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Caitlin Heenan Editor-in-ChiefFenton InPrint
Writing Samples - Pages 2-6Design Samples - Page 7
Writing and Design Samples - Page 8-11
Student Journalist Staff Portfolio
News Writing&Reporting
Writing SamplesThis was the first story I wrote as a journalist. This first interview I conducted was not with peers, but with business owners, making the process more professional in my mind. I poured my efforts, seeking any editing and critique pos-sible. This story shows the dedication I gave to journalism and the hard work I put into my job as a journalist from the beginning of my career. I am most proud of this piece as the first I pub-lished as a journalist.
Published: October 26, 2012Awarded: First Place for News Writing from MIPA - 2014
An iconic tradition of fall will be absent this year as Mueller’s Orchard will be closed. While other people enjoyed the warm weather last spring, apple farmers in Michigan and from as far
away as Mississippi watched their apple trees blossom with the premature warm weather and die away with the frost.
“There were five or six freezes after blossom. We got through all but the last one,” owner Charles Mueller said. “April 29 was the last one that got all the apples. Partly because the fruit was at a very critical stage, more importantly, it was 24 or 25 degrees for six hours. After six hours, the fruit was frozen. If it had only been for an hour or two, the apples may have stood a chance.”
The rest of the state is experiencing similar results. “I’m getting varying reports, but it’s safe to say that except for some
pockets in the Lake Erie region, the total loss around Michigan was 90 percent,” Mueller said. “Other crops like peaches were far enough along to have the strength to get through it.”
Although Mueller’s apples will not be up for sale this season, apples will be found on grocery store shelves for almost more than three times the price from last year. Other establishments such as cider mills have shipped apples from parts of the country that were not as badly affected.
“We made the decision to not sell apples that somebody else grew,” Mueller said. “We’re not comfortable charging supermarket prices.”
Grocery stores have no choice but to raise prices to make a profit with the shortage of apples.
“We went to the orchard yesterday and they only had two bags of apples that they imported from someplace,” freshman Hope Dagenais said. “And at the grocery store it was $7.50 for a half gallon of cider; that is a rip off. One honey crisp apple was $2.50.”
Farmers of last year’s season could get 18 bushels of honey crisp apples for roughly $500, now it is around $1800. Cider apples were $85-90 for 18 bushels, this year it is a little less than $300. With each box of cider apples making 50 gallons of cider, farmers have to charge $6 a gallon to break even.
The Muellers do not have to worry so much about the shortage of apples. Financially, they are prepared for a bad season or two.
“It is a part of farming; you better be able to live a couple years without profit. You’re at the mercy of Mother Nature,” Mueller said. “The established guys have enough in reserve to survive, but the young guys just starting will have problems.”
The mills and some orchards in the area, such as Parshallville Cider Mill and Spicer Orchards in Fenton, will still be open to sell apples, cider, doughnuts and keep the atmosphere of the fall season despite the few apples available to them.
“People come to the orchard for the apples. The attraction of the orchard is to pick your own apples, and enjoy cider and doughnuts,” Mueller said. “The mills are a historical piece of America. It’s a different destination than an orchard; it doesn’t need the support activities that an orchard needs. “
Mueller’s will be open next year; provided that the area has a less bipolar spring and that more of their apples will prosper.
“It’s not family friendly to charge an arm and a leg,” Wendy Mueller said, “but maybe this will make people more appreciative when we are open.”
OCTOBER
201226InPrint
FENTON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 3200 W. SHIAWASSEE AVENUE FENTON, MI 48430
election coverage p. 6-7
Not so Apple-ly Ever AfterUncharacteristic spring weather results in ruined crops, tough times for orchardsBy Caitlin HeenanWriter
Orchards that are open for the season
Spicer Orchards:Hours: 9a.m.-7p.m.
Location: 10411 Clyde Rd., Fenton
Parshallville Cider Mill:Hours: 9a.m.-6p.m.
Location: 8507 Parshallville Rd., Fenton
Uncle John’s Cider Mill:Hours: 11a.m.-5p.m.
Location: 8614 N. US 127, St. Johns
Franklin Cider Mill:Hours: 9a.m.-6p.m.
Location: 7450 Franklin Rd., Bloomfield Hills
MereditH Brown | photo editor
Writing SamplesAs editor-in-chief, I was able to write a reoccur-ring column titled, In the Spirit of, which allowed me to showcase my column writing in a manner where I could connect with the student body. This particular column allowed me to offer a unique approach to snow days.
Published: December 17, 2014Awarded: Submitted for Featured Columnist to MIPA - 2015
The snow begins to fall, a white blanket coats the ground. Thanks to Michigan weather, that snowfall soon turns into a polar vortex and that white blanket turns into a wall. Many a student, seeing that there is no possibility of having school the next morning, thanks the snow gods and goes joyfully to sleep knowing he or she will not have to wake early the next morning. I, on the other hand, stress over the pending snow day to come.
For many, snow days mean extra vacation and extra sleep in the morn-ing. For me, snow days mean less preparation for the various tests I will have to take in May and less time to learn the material,
Despite having snow days and less educational time, my IB and AP tests will still occur on the days they are set for, regardless of whether or not I feel prepared or have covered the necessary material.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the extra sleep and spending a lazy day on the couch with my cat and some orange juice, but if I am going to get college credit and scholarship money with my test scores, I am going to need more than two days a week of school for almost three months.
Some assignments can be done at home, the assignments assigned pre-snowpocalypse. Other assignments, like completing reading assign-ments and finishing an essay, can be taken on by myself and done at home when the roads are too icy and slick to drive.
In the Spirit of ...Snow Days
However, most of the time, the material that really needs to be cov-ered, the difficult concepts, are buried and lost with the snow. It is the material like how a neuron fires in IB Biology and using infinite limits and summations to find the area under a curve in AP Calculus that I really need to be in school to cover.
Many would agree, the initial snow day is a pleasant break from the dreary everyday functions of a full school week, but when school be-comes about just as frequent as seeing a flying saucer land in the back-yard, the stress begins to accumulate.
Teachers and students alike feel the pressure as weeks of material needs to be crammed into a single class period and tests and quizzes have to be smushed together in order to save time. Some material is even cut from the class, raising serious problems.
Students should stop for a second, take a step back from turning their pajamas inside out, putting their spoons under their pillows and throw-ing their ice cubes down the toilet and really think about the impact a snow day has on their education.
Snow days for many mean relaxation. For me and others taking advanced classes with huge cumulative tests at the end, they epitomize the stress of winter as more and more time is shaved off of the clock and those ominous test dates come closer and closer.
2 3
Writing SamplesThis column is another example of my reoccur-ring column, In the Spirit of. This particular ex-ample was an essay I wrote as a prompt to apply for college on a word that cannot be translated from its original language. The writing takes a unique point of view and draws readers by using a reference from Pop Culture.
Published: February 4, 2015Awarded: Submitted for Featured Columnist to MIPA - 2015
In the Spirit of ...L ve
Even though this word has a place in every language around the world, none can do it justice. The language of love is a lan-guage humans have yet been able to master. There is no grammar, sentence structure, tenses of verbs; It is the language of emotions and human behavior.
It is this unspoken, unwritten language that love belongs to and flourishes in. When humans attempt to translate this lan-guage, the message is greatly misconstrued.
Only one definition of love has ever crossed my path that has come relatively close to what the word should be used for and ironically enough, it comes from the comedy TV series, “How I Met Your Mother.”
Ted Mosby described the emotion, expected from human life as such: “‘If you’re looking for the word that means caring about someone beyond all rationality and wanting them to have every-thing they want no matter how much it destroys you, it is love. And when you love someone, you - you don’t stop, ever. Even when people roll their eyes or call you crazy, even then, especial-ly then. You just, you don’t give up, because if I could give up, if I could just take the whole world’s advice and move on and find someone else, that wouldn’t be love, that would be, that would be
some other disposable thing that is not worth fighting for.’” The disposable things, unworthy of struggle and pain are all
of the other objects and relationships we as humans attempt to describe with the word love.
Love should only be used to describe the relationship with the few people held in the inner circle of one’s life, those a person would give anything, even life, to be with. As a society, we over-use the word love. We destroy the meaning by believing it applies to those things that are not worth fighting for. Even those of us with the best of intentions dramatically overuse it.
This word is used to describe an emotional connection to ob-jects and even relationships unworthy of the word. Not a day goes by that the word love is used to describe the supposed emotion-al relationship people have with objects such as food, clothing, electronics or relationships with people that will leave the lives of those claiming such a strong connection. Love is a word disrespected in meaning by our society. People should take a step back and really think about what is import-ant to them, what they really love. I can bet it is not the menial objects and places that many claim to love, such as Chipotle and an iPhone.
Writing SamplesIn the wake of recent passings of students with terminal illnesses, I thought teenagers needed to learn about coping skills. I contacted and inter-viewed an esteemed psychologist, who not only gave an excellent interview, but commended me for not being afraid to conduct such a profession-al interview with a professional adult.
Published: May 3, 2013Awarded: Never submitted for judging
4 5
Design SamplesTaking risks with unique fonts and the use of intricately produced art allowed success in the design of this Halloween themed page and shows my willingness to push my limits and comfort zones as a designer.
Published: October 25, 2013Awarded: First Place for Editorial Opinion Page/ Spread - 2014
Writing SamplesAs opinion editor, I often had the opportunity to write half of the pro/con editorial. This partic-ular entry was the first I had the opportunity to write a pro/con. Because of the serious nature of the topic, in writing this entry, I honed research skills and learned how to effectively put my opinion into written word in a professional way, rather than like a column.
Published: October 25, 2013Awarded: Third Place for Pro/Con Editorial Columns from MIPA - 2014
76
4 www.fentoninprint.com | February 13, 2014opinion
The Thursday before winter break I was in a great mood. I had finally finished study-ing for a test and I was confident I knew the material. Four snow days and a two week break later, the same material I had known like the back of my hand suddenly looked like a foreign language.
This sheds light on an important flaw in our education system. Students in high school are not really taught information. Cramming the night before for a math test and memorizing a practice essay before a timed write is not learning.
Elaine Tuttle Hansen, author of the book “How to Survive in College,” explains the problem with our current education system in an interview with NPR. Students “have not had the time to kind of sit back and think about hard questions and big questions. They have been taught to check the right boxes, to do well on standardized tests.”
Memorization skills are not important for success in college and in a career. Students need to be taught how to think critically, how to analyze a problem and how to write well. Learning how to beg for extra credit to keep a 4.0 is not a successful life skill - it is a by-product of an educational system that is too focused on testing and grades to actually teach students. This system results in students and parents who are more focused on making the grade than on learning useful skills.
This problem is not the fault of the teachers who are forced to meet common core standards and follow rules set by the state. The blame falls on our current ap-proach to education. As stated in the book, “The Myths of Standard-ized Tests: What They Don’t Tell You, What You Think They Do,” the current goal of our schools is simply to increase scores on standardized tests.
The state of Michigan is currently working to develop new testing options to replace the MEAP. One of the proposals is the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA). While its name sounds like a step in a positive direction, the SBA is really just a relocation from the classroom to the computer lab. The test involves standardized testing using a com-puter program instead of using a scantron. SBA is really not any smarter for students it is just a slight alteration to the already failing system for measuring growth.
At the State of the Union Address, President Barack Obama continued to push his Race to the Top program. The program essentially grades teachers on student test scores and encourages states to turn under performing schools into private charter schools. Programs like these do not benefit students or teachers. They turn each student into a dollar sign and schools become focused on standardized test scores because of the monetary attachment to students achievement on these tests.
Schools currently function as more of a prison than an environment that encour-ages intellectual growth. The one size fits all model drastically hinders a students natural curiosity and breeds a dislike for learning. If public education is to continue to exist in this country, programs like Race to the Top need to be abolished and replaced.
At a relatively low cost, Finland was able to build an impressive educational system by focusing on educating teachers and allowing them to work. There is little standard-ized testing and minor national standards. Finnish students work with teachers to de-velop a curriculum so the education is completely focused on students. Despite success with this model in Europe, America continues to add more regulations and spend more money on this failing system. The SBA test or Race to the Top will not fix education, stu-dents need to be given good teachers who have freedom to teach in an effective manner.
Loud, eager barking meets anyone who dares to open the gate to the PAWS Animal Rescue in Swartz Creek. Those brave enough to venture farther are greeted with puppy hugs, cuddles and wagging tails. On the surface, these dogs may seem like any others, but years of abuse or dog fighting have hindered their ability to have normal relationships with humans or other dogs.
Many of the dogs at PAWS come from Flint and have been part of illegal dog fighting for most of their lives, either as pullers or as breeders for litter after litter of puppies. Many of my favorite dogs sport incredibly large thighs, evidence of years of using those muscles to pull dogs in and out of dog fights. As a result of dogfight-ing, many of these dogs are aggressive toward each other and would lunge at one another, teeth barred, given any chance to do so.
Zena is one of these dogs. What Zena lacks in social skills for her fellow canines, she makes up for with humans. Zena is the kind of dog that could play fetch for hours: in snow, rain, mud and at night when her weath-ered tennis ball can barely be seen. Working with dogs like Zena brings tears to my eyes. People have taught her to be aggressive for entertainment. People have taught her to see a dog and think “kill,” rather than “friend.” People have prevented her from being able to play catch with a family. Instead, Zena has to live her life in a cage, waiting all day to play catch for a half hour because people have taught her to be aggressive.
While some dogs display their insecurities as aggres-sion, others cower in the corner of their cage in hopes of getting as far away from the human hands that have hurt them for so long.
One of these dogs is Gracie, she wears her scars of abuse all over her face and cannot let go of the wrong humans have done to her. She can only make it out of her cage for a couple minutes before she realizes a man or woman holds the leash attached to a collar wrapped around her neck. I have never been able to walk Gracie. Every time I walk by her kennel, she growls a little and cowgers to the corner, not able to bring her self to look in my direction. Seeing the pain Gracie goes through every day makes me hate people, the kind of people who can harm an innocent animal and prevent that animal from ever having a normal life.
Another one of these dogs is Brynn. She is the most beautiful, gentle dog I have ever met and for the longest time, I would try to take her on walks only to have her hide her tail between her legs. After months of walks, petting her head gently and kneeling down to let her sniff my hand, she finally trusts me and jumps at her kennel door to go on walks. Being an active part in Brynn’s transformation has been the most rewarding experience. Brynn was recently adopted to a woman who has worked with abused animals for almost ten years and knows how to make her feel safe. Although I will miss her more than words can express, I take pride in knowing I made a differ-ence for her and helped her find a forever home where she will be loved and cherished instead of abused.
The shelter dogs at PAWS have taught me about pa-tience and the value of kind hearted actions. Unfortunate-ly, the victories of working with abused animals are small victories, such as getting an aggressive dog to the walking track without using treats or dragging them away from other snarling dogs, or getting shy dogs to sniff your hand or let you pat their heads. I will take the small victories I get every Wednesday evening over no victory at all, hop-ing one day each of these dogs will have a forever home.
By Caitlin HeenanOpinOn editOr
Puppy Love, Worth the Work
For more profiles of dogs, visit fentoninprint.com. For more information about PAWs, see their ad on page 11.
Think twice before hitting or screaming at an animal; it could destroy their ability to be man’s best friend or have a home
He may be a loud barker and intimidating at first, but Blizzard is PAWS’ best cuddler.
Beautiful and energetic, once her trust is earned, Brynn will make anyone smile with her goofy personality. Brynn was recently adopted.
Brynn
Blizzard
Zena was a puller and cannot get along with other dogs, but give her a stick or frisbee and she is in heaven.
Zena
ABused AnimAls
PA
rk
er
to
on
de
r | p
hO
tO
gr
ap
he
r
By Allie HowelleditOr-in-Chief
shelter Volunteer opportunities:adopt - a - pet: fentonpaWS animal rescue: Swartz CreekLast Chance rescue: flint
Shelters can always use donations, such as money or animal care supplies.
su
Bm
itt
ed
By
ty
le
r k
Al
An
qu
ins
uB
mit
te
d B
y t
yl
er
kA
lA
nq
uin
CA
itl
in H
ee
nA
n | O
pin
iOn
ed
itO
r
American Education vs. Finnish Education
Total Spending
America - $809.6 billion Finland - $10 billion
Science Rating
America - 23rd worldwide Finland - 2nd woldwide
Math Rating
America - 30th worldwide Finland - 6th worldwide
Reading Rating
America - 17th worldwide Finland - 3rd worldwide
Source: National Education Association
Writing and Design Samples
The simplicity of this page’s design allows the serious nature of the topic to take hold, while remaining clean and attractive to the eye. Writing this narrative column allowed me to immerse myself in my passion for journalism, gathering research and taking the photos for this page. More impor-tantly, writing this column allowed me to express another passion of mine, working with abused animals. I can make a differ-ence for these animals, not just by working with them, but by bringing attention to their struggles through the written word.
Published: February 13, 2014Awarded: Honorable Mention for Personal Narrative from MIPA - 2014
Writing and Design Samples
That
is t
he Q
uest
ion
RELA
TION
SHIP
S8
ww
w.fe
nton
inpr
int.c
omFe
b. 4
, 201
5RE
LATI
ONSH
IPS
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nton
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om9
Feb.
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015
Find
ing
the
per
fect
gift
for
a si
gnifi
cant
oth
er m
ay
seem
like
a d
aunt
ing
task
. The
pro
cess
of fi
ndin
g sa
id g
ift m
ay m
ake
som
e w
ond
er...
...W
hat
She
CONT
ENT
EDIT
OR R
iley
Wil
son
WRI
TER
Mic
hael
Pea
Rce
...W
hat
He
Rea
lly W
ants
To D
ate, o
r N
ot t
o D
ate
To so
me
guys
, girl
s see
m li
ke a
intr
icat
e cr
eatio
n th
at c
an o
nly
be fi
gure
d ou
t thr
ough
tim
e an
d en
ergy
. This
is no
t the
cas
e, es
peci
ally
w
hen
spea
king
the
lang
uage
of g
ifts.
The
gift
guid
e fo
r girl
s is s
impl
e, es
peci
ally
on
holid
ays
such
as V
alen
tine’s
Day
. Thre
e w
ords
will
hel
p gu
ys o
ut w
hen
they
are
tryi
ng to
find
a g
ift fo
r th
eir s
igni
fican
t oth
er: c
lass
ics a
re k
ey.
“Val
entin
e’s D
ay is
a sp
ecia
l hol
iday
for m
e be
caus
e I’v
e ha
d a
boyf
riend
for a
lmos
t tw
o ye
ars,
so I
am u
se to
spen
ding
it w
ith h
im,”
soph
omor
e Em
ma
Gly
nn sa
id. “
The
gifts
that
I lik
e to
rece
ive
are
a bo
x of
choc
olat
es o
r a c
ute
little
nec
klac
e or
som
ethi
ng li
ke th
at.”
Rese
arch
show
s tha
t giv
ing
and
rece
ivin
g gi
fts is
ver
y im
port
ant i
n bu
ildin
g re
latio
nshi
ps
and
crea
ting
rom
antic
inte
ract
ions
. Giv
ing
and
rece
ivin
g gi
fts st
reng
then
s the
bon
d th
at tw
o pe
ople
hav
e, be
it w
ith fa
mily
or f
riend
s. “I
am
alle
rgic
to ch
ocol
ate,
so o
n Va
lent
ine’s
D
ay I
wou
ld n
ot w
ant a
box
of c
hoco
late
s and
w
ould
rath
er h
ave
a st
uffed
bea
r. Th
at w
ould
be
cut
e,” fr
eshm
an A
riana
Man
sour
said
. “I
thin
k it
is im
port
ant t
o gi
ve a
nd re
ceiv
e gi
fts in
re
latio
nshi
ps to
show
that
you
car
e. O
f cou
rse
not a
ll th
e tim
e, bu
t on
spec
ial o
ccas
ions
.”G
ifts a
re n
ot e
very
thin
g, a
nd m
any
peop
le
thin
k th
is is
true
. Gift
s do
not h
ave
to b
e ex
pens
ive.
In fa
ct, s
tudi
es sh
ows t
hat w
omen
ac
tual
ly p
refe
r a h
omem
ade
gift
com
pare
d to
a
stor
e bo
ught
gift
. The
fam
ous s
ayin
g st
ill st
ands
, th
e be
st g
ifts c
ome
from
the h
eart
. “I
n re
latio
nshi
ps, y
ou c
an g
ive
and
rece
ive
gifts
if y
ou w
ant t
o bu
t it j
ust d
epen
ds o
n th
e pe
rson
,” G
lynn
said
. “Yo
u do
n’t h
ave
to b
uy
som
ethi
ng e
xpen
sive
just
to m
ake
them
hap
py.
Gift
s can
just
be
from
the
hear
t.”W
hen
it co
mes
to th
e tim
e to
buy
a g
irl a
gi
ft, th
e cl
iche
rose
s, ch
ocol
ates
, and
tedd
y be
ars a
re th
e w
ay to
go.
Ano
ther
equ
ival
ent
optio
n w
ould
be
to st
rap
on th
e sa
fety
gog
gles
, gr
ab a
pai
r of s
ciss
ors a
nd D
IY d
irect
ions
.
For g
uys,
Vale
ntin
e’s D
ay is
n’t t
heir
favo
rite
holid
ay o
f the
yea
r. Th
ey fa
ce th
e de
cisio
n on
wha
t to
get t
heir
part
ner a
nd if
it is
goo
d en
ough
or e
qual
to w
hat t
hey
will
rece
ive.
If th
ey d
on’t,
then
they
get
to la
ugh
at th
eir f
riend
s st
ress
ing
out a
bout
wha
t to
get.
Man
y as
sum
e th
at V
alen
tine’s
Day
is a
fe
mal
e ho
liday
, and
in g
ener
al it
is. G
irls m
ay
wan
t a lo
t or s
omet
hing
spec
ific f
or V
alen
tine’s
D
ay, b
ut m
ost g
uys m
ight
not
eve
n w
ant
anyt
hing
at a
ll. H
owev
er th
is do
esn’
t mea
n th
at
guys
shou
ldn’
t get
any
thin
g at
all.
“T
o m
e, Va
lent
ine’s
Day
gift
s don
’t re
ally
m
atte
r,” so
phom
ore
Bren
dan
Trio
la sa
id. “
I th
ink
that
hav
ing
peop
le in
you
r life
that
you
lo
ve a
nd tr
ust m
eans
a lo
t mor
e th
an a
car
d or
so
me
choc
olat
e. Bu
t hey
, cho
cola
te is
goo
d, to
o.”G
ifts d
o no
t mea
n th
e w
orld
, but
it re
ally
de -
pend
s on
the
indi
vidu
al’s
impo
rtan
ce o
f the
day
. To
mos
t guy
s, Va
lent
ine’s
Day
is n
ot im
port
ant,
but a
s alw
ays,
ther
e ar
e ex
cept
ions
to th
e ru
le.
“I e
xpec
t a te
ddy
bear
fille
d w
ith ch
oco -
late
s and
a y
ear-
long
subs
crip
tion
to N
etfli
x.”
juni
or Ja
cob
Gut
zeit
said
. “O
nce
I act
ivat
e m
y su
bscr
iptio
n, I
can
wat
ch a
ll th
e sa
ppy
love
m
ovie
s so
I can
get
in th
e ho
liday
spiri
t.”M
ost o
f the
tim
e, gi
fts fo
r a g
uy c
an b
e a
toug
h th
ing
to d
ecid
e. G
uys d
on’t
real
ly li
ke th
e st
ereo
typi
cal V
alen
tine’s
Day
gift
s lik
e gi
rls d
o.
Girl
s can
nev
er g
o w
rong
with
food
for a
guy
. Th
e be
st g
ifts a
re th
e on
es y
ou c
an e
at.
“Per
sona
lly if
I w
as g
oing
to g
et so
met
hing
fo
r Val
entin
e’s D
ay, I
wou
ld w
ant m
y fa
vorit
e fo
od,”
soph
omor
e C
olin
O’C
onno
r sai
d. “N
oth -
ing
is be
tter t
han
gett
ing
food
as a
pre
sent
. It’s
th
e pe
rfec
t gift
.”Th
e ol
d sa
ying
is tr
ue. Th
e w
ay to
a g
uy’s
hear
t rea
lly is
thro
ugh
his s
tom
ach,
and
it’s
a gr
eat w
ay to
go.
Mos
t won
’t ca
re if
they
get
an
ythi
ng o
r not
, but
get
ting
som
e fo
od o
n Va
l -en
tine’s
Day
is a
gre
at w
ay to
mak
e th
is st
ress
ful
day
a lo
t mor
e st
ress
-fre
e.
Mal
esS
imila
rities
and
Diff
ere
nces
Fem
ales
The B
rain
:T
he B
ehavi
or:
1. 1
5 pe
rcen
t lar
ger b
rain
ove
rall
2. L
arge
Am
ygda
la3.
Tes
tost
eron
e re
leas
ed b
y Pi
tuita
ry G
land
4. E
mot
iona
l con
nect
ion
to e
atin
g fo
od
1. H
emisp
here
s of C
ereb
rum
hav
e m
ore
conn
ectio
ns
A. S
ectio
ns th
at a
id in
tran
spor
t are
larg
er
B. In
form
atio
n is
stor
ed in
mul
tiple
pla
ces
2. E
stro
gen
and
Prog
este
rone
rele
ased
by
Pitu
itary
Gla
nd
Man
y of
the
diffe
renc
es in
the
way
s girl
s an
d bo
ys a
ct a
nd th
ink
can
be at
trib
uted
to
the
way
thei
r bra
ins w
ork.
One
of t
he m
ain
diffe
ring
aspe
cts b
etw
een
mal
es a
nd fe
mal
es
that
impa
cts t
heir
beha
vior
is th
e st
ruct
ure
of th
eir b
rain
.W
hile
mal
es a
nd fe
mal
es u
se th
eir b
rain
s fo
r the
sam
e fu
nctio
ns, t
hey
go a
bout
the
proc
ess o
f tho
ught
in d
iffer
ent w
ays.
This
is be
caus
e of
diff
eren
ces i
n th
e st
ruct
ures
of t
he
part
s of t
heir
brai
n. Th
e siz
es a
nd co
nnec
tions
be
twee
n th
e he
misp
here
s and
lobe
s of t
he
cere
brum
, whi
ch is
in co
ntro
l of h
ighe
r bra
in
func
tions
such
as t
houg
ht, m
emor
y an
d pe
rcep
tion
of st
imul
i, ca
n ac
coun
t for
diff
erin
g th
ough
ts fo
r mal
es a
nd fe
mal
es. L
ikew
ise,
the
Am
ygda
la, t
he e
mot
iona
l cen
ter o
f the
br
ain,
and
the
Pitu
itary
Gla
nd, w
hich
secr
etes
ho
rmon
es, c
an a
ccou
nt fo
r the
em
otio
nal
chan
ges f
or g
irls a
nd b
oys a
nd w
hy th
ey a
re
not t
he sa
me
for e
ach
gend
er.
1. A
larg
er b
rain
allo
ws b
oys t
o co
mpl
ete
singl
e ta
sks e
asie
r tha
n gi
rls.
2. Th
e la
rge
Am
ygda
la e
mph
asiz
es a
ggre
ssiv
e be
havi
or a
nd ri
sky
beha
vior
, suc
h as
bei
ng m
ore
will
ing
to fi
ght o
r go
sky
divi
ng. F
or th
is, b
oys a
re m
ore
likel
y to
get
ang
ry at
peo
ple
and
thin
gs th
at ch
alle
nge
them
hea
d on
.3.
Tes
tost
eron
e pr
oduc
es m
ale
geni
talia
bef
ore
birt
h, d
evel
ops s
econ
dary
sex
char
acte
ristic
s at p
uber
ty a
nd
mai
ntai
ns se
x dr
ive.
4. C
hem
ical
s are
rele
ased
by
the
brai
n w
hen
food
is e
aten
and
the
effec
ts a
re fe
lt by
the
emot
iona
l str
uctu
res o
f th
e br
ain.
1. M
ore
conn
ectio
ns b
etw
een
the
left
and
right
side
s of t
he b
rain
allo
ws f
or in
form
atio
n to
be
stor
ed in
mor
e th
an o
ne p
lace
, allo
win
g gi
rls to
hav
e be
tter m
emor
ies a
nd m
ake
conn
ectio
ns b
etw
een
topi
cs a
nd a
spec
ts o
f life
ea
sier a
nd m
ore
freq
uent
. This
allo
ws g
irls t
o m
ake
plan
s, be
org
aniz
ed a
nd re
mem
ber/
car
ry o
ut th
ose
plan
s m
ore
effici
ently
than
boy
s. Fo
r thi
s, gi
rls a
re m
ost l
ikel
y to
get
ang
ry at
situ
atio
ns o
ut o
f the
ir co
ntro
l.2.
Thes
e ho
rmon
es a
id in
the
men
stru
al c
ycle
for g
irls a
nd m
ake
them
mor
e se
nsiti
ve th
an b
oys.
SOU
RCE:
Guy
s are
Waffl
es G
irls a
re S
pagh
etti
By C
had
East
ham
and
Will
and
Pam
Far
ell
EDIT
OR IN
CHI
Ef c
aitl
in h
eena
n
EDIT
OR IN
CHI
Ef c
aitl
in h
eena
nH
e w
on’t
text
you
bac
k. S
he’s
givi
ng y
ou m
ixed
sig
nals.
He
does
n’t p
ay at
tent
ion
to y
ou. S
he w
on’t
let y
ou h
ang
with
you
r frie
nds.
Prob
lem
afte
r pr
oble
m a
rises
in y
our r
elat
ions
hip
until
one
of
you
deci
des e
noug
h is
enou
gh a
nd y
ou ch
ange
you
r Fa
cebo
ok st
atus
. Sin
ce th
at’s
done
it’s
time
to te
xt th
at c
utie
in
your
Eng
lish
clas
s.It
seem
s tha
t tod
ay th
e ul
timat
e go
al o
n ev
eryo
ne’s
min
d is
obta
inin
g a
boyf
riend
or g
irlfr
iend
. Nev
erm
ind
that
onl
y tw
o pe
rcen
t of n
ew m
arria
ges a
re b
etw
een
the
clas
sic p
air o
f “hi
gh
scho
ol sw
eeth
eart
s.” L
et’s
just
focu
s on
the
slim
pos
sibili
ty th
at
the
one
is sit
ting
right
nex
t to
you
but j
ust t
alks
to y
ou to
ask
w
hat t
he d
ate
is.W
hile
bel
ievi
ng th
is m
ight
be
ente
rtai
ning
, it a
lmos
t alw
ays
lead
s to
com
plic
atio
ns th
at c
ause
unw
ante
d dr
ama.
Hig
h sc
hool
rela
tions
hips
are
wha
t the
y ar
e-re
latio
nshi
ps. Th
is m
ay
be su
rpris
ing,
but
rela
tions
hips
take
wor
k. Th
ey ta
ke aw
ay ti
me
from
the
endl
ess l
ist o
f res
pons
ibili
ties t
hat a
re g
iven
to th
e av
erag
e hi
gh sc
hool
er a
nd it
com
es to
a p
oint
whe
re re
latio
n -sh
ips a
re n
ot w
orth
it, e
spec
ially
in h
igh
scho
ol.
Ever
yone
in h
igh
scho
ol m
ust c
ome
to th
e re
aliz
atio
n th
at
in th
ree
year
s or l
ess t
hey
will
be
leav
ing
hom
e to
take
on
adul
thoo
d. A
stud
y do
ne b
y D
r. Fr
itz G
rupe
foun
d th
at 8
0 pe
rcen
t of c
olle
ge-b
ound
stud
ents
hav
e ye
t to
choo
se a
maj
or.
If yo
u ca
n’t d
ecid
e w
hat y
ou w
ant d
o fo
r the
rest
of y
our l
ife,
you
can’
t dec
ide
who
you
wan
t to
do fo
r the
rest
of y
our l
ife.
Ther
e ar
e to
o m
any
deci
sions
to m
ake,
clas
ses t
o fo
cus o
n, a
nd
not e
noug
h pe
ople
in h
igh
scho
ol lo
okin
g fo
r a re
latio
nshi
p fo
r an
y no
tabl
e pr
ogre
ss to
be
mad
e in
the
gam
e of
love
.C
olle
ge o
pens
doo
rs to
eve
ry a
spec
t of l
ife a
nd it
isn’
t fai
r to
clos
e off
opp
ortu
nitie
s whi
le in
hig
h sc
hool
. Sur
e yo
u ha
ve
fun
for a
yea
r or t
wo,
but
then
one
or b
oth
of y
ou g
radu
ate
and
sudd
enly
goi
ng in
to co
llege
in a
rela
tions
hip
does
n’t s
ound
too
cool
any
mor
e. Th
ere
are
7 bi
llion
peo
ple
in th
e w
orld
, and
you
tr
y to
say
you
pick
ed th
e on
e fr
om a
gro
up o
f 1,1
00 k
ids?
Man
y pe
ople
clai
m d
atin
g in
hig
h sc
hool
giv
es p
eopl
e th
e ch
ance
to “d
isco
ver l
ove”
and
lear
n w
hat c
hara
cter
istic
s th
ey a
re lo
okin
g fo
r. H
igh
scho
ol is
not
the
time
to d
iscov
er
love
, it’s
the
time
to d
iscov
er at
trac
tion.
No
one
is lo
okin
g to
da
te so
meo
ne el
se p
urel
y be
caus
e th
ey th
ink
they
can
hol
d a
conv
ersa
tion
with
them
for t
he re
st o
f the
ir lif
e. H
igh
scho
ol
datin
g op
ens d
oors
to e
very
thin
g th
ey d
on’t
teac
h yo
u in
hea
lth
clas
s and
not
hing
mor
e.
ONL
INE
EDIT
OR a
lexi
s M
egda
noff
Bein
g ab
le to
enj
oy h
igh
scho
ol m
emor
ies w
ith
a “s
igni
fican
t oth
er” c
an b
e ex
citin
g an
d ev
en
nece
ssar
y fo
r som
e te
enag
ers.
Alth
ough
ther
e ar
e m
any
posit
ives
with
in a
hig
h sc
hool
rela
tions
hip,
th
ey sh
ould
not
be
view
ed a
s too
serio
us.
Ther
e’s a
n id
ea o
f “do
’s an
d do
not
’s” w
ithin
ea
ch a
spec
t of a
rela
tions
hip.
For
exa
mpl
e, do
intr
oduc
e yo
ur b
oyfr
iend
/gir
lfrie
nd to
you
r frie
nds a
nd fi
nd a
way
to
have
fun
toge
ther
. Do
not t
ake
away
all
of y
our b
oyfr
iend
/gi
rlfrie
nd’s
frie
nds t
o on
ly sp
end
time
with
eac
h ot
her a
nd
pret
end
you
are
an is
olat
ed m
arrie
d co
uple
. It i
s im
port
ant
to k
eep
frie
nds a
roun
d an
d st
ay in
volv
ed in
hig
h sc
hool
ac
tiviti
es. Y
ou c
an d
o al
l of t
his w
ith so
meo
ne b
y yo
ur si
de,
just
mak
e su
re th
ey a
re n
ot h
oldi
ng y
ou b
ack.
O
n sp
ecia
l occ
asio
ns it
is n
ice
to g
ive
your
love
d on
e so
me
kind
of g
ift. H
owev
er, m
any
peop
le o
verd
o th
is id
ea. I
t is b
y no
mea
ns n
eces
sary
to g
o ou
t and
buy
a $
400
ring
for y
our
girlf
riend
on
your
“thr
ee m
onth
ann
iver
sary
”. M
oney
just
sh
ould
not
be
that
big
of a
fact
or in
a h
igh
scho
ol re
latio
nshi
p.
You
are
doin
g it
right
, tho
ugh,
if y
ou h
and
mak
e so
met
hing
th
at w
ill g
ener
ate
mor
e ha
ppin
ess o
r lau
ghte
r tha
n so
met
hing
bo
ught
eve
r cou
ld.
Hig
h sc
hool
rela
tions
hips
can
teac
h pe
ople
a lo
t abo
ut
them
selv
es, a
nd a
llow
them
to k
now
exa
ctly
wha
t the
y w
ill
look
for l
ater
in li
fe. I
ndiv
idua
ls ca
n be
nefit
in le
sson
s, kn
owl -
edge
and
goo
d m
emor
ies j
ust b
y be
ing
linke
d to
som
eone
. H
owev
er, i
f tak
en to
o se
rious
ly, re
latio
nshi
ps c
an b
e da
mag
-in
g, h
eart
bre
akin
g an
d m
essy
. This
is w
hy it
is im
port
ant
to h
ave
prio
ritie
s and
to b
e th
inki
ng st
raig
ht w
hen
deal
ing
with
som
eone
you
hav
e fe
elin
gs fo
r. G
irls s
houl
d no
t mak
e it
thei
r big
gest
goa
l to
find
thei
r hus
band
in h
igh
scho
ol ra
ther
th
an fo
cusin
g on
a c
aree
r and
colle
ge. B
oys s
houl
d no
t allo
w
thei
r opi
nion
s and
inte
rest
s to
be sw
ayed
just
bec
ause
they
are
w
rapp
ed a
roun
d a
girls
fing
er.
The
bigg
est p
robl
em w
ith lo
ve-s
truc
k te
enag
ers i
s tha
t th
ey th
ink
thei
r rel
atio
nshi
ps w
ill la
st fo
reve
r. Ju
dgem
ent c
an
often
be
clou
ded
whe
n on
e is
deci
ding
on
his o
r her
futu
re
with
the
cons
tant
thou
ght o
f sta
ying
with
his
or h
er p
artn
er.
Ther
e is
still
a tw
o pe
rcen
t cha
nce
that
you
’re h
igh
scho
ol
swee
thea
rt w
ill st
ick
with
you
thro
ugho
ut li
fe. T
rue
love
doe
s ex
ist, a
nd y
ou m
ight
just
find
it e
arly
on.
It is
per
fect
ly o
kay
to e
njoy
tim
e sp
ent w
ith a
boy
frie
nd/g
irlfr
iend
but
you
r liv
es
shou
ld re
mai
n se
para
te. I
f som
eone
is g
oing
to ch
ange
the
othe
r, it
shou
ld b
e fo
r the
bet
ter.
ASSI
STAN
T ED
ITOR
she
alyn
Man
dle
Onc
e up
on a
tim
e th
ere
was
a w
oman
. She
w
as to
live
hap
pily
eve
r afte
r with
her
hus
band
an
d th
ree
child
ren
in th
e fa
raw
ay la
nd o
f W
arre
n, M
ichi
gan.
The
dest
iny
of th
is se
em-
ingl
y jo
yous
fam
ily w
ould
fore
ver b
e ro
cked
on
June
6, 1
944,
also
kno
wn
as D
-Day
. The
husb
and,
stor
min
g th
e be
ache
s of N
orm
andy
, was
shot
and
take
n ba
ck to
the
Uni
ted
Stat
es in
hop
es o
f hea
ling.
Sho
rtly
afte
r, th
e w
oman
w
as w
idow
ed a
nd n
ever
mar
ried
agai
n. R
athe
r tha
n dw
ell o
n he
r hus
band
’s de
ath,
to th
is da
y, th
e w
oman
kee
ps sw
eet m
em-
orie
s of t
heir
shor
t tim
e to
geth
er.
Ever
ythi
ng I
know
abo
ut lo
ve, I
hav
e le
arne
d fr
om m
y gr
andm
a (t
he w
oman
from
the
stor
y). I
find
it in
cred
ible
that
sh
e co
uld
spen
d m
ost o
f her
life
alo
ne b
y ne
ver r
emar
ryin
g.
This,
to m
e is
a te
stam
ent t
o tr
ue lo
ve, s
how
ing
that
love
can
co
me
from
any
whe
re, a
t any
tim
e an
d ca
n la
st a
life
time.
This
dem
onst
ratio
n of
love
can
eve
n co
me
in h
igh
scho
ol o
r mid
dle
scho
ol fo
r tha
t mat
ter.
Love
shou
ld n
ot b
e de
fined
with
in th
e lim
its o
f age
and
m
atur
ity le
vels.
It is
selfi
sh a
nd n
aive
to th
ink
high
scho
oler
s ar
e inc
apab
le o
f lov
ing
each
oth
er ju
st b
ecau
se th
ey a
re y
oung
. H
igh
scho
ol is
the
time
whe
n th
e co
rrup
tion
of th
e re
al w
orld
is
kept
just
far a
way
eno
ugh
to a
llow
peo
ple
to se
e ea
ch o
ther
as
par
tner
s, no
t jus
t an
oppo
rtun
ity fo
r a ta
x w
rite
off.
Hig
h sc
hool
rela
tions
hips
hav
e a
posit
ive
influ
ence
on
teen
ager
s; th
ey a
llow
teen
s to
lear
n w
hat t
hey
like
and
disli
ke
in th
e pe
ople
aro
und
them
and
allo
w te
ens t
o ex
perie
nce
the
proc
ess o
f for
min
g an
d de
velo
ping
rela
tions
hips
. Acc
ordi
ng to
a
stud
y by
the
Uni
vers
ity o
f Den
ver,
“The
form
atio
n of
rom
an-
tic re
latio
nshi
ps is
ofte
n th
ough
t to
be o
ne o
f the
impo
rtan
t de
velo
pmen
tal t
asks
of a
dole
scen
ce a
nd th
ese
rela
tions
hips
ha
ve si
gnifi
cant
impl
icat
ion
for h
ealth
and
adj
ustm
ent.”
For e
xam
ple,
rela
tions
hips
requ
ire th
ose
invo
lved
to g
ive,
not j
ust t
ake,
lear
n ab
out e
ach
othe
r’s st
reng
ths a
nd w
eak -
ness
es a
nd to
list
en to
the
othe
r per
son,
mak
ing
sacr
ifice
s w
hen
nece
ssar
y. A
lthou
gh, I
bel
ieve
it is
pos
sible
for h
igh
scho
ol re
la-
tions
hips
to la
st, I
am
not
sugg
estin
g ev
eryo
ne w
ho cl
aim
s to
love
eac
h ot
her i
n hi
gh sc
hool
will
get
mar
ried
, hav
e a
bunc
h of
hea
lthy
child
ren
and
live
happ
ily. A
fter a
ll, n
ot e
very
re
latio
nshi
p as
an
adul
t occ
urs i
n th
is fa
shio
n. H
owev
er, I
am
su
gges
ting
high
scho
ol re
latio
nshi
ps a
re a
lot m
ore
impo
rtan
t th
an o
ur so
ciet
y cu
rren
tly g
ives
them
cred
it fo
r. PH
OTOS
Mad
die
Roy
Rea
lly W
ants
4 www.fentoninprint.com | February 13, 2014opinion
The Thursday before winter break I was in a great mood. I had finally finished study-ing for a test and I was confident I knew the material. Four snow days and a two week break later, the same material I had known like the back of my hand suddenly looked like a foreign language.
This sheds light on an important flaw in our education system. Students in high school are not really taught information. Cramming the night before for a math test and memorizing a practice essay before a timed write is not learning.
Elaine Tuttle Hansen, author of the book “How to Survive in College,” explains the problem with our current education system in an interview with NPR. Students “have not had the time to kind of sit back and think about hard questions and big questions. They have been taught to check the right boxes, to do well on standardized tests.”
Memorization skills are not important for success in college and in a career. Students need to be taught how to think critically, how to analyze a problem and how to write well. Learning how to beg for extra credit to keep a 4.0 is not a successful life skill - it is a by-product of an educational system that is too focused on testing and grades to actually teach students. This system results in students and parents who are more focused on making the grade than on learning useful skills.
This problem is not the fault of the teachers who are forced to meet common core standards and follow rules set by the state. The blame falls on our current ap-proach to education. As stated in the book, “The Myths of Standard-ized Tests: What They Don’t Tell You, What You Think They Do,” the current goal of our schools is simply to increase scores on standardized tests.
The state of Michigan is currently working to develop new testing options to replace the MEAP. One of the proposals is the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA). While its name sounds like a step in a positive direction, the SBA is really just a relocation from the classroom to the computer lab. The test involves standardized testing using a com-puter program instead of using a scantron. SBA is really not any smarter for students it is just a slight alteration to the already failing system for measuring growth.
At the State of the Union Address, President Barack Obama continued to push his Race to the Top program. The program essentially grades teachers on student test scores and encourages states to turn under performing schools into private charter schools. Programs like these do not benefit students or teachers. They turn each student into a dollar sign and schools become focused on standardized test scores because of the monetary attachment to students achievement on these tests.
Schools currently function as more of a prison than an environment that encour-ages intellectual growth. The one size fits all model drastically hinders a students natural curiosity and breeds a dislike for learning. If public education is to continue to exist in this country, programs like Race to the Top need to be abolished and replaced.
At a relatively low cost, Finland was able to build an impressive educational system by focusing on educating teachers and allowing them to work. There is little standard-ized testing and minor national standards. Finnish students work with teachers to de-velop a curriculum so the education is completely focused on students. Despite success with this model in Europe, America continues to add more regulations and spend more money on this failing system. The SBA test or Race to the Top will not fix education, stu-dents need to be given good teachers who have freedom to teach in an effective manner.
Loud, eager barking meets anyone who dares to open the gate to the PAWS Animal Rescue in Swartz Creek. Those brave enough to venture farther are greeted with puppy hugs, cuddles and wagging tails. On the surface, these dogs may seem like any others, but years of abuse or dog fighting have hindered their ability to have normal relationships with humans or other dogs.
Many of the dogs at PAWS come from Flint and have been part of illegal dog fighting for most of their lives, either as pullers or as breeders for litter after litter of puppies. Many of my favorite dogs sport incredibly large thighs, evidence of years of using those muscles to pull dogs in and out of dog fights. As a result of dogfight-ing, many of these dogs are aggressive toward each other and would lunge at one another, teeth barred, given any chance to do so.
Zena is one of these dogs. What Zena lacks in social skills for her fellow canines, she makes up for with humans. Zena is the kind of dog that could play fetch for hours: in snow, rain, mud and at night when her weath-ered tennis ball can barely be seen. Working with dogs like Zena brings tears to my eyes. People have taught her to be aggressive for entertainment. People have taught her to see a dog and think “kill,” rather than “friend.” People have prevented her from being able to play catch with a family. Instead, Zena has to live her life in a cage, waiting all day to play catch for a half hour because people have taught her to be aggressive.
While some dogs display their insecurities as aggres-sion, others cower in the corner of their cage in hopes of getting as far away from the human hands that have hurt them for so long.
One of these dogs is Gracie, she wears her scars of abuse all over her face and cannot let go of the wrong humans have done to her. She can only make it out of her cage for a couple minutes before she realizes a man or woman holds the leash attached to a collar wrapped around her neck. I have never been able to walk Gracie. Every time I walk by her kennel, she growls a little and cowgers to the corner, not able to bring her self to look in my direction. Seeing the pain Gracie goes through every day makes me hate people, the kind of people who can harm an innocent animal and prevent that animal from ever having a normal life.
Another one of these dogs is Brynn. She is the most beautiful, gentle dog I have ever met and for the longest time, I would try to take her on walks only to have her hide her tail between her legs. After months of walks, petting her head gently and kneeling down to let her sniff my hand, she finally trusts me and jumps at her kennel door to go on walks. Being an active part in Brynn’s transformation has been the most rewarding experience. Brynn was recently adopted to a woman who has worked with abused animals for almost ten years and knows how to make her feel safe. Although I will miss her more than words can express, I take pride in knowing I made a differ-ence for her and helped her find a forever home where she will be loved and cherished instead of abused.
The shelter dogs at PAWS have taught me about pa-tience and the value of kind hearted actions. Unfortunate-ly, the victories of working with abused animals are small victories, such as getting an aggressive dog to the walking track without using treats or dragging them away from other snarling dogs, or getting shy dogs to sniff your hand or let you pat their heads. I will take the small victories I get every Wednesday evening over no victory at all, hop-ing one day each of these dogs will have a forever home.
By Caitlin HeenanOpinOn editOr
Puppy Love, Worth the Work
For more profiles of dogs, visit fentoninprint.com. For more information about PAWs, see their ad on page 11.
Think twice before hitting or screaming at an animal; it could destroy their ability to be man’s best friend or have a home
He may be a loud barker and intimidating at first, but Blizzard is PAWS’ best cuddler.
Beautiful and energetic, once her trust is earned, Brynn will make anyone smile with her goofy personality. Brynn was recently adopted.
Brynn
Blizzard
Zena was a puller and cannot get along with other dogs, but give her a stick or frisbee and she is in heaven.
Zena
ABused AnimAls
PA
rk
er
to
on
de
r | p
hO
tO
gr
ap
he
r
By Allie HowelleditOr-in-Chief
shelter Volunteer opportunities:adopt - a - pet: fentonpaWS animal rescue: Swartz CreekLast Chance rescue: flint
Shelters can always use donations, such as money or animal care supplies.
su
Bm
itt
ed
By
ty
le
r k
Al
An
qu
ins
uB
mit
te
d B
y t
yl
er
kA
lA
nq
uin
CA
itl
in H
ee
nA
n | O
pin
iOn
ed
itO
r
American Education vs. Finnish Education
Total Spending
America - $809.6 billion Finland - $10 billion
Science Rating
America - 23rd worldwide Finland - 2nd woldwide
Math Rating
America - 30th worldwide Finland - 6th worldwide
Reading Rating
America - 17th worldwide Finland - 3rd worldwide
Source: National Education Association
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This spread is by far one my most favorite to have created. Each design element was carefully thought out and representative of an aspect of Valentine’s Day. Each of the candy hearts was selected for a reason, the highlighted words in each story were cho-sen as classic representations of love and relationships, even the colors of the outfits of the individuals pictured were planned and specified to the theme.
Published: February 4, 2015Awarded: Submitted for Features Spread to MIPA - 2015
The Brain: The Behavior:
1. 15 percent larger brain overall2. Large Amygdala3. Testosterone released by Pituitary Gland4. Emotional connection to eating food
1. Hemispheres of Cerebrum have more connections A. Sections that aid in transport are larger B. Information is stored in multiple places2. Estrogen and Progesterone released by Pituitary Gland
1. A larger brain allows boys to complete single tasks easier than girls.2. The large Amygdala emphasizes aggressive behavior and risky behavior, such as being more willing to fight or go sky diving. For this, boys are more likely to get angry at people and things that challenge them head on.3. Testosterone produces male genitalia before birth, develops secondary sex characteristics at puberty and maintains sex drive.4. Chemicals are released by the brain when food is eaten and the effects are felt by the emotional structures of the brain.
1. More connections between the left and right sides of the brain allows for information to be stored in more than one place, allowing girls to have better memories and make connections between topics and aspects of life easier and more frequent. This allows girls to make plans, be organized and remember/ carry out those plans more efficiently than boys. For this, girls are most likely to get angry at situations out of their control.2. These hormones aid in the menstrual cycle for girls and make them more sensitive than boys.
SOURCE: Guys are Waffles Girls are Spaghetti By Chad Eastham and Will and Pam Farell
MalesSimilarities and Differences
Females
Many of the differences in the ways girls and boys act and think can be attributed to the way their brains work. One of the main differing aspects between males and females that impacts their behavior is the structure of their brain.
While males and females use their brains for the same functions, they go about the process of thought in different ways. This is because of differences in the structures of the parts of their brain. The sizes and connec-tions between the hemispheres and lobes of the cerebrum, which is in control of higher brain functions such as thought, memory and perception of stimuli, can account for differing thoughts for males and females. Likewise, the Amygdala, the emotional center of the brain, and the Pituitary Gland, which secretes hor-mones, can account for the emotional changes for girls and boys and why they are not the same for each gender.
EDITOR IN CHIEf caitlin heenan
Once upon a time there was a woman. She was to live happily ever after with her husband and three children in the faraway land of War-ren, Michigan. The destiny of this seemingly joy-ous family would forever be rocked on June 6,
1944, also known as D-Day. The husband, storming the beach-es of Normandy, was shot and taken back to the United States in hopes of healing. Shortly after, the woman was widowed and never married again. Rather than dwell on her husband’s death, to this day, the woman keeps sweet memories of their short time together.
Everything I know about love, I have learned from my grandma (the woman from the story). I find it incredible that she could spend most of her life alone by never remarrying. This, to me is a testament to true love, showing that love can come from anywhere, at any time and can last a lifetime. This demonstration of love can even come in high school or middle school for that matter.
Love should not be defined within the limits of age and maturity levels. It is selfish and naive to think high school-ers are incapable of loving each other just because they are young. High school is the time when the corruption of the real world is kept just far away enough to allow people to see each other as partners, not just an opportunity for a tax write off.
High school relationships have a positive influence on teenagers; they allow teens to learn what they like and dislike in the people around them and allow teens to experience the process of forming and developing relationships. According to a study by the University of Denver, “The formation of roman-tic relationships is often thought to be one of the important developmental tasks of adolescence and these relationships have significant implication for health and adjustment.”
For example, relationships require those involved to give, not just take, learn about each other’s strengths and weak-nesses and to listen to the other person, making sacrifices when necessary.
Although, I believe it is possible for high school relation-ships to last, I am not suggesting everyone who claims to love each other in high school will get married, have a bunch of healthy children and live happily. After all, not every relation-ship as an adult occurs in this fashion. However, I am suggest-ing high school relationships are a lot more important than our society currently gives them credit for.
Writing and Design Samples
In writing this column as part of the tri-column, I took the stance that rela-tionships are meaningful, even in high school and was able to incorporate per-sonal aspects from the experiences hear-ing about my grandmother’s life events.
Published: February 4, 2015Awarded: Never submitted for judging
Writing and Design Samples
The writing of this research-based piece is enhanced by an alternative story form design and still maintains the theme of love and Valentine’s Day with the male and female symbols.
Published: February 4, 2015Awarded: Never submitted for judging
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