The school takes a leak and our school is having technical difficulties.

Get the trash cans again boys.

Once again Shen has started to leak due to heavy rain over the past few days. The leaking has occurred in the west wing on the north side. Most of the leakage is from the ceiling is near the walls and making the brick walls moist to the touch. Even a light was leaking water into a puddle on the floor. One trophy case and trophies fell victim to the leaks, ruining awards and trophies. Over spring break, the school spent a few thousand dollars fixing a 100 ft portion of the roof. This was a part where there was no leaking but water could be coming from. All we know is its going to keep leaking and it’s going to be expensive to fix.

Mmmmmm.... Pink slime for lunch!

"I brought a sandwhich from home!"
"I bought a salad!"
"I bought the sketchy new meat made with who-knows-what parts of an animal!"
Sadly, this is a true statement at many schools across the country. Meat companies are attempting to get away with passing off meat scraps grounded together into pink rolls as actual ground beef. This has certain companies to close many of the plants where this crap is produced, due to (justified) consumer backlash. But meat packing companies claim that their means of production aren't that different from how meat companies ussually ground beef. Now, I've always been of the mindset of meat that eat it and don't ask questions where it came from, as long as it tastes good. But i've been suspicious of how the school chicken patties look, as they look more sketchy. But that doesn't stop me, I have one every week, as Shen claims they don't use it. But, come on, it all goes to the same place.

Let me go!

Last week, I went to the bathroom in the upstairs. And it was not a fun experience. Not like going to the bathroom should be, but it was more complicated then it should be. Not only did I have to walk from one end of the upstairs to the other, as only 1 boys bathroom is open, but there's a monitor on sentry duty with a clipboard. Signing in? What?! How's that supposed to catch a vandal. "Alright, the vandalism took place between 9 and 11, so call back everybody who went in that timeframe and interrogate them. The next day, as I tried to go to one downstairs, I'm met with a locked door. Another 3 minute walk around the school to find another, and I find another locked door. Apparently, only the one in the lobby is open. Not only is that unsanitary, but it's just overly arduous. What's next, outhouses is someone vandalizes this one? And jsut on the subject of the bathroom, the only real problem with them is the smell and bad blue paintjob.

-David C.

Where is my water?

At Shenendehowa High School East, some of the water fountains have been discontinued and are no longer in use.  The nosels have been taked off which leaves an empty hole.  It seems to be that the pipes were not even drained, leaving a rotting odor coming from the pipe.  Also, some have the panels taken right off exposing the machine which could be a saftey hazard.  The fact that they have not been fixed or even cleaned makes it seem as though the janitors are not even doing their job.  It is time for some new water fountains already!

Somethings don't belong together.

A teacher in Georgia was caught teaching an intergraded math and social studies class. He was trying to teach with questions that had to both subjects. One question was “Each tree had 56 oranges.  If eight slaves pick them equally, then how much would each slave pick?” and “If Frederick got two beatings per day, how many beatings did he get in one week?” These questions were appearing on homework in the elementary school. It’s strange to teach that but I guess depending on where the school is, it would be ok. But this is a very bad time to teach kids like this.

Shooting in Texas

On January 4^th, police in Brownsville, Texas, an 8^th grader was shot by police on the halls of his middle school. The teen walked into a classroom and assaulted a student. Then he pulled the weapon out, most likely to make a point or statement. Later when police arrived he was told by them to drop his firearm numerous times but he didn’t. Then he was fatally shot by police. It turns out the firearm he was carrying was a pellet gun. It was said that the pellet gun closely resembled a Glock, a well know pistol used by law enforcement. It’s kind of unclear why lethal action was used on an 8^th grader but it was justified by the officers who shot the student. It was a tragedy that occurred but the police are trained to handle situations like this less lethal, and could of avoided this tragedy if they chose that route.