Babies are cute with their smiling faces, soft skin and tiny toes. But motherhood is not always so easy; it can be tiring, expensive and requires serious dedication. The U.S. Supreme Court decided in the 1973 Roe v. Wade case that all women have the right to choose whether to enter the life-long commitment that begins with childbirth. Legislation introduced in Congress in January would threaten this right, especially for low-income women, and would damage our nation's progress toward universal health insurance.
During their childhood days of playing games like capture-the-flag or touch football in the neighborhood park, most kids learn to work as a team to reach a common goal. But despite the enormity of the organized U.S. foreign policy effort, it seems that the country still needs to learn a basic rule of competition that any third-grader could tell you: Don't reveal your team's strategy to the opponent.
As soon as the weatherman predicts snow, children, teens and even some teachers start their snow-inducing rituals. In order to make the fluffy stuff come faster, they wear their pajamas inside out, flush ice cubes down the toilet and sleep with spoons under their pillows. But this winter, snow-loving residents of Montgomery County are going to have to step up their game if they really want a day off, because the new snow removal plan is going to get the streets clear and the school buses on their way faster than ever.
For the select students who have the privilege of representing Blair on one of its sports teams, athletics are a major highlight of the high school experience. But for many other students, devoting weeks to grueling tryouts only to be told that they aren't good enough to make the team can be a serious blow to their self-confidence and willingness to participate in physical activity in the future.
On Oct. 1, talking on a handheld cell phone device became illegal in Maryland. This law is intended to improve driver safety; however, since hands-free cell phone devices are still allowed, some believe the law will be ineffective in reducing crash rates.
MCPS may be one of the wealthiest school systems in the country, but that doesn't mean that it's perfect. Though its student failure rates may not be as large and discouraging as in school systems like District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), MCPS still neglects many demographics of its student population. Instead of ignoring struggling population groups and continuing unsuccessful instructional methods, MCPS should accept the applications for two new charter schools, thereby offering alternatives to standardized public school education.
The sun shines down on the field's freshly cut grass as two teams in different-colored uniforms line up in their formations. The players put on their game faces and dig their cleats into the ground. But as the opening whistle sounds and the first pass is made, both teams rush to the ball in what appears more like a battle than a soccer game. The only mediating force against the chaos of youth sports: junior Connor Dowd and his shiny whistle, signaling his position as referee.
Social studies teacher George Vlasits is a part of a county-wide anti-tracking organization that is attempting to halt the separation of students into ability-based classes. Academic tracking has been a fixture in the Montgomery County and state education systems for decades, but new evidence suggests that it may not necessarily benefit students.
The girls' varsity softball team (10-2) suffered its second loss of the season in a hard-fought struggle with a skilled, Poolesville Falcons team.
The girls' varsity softball team (10-1) defeated Quince Orchard Friday afternoon in an unnecessarily close game. Though Blair was clearly the more skilled team, a lack of concentration in the early innings forced them to make a significant comeback to secure the win.
The Blair varsity softball team (8 - 1) defeated Sherwood (7 - 1) for the first time in Blair history in a hard-fought team battle.
A stunning silence settles over the softball field while all attention centers on the pitcher's mound. The only thing to break this silence — the familiar whack of junior Eve Brown's fastball hitting the catcher's mitt as she completes her 48th strikeout of the season so far.
The girls' varsity softball team (7-1) lost their first match of the season to a strong Paint Branch team (7-0). Though the game remained close throughout, too many defensive mistakes and the subsequent loss of confidence led to Blazer defeat.
The Blair varsity girls' softball team (6-0) confidently defeated Bethesda - Chevy Chase (B – CC) to uphold their perfect record and tough reputation. Despite the low level of competition, the Blazers did well adjusting to the game while maintaining a high level of play.
The varsity baseball team lost their first game to a strong Walter Johnson team, despite exceptional hitting and skillful pitching. After maintaining a solid lead for the first five innings, the Blazers were unable to prevent a forceful Wildcat comeback in the top of the sixth inning.
Sitting day after day through her eighth grade French class, sophomore Sally Barth, like many foreign language students, found herself in a continuous state of confusion. As time ticked by slowly each class, Barth struggled to speak and understand a language which at times seemed no more than gibberish. But instead of continuing to slip, Barth took her foreign language education into her own hands. She got a pen pal.
The first 13 years of life are supposed to be a person's most fun and carefree years. Joe Sullivan had no such experience. By age 13, Sullivan had experienced repeated physical and sexual abuse, had endured living with a mental disability and was sentenced to a lifetime in prison without the possibility of parole. Now 33 and still in prison, Sullivan has missed out on a childhood. Like many other people sentenced to life as juveniles, Sullivan does not deserve to miss out on the rest of life as well.
Despite a hard-fought finish, the girls' varsity basketball team (4-6) was outplayed by Sherwood (6-4) for a close loss. With a slow start, the lady Blazers found themselves trailing throughout the game, finishing with a score of 47-54.
As computers have become an integral part of modern life, so have computer troubles. When trying to meet a deadline or praying to finish work during the wee hours of the morning to get some sleep, computer malfunctions can produce screams of frustration. Unfortunately, banging on the side of the computer or repeatedly clicking the "cancel" button just doesn't do the trick. Students in Blair's Cisco Academy, however, have learned to resolve computer problems without these angry outbursts.
Almost five years ago, sophomore Eni Bajrami left her childhood home in Greece and journeyed with her family overseas to a country she had only heard of in stories - the U.S. Like any immigrant, Bajrami had some initial anxiety about starting a new life in a completely foreign land. She knew nothing about what the future would hold for the prosperity of herself and her family.
Over 4,200 teens in the U.S. were killed in driving accidents in 2007. More than 400,000 teens were treated in emergency rooms for vehicle crash injuries the same year. And these already high numbers are on the rise.
Recent reports by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) show a decrease in graduation rates for Blair and MCPS for the 2008-2009 school year. Statistics by the MSDE show Blair's graduation rate declining from 84.53 percent in 2008 to 82.61 percent in 2009. Likewise, the MCPS graduation rate went from a high of about 93 percent in 2003 to 87 percent in 2009, the lowest graduation rate in 13 years.
Varsity football (1-4-0) suffered a disappointing 34-12 loss to Whitman at the latter's homecoming game. Playing in front of a sea of enthusiastic Viking fans in black and blue, the Blazers endured a crushing Friday night defeat.
Times are changing, and as technology advances, it makes sense that sports would follow suit. But when expensive technology, not hard work, creates new athletic records at the high school, collegiate and professional levels alike, competition is no longer fair.
Viewers will no longer mock those involved in the fashion industry after watching "The September Issue," a new documentary release which provides a comical, yet informative look into the production of Vogue Magazine's largest issue of the year.