POLITICS MAKES ME SICK

Another presidential election has come and gone. By November 3, the candidates’ months-long struggle was over. Good riddance.

I dislike politics (the process, not the issues). The flaws of a setup in which success depends upon telling people what they want to hear are painfully prominent during campaigns. The very system by which we elect our president guarantees us someone willing and able to please each group with whatever declamations sway them best. Not only would a competent, reasonable, honest individual more concerned with public good than public opinion be unlikely to run for president, we wouldn’t elect such a candidate.

We get what we ask for – that’s the way America works. From reality TV to campaigns that could be featured on it, we make the ratings that decide what kind of show keeps airing. Is competency, intelligence, and selflessness too much for us to ask for?

Don’t answer that. I’m depressed enough.

Grace Livingstone

Junior

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I WANT CANDY!

Although I agree that people should eat healthier, indulging yourself in unhealthy food occasionally should be okay. Over the summer, the school eliminated candy, ice cream and soda from the vending machines and school store in order to provide healthier food to the students and staff.

However, I think that there should be at least a couple machines where you can still get soda and candy. It is not fair that in other Montgomery County high schools there are a myriad of vending machines that still provide lemonade, soda, candy, and even ice cream. If the county designtes these rules, either all schools should obey them or none of them should.

Megan Eng

Sophomore

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DON’T HATE, CONGRATULATE

After I read the article about Coach Bird in the last issue, it got me thinking about my teachers and coaches and I realized how rare it was for me to think about all the great things that teachers and coaches do for their kids. I feel that we tend to forget about the sacrifices the adults in our lives make for us. Coach Bird risked his life to save a co-worker, and I think that we need to honor that and honor his commitment to his kids, along with all teachers’ and coaches’ commitments.

Katie Mackenzie

Sophomore

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CONGRATS, MRS. GOODMAN

I want to congratulate the principal Mrs. Goodman on receiving the Mark Mann Excellence and Harmony Award this year. Mrs. Goodman deserves this award because she does create a “challenging and creative academic environment.” Her award last year was in gratitude of her hard work. Throughout her career she deserved what she got and to this day she is the great principal we have today. She has brought arts and humanities to Blake in ways other schools cannot. Thank you Mrs. Goodman and congratulations!

Ellen Park

Sophomore

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CONGESTION CITY CHAOS

As an incoming freshman three years ago, I remember being overwhelmed in this school. Now, I can only imagine how it feels for newcomers, because it is a busy, over-crowded city. Just walk towards the spiral staircase at the end of lunch and you’ll experience the chaos that is rush-hour traffic—nearly fight for your life to get to class on time.

While I think it’s great that our school has become well-known and well-respected, it’s amazing that Blake is only several years old and already overcrowded. The addition of the portables and the sibling locker rule surprised more than a few people when the first day of school finally rolled around.

My brother is hoping to go to Blake next year, and if he does, I know we will probably have to share a locker. I can just see it now, like in those movies, where they open the locker and all the stuff flies out at them into a huge pile all over the hallway. I’ll find my textbooks crammed in between his two-week-old dirty gym clothes, and I’ll have to kick in my jacket just to make it fit around all the papers that will be forever accumulating in that locker. Next year will not be an easy transition for either of us.

Hannah Taub

Junior