OPINION

Addressing the Dress Code

by Benjamin Baek & Fox Baskin

FOR

by Fox Baskin

One of the biggest debates in our school is the dress code. Whether you’re for it or against it, we must admit that it makes things a lot easier and quicker in the morning when you don’t have to spend 20 minutes looking for an outfit. It’s also cheaper because after you buy the clothes that match the code, you can just wash those clothes during the school week, and spend less.

According to Scholastic.com, “Dress code supporters say the guidelines teach kids how to dress for their future jobs.” “They also think these rules prevent students from wearing clothes that might be distracting in class.”

It can also enhance safety, because it allows our teachers to recognize us.

Now I'm not saying the dress code is perfect, but overall, I think it gets a bit too much hate. Also, you aren’t punished unless you completely violate the dress code, so it's pretty much a win-win.

AGAINST

by Benjamin Baek

So, the DRESS CODE. The dress code is a heated topic in school. People either hate it (like me), like it or are indifferent.

Why I hate the dress code:

First of all it gives you barely any choice about what to wear. These are the guidelines:

(Exact text was moved down for readability purposes.)

Yeah. So. Painfully. Long. Sweatpants are comfortable (a plus to the dress code) so it’s probably a better choice than jeans. Shoes, I get, like why would anyone wear slippers or high heels to school? I get the ripped jeans part, too, but the hoodies I don’t get. I’m a person who loves hoodies, and if I can’t wear hoodies I get sad. I also don’t like collared shirts since they stab my neck. I know a lot of people don’t follow the dress code, but the hoodie ban should be removed. In other words, justice to the hoodies. The dress code should be more lenient toward students who like diversity in clothing.

Guidelines of the JHS 194 Dress Code

Part 1: Pants

Solid color cotton or denim pants or shorts that have a button/zipper/drawstring waist.

Pants/shorts must be appropriately sized, worn appropriately, with no ripped, torn, or distressed material.
Wearing “leggings” underneath ripped jeans is not considered appropriate attire.
Shorts are expected to be appropriate in length and not shorter than 2 inches above the knee.
Skirts/skorts/dresses are not permitted

Part 2: Shirts

T-shirts, collared shirts, long sleeve shirts or crew neck sweatshirts.
Shirts should be appropriate in size and skin between the bottom of the shirt and the top of the pants should not be exposed at any point.
If a student wishes to wear a hooded sweatshirt, JHS 194 hoodies can be worn in the school, during the day, if the hood is not worn on their head. Any other hoodie can be worn to and from school and kept inside their backpack to be utilized during recess and/or physical education outside.

Part 3: Shoes

Appropriate shoes need to be worn every day to school.
Days when students have physical education, they must wear sneakers to participate for the day.

In addition, please know that the following types of shoes are not allowed to be worn to school on any day for safety reasons: open-toe sandals, flip-flops, slides, crocs, high heels, slippers.

Artwork Created by Angelina Mendoza

Think Before You Speak

Your words can help save someone's life or end it.

by Aziza Hussain

Nobody deserves to feel inferior or less than others, based on their skin color. Nobody deserves to feel bad about their body. Nobody should be in an environment that penalizes them. Everybody should work to tackle problems involving prejudice and bias in our society.

Throughout my life, I’ve faced many back-handed and extremely disrespectful comments about my skin color. After each comment, I started feeling worse about myself. I constantly asked myself why I was being excluded and targeted for something I had no control over. Over time, I started understanding hatred against people of color.

Growing up in an environment full of people with lighter skin, I felt very different. To top it off, when the lights went off, people often made inappropriate comments like “Where did Aziza go?” Even my own family expressed their “concerns” over my darker skin.

Nobody really understood the impact that had on a confused, young child. As time progressed, I started developing confidence in my own body and skin. I knew that people who thought lighter skin was better, were just as confused as me during the time they made those comments. Consequently, whenever I spoke to anybody making comments about my peers' bodies I stood up to them.

Though I got through this and made strides in helping others, many kids don't. It is a truly gut-wrenching feeling to try to blend in and think of yourself as not enough.

Studies show that suicide is greatly connected with depression, and depression is positively correlated with insecurities. What people say can cause insecurities in others, starting from a very young age. Your words can help save somebody's life or end it. Think before you speak.

There are ways you can help yourself. Stop taking other people’s words personally and take a stand. Nobody is entitled to make comments about your body and get away with it.

You can also help your friends. Let them know they are enough. Just a compliment means a lot to a person struggling.

As a society there is a lot we can do: understand your privilege, remove your personal biases, put yourself in other people’s shoes, call out racist “jokes,” utilize the colorblind ideolog-, which means to treat everyone equally regardless of race, culture or ethnicity- and be thoughtful.

Instead of dragging each other down with our words, let's work together to build an environment where we welcome our differences, so that we all shine in our own ways.

The Sandwich Debate on Hotdogs

By Elenna Xia

Talking about sandwiches, there isn’t a clear answer when it comes to whether hotdogs are sandwiches. The definition of a sandwich is a snack, composed of two slices of bread, with a filling (meat, egg, lettuce, etc), but there are many different versions. The real question is are hotdogs actually sandwiches?

You might be wondering what I mean? Well, most people think it's not a sandwich, considering a sandwich is usually defined as two slices of bread, while a hotdog has one. But, it has a filling inside a type of bread, which means it is a sandwich. This debate really began because there is no single definition of a sandwich.

Both sides of this argument have reasonable evidence, the people who say hotdogs are sandwiches usually get the definitions from the dictionary. On the other hand, hotdogs are a unique food, making it hard to define.

Here is what our newspaper club team thinks. Ms. Brown and Mrs. Jun disagreed. “Yes, they are sandwiches,” Ms Brown said, while Ms. Jun said, “No, they aren’t sandwiches.” Our newspaper club assistant editor, Roy, is on Ms. Brown’s side. Overall, there are 5 votes for “Yes, hotdogs are sandwiches” and 17 votes for “No, hotdogs are not sandwiches.” This data also proves people have different opinions causing the debate to be ongoing.

What do you think?

Take our poll here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScMgdXeT41bpkdeaOiwSbYY_PIeRTSgJBEletI0NDbQ-D5cFg/viewform?usp=publish-editor

Is Chess a Sport?

By Evan Cai and Jack Han

Sports! An activity involving physical effort and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment. Sports come in many different shapes and sizes. But is chess an actual sport? Many people think that chess isn’t a real sport, but only a game.

They are wrong. Chess is actually an official sport, and it is even recognized as such by the IOC (International Olympic Committee). An activity may be considered a sport if it: requires physical or mental skill, is competitive, has clear rules, has a structured format, is recognized by organizations such as the IOC, and involves physical or mental exertion that may benefit your health.

This means that games such as Monopoly, Ludo, or Trouble can’t be considered sports, due to the fact that they require rolling dice and hoping for good luck. On the other hand, chess requires physical and mental skills when it comes to strategic planning—such as responding when an opponent moves one of their pieces. When a player has to counter a move, it also requires high concentration skills. Without focusing on the position of the opponent’s pieces, a player can blunder and lose the entire game.

Chess is competitive, with many local, national, and international tournaments. There are also clear rules that define how the game is played and how players can win.

Some examples of these rules are: players win by checkmating the other player, which means that no matter what, their king cannot move to another spot on the board. If a player—or their opponent—can’t move any pieces while in check, the game ends in a stalemate.

The game of chess is a recognized sport by the IOC, as well as many other national sports federations. Chess also offers many health benefits such as improved memory, stress reduction, better focus, and more.

Overall, chess is considered a sport. While some may still say it isn’t, there’s no denying that it’s a great reason for everyone to sit down, have fun, and play a round of chess.

Should Students have Homework?

By Emily Xiang

Imagine you head to math class where you’re assigned homework. After that class ends, you head to another class, only to be assigned more homework. As the long day goes on, each teacher assigns various tasks while you stare at the clock, willing to make time fly faster.

At last, when the school bell rings, you race home only to find yourself trapped in front of a big pile of homework. Some students procrastinate, while others eagerly grab a pencil and start. So, should students have homework?

Many students say no, because they find it dull and boring; it takes away their free time, which makes them feel overwhelmed. But others may enjoy the extra work.

Homework is a tool that can help students and their learning. It can improve grades and help students remember important information. Homework can also help teachers understand whether or not students understand what they’re learning.

According to a Stanford Report, Denise Pope, a Senior Lecturer at the Graduate School of Education said, “Any homework assigned should have a purpose and a benefit, and it should be designed to cultivate learning and development.” This reveals that homework should improve and impact student’s learning.

Mr. Fishel, a sixth grade science teacher at 194 said “I think homework is important to reinforce what students learned that day. I do not think it should be more than 15 minutes though.”

But having too much homework can cause stress levels to increase and cause sleep disturbance. It can also be bad for a student's mental health.

According to a study from the Human Restoration Project, there are four main reasons why homework doesn’t make sense:

Achievement, whether that be measured through standardized tests or general academic knowledge, isn’t correlated to assigning or completing homework.
Homework is an inequitable practice that harms certain individuals more than others, to the detriment of those with less resources and to minor, if any, improvement for those with resources.
It contributes to negative impacts at home with one’s family, peer relationships, and just general school-life balance, which causes far more problems than homework is meant to solve.
And finally, it highlights and exacerbates our obsession with ultra-competitive college admissions and job opportunities, and other detrimental faults of making everything about getting ahead.”

Maya, a sixth grader, said, “I don’t think homework should be given because it’s too stressful and it can cause you to stay awake for too long, which can cause sleep deprivation.”

This is true, because the time students spend on homework can be used for sleeping.

Ranim, a sixth grader, said “I think homework is a waste of time because you spend the entire day at school learning, and then you come back home just to do more work.”

It can also be unhealthy because sometimes students don’t have any time for anything fun and everyone needs to be happy.

“If school isn’t a place to sleep then home isn’t a place to study,” Ranim added.

Often, students spend a large amount of time doing tasks for school only to come home with more work to do, which is unhealthy. Homework might help improve one’s future, but it can be a pest in the present. What’s your opinion, should students have homework?

Drinks: SWEET or SOUR?

By Madison Hamilton

Fruit Punch

If you choose sweet, fruit punch is for you! A ton of people like sweet drinks, including fruit punch. Fruit punch is a red drink that is commonly consumed in the summertime. It is super refreshing. Lots of adults might say that there is too much sugar, and while that is true, some kids say that the sugar gives them a big boost of energy even though it isn't the healthiest option. I think that fruit punch should win. What do you think?

Lemonade

If you choose sour, lemonade is for you! First of all, everyone should know that lemons are super sour. Plus, the more lemon juice you add to your lemonade, the stronger the sourness will be. Lemonade is a yellow liquid that is as refreshing as drinking water after being deprived of it for days. If you don't understand that, it means that it is very refreshing. Lemonade is a big summer favorite for lots of people. Go around and ask your friends what their favorite drink is: lemonade or fruit punch.

Cats or Dogs? Which is better?

Which do you like better…dogs or cats? Take our poll here: POLL LINK

by Annie Wang

Cats are better than dogs because cats don’t need a lot of attention—most of the time. This can be a great advantage because people may not be around 24/7. We all have school or jobs that don't give us much time for our pets. Dogs tend to be louder as they bark a lot. Cats, on the other hand, are quiet and won’t disturb you with loud noises. Even dog owners have sometimes admitted that the constant barking can get annoying. Additionally, cats are also natural born hunters. They can keep rodents away from your house. Another reason is cats clean themselves, unlike dogs, who need you to keep them clean. This is why cats are better than dogs.

Dogs are better than cats because they can be trained easier than cats. Dogs also need walks daily which motivates people to go on walks that can improve their health with fresh air. They also have a strong sense of smell which has been proven very helpful as they can smell if a person has cancer! Dogs can also track down criminals and missing people just with their nose. Additionally, they can save many lives as some people say they have a sixth sense. Dogs can tell if someone is about to have a seizure and warn others to keep us from danger. This is why dogs are better than cats.

Pancakes or Waffles?

Pancakes

by Leonardo Kuo

The age-old breakfast debate continues: pancakes or waffles?

Pancakes are superior due to their unmatched versatility, in my opinion. From classic buttermilk to adventurous flavors like banana or chocolate chip, the possibilities are endless. Waffles, while tasty, tend to be more limited in their flavor profiles. Furthermore, pancakes are easily customizable and include more choices.

With pancakes, you can fold in fruits, nuts, or even chocolate for a nutritious and delicious twist. Waffles, with their rigid grid-like structure, offer less flexibility for creative additions. Other than versatility, pancakes triumph in terms of ease of preparation. Mixing pancake batter is a simple and quick process. Waffles, on the other hand, require a specialized appliance – the waffle iron – which can be bulky and difficult to store.

Pancakes can be cooked on a griddle or even a frying pan, making them a more convenient option for many. Ultimately, while waffles have their fans, pancakes offer superior versatility, customization, and ease of preparation, making them the superior breakfast choice.

Waffles

by Evan Cai

Breakfast is considered the day's most important meal. But there are two breakfast choices that have been fighting for first place. What are they you ask? Waffles and pancakes, of course! But which is better? In my opinion, waffles are better than pancakes because of the unique traits that pancakes lack. Waffles have a grid-like pattern that makes a great syrup-catching surface, while the flat surface of pancakes makes it soggy or just roll off.

Furthermore, the texture of a waffle is perfect! It is just the right amount of crispy on the outside, but the inside is still fluffy. Another reason that waffles are superior is how they can be served at any time. You can have waffles for a delicious breakfast, a refreshing lunch, or even a relaxing dinner. Chicken and waffles anyone? It can also be made with different mixtures such as chocolate or vanilla which can enhance it even more!

Lastly, the presentation of waffles also makes it far superior since the grid provides an aesthetically pleasing look for the waffle. Overall, the taste, texture, convenience, and the aesthetics makes waffles fly through the roof when it comes to how good it is.

Chocolate or Vanilla?

Vanilla is better

By Elisa Chen

Did you know that 49% of people like vanilla and only 43% of people like chocolate? According to a 2022 survey, more people enjoy vanilla than chocolate. Vanilla is a creamy rich and milky flavor from cured orchid pods, prized for its sweet, rich, woody flavor and aroma. I am one of the people who thinks vanilla is better.

One reason why vanilla is better than chocolate is because most chocolate contains vanilla. During the 15th century people grounded vanilla beans to enhance the flavor of chocolate. Today many big chocolate factories still use vanilla; for example, Hershey’s and Feastables both use vanilla because it enhances the flavor. Without vanilla, chocolate would be dull and flat. Without vanilla, we wouldn't even have this debate in the first place.

The second reason why vanilla is better than chocolate is because it is ranked the best ice cream flavor in the world year after year. Vanilla is also a candle scent. Imagine chocolate scented candles.That would smell burnt and disgusting, right?

The third reason why chocolate is worse than vanilla is because chocolate has high sugar, fat, and calorie content, leading to weight gain, diabetes, and heart issues, plus potential heavy metal contamination. But on the other hand, vanilla is good for you because it's rich in antioxidants, contains minerals like potassium and manganese, offers calming effects, and helps with digestion, blood sugar, and inflammation.

Another reason why chocolate is worse than vanilla is because vanilla is used in more food including cookies, carbonated beverages, coffee, and breakfast cereals. We use vanilla as a flavor in these products since it enhances the taste and makes it more tasty while keeping the other good flavours. If you add cocoa [aka chocolate] to any of these ingredients, they will taste like chocolate. The chocolate would overlap all the other delicious flavours.

Lastly, healthy chocolate {dark chocolate and coco} is not so healthy after all because most dark chocolate contains lead according to Consumer Reports https://www.consumerreports.org › health › food-safety. For example Hershey's, a chocolate company, contains lead as well as many other kinds of chocolate brands. Lead is stored in the teeth and bones and over time build ups causing organ damage, kidney damage and even death. So would you really risk your life for some chocolate?

In conclusion, vanilla is better than chocolate because it is healthier, tastier, more usable and more people enjoy it than chocolate. Are you Team Chocolate or Team Vanilla?

Chocolate is better

by Marissa Filippi

Chocolate ice cream is the best ice cream. It is so rich and chocolatey and perfect for a delicious dessert on a hot summer day. There are so many different types of chocolate ice creams, like fudge brownie, chocolate chip ice cream, and chocolate ice cream with chocolate sprinkles. Chocolate is so famous that there are even more chocolatey options being created. Vanilla ice cream is good, but not as good as chocolate. Making homemade chocolate ice cream is easy, quick and delicious.

Vanilla ice cream usually has fewer toppings. On chocolate, you can put nuts, sprinkles, little pieces of chocolate bars and little pieces of brownies. Vanilla doesn’t usually have those toppings. Did you also know that 43% of people prefer chocolate ice cream over vanilla ice cream.

Vanilla is a basic flavor. Some people say that vanilla is slightly bland. The rich and chocolatey flavor of chocolate ice cream makes it less bland than vanilla. Chocolate ice cream is often enjoyed without any toppings because chocolate already has such a rich flavor.

I think chocolate ice cream wins. What do you think?

Chose below Vanilla or Chocolate:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSefStalK1kgGtH3OK7JU5fiUutNlaiukytZ7ndQBD-fyczW8A/viewform?usp=header

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