America’s Education Crisis: it’s easy to see all around the country. Students, teachers, security, and administration are all struggling. It’s awful to see so many kids nationwide not get the proper education they deserve, as well as seeing teachers not being able to do the job that they love because of improper funding, mistreatment, and having to change their methods because of all of the things they’ve run into these past few years. I’ve interviewed several staff and students to see how it might be impacting our school, how we can compare our situations, and ideas that might be able to fix these issues in our district. In this month’s article, only student interviews will be included.

> Q1: How long have you been a student here, and what changes (schoolwise) have you seen or experienced since then?

Anonymous (11th):  Hallways are more crowded or bathrooms are way too full. You can’t even use the bathroom anymore because they kick everyone out for vaping, and lock it up for a while. The kids have an awful attitude and it gets worse every year. 

Anonymous (10th): It’s been a lot more crowded and the people are more rowdy. The school tries to get more strict, but it gets no positive reactions. 

Anonymous (10th): The students coming in are so much more immature and do not follow any rules that are set in place. 

Anonymous (12th): I agree that we can’t use the bathrooms anymore without someone asking if I have a vape. Every year these kids seem worse because of the timing of virtual learning and the lack of in-person human interaction at their age during quarantine.

> Q2: How do you feel about the current state of our school?

Anonymous (10th): I think they’re being overly strict, for no reason because it’s getting nowhere.

Anonymous (11th): I think they’ve tried to get more strict but aren’t enforcing these rules. If you look around, there are constantly too many people wandering around the hallways in plain sight. 

Anonymous (9th): There are too many people who are so immature and ruin it for everyone else coming to school to learn. 

Anonymous (11th): Our school is a complete mess. They let anything and everything slide because they don’t even hire professional workers. It seems like they don’t care about the physical or mental health of our students because for one, when they check bags they don’t fully check it through; they open a pocket or two and hand it off, knowing we’ve had a few threats to our school. Two, some monitors see visible smoke in the bathrooms and just laugh it off because they have an unprofessional ‘friendship’ with students. They don’t take into account how dangerous this kind of behavior is for us.

> Q3: If you are aware of it, how do you feel about the current situation with the Department of Education and students nationwide? Do you think our district has an issue? 

Anonymous (12th): It’s terrible. Like Florida started using a program that basically just shows animations that are censoring real-life issues. So they’re trying to make things seem less serious. For example slavery, gay rights, etc, they’re making it harder for students to grasp the reality of our country. The south of our country is getting worse and it will eventually be like this all around. But I don’t think those types of issues are occurring in our school today. 

Anonymous (10th): As a dyslexic student, I agree that many students aren’t at the appropriate level but everyone works at their own pace; except they’re not giving enough support to the people who need help with it. I think our school likes to claim they’re fully present and supportive of our students, then also that our school is not doing its best with (ex.) attendance, grades, etc.; but the issue is they’re not actually here for us. They’re around when our struggles don’t make them look good. 

> Q4: Can issues with students being addressed today (barely keeping up with their grade level, not being able to comprehend their work, etc.) be blamed on parents, teachers, district, department, etc.? Why or why not?

Anonymous (10th): I think the authorities have a major role in it because growing up, kids are naturally influenced by their parents and what their school does for them. With that being said, some people can’t help their behavior because they haven’t gotten enough support.

Anonymous Group:

Member 1 (10th): I’m not saying blame the teachers, but they’re a huge part of this. They would like to help you, but instead do all the work for you. Students in my grade have had things handed to them and they don’t know how to do anything. In one of my classes, all we do is write notes from the board and that’s it, we’re not learning.

Member 2 (12th): I think if you’re experiencing that, you have to work alone to break out of it. Certain people go above and beyond because both teachers don’t put effort into their classes, and most students just don’t care. And parents can absolutely be blamed; they don’t parent, causing their kids to not act right.

Member 1 (10th): Parents are everyone’s main example, so whatever they do, the kids are gonna do. You have to be a good example if you want your kids to be successful. 

Member 3 (11th): But if the parents aren’t present, kids go to the friends closest to them and learn everything from other kids, which can be so bad. 

> Q5: Do you think after everything we’ve been through these past few years (ex. Covid), do you think school is about learning or grades at this point?

Anonymous (10th): Grades, I haven’t learned anything successfully in years. 

Anonymous (12th): Teachers don’t care about learning anymore. If you don’t go out of your way outside of classes to learn something and your grades are bad, nobody’s going to guide you as they should be. They’ll only be there to tell you if your grades are good or bad.

Anonymous (10th):  I would like to say it’s for learning, but when you look into it, they stress it about grades. Personally, I’ve struggled throughout most of my classes but I don’t get the help that I need because my report card looks good.

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The content of these interviews, and others that have not been published here, reveal that there are big issues both here in our school, and in the United States education system as a whole. The emphasis of education should revolve around effective learning and the health of our students, yet there are many concerns about things such as disciplinary issues and ineffective methods of teaching that impede the students ability to learn and thrive here at AHS. Next month, we will examine the same issues through teacher interviews. Hopefully, this critical examination will lead us all down a path of growth, development, and positive change for our students and school.

Gentrification is a loosely thrown-around word, especially in the world of urban planning. However, what exactly is gentrification? Why do some believe it causes societal harm while others believe it is a necessary good? Is gentrification friend or foe?

Gentrification, in simple terms, is typically the transformation of poorer urban areas by wealthier people moving in. The influx of new capital eventually results in the rebuilding and modernization of these areas. Even you may have seen gentrification! It is largely characterized by its staunchly modernist architecture; think large, blocky, gray buildings with pops of color and wacky shapes decorating the outside facade.

If this sounds great to you, then yes it can be quite beneficial! Gentrification can be used to build more affordable housing. These buildings, while artificial-looking, can be built for much cheaper than other forms of housing. These buildings can also curb the problem of affordable housing, simply by providing more housing! And when there is an increase in multi-family housing, rents have been shown to decrease in certain areas. These buildings can also revitalize previously run-down areas, attracting more and more outside investment. Furthermore, communities can become increasingly safer and have a higher standard of living compared to their previous states. Especially since housing costs have been continuously rising, more cities have been turning to gentrification as a means of relieving those demands as well as improving their often neglected areas.

However, the strongest argument against gentrification lies within what may happen to the previous residents of the areas. Gentrification can also come with negative side effects. While it may vary from place to place, some areas can actually experience rent spikes, as a result of rising property values and an increase in demand. These developments can actually disadvantage the usually poorer and working-class communities that once called the area home. More specifically people of color, the elderly, the disabled, and low-income workers are at a higher risk for direct displacement or the practice of being forced out of their homes. Furthermore, gentrification may slowly phase out an area’s sense of community. With the introduction of modern, clean, and artificial-looking buildings, the remaining sense of locality, such as family-owned restaurants and locally-owned businesses could be pushed out and be replaced by modern, corporate-owned businesses. These areas can lose their sense of self and look and become as bland as the last gentrified community. These issues have been the leading cause of the push against gentrification and why it is largely viewed negatively by residents.

Gentrification can vary from area to area. It can bring economic prosperity to some areas while harming local communities in different areas. It requires a sense of balance as well as awareness of the official goal of the project. Is it to benefit the people? The corporation? Or the city? For it to be successful, it needs to benefit all three. Gentrification is a far larger issue than just the wealthy investors that develop the physical buildings. It requires large-scale cooperation with the people who live in the area and the governments responsible for them. Cities need to value rezoning areas with higher population densities and phase out single-family housing in favor of multi-family housing. Cities also need to play an active role in the revitalization of these communities as well as establish help for their disadvantaged residents. Corporations need to work with the previous and future residents of the area and establish a middle ground that guarantees them the cheap housing they need and the local sense of the community that thrives in the area. And lastly, it needs the support of the people. We need to look at gentrification with a more open view and acknowledge its faults and its advantages. Only then can we establish a form of gentrification that both maximizes its benefits and curbs its detriments. 

Sources:

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/gentrification/

https://www.studioatao.org/gentrification?gclid=CjwKCAjws9ipBhB1EiwAccEi1FA1u1sUCV03-7yUTYFFTxHlCw1URmaz1Hwav1olaeXxpCNKkOjoaBoCAC0QAvD_BwE

https://vox.com/videos/2022/2/14/22933188/gentrification-low-income-affordable-housing

https://www.nationalcivicleague.org/ncr-article/we-need-to-change-how-we-think-about-gentrification/#:~:text=On%20the%20one%20hand%2C%20people,newcomers%20to%20boost%20the%20economy

This fall has been eventful in the sports realm at AHS. The girls and boys soccer teams have been having two to three games weekly in hopes of grabbing a spot in sectionals. Girls tennis has just wrapped up their season at the end of September, and three girls placed a spot in sectionals, which take place at the end of October! Only two boys are competing in sectionals for the golf team this year. The football team has had two home games in October, but sadly sectionals is not reachable this year for the team. The home games were a blast for students, with a beach theme as well as the annual pink out game! The girls and boys cross country team had the amazing opportunity to go to NYC again to compete in an invitational! Cross country sectionals take place in November, so the team still has a few weeks to prepare. Overall fall sports are wrapping up, but it is easy to say that each team was able to positively develop and improve from the very beginning of the preseason in August. 

Amsterdam is filled with many talented athletes across all sports for both girls and boys. Each week an athlete from each team is nominated for athlete of the week. It is really special to win, and a great way for athletes to receive proper recognition. Still, many people don’t even know about the weekly athlete winners. Make sure to check the school website weekly for an update! 

Speaking of athletes, this fall 8 student athletes identified as leaders within their school and team communities were chosen to participate in the now annual Foothills Council Athlete Leadership Summit at Fulton Montgomery Community College (FMCC). Specifically, one female and male athlete were chosen per grade level from each school to participate. The freshmen class representatives were Rocco Natale and Elianna Tirado. The sophomore class representatives were Aundray Fowler and Sadie Brodie. The junior class representatives were Emma Miller and Dominik Agresta. The senior class representatives were Gianna Crespo-Julia and Cristian Torres. The event this year focused on mental health and wellness. Athletes from all over the Foothills Council were able to collaborate together in break out groups and talk about handling certain situations. Athletes experience immense pressure in many aspects of their lives, and normalizing that with ways to cope is essential to keeping athletes mentally stable. Even though there were many different schools together, it felt as if everyone there was a big community working together to help one another. The overall goal is to inspire leaders and coaches so that they can work within their own sport to keep a positive, flourishing environment. It was a great experience to attend and learn how to better yourself as well as your teammates. 

I do not know what every person can remember about preschool, but one thing I remember fully is the saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” That is never something that I believed in whole-heartedly, but there is some relevant evidence that supports this saying. 

Recently, studies have shown that apples contain lots of antioxidants that really help you be healthy. They are around 85% water and can fill a person up without having tons of calories. Apples are also associated with lower rates of high blood pressure, heart disease, and reduced chance of stroke. The reason for all these amazing outcomes is the great deal of potassium in apples. Potassium is a good supplement for the body which helps lower cholesterol. Apples really are a superfood!

Apples are also known for their high fiber content, which is beneficial for the digestive tract. Along with them being low in calories and high in water, this makes them a great source for weight management. People feel full a lot quicker when they eat an apple, and they get only half the calories of other snacks and treats! 

People with respiratory issues will also find apples to be of benefit to them. Those who have lung cancer or asthma will find a slower decline of respiratory issues with the more apples they intake. Apples seem to have slowed down the process of lung declination for those with such issues. 

For many people out there looking to improve their health, I would recommend apples as a source for that. It is not as if they are strictly monotone with only one kind; there are all varieties, such as Gala, Fuji, Macintosh, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, etc. They support a wide variety of palates and satiate a bunch of picky-eaters! 

Obviously, apples are not the only beneficial fruit out there, but I believe that they are the most well-rounded. They help your heart, digestive tract, and even respiratory tract. Most fruits and vegetables cannot do all of the things that apples can, and they do not even come in different varieties! I am not saying that bananas or other fruits do not benefit a person, just that apples are more beneficial to all systems of the body instead of just primarily one. 

An apple a day is not a given to keep the doctors away, but it does seem to help. With all the proven benefits of apples, what is not to love about them? With a wide variety of flavors and benefits, apples are appealing to all. Maybe the doctors will not stay away, but it could make those visits a lot quicker! Knowing that you could be healthier, an apple is something that everybody should be eating frequently. If you want a healthier lifestyle, I think a good start would be an apple a day.

Women in the music industry have always been antagonized by the media; for years the media has been cruel to women in this male dominated industry. Almost every person in the public eye has been accused of something bad throughout their career, but there’s a huge difference between the treatment that men get, and the treatment that women get. While men in the music industry are rarely called out for their behavior, women artists have suffered under heavy criticism and harsh judgment for everything they do.   

For most people, Ariana Grande is among the greatest pop stars of our generation, breaking world records and becoming a household name. Ariana is an idol to people everywhere, though most of her fanbase is young adults. The pop singer has earned her success from having an insane vocal range and a very powerful voice. She sings about her personal experiences, both good and bad, making her music relatable while also empowering. Of course, because of this success, Ariana has become a person that people have chosen to attack. 

Ariana went through a lot of life changes and struggles in only a few years. For example, in May of 2017, an Islamic suicide bomber attacked Ariana’s concert in Manchester killing 22 people, and injuring 1,017. This terrorist attack rattled Ariana to her core; she went into hiding for a while afterward, unsure of how to move forward without fear. 

Just one short year later, Ariana’s ex-boyfriend, Mac Miller succumbed to his drug addiction, and devoted Ariana haters actually blamed the singer for his death. Ariana and the rapper, Mac Miller, dated for 2 years, breaking up in May of 2018. Ariana then went on to date Pete Davidson, a comedian, a couple of weeks after the break up. Shortly thereafter, Ariana and Pete became engaged in June of 2018. Like any other woman, she continued to live her life after ending a relationship, but since the rapper sadly died of a drug overdose involving fentanyl in September of 2018, haters blamed Ariana, saying that she worsened his struggles and caused his death.

The pop singer has also been criticized for her excessive tanning and using black culture for her gain. Additionally, Ariana has also been accused of mocking Native Americans and using eye makeup to make her appear Asian. Nobody, it seems, is satisfied with Ariana’s aesthetic, and people find fault with everything she tries. 

After many years of staying to herself and not being involved in controversies, people have decided that Ariana is too confident, too strong, and too comfortable with herself.  As a result, mean-spirited people have recently amped up their personal attacks of the singer, calling her a homewrecker and making up hateful and unfounded lies about her stealing people’s husbands. So while Ariana has definitely made some questionable decisions, like the rest of human-kind, she has also definitely received unfair, harsh criticism for her humanity, and it is because she is a woman.