Opinion (Left), Maddie Glenn and David Mack Have Their Hands-And Teeth-Full of Awards
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2 May 11, 2018 Paul Revere Charter Middle School Sofia Farhangnia Opinion (left), Maddie Glenn and David Mack have their hands-and teeth-full of awards. Photos: Griffin Riel The Philadelphia Eagles won the Super trash one day or in a dusty, forgotten box. become the reward itself. Skills and knowl- Bowl, but since the New England Patriots They were never meant to be a souvenir or edge are something that a person can take played really hard, they are the Super Bowl a token of adult pity. Undeserved trophies anywhere in life and can never be taken champions as well. America won the Revolu- don’t boost kids’ self-esteem as most partic- away from them. That promotes real self- tionary War, but the British participated, ipation-trophy givers hypothesize they will. esteem. On the other hand, phony participa- so they also won. I’ve got news for all the Instead, they’re more like a shining symbol tion trophies eventually just lull kids into a people who hand out participation trophies: of averageness, giving kids the impres- false sense of success and discourage them that isn’t how the real world works, and sion that there’s nothing really to work for from trying to actually master new skills. handing out these fake trophies isn’t prepar- Our country is a competitive nation. ing today’s youth to succeed. Trophies were never meant We need individuals with grit—the drive to The world is facing a lot of serious prob- keep trying even if they first fail numerous lems including poverty, disease, dangerous to be a symbol of adult pity. times. Participation trophies don’t instill this leaders and violence. Many people are con- necessary quality; they instill the exact op- cerned the generation of millennials won’t be because whatever efforts they give—which posite of the American spirit. Time maga- able to take on these enormous challenges. could be very little—are just so wonderful. zine once said that millennials received so Numerous articles have been written about Trophies based on merit motivate kids many participation trophies when they were these young people, generally describing because they acknowledge working hard children that now “40 percent of them think them as “too obsessed with themselves and and gaining skills are rewarded in life. And they should be promoted every two years— their phones” to really understand or care as kids grow older, the benefits of those regardless of performance.” about the world. But it can be ar- acquired abilities Luckily, here at Paul Revere, gued that millennials tend to have Tala Maher Makenzie participation trophies are rarely these qualities because they were “won” Armbrest seen. Students who are on the taught it was okay to be mediocre these for shows off sports teams keep score during from a young age. After all, they soccer. her honors. competitions. And kids who were given participation trophies earn a P.E. shirt know they’re as they grew up. not going to see someone who Trophies are special when ran a ten-minute mile wearing they symbolize someone has the same shirt. It’s clear that worked really hard for something teens at Revere need to earn and succeeded. An earned trophy their achievements—just as they is a lot less likely to end up in the should. —Griffin Riel The Town Crier asked Patriots if participation awards are necessary or even appropriate to give out. Below are some of their responses: “Participation trophies are not “Trophies are for something “The idea of a participation “Participation trophies give reasonable. People can slack off truly exceptional. Participation trophy is to get rewarded though the individual a false sense of and do little yet still be recog- is not exceptional. Therefore, you didn’t win. This may sound self and don’t prepare kids for nized for their ‘efforts.’ I’m not participants should not be good in theory, but participa- the real world. We are trying saying you should be recog- rewarded with a trophy. Cer- tion trophies are a bad influence to develop a growth mindset nized for everything you do, tificates, on the other hand, are on children. They give kids the and inspired individuals getting but participation awards seem widely accepted as recognition idea that no matter how bad participation awards makes the useless and mediocre.” for average accomplishments.” they do, they’ll get rewarded.” person complacent.” — Rustin Kharrazi, Grade 6 —Mattie Tillman, Grade 7 —Layla Chammas, Grade 8 — Mr. Foxson, P.E. Teacher May 11, 2018 THE TOWN CRIER Paul Revere Charter Middle School 3 TALKING HEADS How would you improve gun control laws? These past few months, there was a lot of chaos regarding school shootings, and debates about gun laws. Patriots gave their opinion regarding what they would do to change gun laws. “If I were in the position of the White House, I would handle gun safety laws by requiring a valid and approved gun license, by the government. I would also diminish the amendment that allows people to bear arms. This amendment has caused countless fatalities.”—Mason Binder, 6th Grade “Kids shouldn’t be able to get their hands on a gun. This is because one kid could have a mental problem and fire the gun irrationally. Another law I would make is putting a tracker on the gun and have the person who bought the gun sign a paper so they know.”— Lucy Chada Kramarich, 6th Grade “I think that to make laws safer, they must restrict people who are not in the military or a cop so that no one else ends up with a gun and tries to shoot people. A crazy person who ends up with a gun can kill many people.” — Dara Rahmanian, 6th Grade “If I were in charge of gun laws, there will be monthly checks where the police will ask you questions regarding the gun you purchased. You can only use your gun once a month, and no auto- matic guns, only for soldiers, and police.” — David Mack, 7th Grade TOWN CRIER POLLS “If I were in the White House, I would do more Should everyone What should be background checks on people who have a mental illness or have committed a crime. Another thing get an award, even if the legal age that I would change is age restrictions. People 25 they didn’t win? to buy a gun? years old and younger won’t be able to puchase a gun.”— Aimee Mandi, 7th Grade “If I were in a position in the White House, I would handle gun safety laws like getting a driver’s license. You would have to take a series of back- 21 ground checks and tests such as a mental evalua- Everyone Only Winners 18 tion. Also, you would have to retake the test every 22% 78% 23% 77% couple of years.” —Maya DeGanyar, 8th Grade Poll of 6th, 7th and 8th graders conducted by Tala Maher on Apr. 19, 2018 “If I were able to change laws for gun safety, first, those who want to purchase a gun would need a VOLUME 62, ISSUE 4 thorough background check as well as showing their permit. Also, I believe that the gun training hours are too short, so I would add more hours.” — Dakota White, 8th Grade Published by and for the students of PAUL REVERE CHARTER MIDDLE “I would push to make automatic and military SCHOOL AND MAGNET CENTER grade weapons illegal on the federal level. I 1450 Allenford Avenue would make gun shows illegal, and only adults Los Angeles, California 90049 age 21 and over would be able to purchase guns from a regulated gun store, and only after a Editors: Alexandra Schoettler, background check.”— Mr. Schepps, 7th History Member of the National Joey Chae and Maddie Glenn Scholastic Press Association Faculty Advisor: Mr. Wechsler Interviews and layout by Tala Maher 4 May 11, 2018 THE TOWN CRIER Paul Revere Charter Middle School Photos: Alexis Altamirano Student Protest Is a Call to Action Teens across America, including hundreds at Revere, stand up against loose gun control laws. By COLE HERRON “As soon as the second period dismissal bell their approval. I didn’t make a poster my- rings, students and teachers, please leave self, but I saw a few interesting ones. One Revere Patriots held a protest against your classrooms and start marching toward guy had a poster covered in Supreme, and gun violence on Mar. 14, chanting and dis- the P.E. field,” spoke Maya deGanyar, stu- my friend Stella’s had a quote from To Kill a playing their homemade anti-gun posters on dent council president. “If you have made Mockingbird on it.” the upper P.E. field. The event was organized posters hold them high. Make sure to chant “My poster read “courage is not a man by Maya deGanyar and other student lead- and shout as loud as you can. This is not man- with a gun in his hand,” explained Stella. “It ers, and the day had a special time schedule datory but please come to show your support was said by Atticus Finch in Harper Lee’s with an extended nutrition period so that for the kids who saw their friends killed, to famous novel. I chose this quote because I the protesters could have more time. While all the parents who lost their children, and felt it related to recent issues regarding gun many students were hoping to take the pro- to every single person that has been shot be- safety.” test outside Revere and have a literal walk- cause our country hasn’t provided better gun The #NeverAgain club is taking action as out, LAUSD policy endangered the culmina- laws.” well.