RACISM

Special pull-out section inside pages 3-6

HURT

Words

Broad Ripple Magnet High School 1115 Broad Ripple Ave. Indianapolis, Indiana 46220

March, 2012 Vol. 4, Issue 5

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Apple fans get big bang for their extra bucks

By Emily Nejako Many people own products made by Apple, the popular computer company behind the iPod and the Macintosh computer. Whether it be for the games and apps or the high-quality hardware, the products of Apple are beloved. However, their high price has been an issue. Most of Apples products are over 100 or 200 dollars, which is out-ofbudget for some. Analyses of numerous modern Apple products show a very high profit made from products and frequent use of sales tactics to make the illusion of cheap prices. But are Apple products truly overpriced? The first versions of the iPad at their original pricing, according to Computerworld, had a 50% average profit margin. The $499 Wi-Fi-only iPad had a profit of $208, with the $729 3G iPad making a profit of $332. This ties in with Apples strategy of setting up decoys, as detailed in an article by MSNBC -- involving higherpriced alternatives to basic products with extras tacked on to make the basic product (which is marked up from the start) seem like a bargain. After all, if you can get the iPad 2 with Wi-Fi, 3G and 64 gigabytes of storage for $829, doesnt a Wi-Fi-only iPad 2 with 16 GB for $499 seem like a much better value? One possible argument for Apple products not truly being overpriced is the proposition of paying for quality. Apple products are expensive because theyre closer to being perfect than anything else, 7th-grader Dylan Martinez said. Theyre sleek, they work almost flawlessly, they have the largest selection of apps, and everything is thought out. It seems like [Apple] eliminates a lot of steps that you would have [to take] if you had a PC, teacher Mrs. Schantz said. Senior Ronnie Lashbrook commented I think [theyre] overpriced...[but its] because of the hardware, of the longevity. The iPhone 4S cost Apple $188 and sold for $199 -- is 10 to 300 extra dollars for the quality justified? What if that money is for the brand? After all, Apple is practically universally considered one of the most iconic brands of our time. Compared to newcomers like Google and budget companies like Sandisk,

Ronnie Lashbrook loves all things Mac. Photo by Adrian Perez

Apple has a high reputation for quality and beauty. This is more true for accessories like chargers and other products, as many of them are virtually the same as other products but have a price hike because theyre by Apple. Apple products today may actually cost less than those of the past. An analysis by website Vouchercodes. co.uk compared the prices of past products, adjusted for inflation, to the starting cost of the iPad. The Apple Lisa, the first commercial personal computer to have a graphic-based interface like the computers of today, cost

about $10,000 when it first came out -- which is almost $21,750 today compared to the $499 price of the original iPad. According to the same article, you could buy about 43 iPads for the adjusted price of one Apple Lisa. Whether you believe Apples products are overpriced or not, they always have appeal. Various reasons can be given on either side, but the truth is as long as Apples reputation and general quality is there, there will be someone who will buy it. For many, trust in a brand transcends any cost.

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RIPARIAN STAFF Editor-in-chief: Arriel Vinson Design: Andrea Martinez Photography: Cody Kramer, India Fairfield. Cover photo by Adrian Perez Staff members: Ernest Burton, Jordan Clay, Nikyta Davis, Ashley Dentis, Maria Marin, Andrea Martinez, Emily Nejako, Esmeralda Romero, Katlyn Scott, Ajiya Washington Advisor: Kathy Jesse - jessek@ips.k12.in.us Visit our website at www.riparianonline.org Follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/theriparianonline and Twitter: @ Riparian Online.

Letter From the Editor

Hello Riparian readers! This months issue has a special insert about racism and race/ cultures in general. Yes, it is controversial, but everyone has an opinion about it. Some feel that racism is still alive and more of an issue than ever, while others feel that it is vanishing. Have you ever heard the term act black? Im sure almost everyone has.But what does that mean? Nikyta Davis and Ajiya Washington wrote an editorial, Can whites act black? on page 3. What do you think? Tweet us @ RiparianOnline with your opinion about acting black. At Broad Ripple, most students are black, but most teachers are white. On page 4 and 5, Arriel Vinson explores whether white teachers can teach black students effectively. Check out the chart also. The Riparian staff did not forget about other races though. On page 5 , Andrea Martinez tells readers how she balances Hispanic and American culture.. In the rest of the issue, Emily Nejako wrote about Apple users and their loyalty to the brand. On the last page, Christian Peek expresses his feelings about the issues of IPS. Check out these stories and also follow us on Twitter @RiparianOnline (we follow back). Dont forget to Like us on Facebook: www.facebook. com/TheRiparianOnline. Happy reading!

The Riparian

March 2012

When it comes to racism, America is still healing

By Esmeralda Romero Even after years of racial desegregation, many people say they have still come across acts of racism. Do you think there is still racism/discrimination? Yes, our history as a country is rooted in racial tension and its going to take a long time to heal from that (the country), English teacher Ali Morguson says. Ive heard class discussions that I would say are certainly stereotypical, bordering on racism. Sophomore Cat Pollard, who is black, agrees. Yes racism still exists, like when youre a black person having fun and youre laughing loud, Caucasian people look at you like youre ignorant. My seventh grade year my school went downtown and it was a lot of us and a whole group of black kids were loud and laughing and there were two men shaking their heads like in disappointment and they were saying, These ignorant kids, and that made me really disappointed as well; but towards the men because its unnecessary discrimination. Senior Gregory Mansfield believes that some white people were raised to be racist. I believe that they still judge a book by its cover, us blacks being the book and the cover and some people never take up the opportunity to acknowledge a black person and actually get to know ones personality or a person in general... but in all reality, some may not ever know that blacks can do anything and everything just as good as anyone else, not just blacks, but everyone. We just have to stay humble and overcome the negativity thats emerged in the world. Senior Nathan Gay says he has seen some teachers discriminate,

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our past will continue to corral the judgment of the people we deal with each day. We hide and sugarcoat the fact racism is in todays society, but its something we have to overcome as a human race and not an ethnic race. Sophomore Alexis Leon believes that comedians who make racist jokes arent funny. People think that just because youre Hispanic youre going to have many children. Teacher Chris Fields says racism exists because people want to make themselves different from each other. We think color is culture and its not. You could be purple and still be Mexican, Mr. Fields says.

playing favorites and giving good grades to students who dont turn in their work. One of his teachers, he says, doesnt go to black students who ask for help. Sophomore Mayra Rodriguez has heard people use the terms beaner and cracker, and sophomore Maxx Pyron says, Theres definitely still racism. Theres always racial and gender profiling. There is always somebody with a different opinion. Theres always a jerk face who has to say something about someone. Getting rid of racism is everybodys responsibility, regardless of race, says Senior Amon Higgins. Racism will never fade because the effects of

Student Poetry: Black Female

Being a black female aint easy. Most images you see is us on T.V. , shaking it fast for men with a little bit of money. Im tired of being categorized as a girl who can only use her hips & thighs to get where she wants in life. Yeah, all were good for is being strippers or making money by sleeping with dudes & we dont even know their last name. But hey, we arent to blame. Its the media names that should be in shame. Making me think thats all there is for us cause all you see are white girls being portrayed positively, while were still living in poverty. Im tired of being lied to thinking the only person I can cry to is a deaf man who is blind too. What is my world coming to? You want me to sleep with you?! We just met! And yet I do it. Living in regret. Now I lie here in my bed feeling dead. Feeling like Ive been raped, draped, & thrown away like stale cake. Im tired of being hurt, misused & treated like dirt by those who think Im a flirt. But Im not. See what I am is more like a piece of sand who can slip right out of your hand in less than a day. Less than 2 hours, 3 minutes & 4 seconds. Im slipping away. So make me stay. Tell me you love me. But instead you beat me breathless & force me to believe youre all I have left. A broke down, Wakaflocka dread head wanna-be is all I have left?! Im tired of thinking that, that youre my only option in life. Like I have to give everything & sacrifice... FOR YOU?!? What have YOU done?? Try and walk in my 7-inch heels and still your endurance of my pain has yet begun. So I say again, being a black female aint easy. But we keep striving & pushing to be better than what you think we are. Because this wasnt written for a white girl. This was written for my sassy, sexy sistas with soul! The ones who hold it down from Jersey to A-town to right here in Nap-town. Were the ones who kept our ground when they tore us down. Were the baddest ones around. Man, WERE BLACK FEMALES :) - Ashley Dentis

By By Nikyta Davis and Ajiya Washington Is it acceptable for white people to act black? More than 70 percent of Broad Ripple Magnet High School students are African American. Many of them have issues with white students who act black. This includes Caucasians saying the N word. Koby Bluitt, who is black, says, I only get irritated if they are acting but if thats truly who they are, then I cant change them. Jherica Law, who is also black, says, If they say the N word, they say it at their own risk. But Krista Smock, a 10th grader who is white, also has strong feelings about it. I get the N word from movies, songs and mostly from the kids I go to school with. Ive been in a predominantly black school since 7th grade. Everyone around me says it, so I say it, too. You might wonder, though, is this how they really are or is it all just an act to try to fit in with the black students? Michael Ratcliff, also a white 10th grader here, says, People say I need to act my race, but to me color doesnt define a persons

Acting black

personality. The real question is, what does it mean to act black? In the eyes of other races, it may mean to act ghetto, loud and rude. These assumptions are often portrayed in movies as black people being loud and disturbing in a movie theater and bringing their own food or drawing attention to themselves in a restaurant and even in their presentation, with the way they dress and talk. The phrase is mostly aimed toward white people, for example, if a white guy is walking around with golds in his mouth and pants around his knees, then he is considered to be trying to act black. If a white girl shops at certain places, like Man Alive or Jimmy Jazz, then shes trying to act black. Even the type of music you listen to may make people question whether or not you try to act black. Most of the white people who act black do so because here (at Broad Ripple High School) they have more freedom and maybe they can recreate themselves to what they want to be, sophomore Ebone Griffin says.

Black students White teachers:

By Arriel Vinson More than 75% of the Broad Ripple Magnet High School students are African-American, but more than 80% of the teachers are white. The question is: Can white teachers effectively teach black students? BRMHS students and staff have different opinions. Many BRMHS teachers feel the same about teaching: a teacher should have the ability to teach any student, no matter the race. When Tonia Huckleberry, an English 10 teacher, started teaching 25 years ago, she thought there would be a difference between white and black students. Later on in Ms. Huckleberrys teaching career, she figured out that wasnt the case. Experiences taught me that you have very affluent white students and very affluent black students, some economically challenged whites and some economically challenged blacks, Ms. Huckleberry, who is black, said. Not necessarily saying wealth determines behavior, but you can have all different behaviors and learning styles from any ethnicity. Ms. Huckleberry chooses to look at all her students for who they are, instead of the color of their skin. She also believes that if teachers look at every student as someone whose mind they need to shape, then they can be effective. Kelly Hershey, the band director, agrees. The question really isnt: Are

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Can they work well together?

you effective? The question is: How far are you willing to go to be culturally competent to meet the needs of the children you serve? Ms. Hershey, who is white, said. The Degree says Education, so its up to the individual themselves to meet the needs of where ever they end up. But Ms. Hershey has not stopped learning about teaching AfricanAmerican students and said when she began working at BRMHS, she immersed and bathed herself in the culture, doing everything from listening to hiphop radio stations, watching BET, and searching different phrases on the internet. Ms. Hershey also did more, once she got Hispanic students. Chris Williams, a senior, feels that teachers know what theyre getting into when they apply for Broad Ripple, but he does not feel that teachers at BRMHS are having a problem dealing with African-American students. So what should white teachers do differently? Cassandra Rollins, a junior, believes that white teachers should form better relationships with black students. I believe black kids all have a struggle they went through (not saying all white people havent had a struggle). Not only do they need to teach us, but they need to form a relationship with us. Some Caucasian teachers dont know how to meet you on an emotional level, she said. Keith Green, a senior, feels the same way. He believes that white teachers should try to connect with the student and help them through situations going on at home (if any). Keith doesnt think the teacher should know all of a students business, but feels that the teacher should also try to be a friend to students. Joshua Smith, Director of the Center for Urban and MultiCultural Education (CUME) at IUPUI, has looked at research about black teachers with black students. [Black] students look up to their teacher when its a teacher of color. They look at them as role models. They (black teachers) tend to build more relationships [with students], demand respect, and really want students to do their best. Dr. Smith said the same thing can be said about white teachers, but thinks there should be more black teachers. According to research he has looked at, 15-17 percent of teachers in America arent white. Pat Payne, Director of the IPS Office of Multicultural Education and the Crispus Attucks Museum, agrees. Its always nice for students of color to see someone who looks like them in a decision-making position, Ms. Payne said. But I dont think one can make a blanket statement that says all black students do better if they have a Black teacher. Christopher Fields, a humanities/history teacher at BRMHS, said that color is not culture, and feels that any teacher should be able to teach effectively. Mr. Fields does not tell Continues on page 5

They (black teachers) tend to build more relationships [with students], demand respect, and really want students to do their best. Joshua Smith, Director, Center for Urban and Multicultural Studies

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important to them. Ms. Hershey agrees with Mr. Fields and thinks that a teacher has to look at the circumstances that influence their world. Arthur Dumas, the BRMHS vice principal, thinks that there isnt much of a difference between students at BRMHS and students at a suburban school. Young people are young people across the board, he said. Some of the things they do here at Broad Ripple are some of the Math teacher Kathy Cannon works with students (from left to right): Daja same things that go Palmer, Madarrell Murphy and Dajah Warfield. Photo by Cody Kramer on in other areas. Dr. Smith thinks that most to Elementary & Middle Schools students in 2008-2009. Although adults dont understand typical Technical Assistance Center the study was conducted in teen behavior and defiance in (EMSTAC). Carolina, it reflects a nationwide teens that well, especially in black Dr. Smith thinks that teachers pattern in suspensions: Black students. need to set clear boundaries when students are more often suspended Behavior is responded to students behave badly so there can for subjective offenses. very harshly for black students. be a fair discipline with all the Mr. Dumas said, I think that The black kid is more likely to be students. once we do look at the numbers, suspended or expelled; its called According to a study black students get suspended disproportionality, Dr. Smith said. conducted in North Carolina by at a higher rate. A lot of it is Disproportionality refers to the National Education Policy understanding urban students the over- or under- presentation Centers director Daniel Losen, and different issues that urban of a given population group, more black students (in North students come with. But when we usually defined by racial and Carolina schools) were suspended look at discipline, right is right ethnic backgrounds, according for first-time offenses than white and wrong is wrong.

Continued from page 4 students his race. Its nice that I know your culture, but what Im teaching is universal, Mr. Fields said. Some students claim that white teachers dont understand where black students are coming from, and also dont understand their behavior. Dallas attorney and pastor, Reverend Augustus Corbett, wrote in a column for the National Black Parents Association about white teachers teaching black students. He says that studies show white teachers view black youth behavior as unique. Black youth behavior includes provocative walking styles, rapping, use of slang excessive hairstyles, excessive use of jewelry, wearings hats and more. But BRMHS teachers do not feel that black youth behavior differs from any other teenagers behavior. But Mr. Fields thinks it is more about social economics, although it is perceived as color. Its [black students behavior] no different than anybody elses, Mr. Fields said. Social economics plays a role in that. If a kid comes from a background where the parents are professional, they know whats expected of them. If the kid comes from a poor background, it doesnt matter what color they are, education is not

Stuck between two cultures

By Andrea Martinez Trying to balance two completely different cultures is like trying to eat peanut butter separately in a pb & j sandwich. It is almost impossible so the best and easiest way to do it is mix the two together. Being Hispanic American is common in the United States, but not as common in certain parts of the states, such as small towns in Indiana, where people look at you differently because youre not from there, but also look at you like an alien because the color of your skin is different from theirs. Although that is a very common situation, its also hard when youre like me and youre not a typical Hispanic - Mexican American, Puerto Rican American, even Dominican American. But Im Nicaraguan American, something you dont hear about often unless you really pay attention to Mr. Fields in his World History class, or you meet someone like me or Josh Lindo. The difficulty of being Nicaraguan American, is getting to know both cultures separately and actually living though them, when both are very different. You cant always perfectly fit in, you cant ever be judged correctly by something you really are, not by something that just seems like it. For example, where ever I go, people always seem to think its okay to stereotype me and assume Im Mexican. Some even think that I dont understand English or Im less fortunate or it just cannot be possible to have even the same interest as them. Here in my own home town, Indianapolis, I dont always get treated fairly, when I go to stores or just somewhere public, people give me strange stares, or dont attend to my customer needs first or take them seriously, while a white woman could be last in line and get treated as if she were there all day waiting. Although it is bad in the United States with discrimination, it is safe to say it is worse in Nicaragua. Especially, when you have Nicaraguan blood but have never been there. For example, two American nurses from St. Vincent Hospital went to Managua, Nicaragua to help vaccinate the people, only to come back to their hotel room and find a bomb, leaving them no choice but to leave the country. It may not be such a danger to me but it is just as much as risk to take, because while I am there, people instantly notice Im not a native Nicaraguan so they take advantage of me and try to steal from me. On a personal level though, my own family does expect for me to do a lot from their culture and tradition, like having a quiuncenera (sweet 15 party) or to learn how to be a housewife and know how to take care of a farm or business. Yet that isnt what Im expected to do as an American. I should go to school every day, have a sweet 16 party, get a car and a job when I get to be a senior and go to college. Personally, there are tons of disadvantages but there are advantages as well, like you get to be more of open-minded person, you learn more than language and sometimes depending on your parents, you do get a choice on how you want to live. But we have to figure out how to do it.

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Whats the word?

What do you prefer to be called? Black or African American ?

African American, because I grew up that way. - Antonio Cushenberry, freshman African American, because black is what the white people called us. - Lamont Coleman, senior

Both, because when you call me black, Im okay with it because my skin is black. But when you call me African American, thats okay, because thats my race - Dyshae Mansfield, 8th grade

African American, because if Im just called black, its a racial slur. - Brielle McFarland, senior

African American shows cultural awareness. - Cierra Lytle, junior

African American, because Im not black. - Jazminn Wright, sophomore

Black, because Im not African. - Bria Lee, senior

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Girls spend big for fake hair

by Ariel Vinson It takes hours to get it done, maybe even a full day. Youre sitting in a chair the whole time, waiting for it to be over with. You endure all this just to keep the style for a month or two. But Broad Ripple Magnet High School girls love their weave. False eyelashes and fake nails are also popular among BRMHS females. Daijon McDowell, a junior, admitted she is obsessed with weave. She often has different styles, which she keeps in from 2 weeks (glue-in weave) to 3 months (sew-ins). When do you ever see me without weave? Daijon said. I dont want to dye my hair. One week I can be red, one week I can be orange. Daijon has been getting weaves since she could remember with styles varying from micros (braided weave) to sew-ins/quick weaves. When getting a sew-in, the natural hair has to be braided. The weave is sewn from left to right through the braid with a thread, starting at the bottom. Micro braids are very small braids that can be done with human or synthetic hair. The hair can either be wavy (which is the style most prefer) or straight. While some go to someones house to get their micros done, others go

the more expensive route and go to the African hair shop. Mary (who did not want to give her last name), a hair stylist at Braids Land on North Keystone Avenue, went to IU Bloomington to learn how to do hair. Mary graduated with a Bachelor Degree. She has been at Braids Land for eight years. Braids Land does any type of African hair braiding and more. But is weave healthy? It [weave] is because youre not putting chemicals in your hair. Theres less tension to your hair and you mess with it less often, Mary said. Then its not healthy because if you mess with your braids, you might damage your edges. Or if your hair is over processed and you put braids in, it can be unhealthy. Since Daijon is in cheerleading, she cannot get fake nails. But Daijon gets false eyelashes instead. She usually goes to Eyes by India (at Walmart) to get them done. Sometimes I go without lashes for months, she said. It depends on if I have a show. I dont make it a priority. Like Daijon, Tyiesha Cathy, a junior, does not get fake nails. Tyiesha is more interested in weave and false eyelashes. I like to wear weave because sometimes I want long hair; sometimes I want curly hair. I dont need it, I just want it, Tyiesha said. Her first weave was kinky braids, which she got her 7th grade year. Now, micros are the

Tyiesha Cathy, Monteria Phillips and Brooke Murray pamper themselves. Photo by Cody Kramer only braided style shell wear. Tyiesha also wears straight weaves, which her mother does for her. Her beautician Kierra also does her hair sometimes (natural and weave). Tyiesha has continued to get false eyelashes because her real eyelashes are gone from wearing false eyelashes so much. These BRMHS students are willing to pay a great amount for weave, false eyelashes, and fake nails. Brooke Murray, a junior, said she has no limit on how much she will pay for weave. If I want it and I know itll look good, Ill pay for it, she said. Brooke also said she never goes without getting her nails done, and pays $20 for a full set or $30 for a full set and design. Monteria Phillips, a senior, said the most she paid for a weave was $80, and she paid $60 to get the sew-in. Although BRMHS girls are willing to pay a lot for weave, nails, and eyelashes, would BRMHS guys buy it for a girl? Fabian Churchhill, a senior, said, It aint trickin if you got it. He will only pay for a girls hair, nails, or eyelashes if they are in a relationship. Deon Hall, a senior, and Anthony Fletcher, a junior, feel the same way. But Deon prefers girls natural. Yeah [I like girls with weave] when it helps. Not when they overdo it, Deon said. Weave all the way down to their butt and 8 inch nails is doing too much. Anthony Fletcher prefers girls that dont wear weave often, because having one style for too long is janky. So what is it about weave, false eyelashes, and fake nails that are so intriguing? It [weave] brings out the inner beauty in you, Monteria said. Im not saying without it you arent pretty; it just puts a little more glamour to you.

By Ernest Burton Snacks Snacks Snacks! Walking through Broad Ripple High School you see many students snacking away on different things such as chips, candy bars and sodas. If youre new, you may wonder if everybody brings food from home. No, its actually a lot simpler than that. They just buy it as they walk the halls. There are plenty of sellers to choose from. But why buy food from somebody at school?

Students sneak snacks sales in school

Most of the times I dont eat breakfast at home because Im rushing so I just pick something up from here and I also support my classmates hustle, says senior Deon Hall. Eighth grader Destiny Ewing also buys snacks. My lunch period is very late in the day and I just cant wait that long to get something in my stomach, she says. Many students spend a shockingly high amount of money, mostly double digits, every week on snacks.

I spend at least $10 a week, says Victoria Logan. Destiny spends a whopping $20 a week on snacks. With all of the vendors around the school its never hard to find someone to buy from. We pull in about 50-60 students every day depending on inventory, one seller says. Do you think you would make more profit if the school didnt mind you selling? Yes! Id be selling to teachers, counselors, and administrators. Id even sell to the janitors!

On page 23 of the Student Handbook, it says that the selling of anything during the school day that does not directly benefit the school is prohibited. Students can have their merchandise confiscated. One seller has had his inventory confiscated several times. Im not worried at all about getting caught, he says. They havent done anything harsh to me yet so I dont expect them to.

Editorial

By Christian Antonio Peek I am so tired of this. I walk into school and something new comes up, whether its about the dress code, or some new cell phone policy. Its making the students go absolutely nuts as well as the teachers. As students we are here to learn. We are not here to play some sort of game that IPS and the State are wanting to play. I keep wondering how is it that the way you dress changes how you think or act. It doesnt, and if it did, then obviously the dress code isnt working, because we are failing. I overheard Dr. Jacqueline Greenwood say while she visited the halls of Broad Ripple Magnet High School that the three pages front and back of names for dress code violations were why we are failing. Again, dress code has NOTHING to do with how smart I am. I walk around wearing a University of South Florida hoodie usually everyday and sometimes with no collared shirt. I have for the past two semesters and gotten a 3.0 or higher at the end of the semester, so it is proven by me that dress doesnt matter. IPS says they care about their students education, but they have shown me that they care about how we look not about our education. State Superintendent Tony Bennett asked to be waived from the No Child Left Behind law so he can control the education in Indiana. Yes I believe the law is

I am not a toy
stupid. It wouldnt be as stupid if it wasnt so underfunded, but having Tony Bennett have total control of education is not a good idea. Not saying I would do better, just saying its time for change before every educator retires early. I have had several teachers saying that they are counting down days until they can retire. I will say this though. Most teachers dont enforce dress code or cell phones because we are high schoolers. If we want to fail they will let us fail. This isnt a bad thing because some students just dont care. If they dont care about their education then the teacher shouldnt waste their time and their students time trying to help. The reason many parents shy away from the largest district is because administrators arent caring about the students education. The district has shied away from the core values. Teachers go to school to learn how to educate. Once they graduate and pass the Praxis tests they become educators, not mannequins. They should not continue to be dictated to about how they teach. I am a part of the vocal magnet and I take Music Theory from the wonderful Mary Leslie. She follows all the rules and has for a long time so students know what she expects. The other day I sat in that class and had to do an exercise that strengthened my English skills. This took 15 minutes away from my learning of Music Theory. I understand we as a generation need to be taught English grammar, but I go to a magnet school that happens to focus on the arts, so I expect to learn music theory. The district has turned into a dictatorship. I will be a proud IPS grad and Broad Ripple grad. I cant say I havent thought about leaving the largest district to go to a different school. I have wasted a lot of my education here and if teachers continue to be told how to do things, then I will continue to waste my time here. Its so unfortunate. No talented student should talk about IPS and Broad Ripple in a negative way, but I do. Everyone at Broad Ripple knows I am one of the best when it comes to spirit at this school. I also say to the administration, be patient with us as students and teachers. Be patient, because if you let them teach how they were taught to teach, you will get results in return. I am proud to be a Rocket, I am just a scared student for the future to come.

Editorial

By Maria Marin Broad Ripple Magnet High School for the Arts and Humanities. What gives it its name? It could be the magnets, of course, but what makes up those magnets? The students do; dedicated students. But how dedicated and passionate are they really in the arts? Its not enough to have only a certain amount of kids who truly care in each of the magnets. The ones who dont would have to ask themselves why theyre still even here. They dont realize that kids who actually try hard, and are truly passionate have a disadvantage in a way that it is possible that their time and space is being wasted because of the kids that are there but dont care. Some of the students here take for granted the fact that they arent charged to be in the

Not dedicated to the arts? Then go somewhere else

arts. Dance, choir, theatre, and art classes are free. Why not take advantage of them? Why not be grateful these classes are free instead of complaining about how they want to transfer schools already? There are certainly other kids that are waiting to have a chance to attend Broad Ripple, but they cant. Maybe, some of these kids are only trying to figure out what they like, or trying to bring out talents, but even those kids would be trying hard. Kids who are dedicated and serious about what they do wouldnt fool around like some of these kids do in their classes whenever their teacher is not around. Why do people fool around, just because they have a substitute, wouldnt they at least be trying to make an impression? Not acting up and acting as if they were in a playground. According to www.whitman.edu, the important role of the arts in academy, as in life, is to enable us to see a truth we might not have understood before. Its not being close minded to not be passionate about the arts- theres always other things that kids can be dedicated and serious about, like sports, or anything. But the thing is that when kids are in these classes but arent doing anything, at all, then thats where everyone gets scrunched up into space that is being wasted. Now if we hear people say that Broad Ripple isnt much of a good school for the arts then

we can assume that these people are the ones who should leave. Maybe its because of them that this might not be good enough, at least not good enough to them. But they could also be the dedicated kids; the ones who are deprived of their good time and space to gain artistic skills and they might be tired of that, so they decide that they want to leave. The slackers stay and the hard-working ones leave. Broad Ripple is very capable of becoming a better school, and it helps if some people leave, so teachers could just focus on other kids instead of having to stop the class because other students are disrupting. Nancy Lafferty, a theatre teacher, said, I think we do have really good artists who are passionate about what they do. We also have a lot of people who call themselves artists who are really not filled with passion and I suspect... its probably because their parents had a dream for them that they dont really own themselves, and so as a result theyre students who just want to go home and play video games or hang out with their friends or watch T.V. Therese Chatelaine, a dance teacher, said she thinks its important to be dedicated in any of the arts and thats what it takes. She also said she gets frustrated when she sees that talent is being wasted when students goof off in class. It comes from the persons desire and passion, said Ms. Chatelaine.