Students' freedom of expression is under attack

By Charmaine S.

Are students of Peacock Middle having their freedom of expression inhibited? If you ask me, yes, and other people agree. "Not being able to show even a little flesh is becoming annoying" eighth grader Melissa Manley commented. Our freedom of expression is being interfered with when teachers insist that we remove make-up or jewelry, and we are not even allowed to spray our own hair a different color. Our parents should be the ones to decide what is appropriate, not the school. Are we being denied our first amendment right of freedom of expression? If you feel that we are, sign a petition that will be going around. If you don't sign it for yourself, sign it for the years of students that will come after you.

Teacher creates confusion with commas

By Rosa S.

Recently, the seventh grade class took an English test on punctuation. A sentence that we needed to correct appeared as follows: My brother Gregg is an accountant. We then had to place commas in the sentence or leave it as it was. I put commas after brother and Gregg. The sentence now read, "My brother, Gregg, is an accountant." I knew that you didn’t necessarily have to put these commas in, but I thought it was better to be safe than sorry. Plus, It didn’t sound incorrect to pause after brother and Gregg when saying the sentence out loud. After my test had been graded I noticed that Mr. Porumba marked my corrections wrong.

First of all, I am acknowledging the fact that no commas are really needed in the sentence, but a number of students (including myself) feel that just because two commas aren’t the best way to state this sentence doesn’t mean they aren’t right. You shouldn’t mark things incorrect when you feel they are wrong, you should mark things wrong by what is known to be wrong in all English books and in the English language etc. On page 626 in the seventh grade English book there are sentences that support my ideas. For example, this sentence appears under the heading "Commas with Appositives": Ms. Bell, our science teacher, will not be back. This is also a short sentence with a similar format: Joe, the boy in the blue shirt, is Al’s cousin. If you reverse the appositive you come out with this: The boy in the blue shirt, Joe, is Al’s cousin. This is the same kind of sentence as the one on my test and it has commas, so why can’t the other sentence have commas?

PDA's--How much is too much?

By Nicole S.

PDA- also known as public displays of affection. What exactly fits under this category? How many restrictions on public displays should there be, and where should the line be drawn--at holding hands, hugging, kissing? Some people really do not care what others do in public. There are other people, however, who believe that these affectionate displays should be strictly private. How do you feel about this issue? Here are opinions from some members of the Peacock community:

Jenna G.

There should be a certain limit on PDA. Kids shouldn’t be making out in the hall. No kissing, just holding hands, and arms around each other. I understand that this is a "place of work" but we’re kids, not adults. There should be certain restrictions for certain situations.

Mrs. Leiken

We all need to keep in mind that the key word here is "public" display of affection. It should be acceptable to everyone and not offend anyone. You shouldn’t do anything in public that would offend your Grandma - or worse yet, your partner's Grandma.

The way you choose to behave is a reflection on you. Many people will also say it’s a reflection on your family and your upbringing. Either way, the school environment is a business-like environment. It is a student’s workplace. Just as hugging, hanging on each other, kissing, and holding hands, and other such private behaviors are not acceptable in your parents’ workplace, the same standard applies at school. The distraction can be far too great for most students.

PDA could also be an issue of respect. Self-respect for the one who allows the other to treat him/her in a potentially embarrassing way, or respect for each other behaving in a way that honors the other person.

Mr. Anderson

I feel that it is very distracting in certain situations, whether it is in the classroom or the hallway. It makes others feel uncomfortable. School should maintain an atmosphere of learning. There is a time and a place for PDA. It’s a rule in the student handbook and it should be followed.

Zareena

I think everyone needs to chill out. It is not that big of a deal, unless of course they are all over each other and it’s during class.

Emily A.
It depends where you are and who you are with. If you are in a house or a secluded place with your friends or with other people who don’t really care, it’s fine, but if you’re in a public place or in front of people you don’t know well, or adults, cool it.

Beth D.

PDA isn’t always good but people tend to take it to an extent! I mean holding hands, hugging ? that’s not bad, but too much more is a little extreme. Personally, I think if people don’t want to see it, they just shouldn’t look.

Elaine K.

I think that PDA should be allowed to a certain degree. For instance, holding hands, hugging, and walking your girlfriend/boyfriend and to class isn’t really showing you affection in a strong way. Kissing or making out is a different story, along with certain gestures.

Charmaine S.

My point of view on PDA is that it is a form of expression and it should be allowed. Some say fighting is a form of expression too, but it shouldn’t be allowed, because when you fight, you’re harming another individual. PDA doesn’t offend me and if it offends you, just look the other way.