Feb. 2015
Volume 90
Issue 5
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Gut check: reporting is the right thing to do Morgan Barth Reporter Students are gathering in a circle, cell phones are coming out. At first it is quiet, but the halls get loud. A fight is about to start. There are 25 students about to witness what is going to happen, but by the time a teacher gets there, the fight Photo by Morgan Barth. is over. Someone is hurt, but nobody seems to know By not telling the teacher, what happened. situations could get worse. Students are not coming Speaking out may not be forward about what is something that students happening in the school. Many people are witnessing want to do, but when someone can get hurt, it is negative actions but do their responsibility to do so. not report the incident to “Tell someone, preferably adults, this affects the whole an adult in authority like student body. a teacher, a counselor, an The cameras in our school can only do so much administrator, a police officer or a parent, and to which means that some do this right away,” states TJ matters are in the hands of principal Dr. Plourde. sudents.
Mandatory reporters are the first people that need to know when something inappropriate is happening at school. What has been seen, or showing proof where the event had occurred is important to report. It is then their job to have let the appropriate authorities know. Plourde wants everyone to believe that people working together can tackle
any problem, no matter how difficult. “I strongly encourage you to come forward and challenge all types of evil,” is what Dr. Plourde wants all students to understand. There are consequences for recording something and posting it online, but not reporting it to authorities. In essence, the Good Samaritan Law, or the Accessory Law, states that if
Or follow us on twitter @TJHSJournalism you’re witnessing a criminal act and you’re able to help, but choose not to, then you can still be charged with a misdemeanor. Teachers are encouraging everyone to speak up. This is confidential, but the problem can be handled. It is the student’s responsibility to tell a mandatory reporter what they have witnessed. Find a teacher or administrator you’re comfortable with talking to, and let them know of the situation. “You often know you are doing the right thing when it feels difficult,” concludes Dr. Plourde. “Doing the right thing can be hard, but our school is looking for young people with courage. You can be one of them.”
Attendance
Council Bluffs University a way for teachers to keep learning Adriana Ibarra Reporter When teachers start teaching, do they ever really stop learning? After getting their college diploma, some teachers decide to continue to go to school and get a higher education. And to continue their education, the district now offers an option. Council Bluffs University (CBU) gives the teachers around the district a chance to better their teaching. “One of the real reasons that we started this this year is because we were notified by the teachers that they want to improve,” says Corey Vorthmann, the
Assistant Superintendent. “When the teachers have confidence, it leads to better teaching. “We started the first classes in November of 2014, there is a class available every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday night for 2-3 hours. They get paid $20/hour for every hour they attend,” said Vorthmann. “There is no requirement. Teachers can choose to attend or not to attend.” Right now there are over 60 classes at CBU and they’re [the administration] always open to requests for more classes. “Bigger and better is our
“They are always finding ways to better their craft. I think we are truly blessed in here to have teachers that are dedicated and continue to improve themselves, their school, and their district.” Dr. Corey Vorthmann
plan. We want to expand the number of offering and move to ‘on-demand’ learning so they will have opportunities through
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online learning 24/7.” “The classes are taught by other teachers and administration,” Vorthmann continued. “The best thing is it allows the people who have the passion to teach others to do so. I think that’s what makes it so special, it’s for Council Bluffs teachers by Council Bluffs teachers.” “Our teachers are always learning, sometimes students don’t always see that”. With CBU, not only can teachers improve their skills, but they help create a better learning environment and education.
Throughout this trimester, students with fantastic attendance have been put into drawings to win a number of great prizes. Now, prizes for the end of the year have been announced and only the students with the best attendance will get a chance to win them. Students with the best attendance at the end of the Tri can win a bike or iPad. Seniors with the best attendance at the end of theTri can win a free class ring or cap & gown. The START class with the best attendance can win a pizza party.