No more books!
By Bryan C.

Hey Students! Do you ever get tired of hearing teachers nagging us about why we carry so many books? Even if we do change our backpack in the middle of the day, it can get pretty heavy.
Also, I hate how teachers always say that we'll get back problems if we carry all these things.
Hey! It's not our fault. You're the ones that gave us the books.
I think there is a way to solve this problem. We should replace our books with computers.
In the beginning of the year, our advisory teachers would give us a disk, and inside would be all the files for all our classes.
In every classroom on the desks would be computers, and the teachers would just tell us to put our disks in and open the file on chapter one.
If we had homework, all we would need to do is put the disk in our home computers and open up to that file.
This is a great idea. And the computers for the desks wouldn't even need to be that expensive. We can forget about books, pencils, paper and notebooks.
I think this idea would benefit both teachers and students.

Email The Charger about this story.
Translate this story.

Don't you think we need more space between our lockers?
By Samantha C.

When we go to school and go by our lockers we get pushed around and screw up our locker combinations. Or, we have to wait to get into our locker.
"I think we need more space between our lockers," said sixth grader Marina L.
By the time we finish putting our things in our locker we have too little time to get to our next class. I think we need extra space by our lockers.

Email The Charger about this story.
Translate this story.

Great America, advisory policy, and backpacks all in one
Editor gets scoop on the big questions
By Michele B.,
Copy Editor

Have you heard about the Great America issue or does it seem like advisory will never end?
Lately there have been three major complaints in the eighth grade: the Six Flags trip and its possible cancellation, the new advisory policy that restrains you to the same teacher for three years, and finally, overweight backpacks and their affect on everyone.
Some may find these insignificant, but in fact they are important enough for much administrative discussion. When interviewed, Dr. Nickisch had a definite opinion.
First off, everyone should know that the Great America trip is still extremely possible! YEA!
Surveys show that most teachers have no opinion in the matter because it won't affect them; but remembering the kids they will always say, "Yes . . . let them have it." (Anonymous)
The deciding factor isn't the teachers though, or Dr. Nickisch. The decision does not belong to the superintendent either, but to us.
Student Council will, later in the year, present a couple of alternatives such as the unpopular "Disney Quest" or "Magic Waters." It is the responsibility of all to vote and the faculty will respect our vote.
There is no doubt in my mind that we will go to Six Flags anyway, no matter how Dr. Nickisch tries to discourage it.
The trip was rumored to be canceled in the first place because he feels that we need something unique. "Great America is something you can do anytime," said Dr. Nickisch. He does have a point, however vague.
In short, Dr. Nickisch wishes there was something more to this trip, something special. What he doesn't realize is that, in its own way, Great America is special.
The excitement, the rides the great times with our friends, it sure does make good memories of our last days at Peacock.
3000 hours with the same teacher? The new advisory policy restrains us to the same room for three years! Dr. Nickisch is happy to explain the reasoning behind this.
Picture a sixth grader coming to a new school and trying to remember the names of so many new teachers in a new and different place.
Now picture that this bewildered student can meet with one teacher, every morning that he/she can relate to and communicate with. This, according to Dr. Nickisch, is a process that takes more than a week, more like a quarter or more.
Therefore, doesn't it save time not to go through this process each year?
Then again, what if it just doesn't work out? It wouldn't be right to just walk up and say, "I don't like you, I'm switching advisories."
What about variety? Even the most popular teacher can become very annoying. All in all, students would like to have this policy changed.
Do overweight backpacks mean future back problems? The third and final major complaint is backpacks. Dr. Nickisch commented, "the bags weigh more than the kids do, and I don't find that necessary."
He is right about the first part, our bags are just too heavy; but all the stuff in them is necessary.
The only real secret to a lighter bag is lockers. "Use 'em." Even if it means rushing from one side of the building to another, Peacock isn't all that big.
It is obvious that our backpacks are way overweight, something must be done.
Great America, advisories, and backpacks are the three most nagging complaints right now.
Don't go out there and just criticize without doing anything, do something about it. Remember, "If you have no will to change it, you have no right to criticize it."

Email The Charger about this story.
Translate this story.

Dress code dilemma
By Allie G., Correspondent

Depending upon where you live, everyone usually wears one thing during the summer. No, I'm not talking about bathing suits, dresses, or capris. I'm talking about shorts.
At my school in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, there is a dress code about shorts. They must go to the tip of your middle finger when your arm is extended down your side.
If you break the rule you get a warning, then a phone call home, then an in-school suspension. You also can't wear a lot of different tops.
Anyway, there was a girl who wore a pair of shorts to school that were a little too short. I don't know her name.
This girl was a straight "A" student and she never got in trouble. In class, she was sitting down and her shorts were a little crumpled.
Her teacher asked her to stand up. She did so and just when she was about to pull her shorts down a bit, her teacher said, "Leave your shorts. Don't touch them. Report to the principal's office immediately. I will let them know you're coming."
As the girl walked down to the principal's office, she followed her teacher's instructions and didn't touch them, because she was too honest.
When she got there, the principal took one look at her and called her teacher down. Her teacher told her story, while the girl stood there in a amazement, thinking "How can this be happening to me?"
They measured her shorts and they were an inch too short, and they weren't pulled down. The girl got a three-day suspension and there was nothing anyone could do to change their minds.
This was very unfair. Yes, there is a limit to how short shorts should be, but this was just wrong. I hope in the future that they will think about what they are doing.

Email The Charger about this story.
Translate this story.

Mad about lunchtime
By Ashley C.

Our school needs more microwaves, better vending machines and more lunchtime.
We need more microwaves because when you're trying to heat something up, you're waiting in line for about five minutes.
We need better vending machines because sometimes the food gets stuck in the slots, and we need more food in the vending machines because we want more choices.
We need more lunchtime because most of us aren't even done with our food when time is up. That gets a lot of us mad.

Email The Charger about this story.
Translate this story.

Survival tips for a sixth grader
By Kaitlyn L.

If you're thinking I'm in sixth grade what to do what to do,
Here are some tips to really help you through.
I'm sure the first thing you really want to hear,
Is gym and what is happening this year.
Remember to bring your uniform if not it's a sin,
Because you'll have to wear a rental and you don't know where that's been!
Math is everyone's favorite we all know that,
Square root of seven, rounding or exact.
Don't forget your spiral because it is definitely used,
And make sure that you do your homework if not you'll be accused!
Social Social Studies but please don't talk out loud,
Because if you do people will think you're a clown!
Science, the truth is out there, go get it don't wait,
And no matter what you do, don't ever be late!
Language equals writing, writing equals fun,
But don't ever leave the class without your work done
The favorite time of day is lunch, eat, eat, eat,
That is, if you can even find a seat!
Recess is short but no need to complain,
Because not only is it crazy it's insane!
But other than these problems school is okay,
Considering you've got to like it you have it everyday.
Follow these tips, and don't worry so much,
Because everyday you have something to look forward to Lunch!

Email The Charger about this story.
Translate this story.

Local chiropractor gives backpack tips to ease back strain
By Amanda B.

I interviewed a chiropractor named Nancy Cannon. Dr. Cannon knows what to do about the backpacks we have to deal with. She offered the following wonderful tips.
#1: Do not wear your backpack on one shoulder.
This can cause serious permanent damage. Unless you want to have a spine that looks like a question mark, I would STRONGLY advise you to use both shoulders to carry your backpack.
It will relieve the pressure and stress of the weight that is being put on your back; this will also help you stand straight up instead of almost being able to touch the ground.
#2: Do not put all your books in your backpack at the same time.
This is just plain stupid. Use common sense people! This tip is mainly for those new sixth graders who still have not figured this out yet, or for those seventh and eighth graders who are incredibly slow.
Go to your locker in the morning before school starts, get your books for the classes you have before lunch.
Then, at lunch get rid of those books and get the books you need for your afternoon classes. And, if you choose, you may also want to put the books you've used already away when you are in the hallway and you pass your locker.
Too much weight can damage your muscles and spine. Did you know that for every one lb. you carry, it's like 10 lbs. on your spine?
I didn't think so.
#3: Try to carry some of your books in your arms.
This will take some of the pressure off your spine. If you don't, you may end up with a back problem named scoliosis. Scoliosis is an extreme, sideways curvature of the spine.
You can also increase the rate of degeneration of the spine, and you may grow up to have a very painful hump on your back.
#4: If you're carrying books in your arms, carry them directly in front of you.
That is, not to one side like girls from the 6O's or down on one side like the guys from the 6O's. Doing this will just hurt and damage your muscles.
So in the future you won't be able to throw a football as well as you should, or throw a baseball as well either.
#5:Try not to have more than 10 - 12 lbs. in your backpack and on your back.
Remember, 1 lb. is equal to 10 lbs. So try to keep your backpack light, carrying your books in your arms.
Those are the best tips I have for you, they will help you out a lot.
If you don't even try these tips than you will most likely, end up with really bad scoliosis, spinal degeneration, and you won't be able to throw a football for beans.
Well, don't worry, I don't mind if you don't heed my words. I can also put you in contact with Dr. Cannon, I'm sure she won't mind trying to help ease the pain in your back.

Email The Charger about this story.
Translate this story.