"WE'RE NOT GONNA TAKE IT!"

"I have a dream," says SET sophomore Rhianna McCollum, "and it doesn't include having all my constitutional rights taken away when I'm in school."

SET Sophomore Rhianna McCollum -
Is she standing up for your rights?
Or is she a rebel without a cause?
Post your comments below.

Students aren’t allowed to use the school bathrooms without some form of ID. Students aren’t allowed to question authority… What happened to our first amendment rights? Our freedom of speech is limited once we enter this environment. The students' choices are constrained by what the administrators want. The students are not allowed to eat food in class even if we are working effectively. Well, what are we allowed to do?

The students of JFK are not treated in a mature manner. Our peers don’t have any form of input. Our freedom and rights are being taken. I say it’s time for us to use our constitutional rights to our advantage, and stop letting administrators go overboard with their authority. In the words of Martin Luther King, “We refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation.” Nevertheless, we students are still robbed of our rights because we can only do what we are allowed. By cooperating, we students are enabling the choices the administrators make.

How about we stand up and speak our mind? The students have a lot of anger inside, how about we express it? We no longer want to be sycophants. It feels like 1963 all over again when Martin Luther King was demanding justice. When he had a dream, this isn’t what he was expecting. I say it’s time to speak up. Our words will give us power! We can make history. Students have say so. Its time to speak up if we want to make a difference!

Editor's note: The sentiments expressed in this blog post are solely those of its author, and do not represent any revolutionary philosophy being taught in class. Rhianna is expressing her first amendment rights to freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Do you agree or disagree? Teachers? Administrators? Students? Family members? 

STARRY, STARRY, STARRY KNIGHT IN FORECAST FOR NEXT FRIDAY

AYSHA HOOD,
Senior Entertainment Correspondent

HEY GUYS, JUST LETTING YOU KNOW that this year’s talent show is creeping up behind us! That’s right, a new person will be crowned the winner as Elonda Rivera, last year’s talent show winner, passes down the torch. The date is set for February 8^th, 2013, right after school. The prices are $7.00 for adults, $5 for kids. CHEAP!

Justin Melendez is just one of a cast of thousands ready
to entertain us next Friday night.
Justin says, "Be there or be square!"

I know what you’re thinking, “I have to pay!” Well, see, the money is for a good cause, half is going to the dramatic program and half the money is going to senior fees. Winner gets $100, 2^nd place gets $75, and 3^rd place gets $50. For more information, please go to Ms. Wymer who is in charge of this great event.

Please take some time, relax, enjoy the talent, which this school has plenty of; watch a comedian, a beat boxer, and fantastic singers and dancers. A Starry Knight will also feature an acapella group whose name is still in the process, but by the time the talent show comes there will be a name. Help out for a worthy cause—and you’ll have a great time in the process!

Editor's note: Will you be performing in the show? Do you plan on coming? Do you have additional information that the rest of us need? Comment below.

JFK MOURNS ERICA JORDAN

Students and teachers in STEM and throughout JFK were shocked this week to learn of the tragic passing of Erica Jordan. Below is a remembrance from Ms. Nye, who had been Erica's Journalism teacher.
Each of us mourns a loss in our own way. If you would like to make your thoughts or feelings known in this public forum, please email them to Mr. Goffman: goffmanteacher@gmail.com.

Erica Jordan

During the 2011-2012 school year, Erica was staff writer for The Torch. Her inquisitive nature and heartfelt search for justice led her to write stories about triumph and struggle. She partnered with Nicole Fattorusso, STEM freshman, to write about STEM senior Amir Budhai who was accepted to Columbia University. I still remember her excitedly saying, “That can’t be. He’s only 15.” She returned from the interview enthusiastic and ready to write the front-page story.

Dedicated to her work in journalism, Erica would frequently spend her lunch period in the Journalism lab. Sometimes she would finish her work; other times she would Google random facts and ask our opinion on the latest controversy. When the Trayvon Martin case hit the media, Erica read countless articles, opinions and worked hard on formulating her own thoughts on the case of alleged racial profiling.  Always fighting for the underdog, she wrote an opinion piece for The Torch that reminded readers to remember all the shooting victims. I can only imagine her reaction to the Newtown, CT. massacre.

As I reflect on Erica’s energy and vivaciousness, I picture her sitting at her computer, forever fighting with her to remove the ear buds. “But I concentrate better,” she would always say. Sometimes she would be moving to the music, wrapped up in her world.

But in the end, Erica did her work and did it with excellence.

In September, I had my final conversation with Erica. She came to the journalism lab asking to be part of the Journalism III class. I knew something wasn’t right. She told me she had difficulty breathing and wasn’t feeling well. She was going to see her guidance counselor about changing her schedule to take journalism.

Then I heard that she had lapsed into a coma and I would not see that beautiful smile in my class again. When I learned of her passing, I shed tears at the life cut short. But, I began to collect her stories, student reflections of her life and finally, I wrote my own. In the end, we celebrate a life well lived, a life that touched others with compassion, thoughtfulness and love. Those of us who knew Erica are enriched by good memories. All of us are reminded of the brevity of life and the importance of making it count.

Lories Nye-Slockbower

GREAT TEACHERS

What makes a great teacher?

Education Policy Correspondent
Christopher Rodriguez

To me, there are many qualities that make a great teacher. It’s not always about what the teacher covers in class. It’s more about their ability to deal with children and teens.

         Today teachers need to be able to have patience with students. You have to be able to sit one on one with the students and give them hands on learning. There are some great teachers in this school who have that ability. Others don't. They are quick to lose patience with students if they don’t understand things, and refuse to accept the fact that some students take a longer time to understand things that they are learning.

         Another quality a teacher should have the ability is to listen. I think teachers should be able to hear students out on their opinion of the subject, that way if the student has any further questions, you can give a clear answer to the student without further confusing them.

  Editor's Note: This is one in a series about the qualities of great teachers. Do you have an outstanding teacher who knows just how to help kids learn? Leave a comment below.

BOOK(S) REVIEW

Heaven, Hell and Hades: A Fantasy Trilogy by Alexandra Admoretto

Thahia Begum-Monim,
            JFKTorchBlog Literary Critic

Reading books is my escape from the real world. When reading books while I’m upset it becomes my personal therapy. Fantasy books are my favorite books. I know people would think that I read these books because I believe in fantasy things, but I would say I know the difference between what is real and what isn’t. I read these books to entertain myself.

I have read my most of my favorite books. Some of my favorite books are the Halo series. It has 3 books Halo (Halo, #1), Hades (Halo, #2) and Heaven (Halo, #3) by Alexandra Admoretto I remember every detail of these three books because all of them were amazing. The reason I am attracted to these types of stories is because I am a fan of romanticism.

            The books are about a girl who is an angel and she was sent to earth on a mission. In no time she falls in love with an amazing boy who fell for her as well, and then the complications start. In all three books their love grew for one another. Bethany’s and Xavier’s love connection was amazing. If one gets hurt the other one felt the pain as well. They went through hell and heaven. But no matter what they didn’t give up on each other.

            My favorite part from Halo was the time when Beth told Xavier that she is an angel. It was the way the writer explained how Beth showed her wings to Xavier. I imagined the scene in my head of Beth flying, and Xavier was scared that Beth would fall down. However he told her that no matter what she is, he still loves her. My favorite part from Hades was the way Xavier went to Hell and saved her. Nevertheless my favorite part from Haven was, the part when heaven took her away from him; this scene was so heartbreaking. To be back with Xavier she had to give up her angelsite.

            In my opinion these books are really good to read on a vacation. 

Editor's Note: Do you agree or disagree with Thahia's review of these Halo books? Post a comment below. Is there a book you would like Thahia to review? Or would you like to contribute a review of your own? Get in touch with Mr. Goffman at goffmanteacher@gmail.com, or with any student in Journalism 1.

JFK PETS AND THEIR PEOPLE

Crurel Penn,
Lifestyle correspondent

 This is the first post in a continuing series about animals, and the JFK people they love. Some are cute and cuddly, some are big and some are small – and the pets are nice too. The relationships between people and their pets are powerful and important, and they tell us a lot about those people. The statements and special memories that JFK people share about their animals deserve recognition.

Mr. and Mrs. Rios

Snowy, the Rios' kitten who doesn't like scary TV shows.

The Rios' first cat, five-year-old Bentley.

Mr. and Mrs. Rios have two cats, Bentley and Snowy. They've had Bentley for five years, and he used to fight a lot. Then they got Snowy, who has been in their lives for three months. Snowy sits at the kitchen table like a human and watches TV but turns her face when something scary pops up. 

Editor's note: Do you have a pet you would like to show the world? Let lifestyle correspondent Crurel Penn know by leaving a comment here, or email Mr. Goffman at goffmanteacher@gmail.com