4 ■ february 2003
features
ncssm I the stentorian
Stress reduction plan: a step
in the wrong direction
Lowering Standards
Emily Currin
Paul Smith and Vanessa
Barnett-Loro
*
T he administration of the
school is beginning to
review problems with
academic workload - a thing
which needs a good amount of
attention. Unfortunately, by
attempting to increase stan
dardization they seem to be
falling into a trap that has
snared too many of our educa
tional institutions.
The plan as presented to
the student body consisted of
a schedule outlining how long
the 'average' student should
spend on his/her classes,
homework, extracurricular
activities, and even personal
hygiene.
The plan is to attempt to
ensure that out of class work
loads remain safely within
their allotted four hour time
slots - with the option to apply
for additional hours available
for teachers if they feel their
class deserves more time.
Additional changes being
discussed include placing a
limit on the number of classes
and seminars students may
take and possibly instituting a
lights out policy.
We have a number of
problems with these sugges
tions; one of the foremost is
the huge diversity of students
towards which this school is
catering. With such a huge
variance of skills, interests,
and commitments,we don't
understand how such a gener
ic outline could possibly meet
the needs of the student body.
We'd be willing to bet it would
be impossible to find the com
mon '90%' of students this
plan was supposed to repre
sent.
Where do we draw the
line between the "healthy
stress" that induces us to work
effectively and "unhealthy
stress" that has everyone so
worried? This distinction
seems extremely personal.
One of the best ways to deter
mine this would be encourag
ing strong relationships
between students and their
academic advisors - not a
blanket, school wide policy.
Keep the surveys; accu
rate predictions of the amount
of outside work expected for
particular classes are valuable
to students for scheduling pur
poses. But don't try to enforce
limits on classes; list the esti
mated hours in the course cat
alogue, and let us decide, with
the help of our advisors, what
we can handle.
If Dr. Kolena and Dr.
Allen want to join forces and
teach a class that requires 25
out-of-class hours a week,
good for them! They should
n't have to apply for this priv
ilege. If students are willing,
let them push themselves. If
someone balks at the time
commitment for Physics with
Topics, encourage them to
take General Physics - don't
slow down the Topics class.
Student academic autono
my is one of Science and
Math's largest appeals. It is
also important that, as stu
dents, we are allowed to push
ourselves and take classes in
which we are interested, with
qualified and competent
instructors who are trusted
and respected enough by the
administration to teach in the
manner they think best.
In the words of one par
ticularly verbose senior, "We
came here to be challenged, to
escape from dictatorial admin
istrators with Napoleonic
complexes and love affairs
with hall passes and other
manifestations of bureaucratic
red tape." Somehow, with all
the talk of regulating our
classes, homework, and sleep
cycles, that escape seems a lit
tle less sweet.
Students who come to
this school do so with the
expectation that they will be
challenged. It may mean we
have to stay up until 4:00 AM
every once and a while in
order to take the classes we
want and still get our work
done. Personally, though, I
think this is one of the best
aspects of Science and Math.
We guarantee that, in ten
years, we'll value the amazing
education and experience
we've had here more than
we'll miss any lost sleep.
When we think about the
changes being planned for
Science and Math, we are con
cerned for the future of our
school. Our experience here
has been remarkable, but we
fear that in our overzealous
attempts to control every vari
able we encounter, we are
jeopardizing the academic and
social integrity of our school.
We think it's time that the
movers and shakers of this
school took a step back and
decided what they really want:
a school where there is no
danger of anyone overreach
ing themselves, not getting
enough sleep, or taking one
too many classes because stu
dents are discouraged from
pushing their limjts, or a
school where students are
forced to learn how to manage
time and stress, take utmost
advantage of an amazing,
motivated teaching staff,
explore academically, and are
unfettered by unnecessary,
standardized regulations.
Our school cannot have
both.
S parked by the Project
540 words "shut up you
whiney baby," many
students at NCSSM have been
complaining more than usual.
Yes, it is true that we all have
mounds of homework, that we
don't always like the adminis
tration, and the attendance
policy is not the best, but
recently I heard a new com
plaint that I did agree with.
Chris Haagen started a rant
about how girls at NCSSM
had high standards that the
boys here (which are definite
ly below standard, as Chris
Haagen said) could never
meet.
Chris suggested that the
female population of NCSSM
needed to lower their stan
dards. Just from an outsider’s
view I have seen many girls
here who appear to be "lower-
standards."
It seems
that girls
have given
up on our
hopes of a
tall dash
ing boy and
pr s
up. Don't think we are trying
to look nice for you; it's a per
sonal self-confidence thing.
2) Remember that girls
here look nice or at least pre
sentable most of the time, but
if you see us one time and we
look exceptionally tired, sick
ly, or not om best, it is not
your duty as a male to tell us
so. "What's wrong with your
hair?" and "Wow, you look
really bad. Are you tired?"
are not appreciated!
3) Also, it is very encour
aging when a boy says "Hello,
insert name here." This pro
vides positive reinforcement.
Now, if you happen to forget a
girl's name do not just guess at
what it could be and make
yourself look like a fool.
Instead say something like,
"Hey, girl" - even the "what
up, homey-g?" would work.
Just do not use the wrong
name.
4) Never let it get out that
. , ' you a)
girls -
ing their
seems that girls have
given up on our hopes of a
tall dashing boy and are
settling for shorter, less
socially developed types." .|
are settling for
shorter, less socially devel
oped types.
There are others of us
who may just be choosing not
to settle and are hoping for a
brighter, less computer-orient
ed type of guy in the future.
These types of girls have
become disillusioned after
their tumultuous NCSSM
experiences with boys. I do
not know if many of them can
be saved before they graduate.
Instead of making the
girls lower their standards
once again, I thought I could
suggest a few tips:
1) First of all, boys, you
should not be scared by a girl
who wears a little bit of make-
want to
hook up
with some
one or b)
really want
a girl
friend. No
one wants to date someone
who appears to be on the verge
of desperado.
I suggest to Chris Haagen
and the other boys out there
that maybe you are looking for
love in all the wrong places. I
know lots of girls who would
be interested in something;
everyone wants to have a little
fun now and then anyways,
right? Boys, you need to
change your whole attitude.
It's not necessarily that the
ladies here have standards are
too high and that you just don't
fit into these categories. You
just need to take what you got
and work with it. It's all about
turning a 5.0 into a 10.0.
Ter: My Vear&it Other Half
Althouglvthey would/tear
in'apart. I know we'wM/
he'together agalrvioovv. A
bond/ Idee' oury vy eternal'.
- ToitHant
S7£0vc yoaemut.
BZHUJiJlOa you are
my fire! one (fesire.
Islit/i mucJi [oue,
IHuSerl /oiu
Sarnia -
Thanks for being so
wonderful. You really
are the preatest.
I love you!!!
To: Andtea Clark
You know what you are
to me, so 1 don't have to
explain; but .
Jay
jfo: JKr.
you neecf a in
ifie sfals !
~jJfCorrison
To: Alig, Sonya and Ivana
You three really are
wonderful!
1 miss you!
Love, Sarah
To: TLmolie
I wrote your name in the
sky,
but the wind blew it away. I
wrote your name in my heart
and there it will stayl
~Thien
To: Evan Ritter
Thank you for
17 great months.
Happy Valentine's Day.
I love you.
Love, Amanda
3o: Sauren ls)ayner
U/ien te! amorous kisses efevetton
our tips, 6eyin to letta
Utiousanef, anda Jtundred,
score a jtfundred, and a
Ukousandmore. . .
Devki -
you arc the best! I am so
glad that we arc together.
You are one of the few
people that make me truly
happy. Much love
- Keith.
To: Guiane Baker
U are my hero! Thanks for
saving me from those 1E peo
ple. All the nights of Web
Assign wouldn't be as magical
without you! Dawgs 4 life -
Morgan
To: Terri
No crappy poem
for you. I'll just say
I love you.
- Jitton^
PyUn,
Whgt 4i'4 the kittens
evei- 4o to you^ Love,
GG 9h4 AC
To: Ivana Vu
Much love to the great
est Jr. sister ever! Sorry
1 haven’t been a better
senior brother.
- Ben
My 4B girls, and my pseu4o-4B
girls Oade, Leah, and Janet!) I
love you guys so much. Thanks
for making this year so awe
some. Happy Valentine's Pay!
Love, Angie