Private School or Public School? Which One?

By Catherine Le

Private school and public school, which is better for students?

I have been going to a private school from kindergarten until high school.  Now I'm a public school student at Falls Church High School.  As I experience a whole different school, I see the several similarities differences between public and private school.

Communities judge each other. Public school students judge private school student because they are seen as rich or snobby students, but they really aren’t. Also, private school students judge public school students because they think they have disciplinary issues. Their dress codes are different, private school wear uniforms and public school were anything that is appropriate. Also, private schools incorporates religion into their studies.

In order to learn more about this topic, I have interviewed four of my friends about this. Three of them went to public and private schools and one went to private school for her whole school life. Here are their statements:

“When I used to go to public school it was heavily populated and I felt a little lost because I only knew a few people and really could not relate to them because of religion differences, rudeness, and some kids were extremely misbehaved. A lot of private school students are really misbehaved as well but I figured that there aren’t as many. However, I find that the teachers in public schools do have really good teaching skills compared to the ones at the Catholic schools I have attended. I used to enjoy not having to wear a uniform but after a while I actually like it a lot. Having a uniform means that no one else can judge you by the way you dress, and it really does make you realize that you are not any more special than your neighbors.”

 

-Kaci Jose (Now goes to Bishop O’Connell High School)

http://www.bishopoconnell.org/page.cfm?p=428

“Public school feels more alone. Private School feels like you have someone to catch you when you fall. Private School Has more responsibility because you have to not only worry about your grades but also keeping the traditions of school and keeping the faith.”

-Ava Coffin (Now goes to Bishop O’Connell High School)

“I love private school. I love the community and all the people around me. My class was like my family because we were only 27 unlike public school where there are so many people and like my private high school now Bishop O’Connell. I think that I got a great education at private school than I would have if I had gone to public school. Don’t get me wrong, public schools have great teachers and here are smart and well educated people who go to public schools and go to good colleges but it’s so big that teachers can’t help every student like they could in my old school where the eighth grade class only had 27 kids and we get to learn about our faith and it is in cooperated in every class. I’m very happy that I went to a private school.”

-Margaret Parker (Now goes to Bishop O’Connell)

 

“Private school has a small community while public school has a big community. You learn and have fun with people you’ve known for several years in private school.  In public school you’re surrounded with unfamiliar faces and probably only one person you know.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falls_Church_High_School

-Jennifer Nguyen (Now goes to Woodson)

 

Although, you think private schools and public schools are extremely different, they both have good educational systems and they will both help any student with good potential to succeed





Emma Watson Proves She Is More Than "Hermione"

By Alissa Grisler

       This past Saturday, Emma Watson gave a powerful speech regarding gender equality at the United Nations headquarters, after just recently (6 months ago) being appointed a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador. Her speech was in support of HeForShe, which is a solidarity movement for gender equality which is inclusive of both men and women. In her speech, Watson highlights the importance of equal responsibility of genders for remedying this issue.

In her speech, Watson begins by bringing to light the misconceptions of the word “feminism”, and states that, “Fighting for women’s rights, has too often become synonymous with man-hating.” Watson recognizes the misguided negative connotation of the word by saying, “My recent research has shown me, that feminism has become an unpopular word. Women are choosing not to identify as feminists.” Watson explains the definition of feminism, and questions why the theory of political, social, and economic equality to men, has become such an uncomfortable topic.

The former Harry Potter star roused the crowd by inviting men to be a part of this campaign: “Men, I would like to take this opportunity to extent your formal invitation. Gender equality is your issue, too.” The HeForShe movement is aiming to get 1 billion men to vow their dedication to this cause, in order to help recognize that equal rights is not just a woman’s issue, it is a human rights matter.

Watson acknowledges her career as an actress by asking, “You might be thinking, who is this Harry Potter girl and what is she doing speaking at the UN? And it’s a really good question, I’ve been asking myself the same thing.” She goes on to explain why, “Given the chance, I feel it is my responsibility to say something.” 

Watson brings her presentation to an close by asking, “If not me, who? If not now, when?”  

Look below to view Watson’s full speech:

       

‘Ice Bucket’ US Firefighter Dies at 41 After Participating in Charity Craze

Who knew trying to spread awareness and raise money for a disease could kill you.

I’m sure some of you might have heard about the firefighters ALS ice bucket challenge incident last month.

A Kentucky firefighter badly injured when he was shocked by a power line in an ALS ice-bucket challenge accident last month has died.

Capt. Tony Grider, 41, was one of two firefighters seriously hurt on Aug 21^st when the fire truck's fire bucket they were using to help members of the Campbellsville University marching band got too close to a power line. A police chief said the ladder never touched the line, but the line carried such a high voltage that it could shock people close to it.

The other firefighter who was in the fire bucket with Tony, Simon Quinn, 22, also suffered severe injuries but was released from the hospital last week on September 15^th. There were also two others, Capt. Steve Marrs, 37, who has been with the department for 11 years, and Alex Johnson, 28, who has been there three years, but only suffered minor injuries. Thankfully no students were hurt.

Grider has been hospitalized ever since the incident has passed away Saturday noon, September 20^th 2014

The firefighters were trying to help Campbellsville University marching band raise money and awareness for the now very well known ALS disease, but it took a very wrong unexpected turn. Tony had been with the Campbellsville Fire Department for a total of 16 long years.

Many people showed their condolences via all sorts of social media, including twitter.   

It is a hard time for Grider’s family and friends. Especially for his five children and wife, Gena.  Please keep the family in your prayers

By Ream Amir

Are you excited for The Maze Runner?

Most teens are big on movies, so I wanted to know. Are you excited?

The Maze Runner, like most movies, was a book published on October 6^th 2007 written by James Dashner. The movie officially comes out on September 19^th 2014.

The book and the movie are about the adventures of a group of boys who are trapped in an artificial, constantly changing maze, and their efforts to escape. The movie stars Dylan O’Brien as Thomas, Kaya Scodelario as Teresa, Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Newt, Will Poutler as Gally, Ki Hong Lee as Minho, and Blake Cooper as Chuck.

 For those of you who don’t know, the maze runner is an action/mystery/sci-fi movie. It is also the first book in a young-adult, post-apocalyptic science fiction trilogy of the same name.

The 113 minute movie is what’s hot these days. With a budget of $30 million, The maze runner is expected to be really big. With the movie coming out on Friday, many people have already gotten their tickets and are already counting down the days. The theater most probably will be very crowded the first few days. Maybe even the few first weeks!

Many people who enjoyed The Maze Runner book, also read and/or watched The Giver, which was also a book written by Lois Lowry, and a movie which came out last month on August 15^th in the US, directed by Phillip Noyce. Some would compare the two. They find them a bit similar in a way.

If you didn’t already plan on seeing the maze runner in theaters, I strongly recommend you go see it. If you have a free day, or if you’re feeling bored, find your way to the local movie theater and buy yourself a ticket. You won’t regret it, I promise!

By Ream Amir