Friday, February 28, 2014

Social Issues

If you look on the internet for maybe five minutes you're more than likely going to stumble across a complaint about school. Most of the time these complaints are brushed off by our school leaders as the typical tirades of teenagers, but is there more to our suffering and protests than our superiors think?
Firstly, I'd like to say that I'm not trying to complain, however I'm sure that I will sound whiny at times and I apologize. I'm simply trying to explore the reasoning behind all of the turmoil.

What I've been bothered by most recently has been my teachers; really just one specifically. This educator has stated that they may offend you  and if that's a problem you should probably transfer out of their class, but is that really ok? A teacher who knows they're offensive but rather than trying to better themselves simply suggests you avoid them? There seems to be something wrong with this logic to me.

But I digress. This is more of a personal issue rather than an issue with the school system as a whole. As I'm sure you've heard many people think school used to be fun, back when it was actually about learning new information and expanding our world views. 

This isn't to say that we don't still learn new things, but it is a rare day when I am excited to go to class because I know I'm going to learn something useful. I completely understand why our superiors have deemed it necessary to continue our education, but how far is too far? A common complaint is that the things we are learning about now are not necessary for our futures. For the most part, I agree. Is it necessary that I know how to balance a chemical equation in order to succeed in the world? Most people would say no. Do you know how to balance a chemical equation? Whether the answer is yes or no, do you ever come across a situation where you may need this information? For the most part, I'm betting the answer is no. 

Another issue that is prevalent is that school isn't about learning anymore; not for the students at least. I know for me and a many of my friends when I think of school I think of stress about grades, homework, tests and quizzes, AP Tests, colleges, SAT's and many other things that make me want to crawl into a corner and cry a little. School is more about studying and memorizing facts than it is about expanding my world views and trying to better myself as a person. Sure I know that the molar mass for oxygen is 16.00 grams, but what does that tell you about me? All I think it says is that I spend too much time doing useless calculations and I have begun to engratiate the knowledge into my mind so I'm not constantly flipping between a periodic table and a worksheet.

I know this has been very negative, so I'll talk about the flipside for a moment as well. I do know of some teachers who struggle to inspire their students, and that’s our fault. It is so easy for us to be distracted from learning about the real story behind Pocahontas when we have the world in our pocket. Smart phones have revolutionized the struggle to pay attention in class. Students have to learn to shut off their screens and try and at least try to learn something.

Really both sides have some things that they should work on. 


Thursday, February 7, 2013

Media is a powerful thing.

First came spoken news, people would talk and gossip and spread around the recent events of their village. Then people came up with a form of written language, and scrolls, books, and poems were written telling of events that have happened in nearby areas. Then during the medieval rennisance, the printing press was invented, thereby revolutionizing the news world for the first time. Eventually we got electricity, and computers, and internet, and television, and iphones, and ipads, and lots of other technology that helps us spread news quickly and efficiently. The media is a powerful thing though. recently in class we talked about the Sandy Hook conspiracy theory. Weather it actually happened or not, media has the power to make us believe there's a chance that it didn't. The internet has spread saround conspiracy thories, and facts and evidence supporting them. The conspiracy theorists claim that tv is lying to us, and the fact that the media controls the world and that they could lie to us is pretty scary. The media could be filling our mind with crazy lies or subliminal messaging and turning us in to KGB sleeper agents. While I doubt this, it could still happen. Who's to say it's not happening already? I suppose we'll never know; unless the secret code word is uttered and we go into attack mode. Then I guess we'd notice. I hope we would at least.
Media also controls us. Not by making us sleeper agents or anything silly, but by keeping us addicted to their entertainment. Whether it's an iphone with the texting and the apps and the netflix, or whether it's the television with the amazing shows and the stupid reality television and the food channel that makes me feel bad about the way I eat. It could also be the internet with the endless pictures of cats and funny pictures and everyday fails. The media reels us in with funny things and keeps us so we don't get our Lit reading done but it's okay because Mrs. Rhicter loves me. So you see, reader, that media is a dangerous thing and you should be careful how you use it or abuse it.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

I'm in a glass case of emotion

Firstly I would just like to congradulate Mr. Henry on FINALLY learning how to use Twitter, way to go bro. Now on to me, because I am the most important human being ever to inhabit the earth. My name is Brooke Wertz. Not Brooke Rosenburg. I'm way cooler and not as good at math. I'm 15, I have 6 siblings, and 3 dogs. I like my brothers better than my sisters, because let's be honest, girls are annoying. I like to play on my Gamecube, it's the only gaming system I thoroughly enjoy. I have a Wii, but that is too much phsical activity for me. I've been playing softball since I was 5 and this upcoming summer will be my last season ever, unless of course I play with my church's old person slow pitch softball league....2 of 6 siblings are at Georgia Southern, and I suspect next year 3 of 6 will be there. My dogs names are Shakespeare, Elvis, and Skittles. We re-named all of them except Skittles. My birthday is July 18th 1997. My favorite color is purple. I think I have contributed to The Laureate by bringing a fresh point of view and a unique writing style. I enjoy being sarcastic and joking around. I find myself very funny; nobody makes me laugh more than me. I think my strengths are that I'm funny (or so I think), I'm full of energy, I have a great work ethic, and I work very well with others. I can definately imporove on my procrastination. Every year my wiseness grows and I think I can now contribute with my new found genius next year, if we don't die in 2 days that is.
Bottom line I'm fantastic. If you realize that early on your life and mine will both run easier!

OH MY GOSH.

Mr. Henry disappeared during winter break! He left a note saying something about when he's ruling the Americas that he'll keep us safe.....I don't really know what he's talking about, but I'm glad I'm on his good side! Anyway, the journalism class now has a new teacher, Ms. Psychlienabecker. She hasn't got a clue and now needs my advice on how to run The Laureate. The advisor needs my advice....ironic. Well here are my Top Five Tips on How to Run The Laureate.
1. Don't get power hungry and try to take over the Americas. Remeber, you are a high school teacher, and essentially the only thing you have power over is your students grade.
2. If the staff has a quarrel they can't solve, feel free to step in. Just becasue it's a student run newspaper doesn't mean that students are always going to make the best choices.
3. If the editors need help, make sure the staff helps them. Also make sure the editors actually ask when they need help.
4. Do NOT let the children organize a party. They are terrible at it. You should spearhead all parties and make us cookies daily.....
5. Make sure to ALWAYS bring the students presents. Everyday. Mostly me.

Heres's my last lesson and let me tell you, this is the most important thing you will ever learn.
ALWAYS trust people who like big butts. They can not lie.

Alright well those are my suggestions Ms. Psychlienabecker, take them and use them. Use the heck out of them.

Reasons to join this awesome class....

Do you like writing? Do you enjoy photography? Do you like having pizza parties? Well if you like all these things, journalism is the class for you! YOU get to come up with the ideas for the articles, and then YOU get to write them! Also, journalism is a fun way to make friends and improve your writing skills. The staff are all increadibly friendly and loveable, like a puppy. Our advisor is really cool and likes to wear shirts that make people think of food. All together our staff family is cohesive and work well together, and we're always looking for new members to add to the family! Newspaper has many benefits, such as looking good on a college application, making friends with upperclassmen, and having a great time! So come out and join news paper today!!

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

BREAKING NEWS

The story of St. Nicholas has been around since the begining of time.Some believe him to be a myth, others, mainly small children, strongly believe he is real. Well we here at the BNN, Brooke News Network, have found the truth once and for all.
Santa Clause is fake. A rouse created by parents to be a scapegoat of sorts.
When presents didn't come until after the huge Christmas sales, Santa was merely running late.
When presents didn't meet children's expectations, Santa didn't read their wish list.
When stocking weren't quites as stuffed as children desired, they were on Santa's naughty list.
Santa was and is an excuse for parents to be lazy, thrifty perhaps, or even just skimp some gifts from their children.
"Santa is not real," states suburban house mom Joan Knight, "I just like to save some money and shop after Christmas."
Many parents have admitted to making up the so called "rosy cheeked, big bellied" preset giver.

The Magic of Slushy Magic

Why the Slushy Magic is the best product to buy this Christmas season

 I purchased the Slushy Magic last year around this time and I have been very happy with it. The commercial states you can get "a slushy drink in seconds," which is true. It takes about 30 seconds of shaking to make any liquid in to a slushy dream. The Slushy Magic is a cup with three special ice cubes inside that, with a little shaking, can turn any drink in to a delicious slushy. Anything from chocolate milk, to lemonade, to a soda, can be made in to a delicious slushy drink.
The Slushy magic comes in many different cup styles including but not limited to: disney princess, the avenges, and original. The only down side to this amazing product is that the ice cubes take pretty much 12 plus hours to re-freeze. Therefore if you plan on buying this fantastic slushy frink maker, you should order some extra cubes so you can enjoy it more than once a day.

Friday, September 21, 2012

*Insert Witty News Related Title Here*

News! It's all around us. Some affect us and some doesn't. Let's look at interesting news in our country today:
1. Politics, With the election coming up it's not hard to see why politics are pretty popular.
2. Drugs, let's be honest; when are drugs not in the news?
3.New Jersey banned smilling on driver's liscence, um what? Do you want people to hate the DMV even more?
4.Linday Lohan as Elizabeth Taylor, is someone actually hiring her to do a movie? Have you been living under a rock for the past decade?
5.Amanda Binds retires, then un-retires. Amanda, you're, what, 24? You do not need to retire.
6.Curiosity to inspect rock, Yahoo has this on their home page. Is this really top news Yahoo? Really?
7.Iphone now takes a panormaic picture, this is apparently exciting if you have  and IPhone, which I do not.
8. A cat by the name of Tuxedo Stan has a realistic chance of becoming mayor. Well I wouldn't want to be mayor of Halifax, Canada either. It's not even a real city anymore.
9.How your job makes you fat. Well I'm unemployed so....
10.USPS asks floridians to stop crashing into the post office. I'm not even kidding with this one.
Now let's look at some news that actually does  affect us, or me at least:
1. I'm pretty sure there's only 5 people at Lassiter that does not have an IPhone, and I'm one of them.
2. Football is doing pretty well....
3.Softball is doing very well!
4.I got a watch that has Batman on the face, thus the school is now on Bat-Time.
5.Dolphin Olympics is pretty much the best game ever
6.Homecoming is coming up.
7.Our theme is Disney.
8.There is not going to be a Homecoming dance because the sophmore members of LSC are slackers.
9.Yoga pants have not been added to the dress code.
10.Mr. Henry is the coolest teacher ever; 94% of the school thinks so.*




*I Made this up but it's probably true