights.com.

National Goof Off Day

arch 23 is National Puppy Day, invented in 2006 by Colleen Paige, a pet and lifestyle expert. The goal of this day is to adopt a new puppy and give it a “forever home.” If you are interested in bringing home a new dog, www.aspca.org recommends making a schedule for who will cake care of it, having it spayed/neutered, and possibly waiting if you have a small child in your home.

National Puppy Day

THE WOOSTER BLADE | MARCH 10, 2017 | PAGE 27

The Wooster Blade explores quirky March holidays.

What’s Inside? A closer look at the Trends section MADNESS Exploring 27 MARCH quirky holidays in March. OILS The best oils 28 ESSENTIAL to enhance one’s beauty.

AWARD SHOWS A discussion of their validity.

Blurbs by: Tatumn McGrew, Austin McCully and Kayla Barnet

here has always been an ongoing debate between waffles and pancakes, and according to www. washingtonpost.com, 60 percent of people preferred waffles over pancakes. In addition, March 25 is International Waffle Day. Originating from Sweden, families would start their day making waffles to celebrate the beginning of spring, according to holidayinsights.com. On this day, pancake and waffle lovers should put this feud aside to appreciate the beauty that is a waffle.

arch 17 marks the celebration and recognition of St. Patrick’s Day. St. Patrick’s Day began in the 17th Century in Ireland in commemoration of St. Patrick, the primary patron saint of Ireland, according to “The True Story of Saint Patrick” on time.com. The holiday transitioned from a religious feast to a day that more closely resembles today’s festivities during the 18th Century. St. Patrick’s Day today serves as a tribute to Irish culture, commercialized with an abundance of lucky charms and the color green.

17 St. Patricks Day

Graphic made by Matt Lorentz

THE WOOSTER BLADE | TRENDS | MARCH 10, 2017 | PAGE 28

Natural oils provide variety of remedies

Essential Oils: The latest natural health trend

Essential oils are the latest trend for all natural remedies. According to thedermreview.com, essential oils have been used for thousands of years, but with the newfound craze for natural products, the oils have become tremendously popular. The website also states, “The interesting aspect of these ingredients is that they can address a variety of skin issues; from skin discoloration to finding unique ways for how to get rid of acne.” Lori Crosby, a South Carolina resident and active oil user, says that she got into the oil craze from a friend of hers, and has used them almost daily for the past three years. “I wanted to try new ways to be healthier and the oils really do work wonders,” Crosby said. She loved the oils so much, she started to make her wife, Carrie Crosby, use them. “I suffered from chronic pains, and once Lori started to have me use the oils, there was just a soothing component to it. It made me feel a lot better,” said Carrie. The oils can be bought online or they can be found in stores that sell organic foods and medicines.

Tea Tree is a necessity to have around if interested in the essential oil craze. Tea tree is used as antibacterial, antiviral, antimicrobial, antiseptic and powerful antifungal properties. It is most commonly known for helping treat athlete’s foot, burns and cold sores. Tea Tree is not to be used during pregnancies or to be digested. Lavender is also a great essential to have around the house. Lavender is used for its analgesic, antiantifungal, antiviral, antibacterial, diuretic and sedative properties. It treats acne, sunburns and stretch marks. Lavender should not be used during pregnancies or for people who have low blood pressure.

Peppermint

Tea Tree Oil

Top Three Essential Oils

Lavender

Information courtesy of gentleworld.org. Graphic by Spencer Dilyard and blurbs by Olivia Sleek.

Peppermint is another must have essential oil. Peppermint is known for its antibacterial, antifungal, antiand decongestant properties. It is known for being able to treat indigestion, respiratory problems, nausea and fever. Peppermint needs to be used in small increments in order to work properly.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | TRENDS | MARCH 10, 2017 | PAGE 29

Staff writer questions the validity of the GR

EVAN RICE The Grammy Awards have a fundamental issue with rewarding the most deserving artists with the Recording Academy’s top prize: Album of the Year. The past six Grammy Awards ceremonies have ostracized some of the best albums ever released from eternal Grammy glory, while less deserving artists are given the spotlight.

If the Recording Academy intends to begin recognizing the best music has to offer, and this trend is to stop, the Recording Academy must change its voting process. According to the official website of the Grammy Awards, the process of Grammy voting begins with artists submitting their work to the Recording Academy. Music submitted to the Recording Academy is evaluated by a group of 350 music critics, who determine whether submissions meet requirements for recognition and ensure that music is placed in proper categories. Dues paying members of the Recording Academy then complete nominations and final voting. If music is to be recognized properly each year at the Grammy Awards, nominations

Lack of relevance and excessive amount results in decline of award shows JOHN GORMAN Whether it be the Grammys, the Oscars or the Emmys, people love to watch award shows. However, with the shows dragging on longer and longer each year, with this year’s Oscars at four hours long, it begs the question, why do we keep coming back and

watching each year? An article by boston.com titled, “Why do we watch award shows,” explains that from a young age, children are conditioned to look up to role models and award ceremonies help to bring a myriad of models together. However, The Guardian reports in an article titled “And the loser is…”, explains that ratings are significantly higher whenever a blockbuster

and voting should be completed by the panel of music critics who are tasked with determining eligibility for the Grammy Awards. The Recording Academy’s unfortunate streak of exclusion began at the 54 Grammy Awards when Kanye West’s magnum opus, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, was not given a nomination for Album of the Year, while Adele received top honors for her second studio album, 21. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, West’s most maximal album, pushed every boundary and re-wrote the rules of hip-hop while his album has also defined music ever since, causing other music to pale in comparison. Adele’s 21 recycled common themes from pop music and pushed absolutely no boundaries.

The streak continued the following year when the Mumford and Sons album Babel, which lacked a cohesive theme and lacked innovation beat out Frank Ocean’s channel ORANGE, an epic album about doomed romance that touches on multiple genres interwoven with alternative R&B. In the past four years, Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city, a poetic tragedy of growing up in Compton, CA lost to Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories, a tedious album defined by ushering the unfortunate genre of EDM back into the mainstream. St. Vincent’s eponymous debut album is a colossus of alternative music, yet it received no nomination for album of the year and was beaten by Morning Phase, Beck’s bland and unimaginative

MMYS ninth studio album. Kendrick Lamar’s incredibly socially relevant To Pimp a Butterfly seamlessly fused funk and hip hop to create a dialogue about issues in the AfricanAmerican community, but was beaten by 1989, Taylor Swift’s catchy, yet empty, follow-up to her transition to pop music. Lemonade, which also explored issues in the AfricanAmerican community, as well as the journey through womanhood to self-healing, explores sounds new to music, whereas Adele’s 25, sounds alltoo-familiar and, frankly, plays it too safe to qualify as great. If the Recording Academy wants to continue to make the claim they are rewarding the best music of the year, they need to change the way they distinguish artists to reflect the year’s most deserving music.

Metacritic Scores of Aforementioned Albums My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy 94 76 21 channel ORANGE 92 63 Babel good kid, m.A.A.d city 91 87 Random Access Memory St. Vincent 89 81 Morning Phase To Pimp a Butterfly 96 76 1989 Lemonade 92 75 25 is nominated. For instance, ratings for the Oscars were at an all time high when Titanic took home best picture while ratings were the lowest this year with Moonlight winning. Finally, the last big problem with award shows is the sheer number of ceremonies. The Hollywood Reporter in an article titled “Too Many Award Shows?” explains that with more and more shows, the entire awards process becomes

far too self-congratulatory. Rather than simply being a recognition of the best album, movie or actor, it becomes a tour with the purpose of boosting the egos of the winners. So, while younger audiences looking for role models may enjoy the award shows, with the number of shows and nominees that are rarely experienced, award shows are falling out of the spotlight.

VIEWS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | MARCH 10, 2017 | PAGE 30

Head to head: ABC’s The Bachelor’s impact on current generation RYAN MILLER focus editor

Reality television is the modern day, mostly bloodless rendition of the Roman Colosseum. The ABC series The Bachelor, is a reality TV show that has gained massive popularity. There is no doubt that people find the show entertaining and there is no reason to feel guilty for being entertained by the show, after all, that is its primary purpose. However, behind the 21 seasons of tears, shenanigans and sometimes adult nannies there happens to be real people. The Bachelor preys on a person’s need to feel loved; it pits 25 women against each other to compete for the “heart” of an arguably attractive man, as if finding someone who likes you as much as you like them is not difficult enough. In addition to this contrived premise, the lack of authenticity that accompanies the people on the show is heavily influenced by being followed by a camera

crew, especially when their goals shift from finding a soulmate to winning what essentially is a game show. To make matters worse, The Bachelor puts the courting process front and center, bringing it to any living room in America that is willing to watch. At its core, The Bachelor is an ugly concept, it repeatedly broadcasts the disappointment in 24 plus women’s love lives. In summation, there is no shame in enjoying reality television, but if everyone could recognize that this show is really more like the colosseum, where people duke it out for the entertainment of the audience, rather than some magic matchmaking show, I could sleep easier at night.

MAUREEN McKEOWN views editor

Tracy Morgan

Reality television causes social damage

What’s Inside? a closer look at the Views section

30 31 32

REALITY TELEVISON the social impact it has on society FEDERAL SPENDING the budget breakdown EDITORIAL PAGE tax levies and foreign language

There are only two things that I look forward to most in this world: pictures of former President Barack Obama, and The Bachelor. The Bachelor is a show that features 30 women, (or men during The Bachelorette) competing for love on national television. Twenty-one seasons within 15 years are not made up numbers to exaggerate the show’s popularity. There is clearly something about The Bachelor that people have become overwhelmingly attracted to. The fantasy of finding the right person, the romance and the ups and downs all at our fingertips make it so much more entertaining.

In today’s generation, it is hard to find a couple who did not find love from an internet connection or a dating app. With watching real people with real connections on television, it give us hope that love is out there and worth looking for. Dating is hard enough with having all the distractions of everyday life, but with the time spent on the show, the contestants get to see who they are actually competing without anything getting in the way. The Bachelor has shaped our way of dating in a great way, and for those who are skeptical, they need to watch one episode and then come talk to me about it. The Bachelor has been a part of my life for years and will continue to play with my emotions for many more. Whether it is my favorite contestant not getting a rose, or there not being a rose ceremony at all in the episode, I will continue to watch every single episode they continue to air.

ERIN O’DONNELL cover editor

Whether it be The Bachelor(ette), any of the Kardashians’ shows or The Real Housewives of Anywhere, it seems that America’s obsession with reality television is growing, and with the evergrowing prevalence of social media, viewers can follow these shows without even turning on

their televisions. If people know these so called “reality” TV shows do not represent an accurate depiction of reality, why do they have millions of viewers? As stated in the article “Popular Culture: Reality TV is NOT Reality” located on psychologytoday by Dr. Jim Taylor, Ph.D., “One answer is vicarious stimulation. Reality TV is exciting when life is often mundane.” Viewers live vicariously through their respective TV shows, possibly to forget the fact that they, themselves, are on the couch, and that the closest they are to a remote island is their remote control. The effects of reality television on society may be more than simple envy. According to a study led by Bryan Gibson, a CMU psychologist, reality

television may be making viewers more aggressive, especially viewers who watch shows with what is called “relational aggression”bullying, manipulation and exclusion, like Jersey Shore and Big Brother. In the article, Dr. Robert Lull, Ph.D., of the University of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Ted Dickinson, Ph.D., of OSU are quoted as saying, “Many of the messages to which we are exposed on the TV today feature rampant self-interest, disregard of others’ well-being, and a focus on the individual — which are all components of narcissism...” Regardless of the entertainment provided by these farces of real life, experts have expressed concerns about the possibly negative societal impacts of reality television.

Student advocates for sensible spending

RYAN MILLER focus editor

Dept. of Health and Human Services Social Security Administration

$ Dept. of Treasury

$ Dept. of Defense

$ Dept. of Agriculture

Mandatory Spending 2.56 T

Reserve Note

Federal

AD 1234567

2.56 T

The United States of America

2017 Mandatory Spending

AB 1231567

2.56 Trillion Veterans Beneﬁts

Net Interest

tio e r sc i D

National Defense

Transportation

Social Security, Unemployement and Labor

Internaional Affairs

Medicare and Health

Social Security, Unemployement, and Labor

n ar y S p e

Veterans’ Benefits

Energy and Environment

nd in

“How will you spend three trillion dollars?” That is the $64,000 question. However, this is not a question posed by the niche mid 20th Century game show, rather it is something Congress ask themselves every year. There has to be a way to sensibly roll back government spending without taking away all of the services on which Americans rely on the government. According to the Office of Management and Budget, Congress is expected to spend 3.64 trillion in the 2017 Fiscal Year, 2.56 trillion of that astronomical amount of spending is non-discretionary, meaning that Congress has little to no choice in choosing how

that money is spent. Most non-discretionary spending goes to entitlements and Medicare, so it might be more fair to ask how Congress plans to spend the remaining 1.08 trillion of discretionary spending. Discretionary spending is where the problem of overspending needs to be focused on, that is where the problem can be addressed immediately and most efficiently. The Office of Management and Budget forecasts that 49 percent of all discretionary spending will go to the military, the next largest receiver of discretionary funds is education, which clocks in at eight percent. While I understand that guns and military equipment cost more than paper and books, it does not make sense that 50 million school children get 8.5 times less money than the military, especially in a time of peace. There has to be a sensible, more effective way to manage the enormous military budget, and we need to keep in mind that there is even a Pentagon report about it. According to an article from The Washington Post, entitled “Pentagon buries evidence of $125 billion in bureaucratic waste,” the Pentagon found a way to save over 100 billion, but hid the report from the general public. With that being said, I would never want to impair the jobs of the brave men and women who have enabled me to live my life freely, but I think there is room for reform without hinderance. There needs to be more balance in the federal budget because large portions of the budget are going to stay the way they are, but there are many areas where there is control over what money goes where. Sensible military spending is just the start to reforming the budget and Congress needs to find a happy medium to ensure a more financially secure future.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | MARCH 10, 2017 | PAGE 31

Government

Agriculture

Medicare and Health

Science Space and Tech

Housing and Community

Education

Graphics by Spencer Dilyard

THE

WOOSTER

BLADE

Editors-in-Chief Sarah Hopkins, Nate KingSmith Webmaster Alexander Thompson Graphics Managers Spencer Dilyard, Matthew Lorentz Design Managers Estelle Shaya, Isabelle Cannon Business Managers Grant Peabody, Estelle Shaya On Campus Editors Drosos Kardulias, Tatumn McGrew, Kayla Cooper Focus Editors Austin McCully ,Ryan Miller, Sports Editors A & E Editors Kayla Barnet, Nick Cosmo Trends Editors Olivia Sleek Cover Editors Erin O’Donnell, Amber Swigart, Valerie Anderson, Hannah Knapic Views Editors Evan Doan, Maureen McKeown Feature Editors Hanna Morgan, Emma Strong Staff Writers Madison Culver-Lee, Jacob Gooch, John Gorman, Holly Miller, Christopher Roche, Samuel Schonfeld, Leah Sim, Rachel Dugan Wood Head Photographer Grant Peabody Photographers Madison Culver-Lee, Hannah Knapic, Tracy Morgan, Chelsea Patterson Artists Jess Lyons, Evan Rice, Leah Sim Adviser Kristi Hiner The Wooster Blade is a biweekly student publication printed every other Friday by the Newspaper Production classes at Wooster High School. The paper is designated as an open forum and follows publishing guidelines as established in a district-wide publications policy protecting students’ freedom of expression. All copy, art and photography are property of The Wooster Blade and cannot be reproduced without permission. Letters to the editor are limited to 300 words and The Wooster Blade reserves the right to print and edit as per length and content. The Wooster Blade is a member of Quill and Scroll, National Scholastic Press Association and Columbia Scholastic Press Association. The Wooster Blade is printed in cooperation with Wooster’s The Daily Record. Letters and inquiries should be addressed to The Wooster Blade, 515 Oldman Road Wooster, Ohio 44691. The Wooster Blade can be contacted at 330-345-4000 ext. 3210. The newspaper can also be found at the woosterblade.com

THE VOICE OF WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL

THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | MARCH 10, 2017 | PAGE 32

OUR VIEW

Tax levy raises interest of Editorial Board On May 2, polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. If you did not have the special election on your calendar, you are not alone. In the 2013 May special election, just short of 3,800 Wooster voters showed up to cast a ballot for, or against, a raise in the income tax, according the Wayne County Board of Elections. Research by Thomas Holbrook and Aaron Weinschenk of the University of Wisconsin-Madison published in Political Review Quarterly found across 114 U.S. cities, turnout is abysmal in oddyear elections, worse in special elections and has been falling since 2001. But, here is the problem: the issues on the ballot in May are often local, which are the ones that affect us, as

community members, the most. Whether it is City Council primaries, income tax changes or bond issues, these are issues which people should have a say. This year is no different, The Wooster Blade Editorial Board believes the voters must make their voices heard and approve the school board levy. This levy replaces the 1992 levy that voters approved for the construction of the high school. While this levy is projected to raise slightly over $1 million, per The BLADE’s reporting in the last issue, because the 1992 levy was higher than the one proposed now, if voters approve the levy, their taxes will be lower. As we reported last issue, that saving is projected to be roughly $100 per year for the owner of a

property worth $100,000. Beyond lowering taxes, board member Bill Gantz said by email that approving the measure will allow the school district to make roof and heating improvements at the high school and three elementary schools, and it will make sure the district has the funds to tear down the Cornerstone annex to improve traffic flows while students are unloading and boarding buses. So, the next time you fume over a political news story or are despairing from your Twitter feed, just remember that you do not have to wait four years, or even two, to make things better in your community; you have a chance to do so in just three short months. Just remember, voters must be registered by April 2 to vote.

According to WHS guidance, 640 students of the 1,377 student body are currently enrolled in a foreign language class. Although The Wooster Blade Editorial Board recognizes this as a substantial number and commends students who choose to take a language, it is necessary to point out that over half of the student body is not taking a foreign language class. The Wooster Blade Editorial Board believes in the benefits of learning a foreign language and encourages more students to do so. The board believes the administration should also further promote these courses, for example, with a general foreign language requirement. No study of a foreign language is required in Ohio schools in order to graduate, according to the Ohio Department of Education. Students at WHS are required to take three years of one language or two years of two separate languages if they wish to graduate with honors, but other than that, there is little emphasis placed on taking a language. Furthermore, even if a student does take Spanish,

French or German all throughout high school, fluency is still difficult to attain. The Wooster Blade Editorial Board believes taking a language, especially to the extent of fluency, helps to create wll-rounded students with a broader worldview. The Wooster Blade Editorial Board believes that language and culture classes should be integrated at lower grade levels, due to the greater ease of learning as the brain is still in its formative years. “The best age to learn a second language,” an article published Feb. 8, 2016 in The Independent by Monika Schmid, highlights the fact that one’s capacity to learn a language decreases with age. Although The Wooster Blade Editorial Board recognizes the difficulties of integrating language into the already extensive standards expected of elementary teachers, we believe a least Edgewood Middle School should change some of its policies regarding foreign language offerings and opportunities for its students. Currently, students at Edgewood

may only take a foreign language if they are placed within a higher level math course. The Wooster Blade Editorial Board believes Edgewood should try to give all students access to foreign languages. In order to better encourage languages in education, it is our belief that not only should a high school language requirement be imposed, but middle school languages should be made more open to students.

Foreign languages call for better integration

In most European countries, students begin studying their first foreign language as a compulsory school subject between the ages of six and nine. In Belgium, people start learning foreign language at the age of three. The United States has no foreign language mandate, while the majority of European countries have a foreign language mandate. According to former Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, 18% of Americans report speaking a foreign language, while over 53% of Europeans report speaking another language. All facts according to pewresearchcenter.com