OPINION STORY #1
1. This year, the decision was made to just give attendance incentives to juniors and seniors. For most of the freshman, you weren't here to benefit from the program, but basically, by going to class regularly and not missing school, you could earn the right to skip a final exam (or two) and your grade would be your average. Sophomores are the ones most impacted because they were able to get them last year, but are not this year. Some of the reasons cited for the change include: freshmen and sophomores tend to not have as many absences as older students, taking higher stake tests are beneficial for students as they go through high school, and many teachers complained about the communication process and how difficult it is to track and to explain to parents the process. Additionally, upperclassmen are often taking other important tests like AP exams, TSI test, etc and reducing the workload on them is helpful overall. Take a stance on this topic. Should underclassmen be included or not? Make sure to come up with solutions.
2. This year FIT has changed, multiple times already. Initially students were held in 1st and 5th period for a longer class. The last 20+ minutes were supposed to be a study hall. Eventually, things were returned to something slightly similar where students can ask a teacher to sign them up for FIT and they can get extra help in those classes. Those process have changed throughout the school year and it is possible more changes could happen. I know most of you were not here to experience what FIT used to be like but I am interested in what your thoughts are at this point. The biggest reason for the change was financial because the system we used to allow students to sign up for FIT cost $10,000 a year. When they looked at the data, they also discovered that just roughly 1/6th of students were signing up for FIT, the rest just went where they wanted to go for the period (some left campus and were skipping). Write an opinion piece that gives your stance on this new FIT plan and how this program is working or not working for you. Make sure to address how you think allowing students to sign themselves up for FIT might or might not change how you feel about the process.
3. The AC. Oh the AC. Here at Bowie it seems to be a constant battle with making sure classrooms are conditioned properly, whether that is AC or heat, but mostly AC. Write an opinion piece explaining how the AC, or lack of it, impacts your learning.
4. Last year Bowie introduced the electronic hall passes. Using the Enriching Students platform, students now request a pass electronically and have to wait for a teacher to approve the pass. There are limits on how many students are in the hallways at any given time by area. Sometimes students a put into a queue and have to wait for it to be cleared to be able to go to the bathroom. Explain in an opinion piece what you think about this new policy and how it has impacted your learning. Do you feel more comfortable using the system, or would you prefer just getting some sort of paper pass? Explain how some teachers are using the system in your class. Has it been easy or hard to be able to use the restroom. Do you think there has been any impact on the cleanliness, or lack of it, with this new system?
5. AI is a bigger and bigger issue in schools. Take a stance on the use of AI in the classroom. This could be how teachers use it, how students use it, or even how it is regulated in college. Make sure you do good research on this topic. Is the energy expended by people using AI good for the environment or not, or should we care? How does AI impact you?
6. Tardy passes have changed this year. Students used to just go to class when they arrive at school and were marked tardy by their teacher. Now, students have to stop at the tables in front of the library to pick up a tardy pass. These are tracked by the administration and there are new consequences for receiving multiple tardies in a given week. The biggest reason for the change is that over 30,000 tardies were recorded last year and classes were always being disrupted by tardy students. Write an opinion about the tardy passes? What do you think of the decision to change them up this year? How should the administration hold students accountable for being tardy? What causes students to be tardy and what other changes could be made to get kids to class on time.
7. Lunches are a big topic for most freshman here at Bowie. The lines are long, the seating is limited and the administration made some decisions that have made things a little tougher for students. In the past, students were allowed to eat most anywhere, including the academic wing. This year that was changed. At first, the academic wing was completely closed, but recently the downstairs A and F Halls have been opened up. You can focus on a couple of things for this opinion piece. 1. Seating, 2. Lunch Lines 3. the food available at lunch. Write an opinion pieces about any of those three topics. Make sure to include how lunch impacts you. Provide solutions for any lunch problems you address.
8. PSAT testing was held last week. Here at Bowie all grades except seniors to a PSAT. Most school only require sophomores and juniors to take the PSAT. Freshman took the test as a practice. Take a stance on what you think about taking that test. Did you have time to finish? Did you feel like it was unnecessary? How did the test go for you? Did you get your results? Will you use those results to help prepare you for future PSAT exams and eventually your SAT tests? Do you think taking the test as a freshman will help you or not?
This piece will need to be about 400 words (350-500) and should be about 12-15 paragraphs long. Pace yourself and make sure you have most of this story done today. Many of you will finish it. Next class I will outline in more detail the format for your second opinion story, but what you have above, works for now. Do the best you can. The best of these will be published on the https://thedispatchonline.net.
