Currently Browsing: In-Depth
More random freshmen gripes: cold, parents and education, in general
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Written by Miriam Levenson and Kaleigh Macleod, The Eagle Staff Reporters
Not to complain, but….
- Have you ever noticed how long our days become when school activities take over? It is pretty ridiculous, if you ask me. We got to school for 7 straight hours with only a 30 minute lunch break. After this, it’s off for 2 hours of intense sports practice. Now that you are all sweaty and gross, you get to take the PAT bus home! A ten minute car ride turns into an hour bus ride. Finally, you make it home, just wanting to eat, sit, and relax. Too bad, because next on your agenda is 4 hours of homework. This will most likely take up the rest of your night, leaving the only time left for bed. Students should not have to deal with this much stress for 180 days in a year for four years. Not only on school nights do we have this much homework, the weekends aren’t considered a “break” anymore. We need a vacation, and honestly, that break starts with homework.
- Winter equals cold. It’s common sense, but why can’t we adopt our world to stay warm during these hatred months? All winter leads to is unpredictable events, sickness, and many, many layers of clothes. There are many storms we never see coming and can’t clean up after. Schools must cancel class because of the weather. So what do the kids do on these so-called glorious days? We go outside, play and have a great time. Only to come inside and realize we can’t feel our fingers and toes, our noses are running, and we must take off all of our layers, which took hours to put on. Are these after-effects really worth the hour and half amount of fun?
*Parents. We all love them. They love us. Understood. However, I still can’t grasp the concept of protectiveness. Every move we make, they somehow appear there! If I say one thing wrong, it’s the end of the world. If I forget to text them when I get to my friend’s house, I’m grounded for life. Why? Is it because of love? Well, I want to know what happened to trust. They can’t save us from every mistake, every time. We need to make those mistakes by ourselves so we can learn from them and become better people. Right now, parents are like road blocks to us, placed on our way onto life.
–Miriam Levenson
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School. The idea is great, but the reality sucks. Just the word “school” often inspires groans and complaints. So why? Why is school looked down on as a horrible abomination to freedom? And why, exactly, is this a relatively new issue?
Back when school was strict and military, and students could be beaten for misbehavior, education was seen by students and teachers alike as indispensable and valuable. Now, with countless resources for learning and far less strict conditions, students are skipping class and whining about the workload.
Why? It’s the same as the reason why we no longer use horse-drawn carriages. It’s old-fashioned. But wait, you say, what about all the computers and technology now used in education? That, my friend, is like taking aforementioned horse-drawn carriages and installing a robotic driver with touchscreen controls. It’s simply using all this fantastic newfangled technology to do the exact same thing, and at the same speed. Youngsters like us don’t live at carriage speed anymore, and it’s about time school gets a 21st century upgrade just like everything else in the world. Teach us to live in the future, America!
-Kaleigh Macleod
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Currently Browsing: In-Depth
Joel Macklin: Is online poker really that bad?
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Written by Joel Macklin, The Eagle Staff Reporter/Editor
Remember back in the day when you hang with your friends, predicting things, and betting money? Well those were the golden days that are over now, or are they? Just like the cavemen, we adapted. This adaptation is called poker, which is illegal until you’re an adult. Although we have to wait to actually play for money but playing young and online improves your game tenfold.
Not only do you get to beat on adults in their mid thirties but you get an actually experience with playing real people. These people are nothing like computers, one moment they could be bluffing then the next they’d be playing tactfully.
You can really feel the rush of anticipation in Texas Holdem, the intensity of the card counter in Blackjack, or the smug grin of evil in the person who has the Queen of Spades in Hearts. Card games, gambling, and poker in general have been everywhere in every empire being passed down in the family tree which eventually brought it to America.
I don’t understand how some forms of poker are banned and how certain ages can’t gamble when this is a country made on gambling where the people threw in their lot with America and it somehow worked. It was the underdog endorsed by few but in the end, made the supporters rich beyond their dreams or anyone’s dreams.
Poker and gambling aren’t made for the elite who like to take advantage of the less skilled, but for people to enjoy themselves, have a good time, and maybe make some new friends all through one of the world’s favorite past times.
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Currently Browsing: Sports
1st person: Swimming for the team is rough, but worthwhile
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Written by Tommy Brewton, The Eagle Staff Reporter
Editor’s Note: Tom Brewton is a member of the swim team. Most people know that the dedication it takes to swim for the team means 6 a.m. practices. As Tom notes here, there are other highlights to practicing, as well.
When arriving at Obama Academy at 6:00a.m in the morning for swim practice, I would extremely appreciate it if the boys locker room didn’t reek with body-odor, the entire floor being covered with smelly water as well as the room being a sauna. This really wants me to stay on the swim team. Also, why is that all the other sport teams have received new sport equipment, while the swim team still has ancient Schenley equipment including old rope lines, flags, and even ancient used swimsuits. As a swimmer on the Obama swim team, this feels a bit unfair.
Although the Obama swim team is facing a few complications this year, the pro’s still outweigh the cons. First, being on the swim team is a great bonding experience. From going to morning swim practices this year and last year as well, let’s just say that I have gotten to know the other swimmers quite well. Besides it being a bonding experience, being on the swim team gets everyone in shape. From swimming two times on every week-day, my endurance level increases dramatically while in swim season. But the only way that getting in shape is possible for any of the swimmers on the team is from the great coaching of Coach Rauterkus. Evidence to prove the Mr. Rauterkus is a phenomenal coach is from the fact that his son was the only swimmer on the team who has gone to state’s these past two years.
I know that the swim teams locker conditions and the lack of new equipment is an issue that the swim team is facing this year, but these problems cannot compare to the overall enjoyment that the swimmers have from being a part on the team. Being an Obama swimmer is a great experience and I would recommend anyone who is interested in joining the team to go for it.
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Currently Browsing: News
Gloomy wintertime in Pittsburgh can bring “the blues”
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Written by Chloe Mobley, The Eagle Staff Writer
It’s that time of year again; when you wake up, it’s dark. Then when you leave school it’s dark. The winter blues are setting in.
I have always wondered about the depressing feeling of winter; especially after the holidays. To find out more information about I talked to Mrs. Kiesel, our school’s psychology teacher. The proper name is “Seasonal Affective Disorder”. It is caused by lack of sunlight.
Psychologists recommend using a sun lamp and sitting for fifteen to thirty minutes per day. Unfortunately, as students, I don’t think we will all go to the store and buy sun lamps. Mrs. Keisel says, “Go out and walk around, get some day light”.
So when you have the chance, soak up whatever daylight you can, because it might be a long winter!
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Currently Browsing: Student News
Where we come from, part 5: Polish Hill
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Written by Rachael Zielmanski, The Eagle Staff Reporter
Polskie Wzgo`rze is“Polish Hill” in polish. Polish Hill is a residential area that is the beloved home of one of Pittsburgh’s oldest and largest churches, Immaculate Heart of Mary. This neighborhood is bordered by Bedford Dwellings, Upper hill, North Oakland, Strip District, Bloomfield, and Lower Lawrenceville. Mostly all Polish immigrants settled here in the second half of the 1800’s. They primarily came here to work in the steel industry but, after World War II Polish Hill started to lose population. Now it is the home of a variety of people both in age and race. Over the years Polish Hill has become one of “hidden jewels” forgotten neighborhoods.
My Na Na and Dzia Dzia are from here and are involved in the community. My Dzia Dzia boxed for the West Penn Rec Center as a young man. The two of them got married in the beautiful Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and just celebrated their 51st anniversary in August. If you attend a Christmas mass there, you will hear Father Joe read in Polish.
Of course, back in the day this neighborhood had its own Catholic school called Immaculate Heart of Mary School. It was built long ago and closed its doors in 1997. Among the students that attended the school when it was open were my Dad and his two sisters.
I have lived in this quaint place my whole life. I won’t lie that Polish Hill has had its ups and downs but it’s my home. I still have memories of going down to Mr. Jerry’s market to get fresh meats and cheeses with my dad. Those memories will last a lifetime.
Home sweet home.
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Currently Browsing: News
Mrs.Hetrick to aid Empty Bowls Dinner
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Written by Ameret Pritchett for The Eagle
In Shadyside/Oakland the annual ‘Empty Bowl Dinner’ will be held on the 4th of December at the Sugar Café in Dormont.
Every day the ‘Empty Bowl Dinner’ will be serving dinner in hand made bowls from any potter, wheel throwers, and hand builders. That’s why they need potters, wheel throwers, and hand builders to help make bowls for the dinner and to give away as gifts.
And guess who answered the call? Obama Academy’s own potter, Mrs. Hetrick, the ceramics teacher. She and her students have been working on bowls to donate to the ‘Empty Bowl Dinner’.
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