Category: Opinion

Columns, Opinion

Column: Bullying issues in PENNCREST resurface at board meeting

By Zorian Edwards, Multimedia & Features Editor and Arion Knott, Managing Editor  After the rumor of Cambridge Springs’ schools closing filled the Cambridge Springs High school auditorium on Feb. 13 at the PENNCREST work session, some residents returned seeking more information at the Feb. 16 PENNCREST School Board meeting. However, by the end of the meeting, a separate issue became the focus.  During the section … Continue reading Column: Bullying issues in PENNCREST resurface at board meeting

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Columns, Opinion

Letter to the Editor: We support Policy 109.2

By Nola Zook, Mallory Zook, and Cora MacAdam (Saegertown students) Policy 109.2, which was recently passed by the PENNCREST School Board, prompted the removal of books containing sexually explicit content from PENNCREST school libraries. It is evident that many people disagree with Policy 109.2 for various reasons. Many people argue that the removal of these books is an injustice to the LGBTQ community, and that … Continue reading Letter to the Editor: We support Policy 109.2

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Columns, District News, Opinion

Column: Policies target the LGBTQ+ community

By Celeste Eback, website editor During the January PENNCREST School Board meeting, policies 109.2 and 123 were updated. Policy 109.2 aims to eliminate sexually explicit content from our libraries. Policy 123 specifies that students can only be on sports teams that correspond to their biological sex. These policies are targeting the LGBTQIA+ community. What Policy 109.2 defines as sexually explicit is as follows: “Visual or … Continue reading Column: Policies target the LGBTQ+ community

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Columns, Opinion

Column: Questions remain about PENNCREST policy updates

“I have a list of books here in my hand, if anyone would like to look at them, of books that are in our libraries that promote this garbage and absolute trash to students,” said PENNCREST school board policy committee chairperson David Valesky at the Jan. 9 work session during the discussion of updates to Policy 109.2 Library Materials. At the voting meeting on Jan. … Continue reading Column: Questions remain about PENNCREST policy updates

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Columns, Opinion

New Fab: Banning Books

By Sara Slayter, Opinion Editor  In December 2022, PENNCREST school board held a meeting that opened a conversation on draft Policy 109.2, Library Materials. The draft adds words like sexualized, inappropriate, nudity, simulations of sex acts and implied depictions of sexual acts and other terms to describe how decisions will be made about books already in the library as well as books that might be … Continue reading New Fab: Banning Books

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Columns, Opinion

Column: A Biblical response to the recent column on LGBTQIA+ student safety

By Cora MacAdam, staff writer Most people know the Golden Rule, “treat others as you want to be treated.” This has been an esteemed idea for centuries; it is something that almost everyone can agree on. However, something many people do not know about this rule is that it comes from the Bible; more specifically, from Jesus himself. In Matthew 7:12 Jesus says, “So whatever … Continue reading Column: A Biblical response to the recent column on LGBTQIA+ student safety

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Columns, Opinion

Column: Progress made; more progress needed on LGBTQIA+ student safety

By Zaine Eback, Panther Paw editor One day last January, I wore a skirt and heels to school for the first time. During the school day, I received compliments from various people, and it was awesome. However, when I got on the bus to go home, two other students started making inappropriate remarks toward me. They were threatening to beat me up on the last … Continue reading Column: Progress made; more progress needed on LGBTQIA+ student safety

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Columns, Opinion

Column: Is life being cancelled?

By Nick Opsanic, staff writer For the past 100 years, life as a child growing up was made up of mostly “fun,” with great toys, games, and books. Lionel Trains, Crayola Crayons, Lincoln Logs, Dr. Seuss books, and Mr. Potato Head allowed kids hours of pleasure. Using these simple, but captivating tools, children could explore the changing world around them while expanding their imagination and … Continue reading Column: Is life being cancelled?

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Opinion

Library Watch: Circulating books is a good first step

By Haiku Peters, features editor “Life is a fight for territory and once you stop fighting for what you want, what you don’t want will automatically take over.” ~ Les Brown Here we are: a year into the pandemic with mere months left in the school year. We’ve come a long way. Our lives all fell apart simultaneously. We were left to drown in chaos … Continue reading Library Watch: Circulating books is a good first step

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Opinion

Column: Save the arts in our school

By Nick Opsanic, staff writer For more than a century, theater, music and the arts have been an historic staple in the American school system. As an opportunity to grow the imagination, expand the horizons, and encourage a better academic discipline, theatre and the arts have been an invaluable part of our high school education system, giving students the opportunity to apply their own ideas, … Continue reading Column: Save the arts in our school

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