“As long as you put in the effort, you cannot fail this class.” After a decade of teaching, the determination to better his students still runs strong.

Mr. O is a math teacher at Carter High School who teaches with passion and enthusiasm. He will often check in with the class to make sure they understand the questions being asked, which ensures everybody has a chance to comprehend the material. Originally from Bosnia, he moved to the United States in 1996: “It was nice. There were many coffee shops – good nightlife.” Mr. O wasn’t always a teacher though; he was formerly a software and electrical engineer. However, after working that job for so long, it took a toll on his body, so he began teaching at Carter High in 2015.

This was no problem for Mr. O though; he enjoys his job. When asked why he likes teaching, his response was simple: “I like to help people.” This answer is no surprise to anyone who knows him or has had him in class. Bryan Martinez, one of Mr. O’s students, had this to say: “He’s a chill guy and a helpful teacher.”

Mr. O teaches at Carter High School.

School dress codes are supposed to help students dress appropriately, but sometimes they can be unfair. But sometimes I believe that cater high school’s dress codes are unfair because they often target girls. More than one student should be able to follow the rules without feeling like the rules are only focused on certain students.

My number one reason is that dress codes are unfair because they often target girls more than boys and girls can have different rules about whether they’re allowed to wear them. This can make girls feel like they’re being watched or punished for their clothing. Rules should be applied fairly to everyone.

Another reason is that students may be  unfairly dressed coded for something that other students are allowed to wear. For example, girls can sometimes just get a dress coded for wearing something  that boys can wear without getting in trouble. Students should not feel like the rules are only applied to depending who they are.

Dress codes can often limit students’ freedoms to express themselves and should still be able to show their personality about following the appropriate school rules. Some students may even get caught up and they feel like they did something wrong.

Some people may argue that the dress codes are necessarily to help students stay focused and prevent stress. I understand that school wants students to focus, but the dress code can still be fair to all students to express themselves in school. Should have rules that apply equally to everyone instead of having expectations for boys and girls.

In conclusion schools, dress codes should be fair and respectful of students while also keeping clothing appropriately. These rules should apply to all students regarding what they’re wearing or whether they’re boys and girls. If the school wanted students to follow  the dress code, they should be more clear,  and also applied equally to everyone.

During homecoming Carter High School raises money from selling candy. Chocolate is the best candy to sell. A senior at Carter, Callie Palmer, says “Chocolate is better to sell than other candies because sometimes the sour will make my stomach hurt”. Callie thinks that the options are good for some people but she likes the chocolate better. Another senior, Charity Williams, says “I think the chocolate bars are the best. It’s what I buy the most of. When I get hungry it fills me up more than the other candies do.” In my opinion I would say having options is good but chocolate is the best. You have so many to choose from, such as milk chocolate, dark chocolate, ones with almonds or cameral, peanut butter, and much more. Most of them are packed with sugar in it which can help when you get sleepy during class. Chocolate can be relaxing, too, if you’re stressed. You can eat some during a test to calm your mind and give you a little relaxation. Callie and Charity both agree that chocolate is the best candy to sell during homecoming too.  Other people might like sour candies or even chewy candies but chocolate is the best. In conclusion, chocolate is the best and most selling candy at Carter High during homecoming due to the taste, relaxation and the variety. 

The ACT does not show how smart or unsmart a student is, it shows how well a student can handle overwhelming academic stress. For years students have been told that everything leads up to the ACT which causes mental breakdowns in students. The ACT test shouldn’t be required for high school students because it causes burnout, stress, and anxiety. 

The ACT test shouldn’t be required for high school students because it causes burnout, distress, and anxiety.

The ACT test is stressful for students but also some kids aren’t going to a university so it should only be required for students that are.

I think the issue is important because ACT tests are such a big deal in high school and teachers, principals, and counselors are constantly reminding students about a test that isn’t really that important.

According to this website ( insidehighered.com) it states that “ For many years advocates and scholars have fought against the use of standardized tests like the ACT.”

According to this website (sahsponyexpress.com) it says “ Due to the length and size of the test, many students suffer from fatigue, which can affect their scores.”

Jaqueline Turner class of 27 senior says “The ACT should only be taken if they need it for university.

People might say that the ACT prepares students for college and the real world, some might also say that the scores determine how smart you are.

A student’s four years of high school academic performance shows how smart a student is and the ACT does not.

In conclusion, making the ACT mandatory for high school students does more harm than good to their education. The intense pressure to get a good score on this test triggers severe anxiety and distress which leads to academic burnout. 

Some students already know the career they want to pursue, while others are still figuring it out. For students interested in law, law enforcement, psychology, or the criminal justice system, criminology could give them a chance to explore those interests while they are still in high school. Carter High School should add criminology as a class so students have more opportunities to learn about careers and subjects that interest them. 

Criminology would be useful because it could help students prepare for future careers. Students who are interested in becoming police officers, lawyers, judges, or working in other areas of criminal justice could learn more about the field before entering college or the workforce. Having a class that connects school to possible careers could help students understand what those jobs are actually like. 

Another reason Carter should offer criminology is because students have different interests. Not everyone enjoys the same classes or wants to follow the same career path. Carter makes students choose a pathway like cosmetology, engineering, nutrition, and more but none of which are any bit related to law. Adding criminology would give students another option and allow them to choose a class based on something they are genuinely interested in.

Criminology could also teach students useful information about crime and the justice system. Students could learn about why crimes happen, how investigations work, and how the justice system operates. 

Some people may argue that Carter should not add criminology because there might not be enough students interested in taking it, or because the school has limited resources for new classes. While not everyone would choose criminology, students who are interested in the subject should still have the opportunity to explore it as a pathway.

Adding criminology would give Carter students another way to explore their interests and think about their futures. For students interested in crime, law, or the justice system, criminology could be the beginning of a future career.

CHS is over 100 years old as of writing this. CHS’s Peyton Complex which is the current complex is from 1972 making the building 54 years old which is older than most staff. The Peyton Complex is inefficient compared to today’s standards with walking around, the Peyton Complex is also extremely aged at this point. The Peyton Complex also has multiple bug issues.

An example of the building’s aged, is the heaters. The heaters were manufactured by a company called “Chromalox” in the time between now and when these heaters were installed: “Chromalox’s” heaters were used in the Apollo missions to the moon in the Apollo Lunar Module, “Chromalox” was sold to a private-equity firm twice, and got sold to “Spirax-Sarco Engineering”.

An example of how inefficient the building is, is the pathway to get from The Katelyn Building (main office building) to the The Vocational Education Building; this pathway is extremely long. It’s length makes it take at the regular walking speed (3 MPH), 30 to 40 seconds whilst something like getting from the 1st to 3rd floor in The Katelyn building takes only 10 seconds.

The campus is practically known for having bug problems including, The left side of the gym has an entire ant nest inside of it, this is only one of the buildings, now imagine what the others could be like. This is a serious problem for staff and students because it can distract them from learning and cause sickness.

Now some people may say that the building is cost effective, but this is unfortunately not true. The Peyton Complex relies on outdated HVAC units which require strict maintenance, stretching the limits of their budget. This maintenance requirement is shown by the AC units constantly leaking water out of the sides of the building.

All in all, this shows that Carter High School should be torn down. In the end if it does get torn down a new building can take its place, maybe then kids will feel more happy to be here at school. 

Knox County Schools reports that 93% of its students graduate, but is the implementation of 865 Academies why? The district claims these academies – specialized career-based classes – ensure students become enrolled, enlisted, or employed post-graduation; Carter, following district instruction, enacted the academy structure during the 2023-24 school year. Henceforth, after their freshmen year, students must select a pathway within Carter’s two academies to enroll in for the rest of high school. 

Carter’s academies focus on broad careers, either technical or service-based, yet the pathways within are narrow: marketing, health science, nutrition, cosmetology, welding, automotive, and engineering are the only available choices. Undoubtedly, they are an excellent opportunity for interested students to initiate their careers; however, even uninterested students are mandated to select a pathway. This is not to say that pathways should be eradicated; rather, students should not be forced to select a pathway. 

Students interested in Carter’s academy selections will learn that the extensive titles are merely a mirage: the actual pathways are constrained, with only seven being between both academies. It is completely antithetical to shove disinterested students into specialized classes that require more time and resources when it could be better allocated to attentive students. 

Enforcing a pathway congests student schedules because they are required to take a minimum of three levels. If a student is unhappy with their initial pathway selection and changes it their junior year, they are still expected to complete three levels, which can conflict with classes required for graduation. Similarly, it could prevent students from enrolling in electives that would complement their career choice. Personally, I want to be an author so selecting English-based electives would better refine my skillset as opposed to marketing, my pathway.

Additionally, why is there insistence on every student enrolling in a pathway when there is no evidence to indicate they are successful? I am a part of the 2023-24 trailblazers of Carter academies and we have not yet graduated, so it is too soon to claim academy triumph. Bluntly, academies ensure “graduating students will be… relevant to the… local economy” as stated by the Knoxville Chamber. Subjugating students to a bureaucratic plan to blatantly produce more workers makes them more likely to resent the opportunity, not rejoice. Of course, there is always the argument that students, future adults, must engage with tasks they resent because that is how the ‘real world’ operates, and while students do need to develop discipline from such, we must also consider that adults in the proclaimed ‘real world’ also have the option to simply refuse their task on principle, whereas we do not.

Pathways are an amazing opportunity for genuine students, but their outreach should not require every student’s participation. Before pathways these classes existed because certain students enjoyed them, not all; the same sentiment needs to be applied to the academy model.

The bell rings, and students begin filling out of the classroom, ready to take on another day of high school. Among them is Travis Kerr, a sophomore at Carter High School, school bag in hand and a goal already on his mind: becoming valedictorian. 

For Travis, becoming valedictorian is more than just a title. It is a goal that will require him to stay focused and put in the effort throughout his entire high school career. He plans to work hard in his classes, maintain all A’s, and continue pushing himself academically. 

‘’I have goals and I’m putting in the work to achieve them,” Travis said during an interview. He explains how he took a good look at his grades in middle school and decided he wanted to get every award he could in high school including becoming valedictorian.

Travis knows that reaching the top of his class will not happen without dedication. He plans to continue trying his hardest for the rest of high school, even when his classes become challenging. By staying focused on his grades and putting effort into his schoolwork, he hopes to make his goal a reality. 

Travis’s determination has also caught the attention of his teachers. Mr. Berkley, one of Travis’s teachers, believes Travis has what it takes to accomplish his goals.

“100 percent Travis can accomplish that,” Berkley said during an interview.

With the support of his teachers and his own determination, Travis is ready to continue working on his grades and his overall self as a person so that he can represent a respectful and determined student. He understands that becoming valedictorian is a long-term commitment, but he is willing to put in the work one assignment, one test and one class at a time. 

A quiet morning at Carter High School, until the first class walks in, the hoods go down, and the sparks begin to fly. Mr. Sherrod the welding teacher here at Carter High School has a lot to say and plenty of experience to share. Mr. Sherrod has worked at Carter since December, of 2020. When talking to Mr. Sherrod, he said “ I’ve been welding my entire life”. Which he really meant 30 years. “My favorite thing is working with all the students here’’. There are many of things Mr. Sherrod could like it and he chooses working with all the students to be his favorite thing. That shows the amazing personality and characteristics he has. When asking him what his favorite type of weld was he took a while to answer.. “Stick welding has to be my favorite’’. Stick welding is a type of welding that uses a welding rod to create an electric arc. The heat from the arc melts the metal and joins two pieces together. During the summer Mr. Sherrod loves spending his time on the lake with his amazing family. During the winter he loves riding side by sides in the snow. Mr. Sherrod is an amazing teacher with a very nice personality. He does a lot for the kids at Carter and every student deserves a teacher like Mr. Sherrod. 

For some students, the crowded hallway makes simply getting to class frustrating. One student, a freshman named Hunter Benge, described the experience by saying, “It’s terrible, it’s like I have to push through a football team.” The comparison shows just how difficult it can feel to move through the hallway when large groups of students are gathered together.

The problem is not necessarily that students are walking to class, but where and how they are stopping. When students stand in the middle of the hallway to talk with friends, they can block other students who are trying to get through.

One possible solution suggested by Junior student Makayla is for students to keep moving instead of standing in the middle of the hallway. She suggested that students could “walk and talk” rather than stopping in the middle of the hallway. This could help create more space for students who need to get to class.

Another possible solution would be to have students walk around the outside of the hallway rather than forming large groups in the center. This idea was inspired by how students were required to move through the middle school hallway in seventh grade.

Although crowded hallways are a normal part of a busy school day, small changes in how students move and interact could make a noticeable difference. Keeping the center of the hallway clear and continuing to move could make it easier for everyone to reach their next class on time.