The Wooster Blade, Volume XXII, Issue 4

Exploring the different ways we give thanks

Olivia Hiner

Inside the Nov 19 2021 Issue

p. 2 - WCSD Mask Policy

p. 3 - WHS class rank system

p. 6 - The pyschology behind giving thanks

p. 12 - Role models in sports

THE WOOSTER BLADE | NOV. 19, 2021 | PAGE 2

WCS implements mask-optional policy MATTIE DUNLAP staff writer On Oct. 25, the Wooster City School Board unanimously voted that the current mask mandate within the Wooster City School District be lifted Nov. 1.

Gabe Tudor, superintendent of WCS, says the decision to make WCS mask-optional was a long process wherein all factors of the situation were reviewed.

“We were seeing cases going down...You know, our board meeting this month is a week earlier. So, this was really a three week decision and I don’t know what the board will do at the next meetings. But, I think that [the board meeting being early] also provided a little bit of comfort for them [the Wooster City School Board] that it was going to be a short month, where if they didn’t feel

competent about their decision based on new information, that they would be able to change that [their decision to lift the mask mandate] quickly,” Tudor said.

Tudor also states that the mask-optional policy will be reviewed at future board meetings.

“It’s a month by month situation. The board can affirm their current choice, modify their current choice or reverse it completely,” Tudor said.

Jacob Hannan (11) says he was shocked when he heard the mask mandate at WCS had been lifted.

“The Wayne County Health Department is recommending that schools mandate masks so it didn’t make sense to me, especially with COVID cases still high, that they would drop the mask mandate,” Hannan said.

Hannan also said the new

mask-optional policy can put students, including himself, who attend WCS at risk, and notes his concern that school has become less safe for some students and staff who feel the new policy depletes the protectiveness they previously felt at school.

Jill Forrest, Foreign Language Dept. member, says that student feedback about masks is rare and some of her students saw something positive come out of the new mask-optional policy.

“Students are able to connect more because they can see each other’s faces, and, as far as I’ve seen, no one is being pressured one way or the other to wear/ not wear a mask,” Forrest said.

According to The Daily Record, should the number of cases in a building reach 3% of the population, the building will be required to mandate masks for at least two weeks.

ON CAMPUS

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THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | NOV. 19, 2021 | PAGE 3

Bus driver shortage New ACT based class ranking system implemented for class of 2022 causes problems for Wooster City Schools THEO OLLIER staff writer

JHON FAJARDO sports editor

According to an Aug. 31 survey published on the NAPT website, conducted by the National Association for Pupil Transportation, National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, and the National School Transportation Association, 1% of school districts do not have bus driver shortages as an issue, and 65% of all respondent school districts indicated bus driver shortages as their number one problem or concern.

Bus driver shortages are a staggering problem nationwide, and Wooster City Schools is not exempt from this issue, as recently, students have had to wait for the arrival and departure of their buses to get to school and to return home.

The route for becoming a bus driver is one that requires good behavior in the eyes of the law. Sherri Prindle, Assistant Transportation Supervisor for Wooster City Schools, says, “One must have a clean driving record, fingerprints, background check. Attend a five day pre-service class, perform a pre-trip and a driving test to acquire a Commercial Drivers License (CDL).”

The process is very similar to obtaining a personal driver’s license, but put simply, not enough people are applying for the license, nor are they applying for the job, according to Brian Madigan, Assistant

Superintendent of Wooster City Schools. “I just think it is a shortage of drivers, whether there aren’t drivers or people aren’t applying for jobs, I just know we aren’t getting applicants,” Madigan said.

Madigan also said that having an adequate number of bus drivers is very important for the state of Wooster City Schools.

“They’re the backbone of the school district. The ability to get students to and from school is what really allows us to educate kids. The mass number of our students are bussed,” Madigan said.

The effect of this shortage is also observed in sports. Many teams are seeing game delays and cancellations. Joe Rubino, Athletic Director of Wooster City Schools, said he actually assisted the girls’ varsity tennis team when they did not have a bus driver. “[We implemented] School Board Policy 8860, [which] allows for an administrator or school employee to transport a student in the event of an unforeseen circumstance. It's easier said with girls tennis, which we did, who has a smaller team. So, we put two administrators in the car,” Rubino said.

Rubino encourages that the opportunity to be a bus driver exists, even if it is part time. “If they want to get a CDL, with a school bus endorsement, the school district trains that,” Rubino said.

One can apply for a bus driving position on applitrack. com/wooster/onlineapp.

On May 22, 2018, the Wooster Board of Education revised the WHS class rank system, affecting the graduating seniors in the class of 2022.

Beginning with the class of 2022, the valedictorians and salutatorians will be decided by the highest ACT score within the top 10% of the senior class.

The top 10% of the senior class, which will be determined by GPA weighted on a 5.0 scale, will be ranked again by their ACT scores.

WHS principal Dr. John Deuber notes this system takes test scores into account so that students do not take advantage of the system.

“I would assume that the board was looking to avoid students playing the game for GPA only

so that you don’t take certain classes because you know it’s an easy A or a 5.0 versus a 4.0 and try to manipulate your final GPA,” Deuber said.

Mark Wood (12), a student in the top 10% of the senior class, said the class rank system may not be fair to students who are not great test takers, but most students in this category perform well in pressured circumstances.

“This system may not be fair to students in the top 10% who are not good test takers under pressure. However, I would think that most students in the top 10% would be there because they could handle pressure in a test taking situation,” Wood said.

Another WHS student in the top 10% of her class, Casey Lin (12), notes that ranking students based on their weighted GPA is a good thing because it is con-

sistent with what how other school rank students, but using the ACT to determine the valedictorian and salutatorian does not reflect a person’s hard work in high school.

“I think it’s a great change that we have moved to the cumulative GPA standard because that makes us more competitive against other high schools; however, using the ACT score alone to determine the valedictorian and salutatorian is not fair in a sense. One person could work very hard in the previous four years to obtain that valedictorian spot without that ACT score,” Lin said.

The decision to change the WHS class rank system was made before the COVID-19 pandemic, and before many colleges and universities in the U.S. placed less emphasis on standardized test scores, making standardized test scores optional.

WHS students prepare for graduation SHERIDAN SCHAUER focus editor This year, graduation is planned for June 5, 2022. Before graduation, seniors need to get certain requirements done in order to graduate, including ordering their caps and gowns, and reviewing their transcripts in order to make sure that they have all of the credits they need to graduate.

This year, graduation orders for caps and gowns were due by Oct. 25 , and if students missed these dates, they can submit it to the address provided on the packet.

Carol Mills, guidance office secretary, says in order to grad-

uate, students need: 21 credits; four units of English; three units of science; half of a unit in PE; four units of math; one unit of fine arts; half of a unit in financial literacy; three units of social studies; half of a unit of health; and four an a half units of electives. Mills encourages students to check their transcripts to see the amount of credits they have.

Mills said graduation practice will be held June 2 from 9 a.m. through 11 a.m. and will be followed by lunch. There will be a senior scholarship ceremony later that night at 7 p.m., and people who are invited to the scholarship ceremony will receive a personal invitation.

Dr. John Deuber, WHS principal, said his words of wisdom

for seniors are simple. “One: Before graduation, pay close attention to deadlines and requirements from the guidance office to ensure you and your family are ready for graduation.

Two: After graduation, strive to make your corner of the world, wherever you are, a little better.”

Kaley Fitzsimmons (12) said she is excited to graduate and she is, “Looking forward to moving from high school to college and starting a new life.”

Deuber also said he is, “...looking forward to capping a successful year by celebrating the achievements of the class of 2022.”

The class of 2022 will be signing off on June 5 at Follis Field.

FOCUS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | NOV. 19, 2021 | PAGE 4

Apple’s right to repair rules create problems BEN STAVNEZER staff writer

With the holidays coming up and technology being purchased as gifts for friends and family, the ever present issue of Right to Repair will emerge as those gifts are smashed, broken or demolished after the holiday.

In our digital world, Right to Repair is a very important topic that affects all of us, if you know it or not The idea behind Right to Repair is in the name itself. If you own something, you should be able to repair it yourself or take it to a technician of your choice. People are used to this concept when it comes to older cars and appliances, but modern tech, especially anything with a computer chip inside, is rarely repairable.

According to Bloomberg, in 2021 alone, 27 states have considered Right to Repair bills, but more than half of those have already been voted down or dismissed. Lobbyists and trade groups representing major tech companies have fought hard against them, with Apple specifically arguing that such laws could lead to device

damage or consumers harming themselves when attempting to repair their devices.

Earlier this year, Washington’s Right to Repair bill successfully passed out of committee for the second session in a row with strong bipartisan support.

But also, for the second year in a row, the bill was put on hold before it went to a full floor vote. According to the New York Times, it was lobbied against by Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Apple.

These bills would reform existing laws to require manufacturers of electronic equipment to provide access to necessary items such as manuals, spare parts, diagnostics and tools, so people can repair their devices.

In some states, the legislation targets farm or medical equipment.

Apple recently announced Self Service Repair, which will allow customers who are comfortable with completing their own repairs access to Apple genuine parts and tools. Available first for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lineups, and soon to be followed by Mac computers featuring M1 chips, Self Service Repair will be available next year in the US and additional countries through 2022.

Local businesses provide repair services Highlight: CompuFix ASHTON DUNLAP co-editor-in-chief CompuFix Wooster offers various phone, tablet and computer repair services to Wooster area residents.

According to the CompuFix website, they offer phone repair services for broken screens, batteries, charging ports, broken buttons, speakers and microphones, and liquid damage.

They also offer computer repair services for software and virus issues, hardware repairs and upgrades and offer the assistance of trained technicians.

According to a CompuFix tech-

nician, the business does have to deal with Apple’s Right to Repair Regulation.

“On the iPhones, certain features are locked out, or it gives you warning signs. Warning messages on the devices, like swapping screens, say they cannot verify it's an Apple display, same with batteries, cameras,

Face ID. Apple does that just because they're Apple. You could take two brand new iPhones and swap the components and it's gonna tell you they're fake,” he said.

CompuFix is located at 323 E Liberty St. in Wooster and can be contacted by phone at (330) 202-5264.

A CompuFix e m p l o y e e performs a repair on a phone for a customer.

MOLLY SNYDER

Highlight: Ana’s Alterations JHON FAJARDO sports editor Jodi’s Closet and Ana’s Alterations is located at 243 E. Liberty St. in downtown Wooster. Emilia Anna Dixon, the seamstress after which Anna’s Alterations

is named, has worked there for seven years and has been sewing for 30 years.

Dixon said her experience allows her work to be productive and effective.

“There are projects that take a long time. They take a long time because I can’t say ‘I only

do pants’ or ‘I only do dresses’.

I do anything that is required,” Dixon said.

Dixon said she first started sewing with her mom. She learned from her at a young age, and would like to teach others how to sew if there was an interest.

Ana repairs a pair of jeans at Jodi’s Closet and Ana’s Alterations in downtown Wooster.

SHERIDAN SCHAUER

Volunteering benefits students

SHERIDAN SCHAUER

Edgewood Middle School students helps donate food to People to People. Select students went and helped unload boxes of food into the People to People pantry. The food includes canned items, and boxed meals.

OLIVIA HINER

trends editor With an important season for volunteering coming up, it is important to realize why giving back is so vital to our community.

Volunteering is often seen as just something that looks good on college applications, and while this may be true, giving back to the community does so much for people in need.

Within WHS, Key Club is a club available to give students volunteer opportunities. Linda Brinkerhoff, Key Club adviser, said it is important for students to volunteer because it creates a foundation that students can then use when they are older.

The IB program at WHS has a service component in it, as noted by Victoria Birk, Tri-County International Academy IB Diploma Program Coordinator, describes that students have CAS hours. The “C” stands for creativity, “A” stands for activity, and “S” stands for service. Birk said she

believes that volunteering ``... helps instill in young adults the importance of thinking outside yourself.”

Birk relates service to the infamous To Kill A Mockingbird quote, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb in his skin and walk around in it.”

Joe Szeker, director of operations for People to People, said he believes it is important for students to volunteer because, “...it gives them a better understanding of what we do, and to see life from a different perspective. We don’t often realize what people in need have to go through and being here allows volunteers to understand better why we do what we do everyday. We also hope that the students will desire to help and as they grow older help more in more areas for folks in need.”

Volunteering helps People to People as they, “fill in so

much of the work that needs to be done on a daily basis to keep our doors open each day.

We couldn’t function without them.”

Sammy Amier (12) said she volunteers because she wants to give back and help the community that has given so much to her. “It is important to volunteer because we are social creatures who depend on each other to survive, and if we do not help others, how can we expect any help when we need it? Additionally, volunteering may benefit not only the lives of those who receive our help but also our own. Helping others tends to be emotionally and socially rewarding because we are connecting with others, developing new friendships, and enhancing our bond with our community, which contributes to creating a peaceful and harmonious environment within our community,” Amier said.

Volunteering has an important impact on the community.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FOCUS |NOV. 19, 2021 | PAGE 5

WHS hosts service clubs MAYA GALINDO-BENSON

staff writer Wooster High School has many service clubs in which students are able to partake.

NHS, Key Club and Student Council are student clubs in which students participate in volunteer opportunities that benefit both the school and the community.

Lauren Stover, NHS adviser, says that although admission into NHS is based on academic excellence, the club allows students to volunteer.

“National Honor Society is an organization that honors students with high academic achievement, but also involvement in things like their community and service projects,” Stover said.

This year, NHS members have participated in Boo at Woo and will also run a candy cane sale at the start of December as a fundraiser for the club.

Students in NHS are required

to complete at least 20 service hours by the end of each academic year.

Key Club is another club that allows students to meet other students and get involved in their community.

According to Key Club’s student president, Sophia Mathur (12), it also allows for students to build many other skills.

“The purpose of Key Club is to build leadership and initiative skills within the members and get students involved in community activities and service projects to serve the community and our peers,” Mathur said.

Yearly, Key Club has helped in restocking the WHS food pantry, Generals closet; and made Thanksgiving food bags for families.

This year, they will also engage in the Yellow Tulip Project, which aims to end the stigma around mental health.

Student Council is a student run club that aims to make change at WHS in order to foster a welcoming environment for students and staff.

Four year member of the club Casey Lin (12) says the club also aims to facilitate volunteering and help students take part in service.

“It [Student Council] is a club that tries to create better relations between the administrative officers and the student body itself for creating changes,” Lin said.

SHERIDAN SCHAUER

Key Club raises money to plant yellow tulips in the high school courtyard. The yellow tulip bring awareness for suicide prevention month.

Student Council is currently working in partnership with the United Way, hosting a food drive at WHS.

COVER

THE WOOSTER BLADE | NOV. 19, 2021 | PAGE 6

Holidays bring on mental health issues LUKE POMFRET co-editor-in-chief

WHS students give thanks to WHS staff MAYA GALINDO-BENSON staff writer The season of giving thanks is upon us, and WHS students are expressing thanks to the faculty and staff for all of their effort and assistance.

There are certain qualities that students value in staff.

Nathan Eberhart (12) says he values a teacher’s ability to adjust to meet a student’s needs as he emphasizes: “I think a teacher’s ability to adapt to what their specific class needs and what the individual students needs,” Eberhart said is what he values.

Another student, Jake Rickett (9), said he also values the time a teacher puts into understanding the students: “How they [teachers] work with kids and, like, how they [teachers] take time to help them [students],” Rickett said. Rickett believes the way teachers work with students is the most important quality in a teacher.

There are specific teachers and staff that Eberhart and Rickett respect in WHS, including Nathan Greene, who teaches Computer Science; and Matthew Knight from the Science Dept.

“I would specifically give thanks to Mr. Greene; he’s been very helpful throughout the year in coding, and he

is just generally a nice guy,” Eberhart said.

Rickett is grateful for Knight, who he says is always very helpful to his students. “Mr. Knight is a nice teacher,” Rickett said.

It is not only students at WHS who appreciate the staff; the staff also value each other.

In a person, Greene values the qualities of hard work, honesty and determination.

He said he respects Kristin Broda, who teaches Dramatic Arts, for her ability to approach students in an effective manner.

“I am thankful for Mrs. [Kristin] Broda, she and I are always able to bounce ideas off of each other and help each other think of creative ways to reach students, and can turn a day around if it is not going so well.” Greene said.

Knight values friendliness in people, and said that kindness is the best value a person can have. “...The number one quality is to just try to be nice to people, it’s going to make the world a better place and make a better learning environment,” Knight said.

The people in WHS that Knight is grateful for are the entire Science Dept., all the teachers he has worked with, as well as Stan Burris, a retired Intervention Specialist teacher who Knight worked with for many years.

The holidays offer the chance to see loved ones and reflect on the past. Although everyone has a different meaning of the holidays, the psychological explanation for how and why people feel the way they do is complex.

Dr. Elaine Rodino, a psychologist in private practice in State College, Pa., joined podcast host Kim Mills on the podcast, Speaking of Psychology to discuss the stress and joy of the holiday season.

Mills asked Rodino, for the individuals who feel nervous looking forward to November and December, what advice would you give them to cope with their feelings.

Rodino said, “Well, one thing is realizing that it’s time-limited. Another is doing self-care things, making sure you keep up with the usual self-care things you do, whether it’s exercising, taking a warm bath, just taking a break, and reading a book. There needs to be just some time that you just check out from the holiday stress part.”

Rodino also states that good and bad memories can set the intention for a person’s outlook on the holiday season.

“Some people have early childhood memories of everything being so perfect.

They had families, maybe their father decorated the house, and it was the best, most lit up house in the whole neighborhood...

These then get taken on as traditions, and people feel they need to do that kind of special, over the top holiday. That can bring a lot of stress. It’s the expectations of what they feel,

either negative or positive...

There could also be some pretty hostile family arguments, and people storming out... For children, it could be pretty memorable in negative ways. So people may feel uncomfortable with holidays without even particularly remembering why, but they just are uncomfortable with it.”

Linda Walter, a practicing clinician for over 25 years in New York, wrote a column for Psychology Today titled, “The Holidays are Over; Why am I so Blue?”

Walter explains the multifaceted aspects of the holidays by stating:“We tend to have our schedules filled with social events during the month of December, only to have virtually nothing on the calendar in the month of January. So, we go

members and disappointed with the way they behaved towards us and/or treated us.

This can lead to sadness and its own kind of mourning. Other times, we might experience tremendous joy at being with family members and then miss them terribly when they have gone home.”

Michael Sullivan, Social Studies Dept. member and AP Psychology teacher, describes theories that factor into the feelings surrounding the holidays.

“Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is the body’s lack of sunlight that is being received, can also be a factor into someone’s feelings surrounding the holidays… The holidays also offer a chance of boosts for serotonin, but then a letdown usually occurs in early January.”

Sullivan describes Sigmund Freud’s idea of the unconscious mind and how the mind is defined as a reservoir of feelings, thoughts, urges, and memories outside of our conscious awareness. An example of Freud’s idea could include a traumatic event.

So, what does one do to cope with depression during the holidays?

Sullivan suggests visiting a psychologist or counselor to discuss Graphic by Grace Brownson feelings. “To understand the reasons why you feel a from being social butterflies to certain way in the present, being homebodies... A change you have to talk through your in your social calendar with a experiences that occurred in the sudden lack of social events past with a professional, and to go to can lead to loneliness, hopefully, resolutions can be boredom and a feeling of made,” Sullivan said. isolation... We often spend time If you or someone you know with family during the holidays. needs help finding mental or And spending time with family physical health resources, visit can leave us with mixed feelings. the Resources and Perks tab on Sometimes we feel let down the Wooster City School District by our interactions with family website.

COVER

THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | NOV. 19, 2021| PAGE 7

Giving thanks locally

It can be hard to find ways to give thanks to friends, family or community for a multitude of reasons. It can feel insignificant and not generally special.

Thankfully, around Wooster, here are small businesses you can visit in order to purchase

unique items for people you would like to thank.

There are many small businesses in Wooster, including Local Roots, Books in Stock and Blue Spruce, that are great places to find gifts to give thanks to everybody who deserves thanks.

GRACE BROWNSON

Showing others we are thankful for them LUCIA PERFETTI cover editor SOPHIA MERA

SOPHIA MERA staff writer Great gifts that Blue Spruce has are chapstick, including one that is part of Oprah’s Favorite things. They also have salt and light boxes, which make a perfect gift. They have them at

a range of prices. You can also never go wrong with a candle, which they have a variety of.

As for teachers, they have nice Wooster bags. For friends and family, initial necklaces are a great idea, and they have lots of them. The photo above is a picture of Blue Spruce’s store front.

OLIVIA HINER

LUCIA PERFETTI Getting someone a book about their interests, like a cook book, is a good way to say thanks.

Even getting one you would recommend with a little note on the inside cover shows gratiude.

The photo on the right is a picture of a local bookstore, Books in Stock.They have a lot of preowned books at great prices.

cover editor Local Roots is another great place locally to shop for ways to give thanks. The photo to the left is some of the skin care items that Local Root’s sells. Other great gifts that can be found at Local Roots include handcrafted soaps, candles, and more skin care items. They also sell artwork and jewelry from local artisans, another great way to express gratidtude for someone

OLIVIA HINER

By now, society is sick and tired of talking about COVID. Sometimes it feels like the human species has lived multiple lives during the past 20 months.

It makes sense that many want to forget quarantine ever happened and focus on getting back up on their feet. Instead, we could take a minute to reflect and use COVID as a learning experience; a lesson in gratitude.

From the beginning of the pandemic, relationships with loved ones were tested. Many were kept apart because of travel bans or lockdowns.

Some were forced to spend long weeks in close quarters with family members, no doubt finding new things they hate about each other, but also new things to love.

Others grew increasingly concerned as more peoplepeople who reminded them of siblings, parents, and grandparents- began dying.

When put in a situation where families and friends were suddenly unable to interact with one another, and uncertain if loved ones would make it to tomorrow, people realized what a world without those they loved would look like.

In the midst of this gloom, many learned to find pockets of light. Through Facetimes with friends, virtual movie nights,

Zoom family reunions, and good morning texts, people were able to stay connected and grow relationships with those they love.

Although perhaps subconsciously, the ways people stayed connected during COVID were ways of saying thanks; thanks for being here, thanks for caring, thanks for checking in.

Now that restrictions are being lifted and people are able to see one another, it is important to say thanks to those who were there through it all, those who did not let the barriers,or lack thereof, discourage them from loving.

These last 20 months have taught us to take nothing for granted.

Taking time to give thanks to ourselves MOLLY BYRNE staff writer As people enter this holiday season, taking care of others and remembering to be thankful is just as important as remembering to take time to be thankful for ourselves, remembering all the things we do every day and just how hard our bodies work.

One way to connect with ourselves and take a minute to

calm down is through yoga.

When communicating with Becky Thorne, a nurse practitioner at the Wooster Community Hospital, she said we need to slow down and think about how we can appreciate ourselves every single day.

“Yoga and meditation are great ways to relax the mind and body, but even if someone doesn’t want to commit to those, they can easily incorporate the yoga stretches

into their life,” Thorne said.

Applying this to a high school environment is something that Brooke Coblentz, Family and Consumer Science Dept. member, brings into her College Readiness class.

“They might not be able to control how much homework they are given, school and work schedules, deadlines for college applications, etc., but they can take a minute for themselves and control their breath,” Coblentz said.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | NOV. 19, 2021 | PAGE 8

Showing thanks through photography BLADE photographers were assigned to take one photo of their artistic interpretation of giving thanks and the Thanksgiving season. WHS Art Dept. members Katherine Putka and Tricia Nussbaum picked their five favorite photos to represent the Thanksgiving season in a creative way.

MAYA GALINDO-BENSON Two friends of almost two decades, both widows, are thankful for each other’s company at West View Healthy Living Retirement Community.

NORA LEVY Thanks to the vaccine, I have been able to visit with my family again.

Spending time with my cousin’s never fails to make me smile. I’m so thankful for all of the love and support they’ve shown me throughout the past year.

HANNAH LOGIUDICE The production of Mamma Mia that is being put on by the WHS Drama Club has been an exciting experience.

Being able to finally perform the show after two months of rehearsal and a summer of knowing about the show is an amazing accomplishment.

BRITTANY WACHTEL I am thankful for the opportunity to have a part in raising my younger sister into a strong independent woman. Being raised in an all female household, she is learning to embrace her femininity and use it in a powerful way. She is going to change the world.

Graphics by Ashton Dunlap

ARTS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | NOV. 19, 2021 | PAGE 9

Banned Books Week

Book evaluation raises awareness STELLA POWERS staff writer

Throughout the years, many books have been banned and removed from various schools, libraries and other organizations as a result of concerns or complaints regarding content or subject matter of those books.

Banned Books Week, a week devoted to the importance of the freedom to read, occurred recently, causing many to question what exactly it means when a book is banned.

Some notable banned books include, but are not limited, to titles including: To Kill a Mockingbird, Animal Farm, Thirteen Reasons Why and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

When a book is banned, a concerned person or group shares their issues with the literature and why they feel it is harmful.

Uriah Landfried, circulation clerk at the Wayne County Public Library, shared that

books are often banned when they are considered a threat to authority or financial interests.

“Usually, a person or group of persons read or hear about something in a book they feel threatened by for some reason or another,” Landfried said. “Sometimes the author’s life or family is threatened, or the publishing company is threatened with a boycott.

Sometimes there are protests.”

Melanie Dyer, another employee at the Wayne County Public Library, said there are many reasons why literature can be challenged.

“Books are challenged for a variety of reasons. It tends to happen when a person or group objects to the content, theme or language of a book,” Dyer shared. “Books are also challenged when they are perceived to have a viewpoint antithetical to the values or beliefs of a certain person, community, or group.”

Dyer also shared that children’s books tend to be a big target when it comes to

banning.

Both Dyer and Landfried b e l i e v e that the censoring of books is not acceptable and that p e o p l e should be able to read as they please.

A WHS GRACE BROWNSON English Dept. m e m b e r , Pictured is a collection of the most commonly banned books, including: To Kill A who chose Mockingbird, 13 Reasons Why and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. to remain anonymous offended someone or a group due to the nature of this topic, negativity,” she shared.

She also said that it is very and they are trying to get it said books are often challenged and sometimes banned based important for people to know banned,” she said.

In order for a book to be on content that could be the difference between books being banned and books being banned, it must first be perceived as offensive. challenged due to someone’s “Typically, books are banned challenged.

“Banning books is considered issues with the content it based on their content being considered offensive. Some censorship and those books contains before it gets censored.

This year, Banned Books week, things considered to be are taken off book shelves in offensive would be racial schools and public libraries. A nationally, took place from Sept. issues and graphic violence or challenged book is one that has 26 through Oct. 2.

Curator hosts lesson with students DELANEY WILSON on-campus editor

On Nov. 10, Dr. Marianne Eileen Wardle, Art Curator at the College of Wooster Art Museum, spoke to AP Seminar and IB students at WHS about the theme of identity, as used in current and upcoming art exhibits at the College of Wooster.

The first art exhibit, “Beholden”

by William Paul Thomas, which runs until Dec. 14, is based on relationships.

Wardle said the duration and types of relationships vary and are based on photographs taken

by Thomas.

“About Face,”which runs until Dec. 5, was made in collaboration with COW Associate Professor of Psychology and Chair of Neuroscience Dr. Grit Herzmann, who studies face processing, addresses several different questions about faces and creating them.

According to Wardle, this exhibit addresses questions, including: How do artists make faces, and how do they range across cultures? How do faces help us connect with one another? How do we recognize each other?

Wardle, during her presentation at WHS, helped students answer some of these questions by having them interactively

observe several pieces from the exhibits. Wardle had students spend time observing the different pieces and then led a discussion as to the thoughts of students about the different works included within these exhibits.. At the end of her presenta-

SHERIDAN SCHAUER

College of Wooster Art Curator, Dr. Marianne Eileen Wardle, presents “About Face,” the current art exhibit at the COW, to AP Seminar and IB Programme Students. tion, Wardle had students titles to a piece in orcome up with stories and der to explain their

thought processes about each of the works.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | ARTS | NOV. 19, 2021 | PAGE 10

You Season 3: A bloody good time Painting the town Red

BRITTANY WACHTEL views editor

Season three of You is sure to leave viewers everywhere begging for extra home security.

In the newest season of the hit Netflix series, main character Joe Goldberg (played

by Penn Badgley) struggles with balancing married life, becoming a father and covering up his past murdering

tendencies.

You presents its viewers with an unshakable partisanship, as Joe leads the season through his one sided narrations. Joe vouches for his own character, while demolishing that of anyone who dares to stand in the way of his newest stalking muses.

What makes this newest season differ from the rest is the malicious partnership between Joe and his wife, Love (played

by Victoria Pedretti). Joe is no longer alone in his murderous endeavors, as he drags along Love for the ride, quickly manipulating her into taking on a bulk of his crimes.

Joe continues his previous stalking tendencies, despite the vow he makes to himself and Love that he is completely

dedicated to their marriage.

Better yet, his new stomping grounds bring a plethora of opportunities.

The suburb of Madre Linda, where Joe and Love have settled, brings along a plethora of new and interesting characters that expose the dwindling marriage between the Goldberg’s.

Season three makes up for past plot based shortcomings rooted within the series.

Joe’s obsessions with women other than Love become more complex as viewers are given a glimpse into the traumas endured through his childhood.

While You is definitely not a show for the faint of heart, viewers are sure to be enticed by the messed up world of Joe Goldberg.

K. Stewart’s Spencer impresses

MOLLY SNYDER feature editor

Released on Nov. 5, Spencer is a historical drama following Princess Diana (played by Kristen Stewart) at the three day Christmas celebration of the royal family in 1991.

The movie has no linear plot, but in the best way possible.

The lack of nuance in the movie makes Spencer a work of art that etches out its own subgenre of drama.

Because there is no linear progression to the film, there

is no conflict resolution or any explicit conflict in the first place. The movie relies on symbolism and metaphors, most notably showing the similarities of Princess Diana’s experiences and that of Anne Boleyn.

Going into this movie with, at very least, minimal knowledge of Princess Diana is almost needed to understand what is going on. The film starts 10 years after Prince Charles and Princess Diana were married and does not flashback to how they got to this point in their relationship.

The directing choices of the movie are subtle, yet incredibly impactful, as there is no dialogue between characters without Diana being in the conversation, and intense scenes are paired with crescendo of thrilling classical music. Stewart’s performance as the princess is phenomenal, effortlessly portraying her

deteriorating mental health.

The progression of the movie requires the audience to pay close attention to what is happening in reality and what is happening in Diana’s head.

Frequent illusions of Anne Boleyn and fantasies of self harm merge effortlessly into the plot. Beautifully directed and produced, Spencer shows the monster of mental illness behind the beauty and glamour of the royal family.

The film deals with many mature themes, with scenes of self harm and suicidal actions, given the R rating.

I would recommend this movie to any person who is fascinated by the story of the former Princess of Wales or anyone who enjoys interpretive movies that let the story of the plot up to the audience to figure out how they perceive the characters’ thoughts and actions.

10 minute version of “All Too Well.” Swift explained on The Tonight Show, “The 10 minute version of ‘All Too Well’ was what was originally written for the song before I had to cut it down for a normal length song.” The 10 minute version did not disappoint.

The first new verse comes two minutes into the song LUCIA PERFETTI and is one of the most talked cover editor about lines already. “You were tossing me the car keys, f---For the most part, artists the patriarchy,” Swift sings, a re-recording hits is a sign of testament to how she has never burnout. been the perfect country girl Not for Taylor Swift, though. everyone wanted her to be.

Three years ago, Swift made Another crowd favorite lyric, it known that her former label, “You kept me like a secret but Big Machine Records, and its I kept you like an oath,” is founder Scott Borchetta denied beautifully written to relate her the ownership of her old Swift’s pain to any listener. The music and was preventing her top comment on the YouTube from singing it live. lyric video sums it up, saying, In a Tumblr post from 2019, “This is everything we’ve ever Swift stated that Borchetta been missing in our lives. How would allow her to use her does she capture something so own music, “(If) I agree to not personal and make every one re-record copycat versions of of us feel as though it’s about my songs next year.” us? She is incredible…”

So, Swift did the exact The original 16 songs opposite.

The highly sound the same, with cleaner anticipated Red (Taylor’s vocals and production. The Version) was released at never-before released tracks midnight Nov. 12. Swifties were encapsulate the country-pop most excited for the unreleased edge that Swift’s music was standing on at the time, with “Message in a Bottle,” sounding like something straight out of 1989, while” I Bet You Think About Me” is reminiscent of country Taylor complete with a harmonica.

With a current score of 96- 19 higher than the original- Red (Taylor’s Version).

Metacritic score says it all. Not only is the album better than Red quality-wise, COURTESY OF TAYLORSWIFT.COM but the nine new songs add depth to the album Pictured above is Taylor Swifts reinvented that completes it perfectly. album cover for, “Red (Taylor’s

Version).”

FEATURE

THE WOOSTER BLADE | NOV. 19, 2021 | PAGE 11

Improv club returns BAILEY MESSNER staff writer

Wooster’s Improv Club was unable to meet for the entirety of last year due to COVID concerns.

But this year, the club is back to their usual schedule of meeting once a week in adviser Kristin Broda’s room.

Broda states that her goal for club members is: “...for students to laugh and have fun. In addition, the skills learned in improvisation are skills that serve us in life. The concepts of listening, trying to make your partner look good, and going with every offer and building on it help us become active creators and collaborators in other aspects of our lives.”

Club members spend the majority of their time playing off each other and doing games that involve quick responses. Skylar Lynae (11) says that “We play a lot of improvisation games to get the blood flowing and to have

fun.”

Lynae, who was unable to join the club during her 10th grade year, said, “My favorite part of improv club is that everyone is free to be themselves, and have fun with all the games we play!”

A fellow Improv Club member, Caleb Singer-Holden (11), said the club is enjoyable and beneficial. Singer-Holden said a friend encouraged joining the club, so starting in eighth grade, Singer-Holden joined and has been doing it ever since.

Singer-Holden says a favorite part about the club involves, “...the connections that get built, becoming friends with people I’ve never met before, and getting closer to people I’ve known for a long time.”

Singer-Holden also agrees that Broda achieves her goal for the class by describing the hour as, “...just a time to joke around with your friends.”

Club meetings involve anywhere between 10 to 20 people, and meet from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursdays.

HANNAH LOGIUDICE

Ally Flickenger (9) and Brianna Fuller (9) use chairs as props at Improv Club, hosted in Kristin Broda’s room on Thursdays after school.

DELANEY WILSON

Casey Lin (12) and Tristan Miller (9) put up signs around Wooster High School, in order to show where each category will compete, in preparation for the Speech and Debate tournament hosted by Wooster on Nov. 13.

WHS Speech and Debate season begins THEO OLLIER staff writer

The WHS Speech and Debate team kicked off their season at the 61st Annual Perry Varsity Speech and Debate Tournament on Nov. 5, their first in-person varsity competition in over a year.

Chris Vann (12) and Molly Snyder (12), policy debate partners, won the Perry Tournament in their category, which qualified them for the state tournament.

Vann notes that qualifying for the state tournament by winning one tournament is something that only policy debaters have the chance to do. His goals this season are qualifying for the national tournament and winning the state tournament.

“That [qualifying to states in

one tournament] is exclusive to the policy debate category, so basically certain tournaments are called PDQ’s [Pre-District Qualifier’s]. . . if you do well enough at prelims, you can qualify to the state tournament if it is considered a PDQ . . . My main two goals are to qualify for the national tournament and get first place at the state tournament,” Vann said.

According to Speech and Debate President Sammy Amier (12), the team is bigger than last year, and more students will be able to compete in big districts and have a chance at competing in the national tournament.

Sammy placed fifth in the informative speaking category of speech at the Perry Varsity Tournament.

“I’m really glad that we have a bigger team this year...it’s definitely bigger than last year.

And, with a bigger team, we’ll

be able to qualify more students to send to the big districts, which is a national qualifying tournament,” Amier said.

Hayden Michel (12), who competes in humorous interpretation, explains that in this category of speech, performers use a play, movie or book and act out all of its characters in 10 minutes.

“So, you basically take a play, or a movie or a book, and you cut it down to 10 minutes, and then you act out all the different characters and tell the story. And then, you want to make sure each character has a different voice or they act in a different way, and it has to be funny,” Michel said.

The WHS Speech and Debate team placed well in a variety of categories at their first varsity tournament and will host the Sharen B. Althoff Tournament on Jan. 15.

SPORTS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | NOV. 19, 2021 | PAGE 12

WHS winter athletes and coaches address their goals Q: What are your hopes/goals for the team for the upcoming season?

Blurbs collected by Trent Kuzma and Ashton Dunlap

Gymnastics

Wrestling

Boys Basketball

Boys Bowling

“I would say we all would like to regain our undefeated title for this season. For the season, I hope to create a healthy and competitive team dynamic and be able to create a strong team relationship,” Molly Byrne (11) said.

“I think the main goal for this year is to capitalize on this fresh start.

We completely redid our coaching staff and we have a very young team. A big thing we are looking for is accountability for everyone on the team, along with having fun. As a team, I think we have the ability to win one tournament as a team this year and have a dual record above .500,” Connor Rotolo (12) said.

“My hopes for our season this year is to have fun with the team and to make a far run in the playoffs. The biggest goal for the team this season is to go far in the playoffs and hope to contend for a state championship,” Blake Bowen (11) said.

“Well, everyone hopes to win OCCs each year . . . but a larger part of that is to place better than the previous year, as well as the overall goal of having each player improve as the season goes on. I think that as long as we do our best against each team, then everyone will be proud, no matter the outcome,” Trey Cichello (11) said.

Swimming “Our hopes are that they [boys and girls swim teams] compete for the OCC Championship, qualify as many swimmers/ divers for the district meet and get to the state championship meet, which is the pinnacle of high school swimming/ diving. Our goal is always that each swimmer/diver improves and if they do, they will have success,” head coach Chris Matthew said.

Girls Bowling “My hopes for this season are that we will win OCCs. We came in second last year, and we only lost one of our girls from last year. With a bit of practice, I think we can really win this year,” Rachel Grayshock (12) said.

Girls Basketball “We want to provide a culture where we work hard, have good discipline and, importantly, basketball is fun to play. My hope is that at the end of the year, our girls have grown as basketball players, as teammates and as individuals.

We would love to win the OCC, make a deep run in the playoffs and have individual success,” head coach Alex Kacere said.

Wheelchair Basketball “Coming off back to back state championship wins . . . I’d love to keep the streak going with another undefeated year ending in a state championship title,” Ryan Hannan (11) said.

Upcoming Competitions: Gymnastics will compete Dec. 8 in a dual meet against Canton McKinley.

The wrestling team has a home dual matchup versus Triway on Dec. 2.

Boys basketball will play Mansfield Senior Dec. 3.

Girls basketball plays Massillon on Nov. 23.

Boys and girls swim has their first meet at home on Nov. 29 against Firestone, Perry, and GlenOak. Boys bowling has their first match at Triway Lanes on Dec. 6.

Girls bowling has their first match on Nov. 22 against Garaway at Boulevard Lanes.

Underclassmen look up to upperclassmen in their sports HANNAH LOGIUDICE on-campus editor Sports teams at WHS are comprised of students grades nine through twelve.

This age gap allows younger students to learn from the older ones and also encourages upperclassmen to serve as mentors to younger athletes.

Freshman volleyball, basketball and lacrosse player Layla Russel spoke about a person she has looked up to in several of her sports.

For basketball, Russell notes one of the team’s co-captain

Nora Levy (11).

“I look up to Nora because she’s a really good ball handler, and she works really hard. At some point, I want to get to the point where I am like that,” Russell said.

Despite the fact that lacrosse season is not until spring, Alexis Miller (11) has been able to make an impact on Russell. “Alexis is super nice, super sweet to everyone and makes everyone feel like they belong there. That makes the sport really fun to do,” Miller said.

It is not only juniors or seniors that can help young players.

Laynee Eslich (9), who plays on

both the soccer and basketball teams, noted Mattie Dunlap (10) as someone she looks up to.

“For soccer...Mattie Dunlap... puts her all into the game and doesn’t get recognized.

She’s very sweet to all her teammates and she also guides underclassmen and respects their questions and respects the JV team,” Eslich said.

These players have made an impact on the freshman of their sports, but they did not start out knowing everything about their sport and team, as they were also helped by other students.

When asked about who helped mentor her, Alexis Miller named

two recent graduates of the lacrosse program.

“Leah Sanchez and Lauren Crum both made a positive impact on me. With me being just a sophomore and them being seniors, they had so many things to teach us underclassmen. They made a positive impact on the team environment. Not only did they impact me as an athlete, but also as a person,” Miller said.

Nora Levy named Izzy Signorino and Audrey Van Lieu, two 2020 graduates, as the people who helped her.

“They displayed such great effort and energy in practice and

games, which set the tone for my effort and energy throughout my time playing high school basketball. I hope I can do the same for my teammates and help them feel confident and comfortable on the court,” Levy said.

Upperclassman leaders helped shape the athletic program for young students, but they did not get to that point on their own.

Freshman look up to older students as examples of how to act and how to play, and these athletes learn from older students who had leaders they looked up to as well.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | SPORTS | NOV. 19, 2021 | PAGE 13

WHS athletes acknowledge stress ASHTON DUNLAP co-editor-in-chief

As high school sports teams progress into the playoffs, the pressure and emotion attached to the sport being played greatly increases.

These sporting events can bring about feelings of great happiness or sadness and can also bring about impressive amounts of stress to the athletes who are competing in them.

According to WHS Cross Country coach Doug Bennett, emotional responses in sports can be a powerful thing that can be used to put forth a good athletic performance.

“A good and competitive athlete understands the

importance of having that passion and feeling that drive, but also, with practice, is able to harness that,” Bennett said.

The end result of a sporting event can often produce various emotional responses. Athletes can show immense amounts of delight after a significant win and can contrastingly show intense levels of sadness after a significant loss.

WHS soccer captain Aiden Strand-Fox (12) says he feels more emotion after a big loss.

“I would say the emotion in a big loss is bigger because most of the time you know that if you play that game again and execute in certain ways, you have a different result,” StrandFox said.

Strand-Fox also says this

emotional attachment to a sport can cause significant stress, which can sometimes be a good thing.

Bennett says the stress created by the desire to do well in a sporting event can harm the athlete if not controlled.

“If you allow yourself to become truly emotionally involved in the game or the competition that you’re involved in, you can be prone to make mistakes; you can be provoked into emotional responses in your competition that can hinder what you’re trying to get done out there,” Bennett said.

WHS Assistant Athletic Director Alex Mallue agrees that sports can definitely affect mental health.

“Mental health is an area that is more commonly looked at and evaluated in athletics today. For a student-athlete, it’s extremely important to be mentally healthy, as performance can suffer if you

are not in the right headspace,” Mallue said.

If students ever have mental health concerns stemming from sports, they can contact the WHS athletic department or the guidance office for assistance.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KRISTIN KEATING

The boys’ soccer team huddles up after a win (3 - 1) against Avon Lake on Oct. 27.

Blue & Gold SPONSORS Blue $500

Dan Stavnezer Therapy

CORPORATE SPONSORS Corporate $350

WQKT- 104.5

VIEWS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | NOV. 19, 2021 | PAGE 14

Holocaust teachings raise concerns Celebrity abuse case garners media attention

BRITTANY WACHTEL views editor

Former One Direction star Zayn Malik has been accused of assault charges against Yolanda Hadid. Malik has pled no contest as of Oct. 27 according to USA Today, despite his charge of a year long probation sentence.

Malik was accused of shoving Yolanda Hadid against a dresser after she came into his house without permission from his or his girlfriend Gigi Hadid, according to CNN. Malik and Gigi Hadid have now split and are fighting for custody for their one-year-old daughter Khai.

While unfortunate, high profile cases such as this one are essential to drawing awareness to the growing assault statistics across America.

According to the FBI, there were 821,182 cases of reported aggravated assault in 2019, a 1.3 percent increase from 2018.

As a former victim of assault, I know the negative mental repercussions of any measure of assault and feel as though every single case should receive equal attention and quick action.

Oftentimes, relationships riddled with abusive tendencies tend to move in a cycle.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline notes that abuse cycles are all centered

around denial. The three stages of abusive relationships are the honeymoon phase, tension building and the explosion.

Often, these patterns of abuse are hidden in plain sight, hard for the victim to recognize as well as those close to the victim. Most of the time , the only way to notice abuse is through the physical damage done to the victim.

Cases such as that of Malik’s highlight the importance of reporting any instances of abuse in order to remove oneself from the situation.

For those who are family or friends of someone suspected to be a part of an abusive relationship, noticing even

“Often, these patterns of abuse are hidden in plain sight, hard for the victim to recognize as well as those close to the victim.” the slightest differences in their demeanor is essential.

According to Safe Horizon, signs of an abusive relationship include removing oneself from plans, putting their partner’s needs before their own and being afraid to admit that there is any problem.

Keeping an eye out and reporting any legitimate abuse seen in your own relationship or someone else’s can be vital in regards to protection against further abuse.

LAURA RAPPORT arts editor

On Oct. 8 , Texas school administrator Gina Peddy told teachers to, “...make sure that if you have a book on the Holocaust, that you have one that has an opposing, that has other perspectives.”

The comment was made in an attempt to help teachers comply with Texas house bill 3979, a law that requires teachers to present multiple perspectives when discussing controversial issues with students.

Since then, the district has released a statement apologizing for Peddy’s comments, although this

incident highlights a bigger issue, a lack of Holocaust education in the United States Out of all 50 states in the United States, only 19, including Texas, require students to learn about the Holocaust. Only 38% of U.S. states requiring Holocaust educations is concerning for multiple reasons, one of which is the recent rise in antisemitism in America.

According to a poll conducted

by Forbes in June of 2021, 60% of American Jews reported witnessing and/or experiencing antisemitism recently. A lack of education about one of the worst chapters in human history may be to blame.

The state of Ohio does not require education about the Holocaust. Although Wooster does offer a class on the Holocaust, it is an elective course, and students are not required to take it.

Mark Kister, History Dept. member who teaches the class, said: “I believe it is essential for students to learn about the Holocaust. Studying the

Holocaust brings about many complex and moral questions that are important for students to critically address. Students need to understand the consequences to remaining silent and indifferent to the plight of others. I hope that students leave the course seeing how essential it is to speak up when they see injustice around them.”

Kister also cited the dwindling number of Holocaust survivors in the United States. “...As time moves on, we are losing Holocaust survivors. We need to learn from them and listen to their stories while we are still able to do so and remember the lessons they have for us to learn,” Kister said.

The Holocaust can teach us many things. One of the most important lessons this dark chapter in history can teach us is the importance of standing up against injustice. As sad as the subject may be, the mass genocide of over 6 million Jewish people is an important part of history, and we must learn about it.

Corridor Questions

Q: Should Travis Scott be held accountable for the Astroworld tragedy?

“Him [Travis] and his team knew the amount of ticket sales and the size of the venue beforehand. If they made the venue fit the crowd rather than the crowd fit the venue, this could’ve easily been prevented.” - Sophia Misel (11)

“Personally, on the whole Astroworld thing, as much as it is on Travis Scott I think he’s getting blamed too much for what happened... People are saying it is all his fault for what happens when the venue and the people who were running it not controlling it better. Travis Scott’s job is to put on a show. He’s getting so much blame for a situation that was out of his control.” - Kaiden Roscoe (12)

THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | NOV. 19, 2021 | PAGE 16

THE

THE VOICE OF WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL

WOOSTER

BLADE

Editors-in-Chief Ashton Dunlap, Luke Pomfret Webmaster Ashton Dunlap Graphics Manager Grace Brownson Business Manager Delaney Wilson Head Photographer Rumen Zdravchev A & E Editor Lexxe Parsons, Laura Rapport Cover Editor Lucia Perfetti Feature Editor Molly Snyder, Grace Brownson Focus Editor Sheridan Schauer, On Campus Editor Hannah LoGiudice, Delaney Wilson Sports Editor Trent Kuzma, Jhon Fajardo Trends Editor Olivia Hiner Views Editor Brittany Wachtel Staff Writers Mattie Dunlap, Molly Byrne, Chloe Frichtl, Ben Stavnezer, Nora Levy, Sophia Mera, Stella Powers, Theo Ollier, Grace Kostohryz, Anika Ellis, Maya Galindo-Benson, Bailey Messner Artists Grace Brownson Cover Artist Charlotte Kille Photographers Grace Brownson, Hannah LoGiudice, Rumen Zdravchev, Ashton Dunlap, Ben Stavnezer, Brittany Wachtel, Nora Levy, Delaney Wilson, Sheridan Schauer, Molly Synder, Maya Galindo-Benson, Molly Byrne 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 Wooster Blade is designated as an open forum and follows publishing guidelines as established by 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 rights 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. Letters and inquiries should be addressed to The Wooster Blade, 515 Oldman Road Wooster, Ohio 44691. The Wooster Blade can be contacted at 330-3454000 ext. 3210.

The newspaper can also be found at thewoosterblade.com

OUR VIEW

WHS requires education stucture reevaluation Returning to a normal classroom environment has been beneficial for students in terms of learning, socialization and equity.

The pandemic provided a unique set of educational challenges for students and teachers alike, including, but not limited to: learning from home, communicating and adjusting to a new daily schedule.

As a school system, we should not ignore what we learned from these experiences and take some time to reflect on what we can take away from these experiences.

Several lessons can be learned from our experiences working with Edgenuity, at home learning and the schedule adapted for in-person learning.

Without having teachers present at home to push Edgenuity class deadlines and give us extra motivation to complete our assignments, it was up to us to be timely and productive. For students learning remotely, there were no set school hours or mandatory attendance, meaning success was solely based on the work put in each day for each class. Pacing assignments and taking advantage of the multiple retake opportunities provided in Edgenuity taught students self-discipline and how to stay focused on classwork, which is an important skill that can be used

in our in-person classrooms now.

While working primarily online, keeping an open line of communication with teachers was important for us, especially if the students were struggling and having problems with content. In many cases, we found that staying in contact with teachers daily ensured success in classrooms This communication was, in many ways, essential to academic success and also mental wellbeing. Keeping an open line of communication with teachers now is no less important: we should be sure to clearly communicate with teachers if we are concerned or worried about our work.

Communication with other students is also important for us to maintain. Part of the normal school day is conversing with fellow students, so calling or texting a classmate is a great way to stay in touch and learn how to work with others, emphasizing collaboration and friendship.

In terms of organization, Edgenuity set assignments for each day with an estimated amount of time per assignment. We, as students, knew exactly when our next assignments were due and how to organize our schedules so we could finish our work in a timely manner. Although occasionally overwhelming, this structure was helpful for

Giving Thanks from the WHS Staff:

Nora Levy asked the teachers of WHS: what is the kindest thing someone has done for you?

knowing expected work and larger assignments ahead of time in order to plan accordingly.

In classrooms this year, many of us have found ourselves overwhelmed with workload balance between classes and the homework expectations that come with this workload. If there could be a way to minimize homework and better utilize class time, the burden of balance between school, work, and extracurricular activities could be better achieved for us, ensuring better emotional and mental wellbeing.

Last year’s hybrid schedule also showed that flexibility in our academic day was a benefit for us in terms of balancing school work and outside interests.

A four-day week schedule allowed us to take a day off to catch up on our work or larger assignments and also gave teachers time to grade, plan and collaborate with one another. How long has it been since we have evaluated what a normal school day and week should look like? Is it time, now that we have seen that a shortened school week could work, to review how a school day and week should function?

As the first semester comes to an end, we need to evaluate what is working and what is not in terms of balancing all students’ educational needs and emotional states.

“My brother paid a portion of my tuition one semester for college so I could stay in school.”

-Christina Mascotti (Math Dept. member)

“My youngest daughter had a traumatic birth that resulted in my wife and I spending about three weeks with her in the hospital in 2020.

I am still overwhelmed by how many of our family and friends reached out to help us. “

“Probably the kindest thing that someone has done for me: when I had breast cancer 13 years ago, the outpouring of generosity from my family, my WCS family and my swimming family was just overwhelming. I’ll never forget it.”

-Phil Klein (Social Studies member)

-Chris Matthew (Math Dept. member)