Dear institutes of higher learning, I have officially stopped reading your mail in full, unless you make it better. No longer will your glossy brochures…
Posts published in “Opinion”
Bilingualism Must Be a Requirement for American Education
America is diverse; one in five of U.S. residents do not speak English at home. The U.S. has no national official language, either. But why…
Do College Rankings Matter?
Anyone who’s gone through the process of applying to college has inevitably spent some time looking through lists of “best” colleges. We’re aware that these…
Editorial: Lead in Enfield and Caroline Water
There was no excuse for ICSD waiting six months to notify parents about high levels of lead, nor to let 11 years pass before the lead issue in district schools became public.
Editorial: What the Ithaca Plan Means for Us
The conversations around shifting our attitudes and policies regarding drug use happening in the city must also be had in ICSD.
Censorship, Injustice, and Protection
Censorship serves a simple, practical role: it veils what is not meant to be heard or seen from the public. In some extreme cases, it…
A Brief Commentary on Ideological Extremism in Contemporary America and the Contentious Political Milieu
As November looms ever nearer, political candidates are scrambling to refine their positions on various issues and present comprehensive, feasible solutions to societal shortcomings. Many…
A Basic Guide to Baby Names
A name is a powerful thing; it tells a lot about a person. More importantly, it says a lot about the parents. As a future…
Should Every American be Bilingual?
It is no secret that most Americans can only speak English. The resistance and stubborn disposition of our population result in a people who on…
Editorial: Nuisances Aplenty
Course scheduling errors, broken classroom clocks, bathroom hygiene, blocked educational websites, the palpable frustration over low teachers’ salaries—these are some oh so familiar aspects of…
The Migration Crisis from a Swede’s Perspective
Since the war in Iraq began in 2003, people from the Middle East have had many reasons to flee their homeland. War came to Iraq,…
Challenging the Stigmatization of Female Promiscuity: An Assertion of Bodily Sovereignty
Let’s face it: the Madonna-whore dichotomy is anachronistic. However, it remains overwhelmingly prevalent in contemporary society; the idealization of chaste women and the consequential demonization…
Presidential Candidates: Martin O’Malley—Who?
If you’ve watched past Democratic debates, you may recall a tan, lanky man standing beside Bernie and Hillary, both of whom are household names. Yet…
Debutante or Porcelain Doll?
When most people hear the word “Cotillion” or the phrase “Debutante Charity Ball,” they think of Gossip Girl or Gilmore Girls, which are TV shows…
Talent or Hard Work: Which is Better?
Studying for a test for hours the night before only to get a B or worse the next day—we’ve all been there. We’ve all felt…
2015’s Most Important Event: The Iran Nuclear Deal
2015 was a year thoroughly dominated by negativity. It was a year of constant warring and aggression in the international community, of shockingly gruesome acts…
The BEST Meal
Breakfast is often heralded as “the most important meal of the day,” and for an avid breakfast guy like me, the claim is certainly true.…
Food Review: Silkworm Pupae
I’ve often heard that the worst thing about eating bugs is thinking about it. They’re actually very tasty—or at least, that’s what the people from…
All the Buzz About PSATs
It is commonly said that junior year is the most stressful of all the years spent in high school, one of the most stressful aspects…
Editorial: Improving Student Internet Access Requires Better Policy and Discussion
IHS student: “Trying to do research for debate is a pain. With so many useful websites blocked, it feels impossible to do thorough research on my Chromebook, or even when I’m logged into my district account at home.”
CBC: How Integrated into the School Should It Be?
CBC’s would-be affiliation as a school club or sport is a bad idea.
Carly Fiorina: The Other (Better) Female Candidate
There’s a smart, strong, and successful woman running for president, and she’s nothing like Hillary Clinton.
Vote with Pride
There were only two bubbles to fill in. Just two little ovals next to two names, offering me a choice that I finally had the power to make with my newfound 18-year-old-ness.
On Winter
Winter is a time of halting. I think this spirit pervades everyone living in Ithaca. Things move slower, as if they are trapped in ice. During the winter, I feel as though I have a better perception of the world around me.
Children of Unauthorized Immigrants Should Receive a Free Public Education
There are very few concepts that I support almost unreservedly, but universal access to basic education is one of them.
Computer Science for the City
In a rapidly changing world of technology, programming skills are not useless but increasingly essential.
What Dictates the Lives of Adolescents in Modern Society?
Students report that they live in a postmodern schedule: wake up, go to school, come home, do homework, possibly sleep, and repeat. They have no time to enjoy their youth, and struggle to excel in school by keeping up with their schoolwork and homework—this builds stress.