Vending machine price increases are outrageous

By Scott P.

I, as well as many other Peacock students, are outraged at the price increases in the food machines downstairs in the careteria. I have talked to many people, and not many of them are happy about it. The part that most eats away at me is the price hike in the soup machine. The price for a dinky can of soup went from 60 to 85 cents. But it is not just the price increase in soup that students have noticed. Seventh grader, Ryan Drennen sometimes uses the machines downstairs for items ranging from a bag of chips to an ice cream sandwich. "The prices should be lowered," he recently commented. "A 25 cent increase is too much."

In fact, I asked Mr. Peel for his input on the situation. "It's all because of inflation," asserted the 7th-grade social studies teacher. With all due respect, however, I would say that a 5 cent increase is inflation. But if you jump a quarter higher on 60 cents, that is about a 40 percent increase. That is more than inflation, that is robbery! Robbery of Peacock students' and employees’ money.

I also discussed the situation with another seventh grader, Jeff R. Jeff said: "I'm outraged. But I'm buying lunch anyway." That is what gets me cheesed. Kids who think they cannot do anything about it. But, if you have ever been in Mr. Peel's class, you have heard the stories of the slanted stairs and gas lantern on his front lawn and his tactful remedies to get them fixed. I say, heck! If one man can do it, just think what a whole school can do!

Personally I'm boycotting the food machines. I know other people are doing different things, such as passing around petitions. But what if you still want soup for lunch? You can go to Jewel (or any other grocery store) and get a can of soup double the size for about 50 cents. "But I still want chips for lunch." You can get small bags of chips for a quarter. Milk only costs a nickel downstairs. So next time you want to have lunch from the machines downstairs, fine with me. You're only wasting your money.

Proven correct on the subject of new uniforms for girls basketball team

By Melissa M.

My previous editorial (October 1997) has been proven correct. The boys basketball team received new uniforms this year, while the girls basketball team played in their old uniforms. To all of you who told me I was wrong after my previous article, well, guess what - you were wrong.

What qualities do you think a president needs to be effective?

A president should be intelligent and honest, and be able to convince people to follow him. On the one hand, it doesn't matter if he lies about his personal business, on the other hand though, if he can lie about personal matters, will he also lie about public questions?
Emily Anderson, 8th grade

I suppose a president should be intelligent and have leadership ability, but the main thing is that he can get the job done. Some people are mean and some aren't, but both kinds of people can get the job done, it just depends on the individual.
Pat Herman, 8th grade

A president should behave morally, but either way, he has to address the country's problems, and if he does at least this much, the public must in turn support him.
Kurt Maes, 8th grade

A president should be a nice person, but also a person capable of standing up for himself.
Puja Dave, 8th grade

A president should be honest. He or she shouldn't lie to us, particularly about what is happening in other countries.
Amber Stoesser, 8th grade

A president needs to be a good leader, and he also needs the support of the public to be able to do his job.
Blake Hughes, 8th grade

A president needs to concentrate on his job and not fool around.
Travis Buffo, 8th grade

A president should be an intelligent person as well as a moral leader for the country.
Jenna Gianneschi, 8th grade

We need new drafting equipment

By Kristin Swanson

A positive change that is needed in Peacock is an upgrade in the industrial technology room. We need new desks and chairs. I am not the only student who feels this way. The industrial technology teacher, when asked about this subject, said, "I have looked at drafting chairs, but they are expensive." The current drafting tables and stools are estimated to be around twenty years old. They are also very uncomfortable and difficult to work on. New chairs should including padding and back supports. Drafting chairs with these features can cost from $120 to $150 each. However, for now we can only hope for new drafting tables and chairs in the future.