Stagg Line <![CDATA[Stagg Line]]> http://my.hsj.org/Portals/2/logos/__TFMF_npggb3555sn2ap55zr1jtuva_bd9679b6-0b0a-4b5a-8fe9-05b85d93bc75_0___Selected.jpg en-us Copyright 2008 - All Rights Reserved. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:33:01 GMT 15 <![CDATA[Graduation no longer a privilege]]> By Faith Harris

Chelsea Collura
The excitement rolls over senior Alyssa Magana and Marisa McKiever as they search for their caps and gowns.

Cheers, applause, and names being screamed so loud you can hear them from Chicago. This is perhaps the chaotic setting at each senior graduation ceremony. Don’t get me wrong, they worked hard to get there, and they deserve it. My only concern is that the seniors that don’t deserve it will be allowed to walk in the ceremony. This year, Superintendent Anthony Amato created a new policy allowing seniors to walk in the graduation ceremony without receiving a diploma if they are within 10 credits of graduation.  They will also be able to walk if they have their credits, but did not pass the exit exam. This is unfair, because some seniors have worked hard to be able to walk across that stage, and I’m not crazy about the idea of allowing others to walk if they’re not dedicated enough.  Yes, I want to see people happy, and yes, I want to see people become successful in life. I don’t, however, want to see students being allowed to slide through life without giving 100 percent effort.  If seniors really did put forth enough effort, they would be able to get those ten credits they need, and if they spent their time studying a bit more, they might be able to focus enough to pass the exit exam. The policy is basically telling seniors that they don’t need to take the time to put effort into all their classes.  Yes, there is some logic to it; however, the fact that some students have worked so hard to get there, and others are just getting it handed to them on a silver platter is completely unfair. Some may say that they did work hard if they only need ten credits, but I think that if they were really as dedicated as they claim to be, they would be able to pass all the requirements without a second glance. From a freshman’s point of view, I see seniors as great role models. But if they can’t put forth enough effort to pass high school, why should I look up to them? The reason I looked up to them is because they seemed to be the perfect people to go to for advice. However, the past is the past, and things change. It’s now harder to ask seniors for advice because all they say now is that their English teacher has it in for them. How can you choose whom to trust if everyone you know is having their future handed to them without sufficient effort? When policies like this come along, that’s exactly what happens. Especially when policies decrease expectations of students. Seniors will begin to think that they don’t have to work as hard, and underclassmen will follow in their footsteps. This only creates an unhealthy trend of slacking off. The last thing we need is for everyone to start thinking they can do the bare minimum.  People seem to think that nobody cares how their life turns out, but the fact is, a lot of people do. The teachers put forth a lot of effort each day to help us lead better lives. Effort is everything, and in this case, there’s just not enough of it. ]]> Thu, 14 May 2009 15:43:37 GMT