Students sound off on today’s issues

Homework is something all students receive and are forced to think is necessary in order to succeed.  I am a student at East Leyden Highschool in Franklin Park, and have lots of experience with loads of homework. After sitting in class for 8 hours a day, homework is the last thing I want to do when I get home. Teachers say homework will help students better understand what they learned, which ...

As an Arab-American junior in high school, I will have to answer the very first question on my next standard test incorrectly. Or at least it feels that way. Arab-Americans have been left with no category in the race section of government-issued assessments. In recent years, the “White” category has been revised to “White--including those of Middle Eastern origin.” While it's an improvement, it just is...

Have you ever gotten home on a sunny day, and the first thing you realize is that you have no homework? That you are free to do whatever you want? If you haven’t, it’s a good feeling. But I’ve also had those times when I have no idea what I'm doing on a test because I wasn’t prepared. That's a “not so good” feeling. While homework may be annoying and tedious sometimes, it can be helpful in...

Proper education is essential in a person's development; that’s why we send our kids to school. Kids enjoy coming to school everyday because they look forward to interacting with other students, joining clubs, making new friends, and getting involved.  Despite the fact that students like showing up to school for these reasons, homework ruins it all.  Students are required to sit ...

It's in our best interest to leave Afghanistan: this war has lasted too long and killed 6,294 American people just in April. The war has killed many more people in the opposition and citizens of Afghanistan. This war did not just cost us human lives, but dollars as well. The U.S has debt finance of over two trillion dollars paying for Afghanistan and Iraq.  Who This Decision Affects The Most I understa...

Social media. Some call it one of the greatest inventions of the 21st century; others say it's one of the worst. Who is right? Well after doing some research, I’m pretty sure it’s the latter.  So why should you be skeptical? Let’s start with the effect these sites have had on society. Now I do see the benefits of these sites. They do make connecting with people much easier and do provide a...

What is Performative Corporate Activism?  Performative activism, by definition, is when activism is done for the purpose of receiving a positive response and to increase social capital rather than actually caring about the issue at hand. Performative activism can be easily spotted during social movements such as Stop Asian Hate, Black Lives Matter, and even the LGBTQ+ rights movement. ...