The Oracle Editorial Board wishes to reiterate the important topics discussed in this year’s editorials for the South
community to take into consideration over the summer as we enter a new school year.
pink passes: The Oracle Editorial Board believes the current pink pass system not only disrupts the classroom environment, but it can also tarnish students’ reputations. The Oracle believes the current system is inefficient, and we urge the Deans’ Office to reevaluate their process for next year. In an Oracle-conducted survey of 30 teachers, 40 percent say that the passes that get sent to their classes say “Now Please”, which causes an obvious disturbance in the lesson. A class should not be interrupted because of a missing ID or misplaced pencil case. If the Deans’ Office questions the importance of the issue that necessitates the pink pass, they should include a short note describing the matter, which will allow students to find an appropriate time to retrieve their lost items.
ACT without writing: The Illinois-mandated ACT, a part of the PSAE, no longer includes a writing portion because of state budget cuts. Since most out-of-state universities require writing, students are forced to retake the ACT for $49.50 if they wish to study outside of Illinois. This is inconvenient for students who are at a financial disadvantage and are unable to retake the test. After press time for Issue 6 of The Oracle, the Editorial Board discovered that the South administration sent a request to the state to get permission to pay for the writing portion. The state denied the request. The Editorial Board commends South’s action and encourages the administration to continue sending the request to cover the cost of the writing portion.
school spirit: South’s 50th anniversary has been marked by many incredible events, such as the lip dub, the 24-hour telethon that raised $80,000 and the canned food drive that raised over 100,000 cans. However, it seems that for many other organizations this support has been lacking, especially since the football season ended. This is not an issue of the school administration’s insufficient support or failure to spread the word; this poor attendance and lack of team spirit lives solely in the students. In an Oracle -conducted survey of 108 performers and varsity athletes, 88 percent believe that they perform better with a more supportive audience. So, students, pick a game or concert to go to. Cheer loudly, wear blue and gold, show the athletes and performers that you care about what they’re doing.
ratemyteachers.com: Ratemyteachers.com is a website where students can anonymously post reviews about teachers by rating them in categories and posting comments. Although teachers often view the website as a “bashing” forum, The Oracle Editorial Board believes teachers should use the website as a tool to improve their teaching habits. The Oracle understands the site can be misused, but according to ratemyteachers.com, about 60 percent of all ratings are positive, and the GBS teacher rating averages 3.8 out of 5. The Oracle Editorial Board also encourages students to be mindful of what they write and to post reflectively so as to create a positive vehicle for students and teachers alike.
cyberbullying: Websites like Twitter and Facebook play a crucial role in modern society, but the Editorial Board believes the use of anonymous social media should not be a platform used for cyber-bullying. The Oracle recognizes the entertainment value these mediums provide, but even in South’s amicable environment, we urge students to be cautious when sending tweets or posting statuses, since they occasionally fall into the category of cyber-bullying. Even when bullying doesn’t result in extreme events such as suicide, it still often has a hurtful, unseen affect on those bullied. The Oracle would like to remind students that hurtful comments said online cannot be deleted from the mind of the person who read them, and we ask students to think twice before being rude online during the summer.
