by Alan Nemirovski All of us have seen high school movies growing up, from classics like High School Musical to newer favourites such as To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before. Because we never had a really good understanding of what high school is really like, we always assumed it to be like it was in the movies. But when we get to high school, it's completely different. we might not realize it in Grade 9 but by the time we get to the 10th or 11th grade, it gets pretty clear: high school is nothing like the movies.
Here are just a few preconceived notions that we see in your average bestselling high school movie: high schools have cliques that stay together no matter what, and rarely allow new people “in”, disrupting the status quo can create chaos, everyone will find their high-school version of their “one true love” at some point, but only during junior or senior year, and that social status is more important than academics. In reality, everything is just about the opposite of what the movies portray. Sure there are still popular people and those people who do find someone they love in high school, but not to the same dramatized effect that we see on screen. For one, in real life, academics are vastly more important than social status. We are in high school to learn and prepare for university, and the life ahead of us. Social status, while somewhat beneficial, and some would argue important, is, and should be, secondary to the academic aspect of high school, as that is what will pave the path towards success in the future beyond high school. Also, people are always looking for new friends, and many don’t just have one set “clique”. And finally, there is no such thing as a “status quo”. Things change, either driven by us or driven by the adults that run our prison--I mean school. Change also happens to teach a valuable lesson in adaptability, something that will very much come in handy after school. Overall, if I haven’t reiterated it enough — HIGH SCHOOL ISN’T LIKE IN THE MOVIES. It is different, for better or for worse, and the high school experience is different for each of us. So go experience it for yourself, so you can draw your own conclusions just like I did.
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By Maddie Robin This week, the Ford government announced that two mandatory courses taken online will be
required for graduation, going into effect in September 2020. This means that for the classes graduating in 2023-2024 onwards, they will have to take two of their classes online or they cannot graduate. This is one of the Ford governments newest changes, and it’s also the most frustrating one that will undoubtedly cause many problems. First off, online course work much differently than regular course, and this is going to cause students to have trouble with it. There is no face to face teacher, it is difficult to ask questions, and marking is known to be harsher. Kids are going to have a much harder time getting a good grade in that class. And then there’s the issue of it being online, meaning one needs access to technology almost everyday. Has the government just decided to ignore the fact that not everyone has access to technology and the internet? Children whose families can’t afford computers or wifi are going to fall behind, and this leaves them at a huge disadvantage. It is completely unfair, and the government seems to have decided to ignore this. School is difficult enough, but to have to take a full course online, while not having access to technology, will leave hundreds or even thousands of kids at such a disadvantage; this could affect the colleges they go to, the job they have, the future life they have. And the Ford government doesn’t even seem to have any sort of valid reason for wanting to do this besides that it cuts down on class sizes. The education of children should not be compromised, it should be prioritized. |