Uncategorized

by Saamir Baker
Staff Writer

Senior open campus is something seniors look forward to every year. Sadly, this privilege has been abused in recent years, so a new system was implemented in April in order to monitor students more efficiently.

Technology and Art teacher Marcie Hull came up with this new system where all seniors get a special barcode to keep on their Student IDs that allows them to scan in and out of the building with very little delay. The previous system involved students writing their names down on a sheet of paper and was clumsy and slow. In the new system, when a student scans their ID, they appear on a Google spreadsheet with the time and date of the scans in and out. Taking part in this program is simple: a senior must not be failing any classes or have received an interim in the 3rd quarter. They also must adhere to the rules about food: they are allowed to bring back food for themselves (a huge change compared to last year) but it cannot be for another student. Seniors are able to use open campus during their lunch band or if they have a free period during  X or Y band, but cannot use it during any other bands. There is no time limit on how long students can be out as long as they are not late for class.

Counselor Zoe Siswick handles all of the administrative aspects of this idea. Her duties include accounting for when people come back late and being responsible for all eligible students having their barcodes. She noted that students were very excited and open towards this new approach but teachers weren’t as excited. The biggest fear amongst the staff was students abusing the policy, but a democratic poll amongst the teachers showed they still favored the new policy by a landslide.This could be a new era for senior open campus if this idea goes well and is not abused like in previous years. There will always be tweaks, but so far the bar codes have been off to a hot start.  

 

*Editorial

Aaron Watson-Sharer

Editor

 

Every spring, Science Leadership Academy students receive a lecture on Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD’s). I’ve been going to these sessions since freshman year. I’m a senior now and the presentation hasn’t changed much. The public health advocates have always provided students with a straightforward presentation that covers two common STD’s in Philadelphia youth: Gonorrhea and Chlamydia. The objective has always been to educate us on the issue and how to prevent ourselves from contracting the diseases. We are encouraged to get tested yearly.

We walk out of class and march to the cafeteria. We know it’s time for the STD screening. We arrive and sit with our friends. Most kids, from what we’ve seen at least try to stay engaged and respect that we’re on their time. We hear the same story year after year from the screening. For example, they use the “you never know who you’ve had sex with” idea. This states that having sex with just one individual doesn’t strictly mean one individual, as they or you has been sexually active with others, which if someone were to have an STD, would cause an outbreak. Each year everything is displayed identically. They’re consistent and informative but lack new creative thinking. At the end of each session, all students head towards the bathrooms so anyone can anonymously get tested.

Students also don’t seem to take the event seriously. We lack attentiveness and few students take advantage of the screening. On top of this, we hear jokes about very serious sexually transmitted diseases or about what else you can put in the test cup. We feel that SLA students haven’t really been doing their part.

SLA Media chimed in on this year’s event. We talked about what goes on at each STD screening session and why they are or aren’t necessary. The majority believed it was important to have a yearly screening. But eventually our conversation turned to, despite our STD screenings, the overall lack of information and access to sexual education and health care we have as students. It was near consensus in the room that our health class in 10th grade alone is insufficient.

We don’t believe SLA students are aware of all their options. We’ve heard of organizations like Planned Parenthood, but have not been provided with the information or direction to take that step if needed. Though, some SLA students have used their own initiative. Staff writer Deja Harrison said despite Planned Parenthood’s controversy in the news, occasionally goes to get access to birth control.

“At first it’s uncomfortable going there on your own. But you see other girls your age and it provides comfort to know they’re here for the same reason.” Harrison commented.

It’s great to see we have students who are aware of their options and take advantage of them. In fact, our journalism class had two students who knew they could get condoms from the nurse’s office. That was something I certainly wasn’t aware of. Our tenth grade health class covers a lot of important information and gives us a chance to learn the basics but teenage students need more than just the front page. We need in-depth knowledge whether we like it or not and we would like this school to provide us with ample opportunities to get this outside of an annual STD screening.

It’s understood why it’s a requirement for everyone to attend the screening and then continue to all enter the bathroom. Anonymity. But for students who wish to use their time differently or choose abstinence, we need another way of making this worth their time. A repetitive and aging video on Gonorrhea and Chlamydia has shown to be ineffective.

Knowing all you can about sexual education is vital to youth. There’s no price you can put on knowledge. Knowing your options and appropriate way to live how you wish, if it’s to be sexually active or abstinent is critical to not become apart of a negative statistic. We all need to make the extra effort to make the right choices.

 

*Editorials from slamedia.org reflect the overall views and opinion of the SLA writing staff as a whole.