Thursday, Dec. 30, 2004 | 9:14 a.m.
Students from many high schools tackled such thorny issues as nutrition in schools, education reform and achievement testing, but one of the most heated topics was the controversy over schools instituting dress codes. Since the uniform issue has been such a huge focus for the past couple of months by the media and in the schools themselves, students wasted no time addressing this topic.
Many argued that uniforms do not allow students to express their individuality, meaning that teenagers as well as younger kids will have more confidence if they're allowed to wear what they want. One Liberty High School student, nevertheless, disagreed with this view, saying that uniforms eliminate stereotyping, strike a happy median, and "prepare teens for the real world."
In my view, many individuals can adapt to uniforms -- it just takes time to get used to them. Still, does imposing a dress code make us or break us?
As expected, students were also concerned with the new nutrition plan in schools. A student from Foothill High School said that meats and protein are important, but some athletes, after-school club participants and others who stay after school until 5 p.m. almost every day believe they cannot survive on just salads or healthy foods, that they need sweets and caffeine.
I believe that, instead of pressuring students into this new nutritional plan, students should be provided with a healthy alternative while still having the option of buying junk food if they want.
It also should be noted that since the new nutrition plan has been in effect, clubs such as student council, key club and others -- that relied on candy and soda sales for part of their funding -- now can't tap these as sources for dances, school activities, etc. So if clubs are losing these sources of funds, the schools are losing money as well. Therefore, extracurricular activities survive day to day on "pennies."
The most controversial topic of the day included a discussion of the No Child Left Behind Act. Many believed that the act does not affect every student around the country on the same scale. For starters, the students agreed, the levels of education on the West Coast and the East Coast are completely different. The West is mainly about entertainment, while the East is more about serious job opportunities.
Second, the consensus of the group was that most young adults take education for granted. If we think about it, not everyone in today's society really wants to be educated to the fullest extent. People don't allow themselves to broaden their knowledge, they want it to be spoon fed.
Yet, at the same time, the students mentioned that the achievement standards set by states are too high, a situation that can discourage some students, leading them to give up on their education. And while college entrance exams, such as the SAT and the ACT, are important, too many students are not truly informed about what these tests can do for their future.
Students in the United States, in my opinion, do not know how easy they have it. If we sit down and compare this nation to many countries in Europe, where I previously lived for 11 years, the educational standards there are so much higher.
Students here really need to wake up and smell the coffee. They should take as many tests as possible and study, study, study. College admissions for many are right around the corner, and we need to act fast and get all the help we can get from school administration and teachers.
Even though teens expressed many opinions during the Sun Youth Forum, they individually couldn't be "Superman" and resolve every issue on the table. Nonetheless, we had the opportunity to share our views with everyone else and to find out that many share the same opinions as ourselves. It truly was a gateway into the reality that all teens face each and every day.
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