Gum in Schools

I think gum should be allowed in schools.

Chewing gum is apparently very healthy. According to a website chewing gum is healthy. It relieves stress which is good for students who are stressed over work. Gum chewing improves memory which helps students remember facts for tests, quizzes, and projects etc. It also helps manage weight. Gum chewing helps people eat less which is great for students who don't have physical education as often as they should, especially for America's high obesity rate. It can also take away sleepiness without taking caffeine.

Some teachers and staff might not allow gum because some can't handle themselves. Some immature students stick gum under desks and chairs etc. This can be avoided by teachers checking under desks for gum while the class is still there so they will know who did it. If someone put gum on school property I think they should have detention, a call home, and have to take the gum off. It's not very difficult to walk up to a trash barrel and dispose of gum properly.

Locked Bathrooms

I don't think bathrooms should be locked because it's annoying if you have to go and you can't. It's also annoying because you have to walk all around the school and it's just wasting time. I don't think a thousand students should suffer because a few of them are immature.

School Changes

For libraries in schools I think that there should be rooms "rented" out for a certain period of time for projects.  This would keep the library quiet while others who need to talk can without disturbing others.

I think school should start 9AM - 3PM because when we had school delays for MCAS I was very refreshed in the morning because I had more sleep.  I wasn't stressed out before school trying to get ready because I barely overslept.

I think there should be more time in between classes because some students, like me, have classes not only on different floors, but on other ends of the school as well.  Sometimes I am a few minutes late going from a gym class to Geometry etc.  I'm also sometimes late going from History Hall to Spanish which is near the gym.  That is the most difficult to get to because it is first period and early in the morning so I don't walk very fast. 

I think seniors should have the privilege to go off campus for lunch because there are stores so close to our school and a majority of people can drive.  Obviously their would be rules and regulations but if they were followed I think they would be fun.

I'm happy Burlington is going 1:1 because it is a pain carrying around books all day.  Books sometimes fall in different directions and so do writing utensils.  Teachers and students get annoyed when other students don't have extra school supplies causing them to rely on others.

I think that the school should go entirely cashless because sometimes I get extremely thirsty and I have no money.  It is difficult going through the day being thirsty and I certainly don't like the taste and temperature of the water bubbler.

I think there should be more field trips in the school year because I think it makes students excited about something and makes them want to go to school.

If I could make up one elective class it would be strategic thinking.  Since schools usually teach students there is "only one answer and one way of solving it", I think that teachers could have a class teaching how to solve "games".  I think their should teach how to do cryptoquotes, sudoku, rubix cubes etc.  I think many adults would think that students won't be learning anything, but I think it would teach students to think outside the box.

College I Want to Go to

I would like to go to a college and study law.  After researching online and getting suggestions from family, I may go to Suffolk University Law School.

I was unable to see the technology policy because it required a download.

Views on Draft of Internet Use for Next Year

After reading the draft for internet use, I think it is pretty much common sense.  We were taught ever since using a computer, that we shouldn't say anything online that we wouldn't say in person.  We also were taught not to give out personal information online either.  Since Massachusetts has stricter laws against bullying, it's obviously wrong anyways to bully someone else.

I think that the punishments should be listed on the contract so students know what will happen if a certain rule is broken.

Google Cars Drive Themselves!

Since I've been using computers since I was little I know that they all have glitches and what not.  I would not trust a self driving car at all.  If their is a problem in all of their cars then a large amount of people won't be able to drive.  If they can't drive then they cant work, go shopping, etc.

I agree with one comment from this website.  Someone said "forget the human brain, google has little use for educating the human being, their version of progress human evolution is to delegate all responsibility to THEIR technology".  Google isn't teaching humans, if anything it's dumbing us down.  As a community we aren't learning anything from new technology being created by others, and maybe even one day by other machines.

Self driving cars also take the fun and excitement out of learning how to drive. 

How should the end of the school year end?

The post Mr. Larkin posted talked about how senior year should end since students sometimes finish their requirements early. I understand why they end requirements early and I don't understand why adults seem to complain why the last few months of school for seniors are "too fun".  They worked for four years and met their requirements so I think they should have a break before getting spit out onto their own.

I'm only a freshman so I don't really know how seniors end their years, but I think it depends on the student.  I have another three years of high school to go and I already know the school system is going to change while I'm here.  I already know this because we're getting iPads next year.

I would like to end my senior year on a good note.  Like every average student I hope that it is fun.  I know I'd be good at performing pranks on friends and I'm already excited for prom and parties.

3O Goals, #4 Leave it Behind - Stress

There are many ways I relieve stress in my life.

I have my little brother walk on my back to crack it.  After he gets off my back it feels much better and I feel more relaxed than I did.

If something in my life is causing me stress I usually go to a friend for advice or to "vent".  I make sure I trust the person so that no one else will know about it.  I have friends that live close to me so sometimes I hang out with them and that usually gets my mind off what I'm stressed about.

Sometimes I go for walks.  The fresh air feels good in my lungs and it lets me clear my thoughts.  It's also great exercise if I stay out for a while.  There's also a park that's a twenty minute walk from my house so sometimes I go there too.

There are times when I might not be able to go out.  There are also times I can't get in contact with my friends or I don't feel like talking to anyone.  In that case I listen to my music very loudly whether it's on my iPod or off my laptop in my room.

If I get too stressed out I usually get headaches so I will take a nap in my room for a couple of hours.

3O Goals , # 29 Stay Focused

There are many ways I can try to stay focused to overcome my long term goals.

To lose weight I will try to eat more healthy and exercise more often.  I can exercise more by taking walks, doing exercises in my room, or trying to go to Planet Fitness more often.  I could go with my mom or with a friend.

Another goal I would like to overcome would be getting good grades for the last semester.  I would overcome this goal by studying and trying my best.  I would also have to do all of my homework that is assigned to me.  I could have a study buddy that could push me to do my work and vise versa.

3O Goal , #8 What's Your Personal Theme Song?

My personal theme song is "Love the Way You Lie" by Eminem and Rihanna.  I think this is my theme song because it's ironic in my life.  It's ironic because I'm usually lied to often but usually find out the truth. 

3O Goal, #6 Google Alert

Yesterday I created a Google Alert.  So far I like the website and I find it interesting that I can see what people are searching for in relation to me. 

I realize that since I am still learning, that there may be a lot I still don't know.  I think the software would be great for people who are trying to be discovered over the internet.

( I wrote more the other day, but it disappeared.  It seems I had a mental block about what I wrote :/ )

3O Goal , #17 Tell Your Story

There are a couple moments of my life that I am most proud of.  The impact on my life that I'm most proud of is my cheerleading career.  I went to Orlando, Florida for the National Competition for five consecutive years.  My first year I competed in Florida my team came in fourth place.  The following year I came in second.  In 2007 I came in 1st place and won the Spirit Award.  That same year was the 20th annual National Competition held in Florida.  We were awarded with plaques, ribbons, and even a beautiful leather jacket.  The following two years I came in third place.

In my room I have every award I've won from cheerleading, so the shelves are pretty cluttered!

Cheerleading taught me that success comes with hard work.  I have experienced how great success has felt.  That's why I now coach younger girls so that one day maybe they can feel what I've felt.

3O Goals Goal #1 , Diary

Today I woke up a half hour late because I fell asleep on my cell phone. I got ready for school, but forgot my cell phone at home.  I called my mom on the bus and asked her to bring it.  At around 8 I picked up my cell phone.  During gym class, my second period, we had to run a mile.  I walked and did not finish the mile.  In geometry I had a quiz.  Web 2.O is my fourth period class so there's nothing more to write about..

Osama Bin Laden's Dead!

Most people would grieve over a loss but America is celebrating.  The man responsible for our countries pain inflicting terrorist attack, 9-11, was killed on May 1, 2011.  Personally, I think he deserved to die considering he took the lives of so many loved Americans. 

During 9-11 I was in kindergarten.  I don't remember anything about it, but my mom does.  She claims her friend called her while she was in the shower and told her to turn on the news.  I don't know anyone that was killed but citizens of my town have.

I find it annoying that he was living in luxury for ten years.  It surprises me that it took us 10 years to find him.  It also shocks me that no one killed him during the ten years.

It also shocks me to see soooo many people around the world celebrating his death.  Some are worried that his people are going to retaliate. There are many different stories about how he died.