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SLAMedia is a publication of the news for the Science Leadership Academy community. Writers come from the student body in 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. We work in unison to create a functioning paper with biweekly postings on a variety of events.

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Jayla Wright

Album Review: Kids See Ghosts

October 25, 2018 by Jayla Wright Leave a Comment

Brendan Hall

Photo courtesy of Highsnobiety

Staff Writer

“Yesterday I checked myself into rehab for depression and suicidal urges. I am not at peace. I haven’t been since you’ve known me.” Kid Cudi stated on a Facebook post in 2016.

This became a pivotal moment in the music world. Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi has become iconic in the modern music world for being transparent with his mental health struggle. His fanbase is composed of people with similar struggles and some peers, such as Travis Scott, in the music industry even cite him as saving them from suicide.

A notable figure to support Cudi during his stint in rehab was longtime collaborator and friend to Kanye West. West dedicated his performance of their 2016 track “Father Stretch my Hands pt. 1” to Kid Cudi, and announced that he was praying for him.

However, nearly a month later Kanye West was also hospitalized for mental issues and substance abuse. Which was eerily similar to his friend Kid Cudi’s hospitalization.

In mid-2017 it was speculated that West and Cudi had been working on a collaborative project together in Japan. Although they had many records together as a duo, music fans were skeptical if their project would live to the standard each artist set for themselves.

In a sense, these music fans were correct because their Kids See Ghosts album didn’t meet expectations set for them in the past. It shattered them by giving music listeners one of the most innovative albums in recent memory.

Despite both artists carving a lane in Hip-Hop their joint effort seems to defy the rules of sticking to a particular genre. The instrumentals used on the project sound out of the ordinary from traditional rap music. The majority of the beats are more fitting for a psychedelic band such as Pink Floyd than any contemporary Hip-Hop artist.

Examples of this being successful come in tracks “Freeee” and “Reborn” where the instrumentals are hypnotic to the point where it feels like West and Cudi have created their own universe within the music.

West, who handled most of the instrumentals, was able to use minimalism to perfection on the closing track “Cudi Montage”. The entire beat consists of a guitar loop made on an obscure Kurt Cobain song “Burn in the Rain”. It provides an atmosphere that’s as epic as it is unsettling.

His ear for obscure samples was useful for other tracks such as “Fire” and “4th Dimension” that provide rock samples that complement the tone of the album. Each of these samples further deters their album from being a traditional Hip-Hop project.

Aside from the instrumentals on Kids See Ghosts this album lyrically focuses on West’s and Cudi’s hunger to find internal peace. They also are open about their mental health throughout the project. Their mutual struggles allow for great chemistry in each of the songs.

Perhaps the strongest display of lyricism comes through in the final verse of the album. “Everybody want world peace ‘Til your niece get shot in the dome-piece Then you go and buy your own piece Hopin’ it’ll help you find your own peace” West raps on “Cudi Montage”.

Despite straying away from the themes most present (mental struggles) the lyrics describe how an environment strips away innocence someone. Although it was not explicitly stated it is implied that West rapped this so others would not rush to judgment for those who have made violent mistakes in the past.

This is a direct parallel to how Kanye is perceived as egotistical and crazy many average consumers. However, they tend to overlook physical and mental trauma endured by West such as suffering a nearly fatal car accident in 2002. As well as being recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder and losing his mother in 2008.

Another standout moment with mentioning is the opening song “Feel the Love”. Where Kid Cudi is passionately singing his heart out prior to Pusha T’s braggadocious verse. The track takes an outrageous turn when Kanye West yells ad-libs over hard hitting drums

In theory, there’s no way that should have worked, but it did. The screaming adds to the intense atmosphere and is so unbelievably crazy it sounds as if he’s having a mental breakdown.

Finally, after West finishes this display the instrumental has a brief but intense change. It switches to a chord progression that sounds as if it is taking the listener to an alternative human experience. But right when you think the chords are going to be the outro to the track the beat goes back to the initial sound and Cudi gives the same level of passion to end the track.  

While approaching serious topics both artists attempt to find silver linings. On “Reborn” Cudi gives a hook describing how he wants to keep moving forward. Kanye proceeds to directly refer to his hospitalization while also taking a positive attitude towards his bipolar diagnose. (“I was called insane what an awesome thing engulfed in shame”)

While the lyrics have substance and the instrumentals are unique the most endearing part is the approach taken while discussing these serious topics. Often it can feel that artists discussing things such as depression are too black and white within their music.

When done poorly it can be seen as a narcissistic way of getting others to sympathize with the artist. On the flipside, it could be an unrealistic way of “inspiring” those who suffer from suicidal tendencies. A prime example of this is Logic’s oversimplified suicide hotline song.

Kids See Ghosts isn’t a naive attempt to solve mental health with an album. However, Kids See Ghosts is an honest portrayal from two men who struggled with depression. In an era where rappers are exploiting mental illnesses for clout, this is a breath of fresh air.

Filed Under: A&E

Column: Why Journalism Matters

October 25, 2018 by Jayla Wright Leave a Comment

Eric Valenti

A&E Editor

Photo taken by Eric Valenti

People enjoy SLA for the special way of learning and the independence that the students are given. Personally, I enjoy SLA for the freedom that I have and I definitely appreciate the fact that I found a school that appreciates my voice. But it wasn’t until journalism that I learned what freedom of expression truly was.

When I first joined journalism I didn’t really expect much. There weren’t many electives that I thought I would enjoy and this seemed like the closest thing to a creative writing class. At first, I felt that the class was quite mediocre and didn’t offer much freedom of expression.

This opinion lasted until the first pitch week. It was an organized explosion of voices. This group of students who you would never think would get along or even hang out with one another would spend every Tuesday to just throw out gossip and thoughts about SLA.

People had ideas ranging from their opinions on Fortnite to something as serious as sexual harassment in the school district. Journalism allows people to be able to ask the questions that don’t get asked.

I took note that this year’s class is much smaller than last year’s. I have a slight knot in my stomach that this may become sort of pattern and every year less and fewer people will join journalism. Though journalism may not play a crucial role in SLA or even matter to many people it deserves more appreciation than it gets.

I wish more people acknowledged journalism. When people talk about Slamedia most people don’t know what it is or don’t want to take the time to read the articles. SLA is unique in the way that we value the student’s voices and encourage them to speak up. Whether or not things at SLA actually change is debatable. But journalism gives students a chance to write about whatever they want.

Without journalism, people would be at a loss of information and wouldn’t know what is going on. Though information today is constantly warped and confused, and almost all reporting has some sort of bias in it, journalism offers a free voice.

Journalists are meant to act as the voice of the truth. Whether or not this article is just early jitters about this class ending, I do hope the few people that do read this article take some time to recommend ideas to the journalism team, read and comment on articles or maybe even join journalism for a chance to express their voice to people who care. 

Filed Under: Op/Ed

SLA and its Affair with Lateness

October 22, 2018 by Jayla Wright Leave a Comment

Jayla Wright

Photo of a Student student signing in taken by Jayla Wright

Copy Editor

Picture this, it’s 8:15 in the morning. If you were to spare a glance towards the front doors of SLA you would see students running towards the entrance in an attempt to get their ID signed in. Some students can also be found casually walking in, appearing as if they couldn’t care less if they were late. Or in other cases, students can be observed glancing at the time on their phone then walking to either Arch Gourmet or Dunkin’ Donuts before signing in with the idea of if they’re not going to show up on time they might as well get food first.

This is what the morning rush at SLA looks like.

The lateness policy at SLA allows students to have at least four latenesses before they have to serve a detention.

Most students have dealt with lateness at least once. When asked, both students and staff named  SEPTA delays as the most common reason for their lateness. As well as that, sleeping in, family members attempting to leave home at the same time, and other general inconveniences were shared.

Senior Salsabeel Elbakhadaoui, who experienced an abundance of latenesses in her previous years at SLA, explained her feelings on being late to class, “I felt like I was missing stuff in class. Because missing one thing in high school means that you’re missing a lot, it’s like missing building blocks.”

However, when it starts getting close to the time class starts, Elbakhadaoui isn’t one to start running

“If it says that it’s 8:15 already, I mean I’m not going to take my time time cause I don’t wanna miss class but I’m gonna take my time like I’m not gonna run outta breath.”

This sentiment isn’t uncommon among students. Every day, there are students like Elbakhadaoui who casually walk in when they’re threatened by being late. However, there are also students who get frustrated when the reason for their lateness is out of their hands

One of those students is senior Israt Jahan, who has ideas on how SEPTA can change to prevent lateness.

“I think what SEPTA should do is wait in the station for at least two minutes.” Stated Jahan, who takes the trolley to 22nd Street. “They literally wait in the station for thirty seconds. I don’t even get down the stairs. Like I’m on the escalator going ‘oh my god the train is there’ then it’ll leave.” Jahan continued, “and I want more trains.”

So do students really care about being late?

“I think some of them do,” Said School Secretary Ms. Diane. “Because they’re calling and saying they’re stuck on a train or there’s a problem with Septa. I do believe that there is a majority of students that do care when they’re late.”

Senior advisor and teacher Mr. Enzweiller also found that students cared. However, he disagreed with enforcing the lateness policy in advisory.

“No, I’m planning to change it.” Stated Mr. Enzweiller. “I’m getting more kids showing up late, lately. Senioritis is starting to kick in.”

Ms. Diane went on to explain that the issue wasn’t just late students, but chronically late students.

“Sometimes it is unavoidable to be late. I have been late myself. But students that have chronic lateness it makes a lot of work, not only for me but for the advisors and for first period teachers. So if they could just try to be a lot more conscientious about getting to it would be a lot better for everybody.”

Ms. Diane explained that the easiest way to prevent lateness is to change your routine. “Things happen, we understand that, but I know if it would have been something that would’ve occurred a lot then I would have to make sure that got on the earlier bus to make sure that I won’t be late and be in that predicament a lot.”

Filed Under: News

Graffiti at SLA – Crime or Art?

October 22, 2018 by Jayla Wright Leave a Comment

Photo taken by Eric Valenti

Eric Valenti

A&E Editor

The second week of school at SLA has started off strong with a new batch of aggressive graffiti.

For the past two years, SLA has experienced an increase in the amount of graffiti in and near the school building.

At the end of the 2017-2018 school year, a middle finger was painted on the side of SLA. At the beginning of this school year, a message written under the JFK overpass on 21st Street. with a [misspelled] message: “F— Eververy Cop.”

However, graffiti isn’t new to SLA. Many students in SLA tag and write on walls throughout the school, most commonly in the bathrooms.

Principal Chris Lehmann acknowledged the tagging at SLA, and explained why cleaning up the graffiti isn’t a top priority.

“Some of it has been cleaned up but this piece of the puzzle that is difficult, we need money. We need the supplies to deal with the problem. That is money that we’re not spending on books, supplies on student activities on all of these things.” Lehmann stated.

Students have noticed that the recent graffiti has become less about tagging and more about taking a stance.

Graffiti in SLA’s community has usually been in the bathrooms. Most of which appear to be people’s names and open-ended questions. These two larger instances of graffiti appear to be sending a more specific message. Students may use graffiti as a means to get a message across because they may believe this gets more attention rather than taking an issue up with a teacher directly. In SLA, we are able to express ideas that change SLA positively to adults but we are unable to express negative ideas that attack SLA to adults.

Senior Jayla Wright offered a different view over the controversy.

“They both seem sorta silly so it’s unclear whether they’re jokes or  if they’re actually serious.” Wright stated.

The mystery of who created the graffiti on the side of the school last year will have to remain a mystery. This is due to the fact that the staff wants to refrain from exposing the creator (or creators) believing that this would cause too much commotion. As for the anti-police graffiti this year, there is no evidence it was created by an SLA student, apart from the fact that it appeared at the start of the school year.

Project Coordinator Jeremy Spry does has one theory about the graffiti under the overpass.

“I definitely don’t think it was an SLA student because the word “every” was spelled wrong.”

Though graffiti isn’t SLA’s top priority, the faculty and staff, as well as the students, see the graffiti as an issue. Spry went on to explain that the graffiti is a problem but there are larger issues, such as holes in walls, that trump smaller issues like writing in the bathroom. However, maybe the graffiti is a way of expression, maybe graffiti should be viewed how Wright looks at it.

“Graffiti can be drawings, typography, or just phrases but their existence itself is a crime typically. But graffiti being a crime may be a part of why it’s art. That controversy gives graffiti more meaning.”

Filed Under: Features

Teacher Profile: Michael Clapper

October 18, 2018 by Jayla Wright Leave a Comment

Mo Kelly

Staff Writer

It’s a Monday morning. Tired children trudge up the staircase to get to the fifth floor for their first class. They are greeted at the door by a bright-faced Michael Clapper, the new History and English teacher at SLA Center City, who asks the questions about their weekend. Kids walk into his classroom, ready to start the day.

Growing Up

Mr. Clapper grew up in Reading, Massachusetts, a small town north of Boston. He attended a boarding preparatory school. This school provided him with many opportunities and the students there had what he describes as an “intellectual firepower.” But, he said it was very different from SLA.

“There was almost no diversity there,” he said. “And also, at SLA, curiosity extends to an intellectual, social, community level. That’s what I love about it.”

After high school, he attended Macalester College, a small liberal arts college in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The broad-based, diversified education he received there well-prepared him for the variety of jobs that would come after college.

From Minnesota, Mr. Clapper moved to Philadelphia ultimately in pursuit of his Ph.D. in American History. The move to a big city, like Philadelphia, made a big impact on him.

“The transition from a suburb to a Philadelphian environment was a difficult one, but I really enjoy living in the city,” Stated Clapper.

Along with living in the city came many different job opportunities. Clapper has worked as a park ranger, a social worker, a drug and alcohol counselor, and a bike courier. His favorite part about the city is the diversity and the ability to walk anywhere.

Teaching Career

Clapper started teaching in the late 90’s at Simon Gratz High School where his love for watching kids learn and grow began.

“Teaching is closest to who I am,” he said when asked why he decided to become a teacher, “and, I like to read, write and argue.” He taught students History and English in many schools across the city.

In addition to teaching, Mr. Clapper was a part of the founding team of The Workshop School. another project-based high school in West Philadelphia. He and four other people worked on this school from the beginning, making sure students had a different approach to learning than conventional high schools. Although it’s different from SLA, he says it’s still a great school.

While teaching in Philadelphia, Mr. Clapper began to play Ultimate Frisbee. This is where he met Chris Lehmann, the founding principal of SLA. Mr. Lehmann told him about his idea of SLA and shortly after Clapper was hired to teach 11th-grade students History and English.

“There is power in the way people work,” said Clapper. This is why he was interested in the SLA model.

At SLA

Mr. Clapper fits just right in the SLA community. English and History Teacher Joshua Block, who now works alongside Mr. Clapper knows this from personal experience — he was Mr. Clapper’s student teacher many years ago.  

“His vision of education and the way that he teaches fit with SLA and what we’re trying to do as a school.” He also describes him as a goofball and incredibly smart,

His students all also love him. Freshman Ellis Measley, a Clapper advisee says, “He has made me feel welcomed by mostly being nice and making things chill… Overall I am very happy he is my advisor.”

Home Life

Michael Clapper lives in West Philadelphia with his wife and two children. At home, he likes to read, write and cook with vegetables he grows in his garden. If you’d like to keep up with Mr. Clapper you can visit his blog, mrclapper.com. This blog has been around since 1997, where it was originally a Grey Matter site.

“I like keeping track of the way kids are inspiring me,” he says about his blog.

Filed Under: Features

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