Barack Obama addresses education and cyber security

On Jan. 23rd beginning promptly at 9:06pm, President Barack Obama made his way down the aisle of the Capitol building, thus beginning The State of the Union.

The State of The Union Address is an annual, formal speech made by the president to Congress as well as the rest of the viewing nation. Within this one-and-a-half to two-hour address, the president takes careful time to note the progress made by the country in the past year as well as the aspirations for the upcoming year.

2015 marks the second-to-last State of the Union for President Obama but despite the end of his second term as president coming to a close, he has shown no less enthusiasm about where he intends to lead the country.

Topics in this year’s address included relations with Cuba, cybersecurity and the war on terror. Though, it was President Obama’s proposal of free community college that has sparked the interest of many young people.

β€œTwo out of three jobs require some higher education,” said President Obama.

With the average fees for attending a public university averaging around twenty-thousand dollars, the threat of student debt has discouraged many from obtaining a higher education. Regardless of the impact a four-year degree could make on a person’s job outlook, the financial risk has proven too great for some families.

Obama’s initial proposal included that free community college would be guaranteed to citizens wishing to obtain a higher education. In short, a person’s income should not make a person feel limited.

The counterarguments to the president’s proposal have been incredibly abundant. Questions are already being raised about where the funding for these free colleges will come from. Above all, it seems Congress is in disapproval of Β the notion and are unlikely to pass it but the necessity for change is, at least, being acknowledged.

Knowledge of the past always helps to prevent ignorance about the future. When Brown v. The Board of Education, a case that challenged the lawfulness of segregated schools, passed in 1954, African-Americans were given easier access to public education and greater opportunities for succeeding in life. To parallel this case with recent debate, the access to free community college can give those who cannot afford to go to college greater opportunities to succeed professionally.

The new discrimination in the education system, it seems, is based on income. Free education, while not the only option for low-income students, will make higher education an option for low-income high school graduates.

New England Patriots crush legacy with new allegations

Β  Β  Β The New England Patriots’ dynasty may officially be tarnished due to new allegations.
Β  Β  Β On Sun., Jan. 18, the Patriots were set to play the Colts at home in Fox borough, Massachusetts. During the game, Tom Brady, Patriots quarterback, threw an interception to D’quell Jackson. Jackson noticed that the ball felt softer and lighter than a normal football. Game officials were alerted of this at half time of this under inflation.
Β  Β  Β The Patriots now stand accused of deflating footballs during the AFC championship game. The Colts organization was even alerted by the Ravens, the previous team the Patriots played. They warned the Colts about New England’s potential doctoring of the football.
Β  Β  Β Each and every NFL quarterback receives 12 balls before each game. They can then do what they want to them to break them in to their liking before the game. However, Deflating the football is illegal because it makes the football easier to catch and throw, especially in rainy conditions. The referees check the footballs before the game and then give them back to the team.
Β  Β  Β How then could the New England Patriots have pulled this off? No one is absolutely certain how they did it, but they do know that it was done. ESPN investigators discovered that of the 12 balls, 11 of them were under inflated by 2 lbs. each.
Β  Β  Β New England is now threatened by fines to both head coach Bill Belichick and All pro quarterback Tom Brady. The team also faces a potential loss of draft picks in the upcoming draft. Despite overwhelming evidence that the Patriots did deflate footballs, they continue to deny it.
Β  Β  Β According toΒ Yahoosports.com, Tom Brady said, β€œI didn’t alter the ball in any way. Everybody is trying to figure out what happened. I was as surprised as anybody on when I heard Monday morning what was happening.”
Β  Β  Β Nobody in the Patriots organization seems to know what is happening, despite their history of cheating.
Β  Β  Β Bill Belichick is one of the greatest coaches in NFL history and he is very good at cheating. In 2007, the Patriots were caught illegally filming a the New York Jets defensive hand signals. Before β€œSpy Gate” in 2007, the Patriots had won threeΒ super bowls, creating a dynasty. Belichick was fined $500,000 and the team has not won a super bowl since.
Β  Β  Β It seems as though the only way the Patriots succeed is through cheating. The Patriots have returned to the super bowl for the first time sine 2011 despite being in the two previous AFC championship games. The organization made a connection that when they cheat, they succeed. Belichick’s legacy is in question because of his constant compromises to the integrity of the game of football.
Β  Β  Β  Β  Β Due to these allegations, the Patriots are under fire once again. Their legacy has become tarnished and a tarnished legacy, is not really a legacy at all.

Student stress levels rise during finals week

As students battle their stress on a normal day, they realize that their stress becomes multiplied during midterms.

Often times the reason of this stress is due to lack of preparation or the insufficiency of teaching of the material in the first place. They automatically feel as if they will fail their exams and quickly begin to panic.

β€œIt all depends on how you look at it,” sophomore Maya Conn said. “I think some teachers have prepared us well, but some have not. Of course no one knows exactly what it is on the test, but I do think teachers could prepare us more by reviewing rather than making us just do [notes] or do book work.”

Some teachers will even try to give their students study guides days before the actual test to study from until the actual exam.

β€œI think I prepared my biology classes by providing a study guide to help focus their study time, but ultimately it is up to my students to actually prepare for the test,” biology teacher Cathy Howard said.

Students completely forget their grade is entirely on them and not on the teacher.

β€œI feel my students are prepared completely,” history teacher Lisa Heilmeier said. “My biggest concern is that students do not do their part because teachers give all the information needed, but often students do not review the material and because of that, do not know how to apply what they have learned.”

Students also tend to forget they have seen all of the material presented to them on the exam or use the material they learn continuously throughout the course.

Examples of continuous use would be in English or foreign language courses.

In English, the use of literary devices is vital to analyzing literature. Once the students learn the terms, it is their job to apply the devices to the work they do.

Due to the use of the terms being so repetitive, students must simply relax and realize they have seen the words before and the definition is somewhere in their brain.

Other subjects like Spanish constantly use everything the students learn throughout every single Spanish class they will ever take.

β€œThe best thing about Spanish is that it is not a one-and-done subject,” Spanish teacher Dana Kester said. “[Students] do not learn a topic, word, or grammar structure and then never see it again; we keep using it everyday. So my objective when having my classes review for midterms is to remind the students of those topics, vocabulary words, or grammar structures they already know.”

Most teachers do not forget to prepare their students for a big exam. They understand exams are a big deal to their students and will work to help them.

β€œMy teachers work really hard at making sure we thoroughly understand the class materials,” junior Nick Rinaldi said.

Students just need to relax and focus on studying ahead of time rather than waiting until the day before their exams.

β€œTo relax after studying or after an exam I just eat Doritos and watch That 70’s Show,” Conn said.

They should also start taking more responsibility for their actions leading up to exams rather than blaming their problems on the teachers.

Teachers are there to help their students remember the material and are working hard to do so.

Kester said, β€œ[Reviewing] is just a matter of reminding the students that they already know how to do this and are totally capable of it.”

Canton District Superintendent Adrian Allison threatens merger

Β  Β  Β After years of educating the teens of Canton, Timken High school threatens to merge with McKinley High School.
Β  Β  Β This plan to merge Timken and McKinley was developed by Canton school district superintendent, Adrian Allison.Β  The β€œBrighter Tomorrow” plan would combine students grades 10-12 in McKinley, leaving the freshman at Timken. Allison introduced this plan to the students and parents of Timken on Monday Jan. 19.
Β  Β  Β According toΒ Fox8news.com, Superintendent Allison said, β€œBecoming β€˜One community. One high school’ is the right decision for our students and it is the right time to move foreword. I’m excited for this plan and I am hopeful that the community will come together to support it for the benefit of our children and our city.”
Β  Β  Β Adrian Allison firmly believes in the decision to combine these high schools. According toΒ WKSUnews.com, without this merger, Canton would be in debt by 2017. If the merger is successful, it could push them above the line by $1 million. There is a problem in the Canton school district budget and if they do not act quickly, they could be in deep debt.
Β  Β  Β Despite the apparent benefits to this plan for both the city and the people of Canton, it is an unpopular proposal. Numerous jobs would have to be cut for this merger to be successful, putting many teachers out of work. Timken and McKinley have always differed in what they view as important.
Β  Β  Β β€œThe district always favored McKinley because McKinley’s sports team was the biggest thing in the district. Timken was always exceeding in academics,” Timken alum Brandon Cole said.
Β  Β  Β McKinley’s sports programs are superior to Timken’s, though Timken has better career programs and academic opportunities. These things are too much for students, teachers and alum to abandon.
Β  Β  Β One Timken student, McKenzie Dalton, has started a petition to try and stop the merger from happening.
Β  Β  Β According toΒ Fox8news.com, McKenzie said, β€œOne problem this proposal creates is chaos and negative atmosphere in the school environment. Causing such a situation will affect everybody in the school and the community. Given the history of tension between McKinley and Timken, the merging will more than likely force many aggressive situations.”
Β  Β  Β The merger of McKinley and Timken is unpopular but likely to occur for economic reasons.

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