Senior Obligations Pre-Write, Notes & Quotes, and Planner

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senior obligations first draft

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Uniforms-Con Notes & Quotes, Pre-Write, Planner

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Prairie Ave. Final Draft

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Prairie Ave. Construction Pre-write, Notes & Quotes, Planner, and Reflection

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TEST UPLOAD (WEISS)

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Prairie Ave. Construction

Recently construction began on Prairie Avenue, just south of the entrance to the main student parking lot. This construction has eliminated access to Prairie Avenue North bound if you are coming from Dade Blvd and Prairie Ave, south of Miami Beach Senior High. This construction stems from numerous discussions between Miami Beach Public Works, Miami Beach Senior High School, TYLIN International/HJ Ross, and Zyscovich Inc. about the drainage design along Prairie Avenue. Throughout the discussions the Public Works department has maintained its position that the school board must provide a “functional and suitable design” to address the flooding concerns along Prairie Avenue. These flooding concerns began with the construction of the new buildings of Miami Beach Senior High School when the main student parking lot was remodeled and raised, essentially eliminating a “historic basin storage and a subsequent alteration in the runoff patterns.” Thus the Public Works department determined that the school board did not properly prepare for the drainage issue that arose from construction and that is why we now have new construction. “The construction is a direct result of the school board being totally unprepared for the effects their construction would have on the surrounding neighborhood,” said one City of Miami Beach employee. Miami Beach Senior High School has determined that the impacts of construction include: periods of dust and noise, pedestrian and vehicular detours, construction crews and equipment within work zone and adjacent neighborhood, storage of materials on swale, and temporary driveway access impacted by open trenches. Truthfully the most impact the construction has had on students has been traffic caused by Officer Gomez attempting to direct traffic. Construction began late in April 2008 and is scheduled to be completed by August 2008.

Uniforms-Con

On April 28, 2008 Miami Beach Senior High will have a vote amongst the parents of their students to decide on whether or not uniforms should be worn next year. The problems with uniforms are cost, self-expression, individuality, and comfort. One of the arguments for school uniforms is that it will save parents money because they will not have to buy brand name school clothes for their children. Unfortunately this is a false argument because uniforms are expensive and useless. Parents will have to go out to buy uniforms that the students will only wear in school, and then they will have to go out after and still buy clothes for after school and the weekends. So not only are parents spending money on expensive uniforms but they also have to buy more clothes. Many educators and sociology experts believe that requiring children to wear standardized uniforms stifles their self-expression. Self-expression is an important part of child development and some experts believe that curbing it with uniforms can be detrimental to a child. Experts also believe that students who are forced to wear uniforms will only find other, less appropriate ways to express themselves, possibly through inappropriate use of makeup and jewelry. Many experts also believe that public education attempts to strip children of their individuality. They believe that public education does not meet the needs of children who do not fall in the norm, and that uniforms attempt to force every student into one mold. They see standard dress as another way for public educators to remove student individuality where they should be embracing and celebrating diversity. Some experts believe it is not in the best interest of the child to try to control socialization which is a part of human nature. They believe that such use of school uniforms does not prepare children for the real world, in which they will continue to be judged by appearances. Critics also argue that different types of clothing feel comfortable to different people. Some children are more comfortable in a specific material or style of clothing. Uniforms reduce one’s ability to choose clothing that fits individual comfort needs. Experts believe that children need to feel comfortable in order to maximize learning, and that uniforms can therefore deter academic success. When the vote comes around, uniforms should not be passed. School officials make countless arguments to defend all the great things school uniforms do, but it is all a sham. Remember that if school uniforms are passed Beach High parents will have to go out and buy expensive uniforms all while killing their child’s creativity and expression.

Frequent Fire Alarms become distractions

In recent weeks, fire alarms went off every afternoon thorughout. The causes for the alarms are a mix between electrical malfunctions and students pulling alarms. Apparently, students  began pulling the alarm when they noticed there were no cameras watching them but as Mr. Flores recently stated “If we catch you, you will be arrested.” In recent week, classes sat through numerous fire alarms wondering why they could not evacuate during a fire alarm. Not surprisingly, many students would question the teacher’s decision-making with such questions as “What if this time there really is a fire?”  Of course, everyone knows there never was a fire, but it still was always a distraction for 7^th and 8^th period teachers. “The alarms were huge distractions in class, not only because we would want to leave, but also because it is not easy to teach when alarms are going off all around you,” says one distracted student.

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