Teachers Fight Legacy of Systems that Favor Certain Cultures, Learning Styles
Will Rosenblum, Opinions Editor
March 9, 2020
Although the achievement gap mainly surrounds students, one important facet is the aspect of the teaching influence. Traditionally, the use of such strategies like straight rowed desks and bells aimed to produce factory workers during the 19th century. Despite the recent emphasis on critical thinking, ...
Redistricting Helps, Does not Solve the Root of the Gap
Sage Marmet, Creative Director
March 9, 2020
Even though the achievement gap may seem like an issue far away, affecting far away people, one of the cities with the largest disparity between low and high performing students is our very own Minneapolis. This complex, multifaceted issue can be traced back to the post civil war era, where slavery be...
Redrawing Public School District Lines Creates Equality of Education
Nora Fox, Arts & Culture Editor
March 9, 2020
A well educated public is essential to the success and prosperity of our communities at home and abroad. However, due to the achievement gap, many students arenít receiving the proper quality of education to make this goal a reality, and consequently, are falling behind in school. This inequality in ...
Private Schools Have Less Obvious Gaps, Greater Ability to Address
Anna Johns, Staff Writer
March 9, 2020
Considering Minnesota's notoriously large academic achievement gap, how might that manifest itself in a private school like Blake? Many students in affinity groups at Blake asserted that such a gap exists, but perhaps not in a manner that mirrors Minnesota as a whole. When asked about a potential achieve...
The Achievement Gap
Caroline Hardy, Editor Emerita
March 9, 2020
S imply put, the achievement gap is a difference in the academic success of students. This difference is most commonly viewed in the context of varying socioeconomic statuses or ethnicities of students. The Minnesota Department of Education found in a survey from 2010 to 2013, the graduation rate of...
Comedy is Not More Constrained Today
Drew Rosenblum, Editor Emeritus
February 7, 2020
The role of comedy in society has stayed almost exactly the same for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Comedians have always said what couldnít be said by others and transgressed boundaries no one else could. This is undoubtedly important: comedians play an integral role in speaking on issues that are t...
Award Season Showcases Divisive Comedy
Maggie Seidel, Features Editor
February 7, 2020
Every winter, dedicated Golden Globes viewers tune into this annual award ceremony that takes place at the Beverly Hills Hilton in January. What changes, though, is the host. This year featured Ricky Gervais, a comedian and writer, for his fifth time hosting the Golden Globes. Prestigious and ta...
Jokes Should Not be Politically Correct
Sara Richardson, Managing Editor
February 7, 2020
Comedy is subjective. Just like movies, not everyone is going to like a particular joke. But comedians should not limit their controversial jokes because someone, somewhere, is slightly offended by it. After the Golden Globes, the host, Ricky Gervais, was condemned for his controversial, not politically...
Political Correctness and Cancel Culture Complicate Comedy
Tyler Holmes, Contributing Writer
February 7, 2020
Political correctness is a term that has taken on many different perspectives over the years. The core meaning of being ìpolitically correctî is to speak, write, or express oneís ideas in a way that doesnít disparage any members or groups in society or exclude anyone from a narrative. Political correctnes...
What is Impeachment All About?
Daniel Lesov, Online Editor
December 9, 2019
As the impeachment inquiries against President Trump continue, perspectives this month is looking at impeachment and whether or not it is the correct decision for the many players in politics and the larger nation as a whole. Most importantly, impeachment is not the removal of a president from office but ...
Failure to Ease Asylum Policies Worsens Illegal Border Crossings
Caroline Hardy, Co-Editor-In-Chief
November 8, 2019
In the past 10 years, the number of people seeking asylum in the United States has skyrocketed— from 5,000 people in 2008 to more than 97,000 in 2018, a 2000% increase according to Time. Deteriorating conditions in many countries around the world has led to this dramatic increase. With deteriorating co...
Boosting Border Security will Maximize Safety
Morgan Swigert, Staff Writer
November 8, 2019
Among the most contested issues in the upcoming 2020 election is one that has been discussed for decades and lies at the heart of American domestic policy. I’m talking, of course, about immigration. In the context of today’s political climate, candidates are eager to get their positions out ther...
