by Saber Slate | Jan 15, 2020 | Opinion & Reviews
(The following article is part of the Executive Agencies Project for American Government.)
When was the last time you saw or even heard an ad for cigarettes? Well, unless you were born in the 70’s, the answer should be never. Of course, there are still advertisements in magazines, but as of 1971, all radio and television cigarette ads were banned from airing. So why is it that every time I walk into a 7-11, I hear an ad for JUUL playing overhead?
While the advertising isn’t geared towards youth, an analysis of National Youth Tobacco survey taken in August of 2019 reported that 21% of high school students reported using some sort of e-cigarette within the previous 30 days. That’s compared to the 3% of adults that say they used an e-cigarette in 2017. Why are we not take the advertisement of e-cigarettes as seriously as we take the advertisement of regular cigarettes/tobacco products? According to the CDC, being exposed to e-cigarette ads correlates with the chances that young people will use their products just as much as cigarette ads correlate with the use of cigarettes/tobacco products. Ultimately, businesses prioritize sales and profit over the health of the people using their products, which is something that needs to change.
The advertisement of nicotine and tobacco products have had a great influence on many youths to begin vaping. Although vaping has become a borderline epidemic, it may be argued that advertisement is a right and advertising nicotine products is a healthier alternative to smoking. Although commercial speech is less protected than other types of speech, it is nonetheless protected by the First Amendment. Big nicotine and tobacco product companies may get upset if their right to advertise their product is taken away. Additionally, CASAA (Consumer Advocates for Smoke Free Alternatives Assoc.) says that electronic cigarettes were patented to steer smokers towards a healthier alternative. Some may say that taking away advertisement of such products would encourage other, more dangerous means of nicotine and tobacco use.
Case in point, there are also many reasons to restrict the advertisement of nicotine/tobacco products. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 7 out of 10 middle and high school students say they’ve seen e-cigarette ads. In addition, about 9 out of 10 smokers begin smoking before age 18. The correlation between these two does not seem coincidental. It seems that higher exposure to e-cigarettes via ads relates to a higher chance that youth will pick up habits of smoking. Aside from setting bad habits from an early age, vaping has proven to be deadly and very dangerous. CDC reports that there have been “37 deaths linked to vaping-related illnesses” (Winn). Restricting advertising of tobacco and nicotine products could reduce the number of youth picking up vaping and would prevent against serious health repercussions.
If you would like your essay/article/short story/speech/any written works to be uploaded to the Saber Slate, too, please submit it using this link!
Sources:
Andrews, M. (2019). NPR Choice page. [online] Npr.org. Available at: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/08/20/752553108/cigarettes-cant-be-advertised-on-tv-should-juul-ads-be-permitted [Accessed 16 Oct. 2019].
Simon, S. (2019). Report: More and More Teens Seeing E-Cigarette Ads. [online] Cancer.org. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/report-more-and-more-teens-seeing-e-cigarette-ads.html [Accessed 16 Oct. 2019].
by Saber Slate | Dec 9, 2019 | Opinion & Reviews
Hey freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, it’s almost time to submit your classes for the 2020-21 school year! As you’re looking at what courses to take on Xello, you’ll notice that there are hundreds of classes to choose from. To help you pick out the most beneficial (and fun!) classes, the Saber Slate has come up with a list of their top picks.
#1 Recommendation: Free Block (Seniors Only)
- It’s relaxing to have a break from classwork to leave school, do homework, catch up on sleep, hang out with friends… you name it!
- If you qualify for a free block, take it. This should be an automatic pick. Even if you don’t have the means to go home during the school day, it’s still relaxing to just hang out in the library and not have to go to any classes.
- Additionally, there are coffee makers in the library, you just need to bring your own mug and K-Cups.
Art
- Ceramics 1
- Recommend this for students who are into art and like creating, or for students who want an interesting class
- Nice and creative
Business
- Personal Finance
- Recommended for: Everyone
- You’ll actually use that kind of math later in life
- Super helpful for budgeting, writing checks, buying cars, etc.
- Either way, it’s going to be required for students graduating in the next few years
Engineering and Architecture
- Programming
- Recommend this for students who want to find out how computers, websites, and software work
- Get to write your own programs!
- If you’re strong in the logic used in math (especially algebra/calc), you’ll be strong in the logic used in programming
- It really makes you think!
English
- Film as Literature
- You get to watch movies. Enough said.
- Creative Writing
- Explore all different types of writing
- A great break from essay writing
- Plenty of work time in class, barely any outside of class work
- AP Literature
- Get to read all types of fiction works from novels, plays, poetry
Enriched Virtual/Online
- Take them, you can leave school
- Work at your own pace
Math
- Calc BC
- If you get recommended, you should sign up
- Related to physics
- Super interesting, can be tough at times but you get to find out how certain equations are derived, how they relate to each other, and other cool calc concepts
Music
- Band is fun if you’re willing to commit to marching band!
- Everyone should take at least one music class
- Intro to Piano, Studio Tech or something, and Creating Music
- Everyone listens to music so why not try to understand it a little better
- More interesting/creative class than most of the academic classes
- If you are in a choral or instrumental music class, you should always try to audition for the top ensemble, why not?
- AP Music Theory
- If you are good in music, then consider taking AP Music Theory
- You get to understand music in a deeper way and it will help you in your normal music classes if you take them
- But it can be a difficult AP course and there is some singing involved
PE/Health
- Weight Training
- It’s a very fun class
- There isn’t a lot of running involved
- Most days it’s kind of a free period to work out in the weight room
- Also, learn about muscles which can relate to different science degrees
- Dance
- Not your traditional PE class
- More relaxation than sweating
- Come up with your own dances to the music of your choice at the end of each quarter
- Get to do yoga and meditation (it really does help with stress relief!)
- Personal Fitness and Wellness
- You get to learn a bunch of different stretches and exercises
- You learn different ways to stay healthy
- Practice meditation and yoga
Science
- Forensic Science
- Very interesting. It’s like being in a CSI show
- Some parts can get kind of gross (such as looking at maggots)
- I will be forever scarred by that class, but I still recommend
- AP Chemistry
- It’s a tough class, no kidding, but the concepts and labs are so interesting and fun since you get to use all different types of chemicals
Social Studies
- Practical Law
- Best class
- Mock trials are so fun
- Need to know your rights!
- Mr. Doucette is real cool
- AP Psych
- Easiest AP class
- Learn about how your brain works
- AP Macro
- It’s a semester, and it’s an AP class
- Learn about relevant economics
- Helps you understand the economics talked about in the news and in politics
- Relevant for anyone who wants to be an entrepreneur, and quite honestly, anyone who wants to have a job in the future
World Language
- Any of them
- Interesting to learn how other cultures and languages are similar/different than ours
- Exposes you to different types of people, countries, etc.
- Makes you appreciate the diversity in our world
- 2-3 years minimum required for most colleges… why not take it for free in high school?
- Make new friends
- You get to travel to different countries!
Internship/Aide Block
- Youth Apprenticeship
- Find out what you really do on a typical work day in your interested field
- Even if you end up not wanting to major in that field, at least you have that experience
- Awesome for resumes/college apps
- Can be paid!
These are just our top recommendations. We highly recommend you take at least some of these classes and explore the different courses our school has to offer, but in the end, the choice is up to you!
by Saber Slate | Nov 28, 2019 | Opinion & Reviews
It’s that time of year again to be thankful to the brave retail employees who dare work on Black Friday. The Friday after Thanksgiving is traditionally a day of great deals, both in stores and online. It also marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. The popularity of online retailers, primarily Amazon, have decreased the amount of people shopping physically within the store. This means that Amazon packagers and delivery drivers are way more busy as well, compared to any other day of the year.
Black Friday is notable for increased violence among shoppers and increased stress for retail employees. It makes for interesting news stories and funny viral videos of people fighting over the last television set for example. Statistically, since 2006, there have been 117 injuries on this day in the United States. I guess you need to do whatever it takes to get that special item on sale.
A common Black Friday tradition is to camp out overnight outside of the store in order to get ahead of the line and have a better chance at getting the items they desire. Over the years, stores have begun to open earlier and earlier because of this. Some even opening at midnight. Because of the deals promoted on this day, shoppers have a tendency to buy things that they don’t necessarily need, like a new phone or computer, for example, when the one they have works just fine. This practice contributes to more environmental waste, and consequentially, contributes to climate change.
The earliest usage of the term “Black Friday” was in the 1950s by police in Philadelphia and Rochester to describe the crowds and traffic congestion that took place on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Historically, this Friday has been the day retailers have given their employees the day off after the holiday. Competing retailers capitalized on this to promote discounts and deals to draw in business while other stores were closed.
With this in mind, be thankful for what you already have and have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families, and don’t be too irresponsible with your money spending on Friday. Have a great four and a half day weekend, my friends!
by Saber Slate | Nov 21, 2019 | Athletics & Activities, Opinion & Reviews
On Wednesday, November 13th, Franklin High School opened its 2019 Fall Play: The Crucible! It stars a diverse and wide variety of characters played by over 30 following talented students.
In the first act of the story, we are introduced to the setting, characters, and plot. The story takes place in and around the town of Salem, Massachusetts in the spring of 1692. In the beginning of the play, we see girls dancing in the woods around a fire with Tituba, drinking what some may think is a witch’s brew, or possibly soup. Either way, it’s clear that something shady is going on. The visual effects during this time on stage really added to the mood conveyed by the story and setting. The girls are spotted by Reverend Parris, and his terrified daughter, Betty collapses from shock, it seems like. Betty accuses the ringleader of the girls, Elizabeth Proctor of being a witch, and the people of Salem insist she be brought to trial. It becomes a slippery slope for the town of Salem once more and more people find out about the “witchcraft.” Soon, it turns the townspeople against each other, showcasing the power of socially sanctioned violence.
The theme of this story lines up with the topic of McCarthyism, a practice that involves the use of unfair allegations and investigations without proper evidence. Joseph McCarthy was a senator of Wisconsin who led a campaign against alleged communists in the government during 1950-54, around the period when The Crucible was written. From this comes the idea of the witch hunt, which is exactly what these characters are doing in this story.
I think that the actors did an awesome job of bringing these characters to life. Each of them brought their own unique talents and styles to the stage to tell this tale, and they made it really easy to get connected to or relate to their characters. For me, this was fun to watch because I read The Crucible for AP Lit last year. Watching it be actually performed by my fellow students made the play more enjoyable for me than actually reading it as a book because I get to feel more connected to the characters and actually understand what’s happening over the course of the story.
I would like to thank all who were involved with The Crucible for their very hard and dedicated work in bringing this tale to life within Franklin High School. It was a delight to watch and it was nice to see how much these students have grown and learned from previous years.
by Saber Slate | Nov 1, 2019 | Advice, Opinion & Reviews
Attention Saber Slate readers! We still have an Advice Column, and we’re still accepting submissions for advice! Recently, we got a whopping 1 new question from who wants to be called “Basement Bois.” Basement Bois asks:
“What looks good on guys during the winter? That isn’t the common sweats/vans/sweatshirt? I like to be in the basement a lot wearing steel toes and jeans, but how do i make that look Good? So I guess the real question is, How do basement kids look really good in the winter?”
Dear Basement Bois,
Flannels. The answer is always flannels. Flannels go with absolutely anything, no matter what kind of season. In the fall, pair flannels with jeans or khakis. During the wintertime, pair the flannel and jeans with some kind of hoodie or winter jacket (that doesn’t contain bright colors). In the springtime, just simply roll the sleeves of your flannel shirt back and opt for khaki shorts if it’s warm out. If it’s very hot out like in the summer, there are good short sleeve and thinner flannel shirts out there that are very nice. And during all seasons, wear cowboy boots. Cowboy boots go absolutely with anything, no matter what you wear. On a more serious note, just take it easy with what you wear. As long as you don’t try too hard to look good, you probably already look fine with a hoodie and jeans.
Thank you to Basement Bois for your submission! Remember to fill out Advice Column submissions at tinyurl.com/fhsadvice. Be sure to email fhsnewspaper62@gmail.com if you have any questions. Your submission may be featured in a future article, so stay tuned!
by Saber Slate | Oct 21, 2019 | Opinion & Reviews
Since the beginning of the year, new policies have been in effect here at FHS, with mixed reception from the student body. The most significant one, in my opinion, is the new cell phone policy. Teachers are required to enforce this policy, as quoted from the school handbook:
“In an effort to create a safe and effective learning environment Franklin High School students are permitted limited use of their personal electronic devices… Personal electronic devices include but are not limited to cell phones, headphones, AirPods, iPods, iPads, and Smart Watches.”
The policy goes on to state that devices can be used in the cafeteria during lunch periods and within the hallways before and after school. Devices can never be used in the school office, restrooms, locker rooms, or in the classroom. However, students can be allowed to use their device in the classroom “for the sole purpose of engaging in educational activities when specifically directed by their teacher.”
If students are caught violating the cell phone policy: On the first offense, the student’s phone will be confiscated and the teacher will take the phone to the main office. The student can pick up their phone at the end of the day. On the second offense, parents will be contacted and 45-minute detention will be issued. On their third offense, the parents must come to pick up the phone in the main office and the student will be issued a two hour Saturday detention. On the fourth offense, a conference with the student, their parents, and an administrator will be held.
Clearly, cell phone usage is a problem with a lot of the student body and I respect that the administration is taking the initiative here, instead of just leaving it up to the teachers to figure out what to do. But it’s ultimately up to the student to decide how to manage their cell phone usage during school.
