Prejudice is real and dangerous
By Maggie F.

Prejudices... Think about it. What comes to your mind? First, white people being mean to black people. That is not all there is. A lot of people do it all the time. Making fun of other people because they are different. I think that it is very wrong, but everyone does it without thinking about it. Some people take it seriously and think no one likes them because they are different. They want to move away or not go to school ever again.
Some people think this is not a big deal, but I think it is. If you are someone who is made fun of, go talk to our school counselor, Dr. West, or the principal, teachers, or even your parents. I know how it feels. Just remember, if you read this article, that I will be your friend, and others will too. And if you want to keep it a secret, tell a good friend who will listen. I hope this changed the way you think about prejudice. Just writing it changed the way I thought.

Email The Charger about this story.

You are luckier than you think
By Christina S.

Picture this--It's the year that the television set is invented. You are not wealthy, so you can't afford one, but you would give anything in the world to have one.
Picture this--It's the year that the portable c.d. player is invented and you would give anything to own one. You really don't need it, but it's the latest thing and all of your friends have one, so you just have to get one for yourself.
Picture this--It's the year that the first passenger air flight is made. You are dying to try it out, but you can't afford it. You can't even afford a one way ticket.
I know what you're thinking, "But I can afford it", or "I'm not that old." Well, I bet that you can afford what you want and you'll probably get what you want too, but do you ever think of how lucky you are? Just think, if you were born during the time of the first TVs and you couldn't afford one--you would do anything to have one, right? When you do get it, you watch it for a few days, but something new comes out a few days later. You just spent all your money on that TV and now you want the new "latest" invention, whatever that may be. What you didn't do is think about all the people who are still working hard to get their first TV.
People today never even think about how fortunate they are. Everyone reading this article has probably flown, or has a TV, or a stereo system, and your families probably own their own home and one or more cars. And you're probably still not satisfied!! I know that we all have taken one or two things for granted in our lives, that's o.k., but we need to try to be satisfied with what we have. Have you ever thought about where you would be without electricity or a roof over your head?
I know that you're probably bored right now and most of you have probably stopped reading, but if you're still reading, think about this--WILL YOU DIE WITHOUT THE LATEST THING ON THE MARKET? I thought not!

Email The Charger about this story.

Too much paper is wasted at Peacock
By Jeff R.

Every day here at Peacock, a lot of paper needlessly run off on the copy machine is thrown away. In Advisory, fliers are passed out to each student, and most people just toss them on the floor or recycle them. Although recycling is basically good for the environment, it is better to conserve paper in the first place. Only one or two copies of certain fliers should be copied for each Advisory if most people won't read them. For example, a flier for ballet class would not appeal to everyone, and so should not be copied as much.
Another large waste of paper is the late bus passes. The office has to copy sheets of these passes each day and cut them out so that everyone can bring them to the bus driver, who then tosses them in the trash. It would be reasonable to copy these passes if only certain students were eligible to receive them, but all students can get one from the office. So the only thing the pass tells the bus driver is that you are from the school. Therefore, the only purpose of the passes is to prevent non-Peacock students from boarding the bus. Since the possibility of a stranger sneaking onto the bus is highly unlikely, I think these passes are a waste of paper.
I am aware that it is the bus company who requests that these passes be used, but maybe the school could make an arrangement to stop using them. It may not seem like that much of a waste of paper per day, but throughout an entire school year, it adds up.

Email The Charger about this story.

We need a new cafeteria
By Bryan C.

I think that this school needs a new cafeteria. I think that every vending machine should go except the vending machine with the chips and candy. The new cafeteria will serve hot lunch every day. The lunchroom can serve pizza, tacos, burgers, mac and cheese, soup, pasta, and etc. All of these foods will be made in a kitchen in the back. The new cafeteria can also include ice cream, Jell-O, chips, candy, etc. The great thing about this cafeteria is that everything is not stuffed in a dirty vending machine. I believe that a new cafeteria would be great!

Email The Charger about this story.

Lawsuit decision is unjust
By Scott P.

In the news recently, a woman by the name of Rachael Barton was awarded $30 million in a lawsuit against Metra, the commuter rail service of Chicagoland. After reading over all the facts, I came to a conclusion: This trial was a travesty to justice. Here are the facts, according to the Chicago Tribune:
Rachael Barton was an excellent violin player. She was returning home on the Metra-Union Pacific North Line on January 16, 1995. She was carrying four items over her left shoulder: her purse, her 17th Century Amati violin (in its case), her backpack and a food pack. As she was getting off the train, her violin case shifted. A conductor looked down the train (from a few cars down) to see if anyone was in the way of the doors. He saw Barton, but not the violin case, still inside. He closed the doors and Barton's violin case strap was caught in the doors. She screamed for help, but no one heard her. As the train started moving, Barton slipped beneath the train car. The wheels severed part of one leg and maimed the other leg. She will be paralyzed for the rest of her life.
But in court, Barton and her attorney were asking Metra for a whopping $593 million in damages. The jury whittled it down to about $30 million. But in my opinion, Barton shouldn't have gotten more than compensation for her medical expenses.
Think about it - why couldn't she have consolidated four bags into two? And those bags kept her attached to the train. If she had only one or two bags, Barton could have easily slipped out of the straps. Also, it was her fault for dawdling in the doorway. She should have known that train doors shut quickly. The Chicago Tribune states that, according to her, Barton was a frequent CTA train rider.
But no. Ms. Barton brings four clunky bags onto a train, stands in a train car doorway for too long, and blames the train company for it. And what happens? Metra and Union Pacific cough up $29.6 million. And train tickets' prices may be jacked up. Innocent commuters may have to pay for one slow lady.
Does this sound like justice to you?

Email The Charger about this story.

Dancing in Gym?
By Mary W.

What do you think of the fact that all Peacock students have to learn formal dancing in gym class? Do you think it is fair that students are graded on their dancing?

I thought dancing was o.k. But there is not much purpose to it. But if we have to dance it should be to the music we like and we use when we dance. I don't think dance should be graded because some people don't have the talent to dance as well as others. - Liz F.

Dancing was fun because it was something the girls enjoyed. Learning to dance swing was fun. We had a contest at the dance and since we knew how to swing it was better. It should be graded because if it isn't people will goof off more, so it's a lesson to them.- Emily S.

I thought dancing in gym was sort of fun. But it shouldn't be graded. - Andrew S.

I thought dancing was o.k. because we got to dance with the guys that wouldn't want to dance with us. We weren't allowed to pick are own partners. It shouldn't be graded because some people can't dance like others can. - Tracy F.

Dancing was boring but still fine because we were still able to socialize. I don't think dancing should be graded because it's dancing and because everyone hates it, so they goof off and get an F. - Abby W.

I didn't like dancing, it was so boring. We should be able to pick are partners. I don't think dance should be graded; everyone hates it so they get a D or an F. - Kristen P.

Dancing in gym was OK. Because some people liked it but others didn't care. It shouldn't have been that much of a grade. The dance was better because it took up part of the time when we had a contest of swing dancing which we learned in gym. - Mike M.

It made the dance better because people knew how to dance and they weren't afraid to try it. I think that they shouldn't spend that much time on dancing though, they should spend more time on basketball. It shouldn't be graded because it's dancing. - Mike D.

I believe dance is important, because it teaches social skills, along with aspects of rhythm and creativity. I believe, despite early apprehensions, kids really do have fun. It is also part of the state curriculum guidelines in Illinois. - Mr. Anderson

Email The Charger about this story.