hi spots, december 18, 2009
DESCRIPTION
The December 18 issue of Tigard High's student newspaper, Hi Spots.TRANSCRIPT
SpotsProtected by the 1st Amendment
December 18, 2009 Vol. 82 Edition 2
THS racism closes doorsfor minoritystudents
Hi
Photo illustration by Morgan Chan
Advertisements pg.2
December 18, 2009
Sesame Donuts:Made toMake your Day
Tualatin Public Library
13500 SW Hall Blvd, PDX
6990 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale
What do you think?
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Caring ClosetHelping hands with a heart for kids
(Located in the portables at THS between the school and the pool)
Drop off new or gently used clothing to help a family in need and keep them warm this winter.
3 sweet locations
Have a safe and loving winter break.
-- Hi Spots staff
A.Dean Photography
Senior Portraits Family PortraisAnimalsAnything503-867-4574
High Quality, Low Price.
YeahI Chill Out In PaperToo.I MustBeCool.
Table of Contents pg.3
9CO-EDITORS-IN-CHIEFkatie murphy & brittany nguyenCOPY EDITORmaris schwarzDESIGN EDITOR morgan chanPHOTO EDITORandy abeytaNEWS EDITOR katie murphyVIEWPOINT EDITORS cooper smithFEATURES EDITOR brittany nguyenFASHION EDITOR brenna clevelandSPORTS EDITOR tess langseth & jessica lemieuxADVERTISMENT EDITOR dev devvratPHOTOGRAPHERS austin dean, enrique de-la-cuestaSTAFF WRITERS katie burger, raymond corral, teddi faller, emma johnson, jane whitmore
NEWSrace and education 5 the new downtown 6
SPORTSpre-game rituals 11
FEATURESneff’s first 100 days 4
FASHION16 winter fashion
18 teacher style
VIEWPOINT19 athiest Christmas
December 18, 2009
EXTRAS24 Sad Day art
Photo of Hunter Russell by Photo editor Andy Abeyta
Neffendorf’s first 100 days
A president is said to be judged by his first 100 days in office. How his presiden-cy will impact the nation both positively and negatively can be predicted from these cru-
cial first days.
B u t what
about becoming a new principal at a school where the previous principal – to put it nice-ly - had to unexpectedly leave? Principal Mark Neffendorf took up the challenge to come to Tigard High School and prove he deserved to be here. Before the school year began, he expressed his opinion to Hi-Spots staff on how his first 100 days should be judged. “This is my third time being principal, and I’ve learned that there isn’t that much you can change in those first months,” he said. “Right now I mostly plan to focus on building relationships with the staff, the stu-dents and the community and bring them together as one.” Neffendorf believes this to be his biggest accomplishment in his “first 100
days,” as he believes that it’s hard to accomplish a lot in such a short
amount of time. It is arguable that he
brought little change to Tigard High
School. Some claim that he brought a
complete new set of rules to
the school. In reality,
t h e s e r u l e s
w e r e a l -
ready set in place but were not enforced. Lunch releases have always been required but have not been checked as thoroughly in the past. Hoods and gloves have never been allowed; it’s always been a matter of safety. When asked about these new enforce-ments, Neffendorf said, “I’ve gotten posi-tive and negative feedback. The parents are grateful for the safer environment as well as most students. Some, though, believe it’s go-ing overboard, but everyone needs to know what the rules are.” Senior Calvin Horne has seen the impact Neffendorf has had on the safety of the school and is one of those students who thinks of it in a positive aspect. “I think that he brings in a special kind of discipline that just mo-tivates you to become a better person. I re-ally feel that his presence and authority has made Tigard High a safer, friendlier environ-ment already. He brings in an energetic and go-getter type of personality, and it seems like he’s really dedicated to making changes at our school.” Not everyone agrees with Horne. In a re-cent random poll, it was found that 42.6 percent of the 122 students polled believes that Neffendorf has made a negative impact on Tigard. On the first day of school for freshmen, Nef-fendorf set his place in the school by starting off the day with a whistle and a loud, “You are no longer in middle school anymore.” In regards to other aspects of the school, Neffendorf felt positive about Tigard being “strong not only academically, but strong in their athletics and activities. This school is very positive.” He saw that this needed no change, just further encouragement. So how does one judge a principal’s first 100 days from these facts? It seems as if Neffendorf’s main target was to build up a new sense of community, especially since Tigard High has seen four different princi-pals in the past four years. “Right now, I’m just learning what was left undone. The on-going task is letting the students and the teachers know that I’m here,” says Neffendorf.
December 18, 2009
By Brittany NguyenCo-Editor-In-Chief
Building a new sense of community
December 18, 2009
News pg.5
Thank you for contacting me. I appreciate your interest in me and everything that I work on these days. I miss Tigard High School very much; in part because I feel sad for all the amazing things that I felt were within our reach as a school com-munity, and also for the way that my departure was so sudden and so unexplained to stu-dents and staff. I wish for nothing but success for all the members of the Ti-ger community!
I manage to keep myself very busy these days through a wide va-riety of work and creative develop-ment. First and foremost, my un-planned departure from THS made it possible for me to be a part of my own family’s day-to-day life in a way that I had probably neglected for too long. I often rise early enough each day to spend time with my two sons, aged 8 and 6, and to help them prepare for their own school day. Af-ter they have left for school, I have about five hours of time to myself to work on my own writing proj-ects (several) and to focus on the On Student Learning web page that my wife and I started in 2008 to assist student learning in math and
other subjects.In the last year, I have worked
throughout Oregon, Washington, Cal-ifornia, Idaho, and Nevada as an edu-cational consultant, helping schools and districts improve their approach to student learning.
Some time in the next year, I expect that my wife and I will open and operate the first of several On Target Learning Centers, a self-contained set-ting that will focus specifically on ad-
dressing the individual needs of stu-dents who are trying to develop the skills necessary to compete in the 21st century job marketplace.
In total, I am still busy in the business of helping young people like yourselves get the training and edu-cation necessary to pursue their own individual dreams. And that re-ally has always been my goal: to help someone younger than me go far-ther than me if that is where his or her aims happen to lie.
Thank you again, Hi Spots, for your email. Please give my best wishes for success and happiness to all the students and teachers at Tigard High School.
-- Jon Schuhl
What ever happened to Schuhl?Former Principal Jon Schuhl writes Hi Spots a letter
Laurel BushmanRemember that quirky fun English teacher and speech coach, Laurel Bushman? After retiring, along with exercising more often, she has been remodeling her home and is now an expert at stripping wallpaper. However, still a teacher at heart, Bushman is subbing with the hopes to do more.
Kevin Bryant“This side, go! That side, Tigers!” Sound familiar? Our beloved Kevin Bryant is no longer at Tigard but his heart still goes out to us. Currently, Bryant is working as Vice President for Advancement and External Relations at Warner Pacific College. He works with all things external to the college including fund-raising, athletics, communications, alumni, parent and church relations, admissions and financial aid. He misses Tigard dearly.
Where other Tigard High
staff are doing now:
Hello Hi Spots,
“I manage to keep myself very busy
these days.”
News pg.6
December 18, 2009
By Jane Whitmore
In the next 50 years, downtown Tigard, as you know it, will be radi-cally modernized. The “city center” of Tigard that we pass through on our way to downtown Portland will no longer be the dingy streets that we’ve known so long. Downtown Tigard is growing up.
Think of the downtown 20 min-utes away with boutiques, perform-ing arts buildings, shopping galore, grand architecture, pleasant layout, hotels, and modern art. That same atmosphere of sophistication and opportunity for a night in town is coming within a two- mile radius of Tigard High. But backtrack. How did downtown Tigard become the hum-drum center (or lack thereof) of our city?
Old TownTigard’s downtown was bisected by Oregon 99 in the early
1940s. If this hadn’t happened, downtown Tigard might have de-veloped into a more compact and traditional downtown village. Strip commercial development became the primary pattern of business development and the result is that Tigard is, according to planners, somewhat “frozen in time” and the primary street net-work has not changed substantially since the 1940s. That might have been cool if it really had remained in the ‘40s, except that elements of each decade have actually mushed together, creating a clashing design.
New TownThe new Urban Renewal Plan
will begin to address this issue. Downtown Tigard may begin to look a lot more designed in com-ing years and will no doubt benefit from the re-structuring of its city blocks as well as more emphasis on places for people to work and play in well-designed spaces. Imagine a street-side café next to a piece of modern art erected next to a water feature with kids playing in it. The Pearl district, only it’s really down-town Tigard.
The city is working with 10, 20 and 50-year scenarios. Planners are attempting to promote economic health of the urban core by recog-
nizing and valuing Tigard as a unique historical district within a metro area of other unique communities. The first phases of the project include: street and streetscape improvements, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, parks, public spaces and facilities, and plan-ning and development assistance.
What’s to comeOne of the projects planned is the Fanno Creek Plaza and Park
Program. It includes a seated entertainment area, picnic shelter, restroom, interactive fountain, play area, lawn area and space for events, crafts and—at last—a Farmer’s Market.
One of the truly ambitious elements of the plan is the develop-ment of transportation systems. The current Tri-Met Transit Cen-ter adjacent to the commuter train from Wilsonville to Beaverton
THE NEWLOOK OF
DOWNTOWNCity council plans to give
Tigard a makeover
News pg.7
December 18, 2009
will be redeveloped. The site may become a high density, multifamily development. Tigard will become a sub-regional transportation center as bus, commuter rail, and light rail will intersect in Tigard and provide con-nections throughout the region.
In the long haul, look for a new viaduct structure at the intersection of Hall and Oregon 99 and also for a re-design of the raised highway next to downtown. The highway itself will be developed as pedestrian friendly. High-rise residential and commercial buildings are expected—again, in the long-term plan, 50 years out—so that panoramic views of the Tualatin val-ley will become routine.
The ambition of the plan makes sense because without goals, and good plans in attempting to reach the goals, cities, just like people, languish. Tigard officials do not want this to happen and it could be said that our generation is living in a great former village now about to become a desti-nation small city.
This sketch of main street features pedestrian friendly streets and a walking bridge overpass.
By 2058, Tigard officials hope to have completed the first huge installment of the improvement plan.
News pg.8
December 18, 2009
Quick News
By Ashton Babcock
Tigard High School has always been known for its excellent the-atre program, but this year, the winter play will be a musical, “Hello, Dolly!” Opening night will be Feb. 1 and tickets will be $6 for stu-dents and senior citizens and $8 for adults.
“I didn’t think we’d ever have a musical in my four years at Ti-gard,” said sophomore Jordan Leonard. “But I’m glad we are. I’m re-ally excited!”
It’s true-- Tigard High has not done a musical in six years. And apparently, it was about time. Out of the 78 people who auditioned in October, 38 were actually cast in the show.
“I’m glad that the kids get to enjoy the experience of a musical. There are a lot of new faces now that we’re finally doing one,” said Todd Hermanson, theatre instructor.
Hermanson will be producing the show, and Jim Crino, known Lakewood Theatre director, will be directing.
“Hello, Dolly!” takes place in Yonkers, New York, in the late 1800s. Dolly Levi (Keegan Brown), a matchmaker in the small town, wish-es to match herself up with millionaire Horace Vandergelder (Tom Lapp). When Horace admits that he’s been thinking about marrying hat shop owner Irene Molloy (Bobi Whitehead), Dolly comes up with a dangerous and elaborate scheme to keep him to herself.
Hello, musical!Theatre holds auditions for “Hello, Dolly!”
Senior moments: Ryan Brisset, Omar Horani, Justin Nguyen and Tobin Howie joke between classes.
Athletics pg.9
December 18, 2009
Scoreboard
Water Polo
3-8
Boys Soccer
5-9-1
Boys Cross Country
4-2
Girls Cross Country
1-5
3-7
Football
7-12
Volleyball
Final Fall Standings
ths4258
opponentJesuitSunset
128111
Girls Swimming
ths4640
opponentJesuitSunset
123122
Boys Swimming
ths51
opponentBeaverton
21
Wrestling
ths544957
opponentDavid Douglas
GreshamWilsonville
384079
Boys Basketball
ths48936342
opponentWestview
David DouglasMilwaukie
Lincoln
44363733
Girls Basketball
8-7-2
Girls Soccer
Athletics pg.10
December 18, 2009
Player Profiles:The Stars of Winter Athletics
Name: Carly CulinGrade: SophomoreSport: Snowboarding
Carly Culin is a varsity snow boarder at Tigard High.
“My favorite place to be is on the mountains,” she says. “It’s an adrenalin rush. Just you and the environment.”
In seventh grade, Culin started dreaming about going to a college somewhere moun-tainous – preferably in Colora-do – hoping to enjoy the fresh white snow. With no training in the off-season, she still manages to reach and exceed her goals during the season. The team practices Wednesdays after school and Saturdays all day. Her performance improves year after year and this year she could help lead the girl’s team to state!
Name: Tate WegehauptGrade: SeniorSomething interesting: His ear was bitten by a llama and now it is deformed.
It’s Tate Wegehaupt’s last year as a Tigard High student and his senior swim season is looking promising. As the captain of the varsity swim team, Wegehaupt hopes to lead the team to victory.
“I think we’ll have an improving season,” says Wegehaupt. “Hopefully we’ll do better than we did in previ-ous years.”
The THS swim team is lacking a bit in participants this season, but their captain is still confident and ready to race. Wegehaupt has many goals for himself this season.
“I want to set a standard for future THS swimmers,” Wegehaupt said with a smile. “And break a few school records!”
This season Tate will swim the 100 yard breaststroke and the 200-yard individual medley. He’s ready for some records and best times in both of his events.
Name: Chris MacKenzieGrade: SophomoreSport: Basketball
Chris MacKenzie, a sopho-more at Tigard High School has been playing basketball for ten years. From fall-ball at the Hoop, to summer basket-ball, he keeps in shape all year round. He was inspired by his brother to grow and succeed in the basketball world and definitely has. This season, MacKenzie is playing on Ti-gard’s Varsity basketball team as a point guard. He aspires to play for a D-1 school someday and so far he is on the right track. MacK-enzie said, “This season I’m going to hustle for every ball. Hope-fully we make it to playoffs.”
Name: Coach Geoffrey JarmanSport: Head Wrestling CoachSomething interesting: He is allergic to his own sweat.
Goeff Jarman, science teacher and head wrestling coach at Ti-gard High School has high hopes for the wrestling season. This is Jarman’s ninth year as a wrestling coach but first year as a coach at THS. So far, he is thoroughly enjoying his time and feels very welcome.
“We have a great turnout this year,” said Jarman. “I have high hopes for the season.”
Coach Jarman knows wrestling like the back of his hand. His father got him into wrestling at a very young age. In fact, Jarman didn’t go to day care. Instead, he went to high school wrestling practices with his dad – who was the high school coach – and learned how to wrestle.
“The guys are really paying attention to detail,” Jarman said. “I want to see them gain some positive experiences.”
Athletics pg.11
December 18, 2009
By Tess Langseth and Jessica Lemieux Team cheers, pep talks from coaches, and -- jerking?Tigard girls soccer players are real jerks.At least when it comes to pre-game rituals they are. Instead of the
usual pep talks and team cheers, the Tigard girls began a “jerking” competition before every game to pump each other up, starting this past season.
After the jerk, players sprint onto the field as the first whistle blows. Their jerking competitions not only happened before every game, but sometimes during halftime as well. Jerking is a form of
intricate dance and the Tigard girls do it well!Home games are not the only place the girls shine. They bring
their spirit and jerking everywhere they go. Away games not only include their famous jerking competition, but also a bus ride full of songs (preferably “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey).
“Singing on the bus is a tradition our team has had for a lot of years,” says junior Brenna Cleveland, “It brings the team together and pumps us up!”
The Tigard girls made a point to sing this song on the ride to ev-ery away game.
Get your head in the gameGirls soccer is just jerkin’ around
No more welcoming freshmanSoccer takes initiation to the extreme
Tutus round the waist, bright make-up and guacamole covered hair. Naturally, this is how the THS girl’s soccer team dresses their newbie’s for the Tigard vs. Tualatin football game. This has been a tradition for over eight years, but this year they had to pull the plug. A few members on the team were not comfortable with the idea of putting themselves in such a vulnerable position, and so the girl’s fun was put to a stop.
“If someone is uncomfortable,” said Alan Boschma, Athletic Di-rector. “Then its no longer a fun, positive thing.”
This was a disappointing blow to the team, but they understood
that everyone must be comfortable with the idea before going through with it. Alan Boschma thought of the girls “team bonding” as more of a hazing activity.
“If you’re going to draw attention to your team, I don’t want it to become a distraction,” said Boschma.
After putting up a bit of a fight, the THS girls agreed to end their initiation night.
“Initiation was the best part of my freshman year,” said junior Erin Nyberg. “It brought the team closer together, and without it this year I didn’t feel the same unity.”
This picture shows the humiliation of past years.
Stu
dies
sho
w th
at ra
ce m
atte
rs w
hen
it co
mes
to a
cade
mic
suc
cess
The
co
lor
of y
our
ski
n m
ay d
eter
min
e if
you
can
read
thi
s ar
ticl
e
By
Kat
ie M
urp
hyC
o-E
dit
or-
In-C
hief
Whi
te st
uden
ts d
o be
tter
in sc
hool
than
Bl
ack
and
Latin
o st
uden
ts -
esp
ecia
lly in
th
e Ti
gard
-Tua
latin
Sch
ool D
istr
ict.
“On
natio
nal
exam
s, su
ch a
s th
e SA
T an
d AC
T, w
hite
stu
dent
s w
ho a
re p
oor
ac-
tual
ly o
utpe
rfor
m b
lack
stu
dent
s w
ho a
re
wea
lthy,”
sai
d Da
n Go
ldm
an, t
he d
istr
ict’s
cu
rric
ulum
dir
ecto
r.A
who
ppin
g 80
per
cent
of w
hite
10t
h gr
ade
stud
ents
met
or
exce
eded
sta
te
benc
hmar
ks in
rea
ding
and
lite
ratu
re la
st
year
in o
ur d
istr
ict.
How
ever
, onl
y 37
per
-ce
nt o
f Lat
ino
stud
ents
and
47.
4 pe
rcen
t of
Afr
ican
-Am
eric
an s
tude
nts
reac
hed
or
exce
eded
this
sam
e be
nchm
ark.
“The
scor
es sp
eak
for t
hem
selv
es,”
said
Pr
inci
pal M
ark
Nef
fend
orf.
Race
pla
ys a
key
rol
e in
dis
cipl
ine
is-
sues
as w
ell.
Latin
o st
uden
ts h
ave
rece
ived
32
per
cent
of
the
refe
rral
s so
far
thi
s ye
ar, b
ut o
nly
mak
e up
14
perc
ent
of t
he
scho
ol’s
popu
latio
n. T
hese
num
bers
are
st
agge
ring
ly d
ispr
opor
tiona
te,
espe
cial
ly
whe
n w
hite
stu
dent
s on
ly h
ad 5
5 pe
rcen
t of
the
refe
rral
s an
d ar
e 73
per
cent
of t
he
popu
latio
n.
Anot
her
conn
ectio
n ca
n be
see
n in
mi-
nori
ty p
artic
ipat
ion
in s
choo
l ac
tiviti
es.
For
exam
ple,
Lat
ino
stud
ents
mak
e up
14
perc
ent
of t
he s
choo
l po
pula
tion,
but
in
mos
t sp
orts
(w
ith t
he e
xcep
tion
of b
oys
socc
er)
mak
e up
5 p
erce
nt o
r le
ss o
f the
pa
rtic
ipan
ts.
“Cle
arly
, on
ave
rage
our
stu
dent
s of
co
lor
part
icip
ate
less
fre
quen
tly i
n cl
ubs
abou
t rac
e.Al
thou
gh G
oldm
an a
dmits
the
re a
re
othe
r fa
ctor
s th
at c
ontr
ibut
e to
a g
ap i
n te
st s
core
s, su
ch a
s cu
lture
and
inc
ome,
ra
ce i
s th
e on
e th
at i
s no
t di
scus
sed
enou
gh. S
ome
clai
m t
hat
the
low
er t
est
scor
es o
f m
inor
ity s
tude
nts
are
due
to
cultu
ral v
alue
s, w
ork
ethi
c, an
d fa
mily
life
, bu
t Gol
dman
dis
agre
es.
“We
have
evi
denc
e th
at, w
hile
eco
nom
-ic
s pla
ys a
par
t in
scho
ol
achi
eve-
men
t, w
hen
we
inve
stig
ate
aca-
dem
ic o
utco
mes
fo
r st
uden
ts
from
di
ffere
nt
raci
al
back
-gr
ound
s w
ho
com
e fr
om fa
mi-
lies
that
w
ould
be
co
nsid
ered
u
pp
er-m
idd
le
clas
s or
wea
lthy,
ther
e is
stil
l an
ac
hiev
emen
t gap
ba
sed
on r
ace,”
sa
id G
oldm
an.
Stud
ents
at
Ti
gard
Hig
h al
so
feel
raci
sm is
an
issu
e, a
nd o
ne th
at is
not
im
prov
ing.
In
a re
cent
Hi
Spot
s po
ll, 6
2 pe
rcen
t of s
tude
nts t
hink
raci
sm is
a la
rge
prob
lem
at
Tiga
rd H
igh.
Add
ition
ally
, 63
perc
ent
of L
atin
o st
uden
ts s
ay t
hey
have
ha
d a
spec
ific
inst
ance
at
Tiga
rd H
igh
whe
re th
ey h
ave
felt
disc
rim
inat
ed a
gain
st
due
to t
heir
rac
e. Y
et 3
8 pe
rcen
t of
Cau
lish,
but
the
teac
her s
aid
she
wou
ldn’
t suc
-ce
ed b
ecau
se s
he a
utom
atic
ally
ass
umed
sh
e w
ould
n’t
have
the
sup
port
at
hom
e du
e to
San
chez
’ rac
e.
“I’v
e ha
d to
cha
nge
the
lens
in w
hich
I lo
ok th
roug
h,” s
aid
Nef
fend
orf.
“I’v
e ha
d to
ch
ange
the
way
I lo
ok a
t edu
catin
g ki
ds b
e-ca
use
of th
eir b
ackg
roun
ds a
nd cu
lture
s.”Go
ldm
an a
gree
s: “
Ther
e is
abs
olut
ely
no d
oubt
tha
t if
we’
re i
nten
tiona
l ab
out
clos
ing
the
raci
al a
chie
vem
ent
gap,
we
will
,” he
sai
d. “B
ut if
we
are
trul
y go
ing
to
solv
e th
is p
robl
em w
e ar
e go
ing
to h
ave
to
lear
n ho
w t
o ta
lk a
bout
rac
e. W
e ne
ed a
vo
cabu
lary
and
tool
s so
the
conv
ersa
tions
ca
n be
safe
and
pro
duct
ive.”
Cour
ageo
us C
onve
rsat
ions
is
not
only
w
orki
ng to
chan
ge te
ache
r’s e
stab
lishe
d
Percent
Per
cent
age
of R
efer
rals
Per
cent
age
of S
tud
ents
Dis
cipl
ine
Whi
teLa
tino
Asi
an
and
spor
ts a
nd a
re m
ore
likel
y th
an
Whi
te s
tude
nts
to e
xper
ienc
e ac
adem
ic
failu
re,”
said
Gol
dman
. Th
ese
dist
urbi
ng
num
bers
le
d th
e Ti
gard
-Tua
latin
Sch
ool D
istr
ict t
o st
art i
n-ve
stig
atin
g w
hy s
uch
a ga
p in
test
sco
res,
disc
iplin
e, a
nd m
inor
ity p
artic
ipat
ion
oc-
curs
. Stu
dies
show
no
corr
elat
ion
betw
een
inte
llige
nce
and
race
, so
the
dist
rict
con
-cl
uded
it m
ust
be a
noth
er is
sue,
and
one
th
ey p
lann
ed to
take
hea
d-on
.“S
ince
we
know
ther
e is
not
a b
iolo
gica
l re
ason
for
this
, we
mus
t beg
in to
inve
sti-
gate
wha
t it i
s ab
out t
he s
choo
l and
com
-m
unity
env
iron
men
t, ou
r te
achi
ng p
rac-
tices
, the
clim
ate
and
cultu
re o
f the
scho
ol,
and
our
conn
ectio
n to
the
fam
ilies
of
all
our s
tude
nts,
that
is p
erpe
tuat
ing
the
out-
com
es w
e ar
e cu
rren
tly se
eing
for o
ur st
u-de
nts,”
sai
d Go
ldm
an. “
We
have
to b
elie
ve
that
we
have
the
pot
entia
l to
tea
ch A
LL
child
ren
effe
ctiv
ely
and
then
we
mus
t set
ab
out o
btai
ning
the
skill
s to
do ju
st th
at.”
Such
beg
an t
he p
rogr
am C
oura
geou
s Co
nver
satio
ns A
bout
Rac
e, a
gra
nt-fu
nded
pr
ogra
m fr
om th
e Pa
cific
Edu
catio
n gr
oup.
Th
e si
x-ye
ar p
rogr
am w
as s
tart
ed t
hree
ye
ars
ago
to p
rovi
de t
rain
ing
and
stra
te-
gies
for
sta
ff an
d to
beg
in c
onve
rsat
ions
casi
an s
tude
nts
also
ad
mitt
ed
to
havi
ng
an
inci
dent
whe
re
they
fe
lt th
e co
lor
of
thei
r sk
in
affe
cted
ho
w t
hey
wer
e tr
eate
d.“T
each
ers
don’
t gi
ve
me
enco
urag
emen
t so
met
imes
,” sa
id J
unio
r Se
-le
ne C
olin
. “w
e ne
ed t
hat
sup-
port
from
the
m
sinc
e w
e do
n’t
get i
t at h
ome.”
Prin
cipa
l Mar
k N
effe
ndor
f bel
ieve
s tha
t he
and
the
Tiga
rd H
igh
staf
f nee
d to
look
in
side
of t
hem
selv
es a
nd c
hang
e th
e w
ay
they
thi
nk a
bout
rac
e-re
late
d to
int
elli-
genc
e. “The
re is
an
attit
ude
that
ther
e is
onl
y on
e w
ay t
o lo
ok a
t al
l kid
s,” s
aid
Nef
fen-
dorf
. “W
e as
a s
taff
need
to
pers
onal
ly
know
them
and
who
they
are
.”H
e, a
long
with
Cou
rage
ous
Conv
er-
satio
ns,
wan
ts t
o pr
ovid
e te
ache
rs w
ith
awar
enes
s of
th
e si
tuat
ion
and
thei
r ow
n pr
e-ju
dgm
ents
an
d he
lp t
hem
w
ith
stra
tegi
es
to r
each
eve
ry
child
, reg
ardl
ess
of th
eir c
olor
.S
tud
en
ts
agre
e th
at t
his
is
a pr
oble
m.
Soph
omor
e St
a-cy
San
chez
sai
d sh
e ta
lked
to a
n En
glis
h te
ache
r ab
out
IB
Eng-
Percent
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01020304050607080
0102030405060708090100
Latin
oA
sian
Whi
te
Sta
te T
est S
core
s: R
eadi
ng10
th g
rade
rs a
t TH
S m
eetin
g or
ex-
ceed
ing
benc
hmar
k
Percent
Whi
teLa
tino
Asi
an
Sta
te T
est S
core
s: M
athe
mat
ics
10th
gra
ders
at T
HS
mee
ting
or
exce
edin
g be
nchm
ark
prej
udic
es, b
ut to
exa
min
e ou
r sch
ool s
ys-
tem
ove
rall
and
sear
ch fo
r “in
dust
rial
ized
ra
cism
,” as
Gol
dman
put
s it.
The
Amer
ican
sy
stem
of
scho
olin
g w
as m
ade
base
d on
w
hite
cul
ture
and
val
ues,
he e
xpla
ins,
and
som
e th
ings
may
not
be
good
sys
tem
ati-
cally
for a
ll ki
ds.
Over
all,
Gold
man
bel
ieve
s ou
r di
stri
ct
is g
ood
abou
t rea
chin
g ev
ery
stud
ent a
nd
that
eve
ryon
e is
tryi
ng to
do
the
best
they
ca
n fo
r the
child
ren
atte
ndin
g Ti
gard
-Tua
l-at
in sc
hool
s. In
form
atio
n fr
om th
e Or
egon
De
part
men
t of
Edu
catio
n sh
ows
that
the
ef
fort
s ar
e im
prov
ing
min
ority
test
sco
res
for
stud
ents
of c
olor
and
dis
cipl
ine
info
r-m
atio
n sh
ows
a na
rrow
er g
ap t
han
last
ye
ar. “W
e ha
ve r
educ
ed L
atin
o re
ferr
als
by
9 pe
rcen
t si
nce
2007
-08,
” sa
id v
ice
prin
-ci
pal
Barb
Pro
ctor
“W
e ha
ve d
one
this
no
t by
igno
ring
beh
avio
rs b
ut b
y be
ing
as
proa
ctiv
e as
pos
sibl
e, ta
king
mor
e tim
e to
un
ders
tand
stu
dent
s an
d th
eir
indi
vidu
al
need
s and
cultu
re.”
The
orig
ins
of th
e ra
cial
gap
and
sol
u-tio
ns t
o a
colo
r-bl
ind
scho
ol s
yste
m m
ay
be u
nkno
wn,
but
Gol
dman
say
s on
e th
ing
is fo
r su
re: “
No
othe
r di
stri
ct in
Ore
gon
is
hitt
ing
the
issu
e ha
rder
. “
01020304050607080
01020304050607080
0102030405060708090100
Features pg.15
December 18, 2009
Wh ’s Wh Get to know a few clubs
with the purpose to spread awareness
Invisible Children Co-Presidents: Lisa Wishard and Courtney McGuireMeetings: Rm. 209; Weds at 7:30 a.m.
Number of members: 12
By Emma JohnsonStaff Writer
E.P.I.C (Enviornmental Protection International Coalition) Co-Presidents: Mitchell Davenport and Robert Combs
Meetings: Rm 218; Friday morningsNumber of members: 30
“Stop Joseph Kony and save the child soldiers.”
Do SomethingPresident: Courtney McGuireMeetings: Rm 223; Tues 3 p.m.-4 p.m.Number of members: 12
Is your club is getting the job done?It’s going to take a while to get there but we will make a change.
Why did you want I.C. to be a THS club?After seeing the documentary, it’s sort of impossible not to care about the situ-ation. I just want to share that with oth-ers. If we can unite here, that could mean major hope for the kids of Uganda.
What effect do you feel your club has? I want to show the documentary as much as possible, but any way that we tell the story we get people to realize that even though people are going through some tough times right now, there’s always a little something you can give up for others who are in need.
What is Invisible Children?It was originally a documentary made by three guys, just out of high school, who decided to go on an African adventure, not knowing what they would find. When they discovered children commuting to the ve-randas in the hospitals of a nearby town in Uganda for safety from the Lord’s Resis-tance Army, they knew something had to be done. Now I.C. is a full-fledged charity, dedicated to ending the war in Uganda, providing education for the children, and re-building the community.
Why did you want Do Something to be a school club?We could get more teenagers with new ideas and more helping hands for our projects.
What effect do you think your club has on people?I believe that sometimes teenagers see adults changing the world and think they could never do something that large. Do Something
gives teens the chance to make the ideas they have into reality. It shows them that they can im-pact the world as well as anyone.
How do you think your club will make a differ-ence in the world?In the past we have spread awareness of
worldly issues and raised money. In the future, I cannot say what brilliant new ideas we will act upon next. But I can safely say it will be for the better. “Spread awareness on environmental
issues around our region”
What is your club? What do you do? Our club is an environmentally focused group trying to tell people about little known issues like the Northern Pacific Gyre, so that they may help solve them.What inspired you to start this club? A desire to inspire. People think these problems are too great to solve but thinking and acting in Tigard could lead to bigger things.What have you been doing to help your cause? We’ve been trying to contact other schools around the Pacific Rim to create a cooperative force to fix the NPG. We are also working towards improving the drinking fountains at THS to reduce the use of disposable plastic water bottles.
December 18, 2009
Fashion Pg.16
Winter Fashion
Colors: Brown, black, olive green, yellow, and gold.Details: Ethnic and folkloric prints, vintage floral prints, layered necklac-
es, fur, suede and leather hobo bags, sexy but refined 70s thigh high boots.Military Jacket: This Michael Jackson-inspired piece involves custom-
made, braided and buttoned military jackets. You’ll find similar styles of this trend on the catwalk this winter season. The jacket is eye-catching so it’s rec-ommended to pair it with basic dark wash jeans. Feminize the look with heels or a few girly accessories.
Suede and Leather Bags: Simple and solid colored suede and leather bags should be on the top of every girl’s shopping list for winter ‘09. Indulge in tan, brown or black suede or leather bags to accentuate the perfect casual, bohemian look. If you’re in need of a purse that matches any wardrobe per-fectly, choose bags with minimal details. However, if your style is more on the extravagant side, try leather bags with braided straps, buckle pockets or even gold and exotic embellishments.
Scarves: This winter’s new neck-warming accessory is the perfect way to spice up a boring outfit. Wear a floral or printed scarf to add a pop of color to a plainly colored shirt, or a simply colored scarf with an extravagant dress or cute skirt. The sky is the limit with this interchangeable piece.
Boho de luxe
Colors: Orange, grey, brown, beige, off-white, olive green.Details: Checkers print, barnyard-looking boots, lace, loose blous-
es, menswear fitted slacks, old English style medallion pendants.Blousy Tunic Tops: Blousy tunics have always been a favorite
among many women. But for this winter season focus on countryside colors such as dark brown, beige, off-white and burgundy. Wear this piece casually with jeans and top it off with a long vintage pendant necklace to tie together a sweet and nostalgic outfit. If the blouse is slightly big around the middle, wrap a skinny belt around it to accen-tuate your waist. Add a romantic, old-English flair with ruffles along the hemline and/or bold, puffed sleeves.
Ripped Jeans: The ripped/destroyed jeans trend has been ex-tended from the fall season, and is making a big statement this win-ter. Choose between the distressed and ripped style of jeans, or the shredded and ripped style. Be reasonable with the amount of ripping and distressing with this style or you might end up looking like a rocker or street beggar. Be sure to keep in mind that details on the legs can highlight them. If you want to slim your legs be sure the jeans have been ripped vertically. Pair this piece with a simple pair of riding boots and you have the perfect country folk look.
Boots: Boots are this winter’s hottest new shoe. This style of shoe has endless options of styles and colors. The most popular style is flat and brown, as shown in the picture. Boots are perfect to pair with any outfit from skirts and dresses, to a simple pair of jeans and a tee shirt. Mix two new winter trends by getting boots with studded details to add a flair to your wardrobe.
Country folk
December 18, 2009
Fashion Pg.17
Minimalist mixed with 40’s and 50’s whimsy decorations for a softer and feminine look.
Colors: Black, white, grey, beige, camel, red, purple.Details: Leather gloves, Poplis shirts, little black dresses, belted coats,
tweed skirts and dress pants, long blazers, red lipstick, sexy stockings and tights, ruffles, lace, drape and boyfriend cardigans.
Lady-like Gloves: Add a feminine sophisticated touch to your wardrobe this winter with a pair of gloves. You should mix lady-like gloves with modern pieces to look up-to-date and in fashion. Two hot glove fabrics this season are leather and suede in black, dark brown, tan, deep purple and olive green. Be sure you buy genuine leather as it will last longer and is also comfier to wear.
Boyfriend Blazer: This trend from the fall season is back this winter. In fact, it’s a staple that every woman needs in her wardrobe to look so-phisticated and in style. But unlike fall, this season you’ll be seeing a lot of boyfriend, long, and oversized blazer jackets. Stay with the trend by mixing casual pieces with the classy blazer.
Black: This winter season, black is seen everywhere. Stay in style by selecting black pieces to match with other bold pieces in your wardrobe. Be sure to spice up this frequently seen color with extravagant accessories, other clothing pieces, and shoes. For example, pair a bold blouse or jacket with a simple black skirt. Or pair a bold dress with a simple black leather jacket. Whatever your style, black is the perfect color for any wardrobe this winter season.
Modern simplicity
A mix with classy Goth, 80’s bold and diva-ish elements. Think studs, black, chain and leather! Perfect for the rougher fashionista.
Colors: Black, grey, and silver.Details: Layers of chain, zippers, studs, skinny pants, leather, black
hosiery, sparkly vests and tops, bold and fun jewelry.Exposed Zippers: One trend you will be seeing all over the run-
ways this winter season will be exposed zippers on jeans, pants, skirts, sandals, dresses and tops. If you have short legs, short torso, or an all around short body wear vertical zippers to keep your figure looking lean and trim. Try offsetting the punk-chick look with something femi-nine and sexy. For example, if you are wearing a black mini dress with a zipper on the front, add a pair of snazzy platform gladiator shoes and a big and sparkly cocktail ring to tie the outfit together.
Animal Cocktail Rings: Animal cocktail rings are one of this win-ter’s top trends for any fashionista. Anywhere from sexy leopard and snakes to stunning fox, any type of animal cocktail ring is guaranteed to add a fun and bold flare to any outfit. Wear the ring as your outfits key piece and leave out other bold accessories or printed clothing.
Studded Shoes and Boots: Studs on shoes look bold and sexy, but should be worn in small doses. Wear something with a simple studded detail and wear it with other non-studded pieces. Keep in mind that studs can add pounds to your legs and ankles, but you can easily turn this around by choosing shoes with vertical details, like zippers and ver-tical stripes. If you have short legs or figure, choose pants with stud or zipper detailing, and be sure the color of the shoes matches the color of the hosiery or pants you’re wearing.
Iron maiden
By Brenna Cleveland and
Jennifer Saideepane
Fashion PG.18
December 18, 2009
Teachers dress to impress
Shops at: Nordstrom Rack, the “thrift store ware-house,” and the Goodwill warehouse.
Where do you get your inspiration? From what is trendy -- and then make it my own.
How does the way you dress affect how students and staff look to you? I don’t think about what peo-ple think of me when I get dressed. I still want to look appropriate for certain occa-sions though.
VPs: Mickey Toft and Barb Proctor
By Teddi Faller Students pay attention to fashion, but do we pay attention to how our teachers dress? Maybe a math teacher dresses cutely, and a
science teacher dresses a little… odd. Besides our instructors’ clothing being something we can gossip about, does the way our teachers dress affect how well we pay attention in class or how well we learn?
As said by (www.EffectiveTeaching.com), “Just as appropriate manners are widely accepted as preferable to rudeness, dressing profes-sionally should be considered the norm among teachers.”
Barbara Proctor Shops at: Nordstrom, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor Loft, White
House Black Market.Where do you get your inspiration? Classics look professional.How does the way you dress affect the way students and
other staff members look to you? For my job it’s important when parents come [to look professional]. School is a place of business.
Mickey Toft Shops at: Macy’s, Nordstrom, and Nike.Where do you get your inspiration? A little from magazines,
the professional style.How does the way you dress affect the way students and oth-
er staff members look to you? I am perceived as a professional. Shopping tips: Get good basics. Basics go with everything. Don’t
spend too much on trendy pieces because they go out of fashion. Find clothes that work for your body type.
Shops at: Phil’s [in New York], John Helmer
Where do you get your inspiration? Magazines a little bit and I try to look for things that look good with my body type.
How does the way you dress affect the way students and other staff members look to you? If I didn’t dress in a profession-al manner, then it wouldn’t differentiate myself from the students.
Matthew Nelkin
TymiMontgomery
December 18, 2009
Viewpoint Pg. 19
As a teenager, it is common to feel like a second-class citizen, particularly when we’re spending our hard-earned cash in area stores and restaurants.
I consider myself fairly polite, especially to cashiers and waiters, but I am regularly treated like a second-tier citizen because of my age.
Recently, I went to Ulta, a makeup store chain, with my mom. I didn’t dress par-ticularly weird. I just wore a T-shirt, jeans, and heels. As I wandered through the giant store, I was completely ignored by staff. Un-til I wandered into the expensive perfumes. Once I got near the expensive stuff, I was watched like a hawk watches a mouse. I went to the checkout with my mom, and the cashier chatted warmly with her, but acted as if I were invisible.
Right before school started, I was in a hotel restaurant with some college-aged friends, and the waiter didn’t even bother to take my order.
Stores near Tigard High School have adults-only attitudes as well. For example, at our area Plaid Pantry, only five students are
allowed in the store at a time, and they must leave their bags at the door. While students wait outside in the rain, adults traipse in, keeping their bags and getting their coffee and snacks quickly.
Teens spend more than $172 billion per year in the United States. And adding to that, parents spend another $278.1 billion a year on teens. Two thirds of teens’ money goes towards what they want: clothes, makeup, food, and technology. With these statistics, one would think that businesses would want to attract teenagers rather than drive them away.
My mom’s boyfriend is the manager of the Wilsonville Rite Aid, and he frequently comes home with stories about how some teenager was stealing gum, or about how kids on skateboards were doing flips in the garden-ing section. According to The National Crime Prevention Council, 25 percent of people apprehended for shoplifting are teens. This leads me to believe that most shoplifters are, in fact, adults. Why is my mom’s boyfriend focusing on the 25 percent?
There is a bias against teenagers—that is easy to tell. But is it undeserved?
I can’t answer that question. I have a bias
against being biased against, and I start to feel bitter against stores that act like I’m one of those “good-for-nothing” teens that the media presents. Is it fair to assume that ev-ery teen that walks into a store is going to steal something?
Teens are frequently told that they are bad. We are considered a lazy generation, a group who is selfish and stupid. If, instead of being told that we are selfish and stupid, we were treated like competent adults, would there be a change in behavior?
If people took extra seconds to keep themselves from acting on a stereotype, that stereotype would start to get better.
Teens need to change, too. When you go into Plaid Pantry, instead of tossing your backpack into the middle of the doorway, take an extra second and place it neatly be-side the counter.
Smile at the waiter in a restaurant. Say please and thank you.
There is a small truth to stereotypes, and I think that if we, as teenagers, put the small-est bit of effort into treating others better, we would find better service at places that condemn teenagers as rude troublemakers.
Bias against teenagers
By Katie Burger
The authenticity of an Atheist Christmas
How authentic are modern-day re-ligious holidays compared to the past, more meaningful days?
I have tried my hand at finding value and meaning in all things religious. But I am, and will, remain unsuccessful. I feel that anything modern has no internal value or meaning to it. Obviously, religion is nothing modern, but we have created a society where anything that has meaning becomes reduced down to a herd follow-ing, value destroying, nature repressing, self depriving, life denying, nihilistic so-ciety.
We can see this, in one aspect, with the destruction of religious holidays. Typical-
ly, or rather sheeply (sheep: followers of the herd, don’t think for themselves), one celebrates Christmas with Santa Claus, presents, trees, decorations, etc. all for the sake of being festive-- but this festiv-ity comes from the commercial, or profit side of holidays, not the true aspect of it.
My aim is to provoke thinking and/or questioning dealing with the authentic-ity of modern-day religious holidays. Do people now-a-days celebrate holidays the true, more meaningful way, or have reli-gious holidays become so corrupt from their original roots that people don’t know why they celebrate the way they do?
By Cooper SmithViewpoint Editor
Is the stereotyping deserved?
With the help of Greg Borror, pastor of Moun-tain Park church in Lake Oswego, we came up with six questions. The six questions are: Do you know why you do what you do for holi- days? If you knew the origin and purpose of holidays, would you still practice them? If you were born in another place and time, would you still be practicing the same holi days? What about your upbringing makes you what you do and how you do? What role does free-will play in your beliefs? What do you think makes a holiday authentic and real?
Viewpoint pg.20
December 18, 2009
Letter to the editors: Former teacher responds to student’s love of foul language
We encourage letters to the editor. Please e-mail your let-ters to [email protected].
No anonymous letters please.
and leadershipBy Katie Murphy
Co-Editor-In-ChiefWe Tigerettes sat respectfully on the far side of the bleachers,
silently anticipating our performance in front of the school at the Winter Formal Assembly.
“And they only eat a Cheez-It and water a day!” said the MC. The gym went quiet as the student body didn’t know whether it
was appropriate to laugh or not. I didn’t see anything funny in sin-gling out a group and calling them anorex-ics. Some dancers do, indeed, struggle with anorexia. The Alliance for Eating Disorder Awareness estimate 11 percent of high school students are currently diagnosed with an eating disorder. That means that one out of every 10 students sitting in that gym has an illness that was made fun of in front of their peers.
The comment could be considered an off-handed joke to toss aside and forget, but the joke reflects a larger problem at our school: a lack of student leadership.
The point of an assembly, and the lead-ership class, is not to make fun of a specific group of people, but rather to unite the school and make everyone feel welcome. Being labeled as someone with an eating disorder in front of the entire student body made me feel neither of these.
Students universally hate attending Tigard High assemblies. They are a chance for a select few to parade around, the only plus being a break from class. At other schools, assemblies are a chance to rev up spirit, yes, but they also offer students a chance to discuss touchy subjects, form teen drinking to racism.
Assemblies should be a school presentation, not a poor effort to reenact a Saturday Night Live skit. Our assemblies do not tackle is-sues facing our school, including poverty, racism, and elitism, but rather are a public forum for a select few to share sexual innuendo and to bad-mouth teachers, and now, to slander select groups at THS.
Thankfully, no one has to tell the leadership program they aren’t doing their job. Leadership itself is tackling the issue of revamping
the program. The new Outreach Committees have brought breast cancer awareness, and lead-ership as a whole, have collected over 10,000 pounds of food for the annual canned food drive. Future plans include the annual Human Rights Assembly, which is to be better than ever, and hopefully has polar opposite jokes than that of the Winter Formal Assembly.
“There is a lot of good these guys do,” said Mindy Yarnell, the leadership advisor.
Principal Mark Neffendorf even wants to change how students are elected to leadership. Instead of a popularity contest for students to gain an extra activity on college applications, he wants to offer the program a chance to have the
highest qualified students from all areas of the school. He wants the focus of leadership to be a service-led group rather than just focusing on entertaining assemblies.
“As a leadership group, we should work to uplift people,” said Nef-fendorf in regards to the comment at the assembly.
I urge Tigard High and it’s leadership to do just this. To lead rath-er than separate and consider their words before they speak. We may be bad-mouthed, rebellious teenagers, but that doesn’t mean we have to be derogatory.
Dear editor:I just read the article you
(reporter Katie Burger) wrote for the school paper on foul lan-guage. It is difficult for me to grasp why you, as an intelligent 16 year old, can’t understand the power of words since you are a writer yourself.
You wrote, “scolding bad lan-guage is silly.” I disagree! Teen-agers are at a time in their lives
where they start to exert their independence, which is a good sign they are growing up, but oftentimes they do not couple that behavior with the proper responsibility that goes with it.
It is our obligation as teach-ers to remind you that certain words are not appropriate. You can’t be so immature as to think that having free speech is an open license to use foul lan-guage that is universally consid-
ered inappropriate. Our society places limits on what and where you can say certain things.
Want to test the system? Try the following:
If a police officer has stopped you, try using vulgar language while addressing the officer or try swearing at a judge if in court. Putting the judicial sys-tem aside, what do you think the reaction would be if in your college application you used ob-
scenities and profanities?As for me, I will continue to
correct the language of students because I want to remind them that what they say does, in fact, influence how others feel about them, and often times what peo-ple do in private may easily slip out in public, and it can have a very adverse affect on you.
-- Hank Dietz, Substitute and former THS teacher
Cheez-its
By Jane WhitmoreTigard High is a typical suburban
high school. We know our strengths, which include caring and prepared teachers, a wide array of curricu-lum choices typical of the best high schools in the country, a lively athletic program, and loads of community in-volvement. And, here’s the big bonus, the whole city pays for it. Your family doesn’t have to fork over tuition for the credits you’re earning towards that all-important launching pad into adulthood—the high school diploma.
So, why would a family want to pay tuition to send their children to a private school when the same edu-cational features are available for free (sort of-- all Tigard citizens do pay-- in taxes) for the English or Math class you had this morning? Private school is not cheap. Consider that St. Antho-ny’s, here in Tigard, charges just over $6,000 for a year of tuition while Cat-lin Gable, over in Portland, will cost a family around $25,000 per pupil.
Have you sat in a class with 40 oth-er students lately? Has a great teacher seemed frazzled because she is deal-ing with daily “face time” of 175-200 students? It is at this point that some people choose private schools. Stu-dent attention from teachers is one leading reason why private school is the educational choice of some fami-lies. Some private schools can boast a student/teacher ratio of as little as 12:1.
I have friends who attend a pri-vate school where teachers regularly carry a load of 40-50 students total. This means that kids receive plenty of teacher attention, but that’s not a Tigard High reality. In fact, in a recent report released by the National Cen-ter for Education Statistics, the public schools in Oregon as a whole have a higher student/teacher ratio than 48 other states. However, teachers at THS still know students’ names and their individual needs which lead to an amazing education. My teachers greet me by name all over the school, and not just in class, and watch my progress with
as much attention to detail as I would expect from a private school teacher. I have to share teacher attention with more students than at a private school but I still receive plenty of it. This is high praise for staff at THS.
There are other compelling rea-sons for private schools including religious affiliation and homogenous values. Social class sameness, which gives rise to the stereotype of the wealthy rich kid who attends a pri-vate school, can also factor the choice between private and public school. One private school graduate whom I spoke to, “R” (who wanted to remain no further identified for this article) said, “Yes, it’s true. Social status does attract some people to private schools, even here in egalitarian America.”
But for most, it’s really a complex decision because plenty of families without trust funds sacrifice so that their sons and daughters can attend private schools. They expect smaller classes to make a difference in the lives of their children. This is their main interest even though the pres-tige of a well-known private school might help a student’s acceptance into ivy-league colleges.
However, students and families should look hard before abandoning good old Tigard High. Our classes are mostly packed and parking is at a premium-- but with the excellence of our teachers, the serious motiva-tion of a large number of students, the variety of our offerings, and the economic challenges facing most middle class and even upper-middle class families, a savvy student can leave Tigard High just as prepared for university-level work or for en-
trance into the work place as any student graduating from a private high school. A THS diploma is a superb education. And your parents, by choosing not to send you to an costly private school, can save as much as $66,000 in tuition over four years—this is even before en-tering college. Wow!
Public Vs. PrivateDoes a bigger price tag mean a better education?
December 18, 2009
Viewpoint Pg. 21
December 18, 2009
Photo gallery
December 18, 2009
Happy Holidays from the Hi Spots
staff