On October 26, 2020, Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed to be the 115th Justice on the Supreme Court.

The official White House website states that, “Justice Barrett offers a new perspective to the Supreme Court, she is the first mother of school-aged children, as well as only being the fifth woman to serve. Barrett is also a parent of a special-needs child.”

However, with the confirmation of Justice Barrett comes significant worry and fear from members of many diverse communities. This fear stems from Justice Barrett’s extremely outdated morals based in Catholicism, which put many Americans at risk of losing their rights. Justice Barrett is pushing the boundary of separation of church and state and every American should be very worried.

Justice Barrett is moving the court firmly to the right, meaning that rulings of the Supreme Court will be more in favor of traditionally conservative views. With Barrett’s confirmation and the loss of the beloved Ruth Bader-Ginsburg, the Supreme Court now consists of six conservative justices and three liberal justices.

In 1973, Roe v Wade, the Supreme Court ruling that protects a person’s right to choose to have an abortion without excessive intervening from the government, was passed. Since then, abortion rates have been steadily decreasing because of the increase in access to contraceptive options and family planning services. Having this access to essential healthcare is vital. The thought of Roe v Wade being at risk with the confirmation of Justice Barrett is extremely concerning for many Americans, myself included. Personally, I believe that every person deserves the right to body autonomy and decision making for themselves.

The New York Times reported that Justice Barrett joined an argument in 2018 regarding laws in her home state of Indiana. She supported the ban of abortions sought because of a fetuses disability and health condition. This means that Justice Barrett fought to force a person to carry a pregnancy to term when the infant might not even survive past infancy. Justice Barrett also fought for a law requiring that all fetal remains must be buried or cremated. In 2019, the Supreme Court turned down the first law, regarding illegalizing pregnancy terminations desired because of fetal health, but passed the law controlling what somebody does with fetal remains.

Obergefell v Hodges is the Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage. This constitutional right was only granted to the LGBTQ+ community in 2015. Justice Barrett and many of her conservative peers have spoken out against Obergefell v Hodges. The reasoning behind wanting to remove the right to marriage, besides blatant homophobia, is the extremely outdated belief that marriage is between only a man and a woman. For LGBTQ+ community members and allies alike, this hatred is so disheartening. Same-sex marriage has been legal for merely five years in the U.S. and it is already at risk. As a country, we are taking massive steps backward as opposed to moving forward into a more accepting and loving society.

Justice Barrett may also be on the bench to hear the case regarding the Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare. The ACA allows all Americans to remain on their parent’s insurance until the age of 26, as well as providing healthcare and Medicaid to as many Americans as possible. Having access to insurance and healthcare is absolutely necessary, but conservatives have been trying to push it away since day one. The ACA has helped over 20 million people get health coverage, which has undoubtedly changed their lives for the better.

President Trump selected Justice Barrett to fill ex-Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsberg’s seat, despite RBG’s dying wish for her seat to remain empty until after the election. RBG knew that this election would be crucial for everybody, especially those who have been discriminated against in the past. If you are not a healthy, white, heterosexual person in America, your fundamental rights are as risk with Justice Barrett on the Supreme Court.

Justice Barrett graduated from Rhodes College in 1994 with a major in English literature and a minor in French. After earning her undergraduate degree, Barrett went on to Notre Dame Law School on a full-ride scholarship. While teaching at Notre Dame, Barrett was a part of an extremely homophobic organization, which has been recognized by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group. This organization has a history of linking homosexuality to pedofilia, as well as advocatiting for the crimilization of homosexuality and the sterilization of transgender people.

Overall, Justice Barrett is not serving the people of America, she is serving her individual morals rooted in her religion. The confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett as the 115 justice of the Supreme Court was, and still is, a very terrifying event for a large percentage of the population. Justice Barrett will be fighting against reproductive rights and proper healthcare. Justice Barrett will also pose a threat to health insurance for young people, as she fights to remove the ACA. LGBTQ+ community members and allies also need to fight to keep marriage equality, as well as removing the stigma of same-sex marriage.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett presents a threat to many equalities and rights that Americans fought for and deserve. Justice Barrett is not right for us.

Who would have thought that in the year 2020, there would have been a pandemic? Honestly, I feel as though my generation always knew it would happen seeing as we were raised on movies and books that depicted this type of world. Although many things going on in the world are terrible, it’s always important to take a break and try to have a positive mindset. Whether it’s having more family time, starting new hobbies, or becoming the best version of yourself.

I understand how during this time it might be hard to have a positive mindset all of the time; I personally felt that this time took a toll on my mental health. Remember to take breaks and try to find joy in the things that make you happy.

Online school and in-person school can both feel very stressful. I was in-person a couple of weeks ago, and I felt so anxious because I would see people not wearing their masks correctly or even at all. Especially with the rising cases, it’s stressful to have to spend hours in the building knowing that not everyone takes COVID-19 as seriously as I do. I was happy to see my friends, though, especially after not seeing many of them for months. I also missed school and the normalcy that goes with it; since the world is chaotic right now, that was much needed. Although I had some concerns with in-person learning, it’s important to have social interaction for your mental well being and overall happiness.

I made the switch to online school due to the rise in cases. Online learning is definitely different, which can create panic and confusion, but for others, it can be a new way to learn that is beneficial. Going online has its negatives as well, such as not being able to socialize as easily and some school activities are harder to participate in.

The hybrid model has started, and to me, it seems very stressful for both online and in-person students. It’s another new thing adding to the already anxiety-inducing lives students are living. In the eyes of my peers, this model might seem easy to understand and fun because you get the best of both worlds. You would get to see your friends some days in person and others you get to stay home and don’t have to worry about being late to school.

Something I’ve learned from switching to online school is that most people who switch to full-time Flex Learning do it because they think it’s easier. I can vouch as an online student that you still do the same amount of work, maybe even more. Online school is new territory for everyone involved, so it is to be expected that everyone is in a spiral of chaos. Honestly, as a student, I speak for my peers when I say that we are just as stressed as everyone else, and we just need some stability, which is hard to find right now.

Something I personally miss is getting together with friends and family to hang out and just be together. I also miss just going out and not having to worry if I brought my mask or not. It can be hard to find things to be happy about when the world seems to be falling apart, but It’s important to try to find things to enjoy. You should always find people to talk to in order to help you out during this time.

Yes, 2020 has brought about so many life-changing events. For better or for worse, these events have changed our lives as people, and it has come to show our true colors.

OLIVIA SCHULTZ

Vaping is the newest troublesome trend among teens. Most people have heard of it and are well aware of the dangers, but they still continue to risk their health and safety. The fact that commercials repeat over and over that they contain chemicals found in hygiene and household products should be enough to get anyone to stop. These chemicals — such as Propylene Glycol and Carcinogens — are known to cause cancer and affect a teenager’s brain in early development. Once these chemicals are heated together to form the vape liquid that is breathed in, they can contain toxic metals that will travel to your lungs. Nicotine is the most common chemical found in not only vapes but E-cigarettes and normal cigarettes as well. One thing many people get mixed up with vapes and E-cigarettes is that vape uses water vapor when in reality they are in fact the same thing, just packaged differently.Vaping can and will lead to further use of tobacco products, whether it’s cigarettes or other vaping products. Schools do talk about how vaping can be dangerous, but still students continue to make the choice to damage their lungs using tobacco products. About five million teenagers today use vapes or E-cigarettes. So many of those people could now have serious and fatal illnesses that could have been prevented. In the 1950s and 1960s, it was found that smoking was harmful in many ways. A major one being that it causes lung cancer from harmful chemicals and other materials entering the lungs. The vaping epidemic is beginning in the same way. Little research was done in the beginning until horrific side effects started to harm people. Then it was spread to the public, but it was too late; people were already addicted and had to suffer the consequences. At Kasson-Mantorville High School, the visual arts class made awareness signs to help fight the spreading epidemic. With slogans, the signs caught the attention of other students and faculty to show that the art students care about the world of tomorrow for their fellow peers. We at the KoMeTimes believe that no one should lose their loved ones through addiction or any other harmful side effects from vaping. With schools finding new ways to combat the modern-day struggles and challenges of a progressing society, we can help steer students toward better options.

Olivia Schultz

When you walk through the hallways of Kasson-Mantorville High School, you’ll often catch a conversation about how the school system is “the worst.” From teachers, to classes, to the facility itself, there isn’t a single part of the school that someone hasn’t complained about. What students don’t realize is that the building they come to five days per week is actually an amazing place compared to schools near and far.

Step outside of your K-M bubble, and you likely realize how great you have it. Let’s start out out with comparing schools from far away such as Arizona, which is where I went for eight years of my schooling. The differences between the school I attended in Arizona and K-M are obvious, and aside from the weather, they’re all in favor of K-M.

Let’s start off with teachers and administrators. The first unusual thing was that if you searched my Arizona principal's name on the school computers, it was automatically blocked. I found that suspicious and continued digging with my own electronics at home. Past incidents involving this individual, which cost him his job at a previous school, were easily found simply by googling his name. Yet, somehow, the School Board still hired him and seemed unaware of his past transgressions. What was frustrating from my perspective was that this individual secured this position over other very qualified -- many of them female -- candidates.

Another problem for teachers in Arizona was their compensation. The minimum wage where I lived was $10 per hour; that’s about what teachers made there, too. Wanting to show support for our teachers, students wore “Red for Ed” (education) on Fridays. Eventually, teachers and students protested for a week, seeking better pay for teachers. School was canceled during this time, and the goal was achieved by the end.

Next up is the facility aspect of school. Kasson-Mantorville has an amazing performing arts center and a great place for studying and working on school projects with its technological learning center. Most students do try to take care of the school they go to because they truly are thankful for the facilities given to them. Occasionally you will see some students who just don’t care if they make a mess of a classroom or if they disrespect the school and its teachers and faculty.

Referring back to my Arizona school, the first thing you would notice once you walked into the building would be how trashed it was from the students. The faculty always did their job and kept it clean, but they can’t throw away everyone’s trash because kids can be lazy.

Some days, people wouldn’t even get up and walk two steps to throw away their food and trash, so the teachers would have the students clean up their own mess during class time. Not only did that waste the short class times we had, but it also wasn’t very effective. The students that made the messes were supposed to clean, but they would always stand in a corner, huddled together, and not help with problems that they caused.

Throughout the building, I also notice the dead cockroaches and scorpions on the floors and in the lights. The overflowing trash cans were regularly infested with bees.

There was no big stage for performances; in fact, there were no performances in general. The school didn’t have a budget for many clubs or sports programs. Kasson-Mantorville takes care of its home, so that it’s a safe and healthy environment for learning.

With places like the TLC, the PAC, the music department, the Fitness Center, and the Commons, Kasson-Mantorville High School provides its students with multiple opportunities to achieve greatness. This school has many areas designated for working and class projects, and other areas available for personal interests and you can express yourself using all forms of the arts, and a place where you can socialize with your friends and form memories for the years to come.

Those are the things that Kasson-Mantorville has given us. Yet, some students disrespect it and don’t realize just how lucky they really are. These wonderful characteristics at this school are what set it apart from others.

Now I’m not saying Kasson-Mantorville is perfect by any means, but I hope this description of what some big-city schools in other states are like will make you pause and be thankful for the wonderfully clean and taken-care-of facility you have today, along with the many other perks of being a Kasson-Mantorville student.

Olivia Schultz

What people probably don’t realize is that high school pressures have changed over time. From how you should look to how you should act and think, social norms can have an everlasting effect of a student’s development into an adult. Speaking from experience, I can say that social pressures and stereotypes that girls think they have to conform to really do affect the mental and physical health of many of your everyday high school girls.

Starting off with physical appearance stereotypes, makeup and hair are assumed to be done for a boy’s attention. Maybe some girls do this to get their attention or to make a good impression but, you should never have to change yourself for someone. If that person can’t accept you for how you look without putting chemicals all over your face and burning your hair off, they are not worth it. I’m not saying that makeup and hairstyling are bad things, but when you purposefully use them to make someone like you more, then there is a problem. A real reason that girls might wear makeup, probably starting at a younger age, is that they are insecure about how they look normally. It’s fine to want to dress up and feel glamorous some days or everyday, but remember to do it for you and not for anyone else. I have come to see this is more of a problem in bigger cities than smaller towns, nevertheless, it still is a problem in Kasson-Mantorville too. Girls shouldn’t have to change themselves to please others or to cover up what they don’t like about themselves, instead they should celebrate what makes you unique and you always validate your opinion first.

Next is the stereotype that girls are less intelligent than boys. This just isn’t true, in high school some people succeed in classes and some fail. When I say people I mean every gender having their ups and downs not just girls always having downs when it comes to schooling. Especially hair color. There have been studies at different colleges that proves that women with different hair colors have similar IQs. The whole dumb blonde joke has been out dated and has now been proven that it is indeed, just a joke. How a person looks or what gender they are shouldn’t affect how they learn and retain information at school. I can tell you that when it comes down to how smart a high schooler is, it depends on how well they listen and respect their teachers, how much time they put into their education, and how motivated they are to learn.

These stereotypes have lasting effects that can change the way someone sees the world and how someone acts in it. Having low self confidence could lead to physical and mental disorders early in high school or even junior high. These problems and disorders will follow you throughout life unless you get help and allow yourself to see what an amazing person you are and can be. To really take a stance against stereotypes that take away from the joy of life, you should always remember that your opinion matters most to you when it’s about you and that if you don’t like the way you are or act, you can change for the better.

I really wish that problems like these will get better over time, but knowing the world today and how events tend to happen, they may just get worse. Only when we all stand together and support one another to become the best versions of ourselves can we truly break these stereotypes once and for all. As for all of the other genders, I don’t really know the pressures and stereotypes that they have to deal with everyday, but the same idea to take a stance and fight will help to make a better environment in schools and the world in general. To create a happier and healthier world for future generations to come, we need to start here and now.

Anders Herfindahl-Quint

Homework has become something that we all take for granted and do not even give a second thought. It has become just another part of school we all take for granted and have just accepted that it is a necessary thing for learning. I think that proper learning does not require homework as a validation for what has been learned. People learn things much better if they are taught the information through hands on learning or other methods tailored toward actual retention of knowledge and not just learning it to do homework and take a standardized test. Homework was originally created as a punishment but now it is a way for teaching to extend beyond the classroom and in theory increase learning potential. This is a great concept and would in theory work to help kids learn the material better by making them spend more time outside of class working on it, but that is the main problem. Most kids are doing stuff after school, whether they are in sports or other extracurricular activities or doing stuff with friends or family. They should not be barred from doing these things simply because they were unable to learn the material in the class time allotted. Teachers should base their curriculum on teaching the information in class and give kids opportunities to do work in class and get projects done in class making homework only necessary if you choose not to spend your time wisely. This would allow kids to develop a good work ethic and teach them the subject well without giving out hours upon hours of homework. I think that removing homework from school would actually make an increase in learning and allow students to take in information better if they are not staying up late working on homework. The main benefit however of no homework is; it puts a larger emphasis on extracurricular activities which teach you valuable life lessons and can help out the community in different ways. The actual benefits of assigning homework are few and far between, and I hope that makes you reconsider your views on homework.