What's Inside

The Postscript The Park School of Baltimore | PO Box 8200 Brooklandville, MD 21022 | December 15, 2006 Volume LXVII Issue No. 4 Auction raises $305,000 in aid by Scott Shuldiner ’09 the costs,” said Erinn McGuire, Director of Special Events. Tents decorated the campus, “That way, we can ensure that and bears inhabited the Arts Cen- all the profi ts go to the Finan- ter on the night of Saturday, No- cial Assistance Fund, where it vember 18. But this was no cir- can then be used for tuition as- cus; it was the seventeenth Park sistance, scholarships, and for School Auction, and before the many other academic purpos- night was over, tuition assistance es.” Currently, about 17 percent funds were $305,000 richer. of the student body receives “As far as comparing this fi nancial assistance each year. auction to previous years, I Auctioned items were do- would say that they have all nated by members of the Park been wonderful,” said Janet community and beyond. “In or- Livingston ’74, who co-chaired der to ensure maximum profi t to the auction with her husband, benefi t the Fund, we get items Richard. “And each raised an from retailers, restaurants, and enormous amount of money.” families,” said McGuire. Some The theme of the auction of the categories for the silent was An Evening of Stars to cel- auction included antiques, crafts photo courtesy Service Day Chroniclers ebrate Park’s faculty and stu- and jewelry, sports, culinary Second grader E. Fishman, pitches in during Service Day Nov. 22 by collecting paper to be dent body. “Teachers are the arts, and vacations. “Most chari- recycled. The all-school community service event takes place every year on the half-day stars, and so are the students, as ties will buy things to auction,” of school before Thanksgiving Break. See news article p. 3, commentary p. 4. they enrich the teaching, mak- explained McGuire. “We pride ing Park School a very special ourselves on the fact that we are place,” explained Livingston. able to make 100 percent profi t.” Judgement Day for seniors: In honor of this year’s theme, The auction boasted items all faculty were invited to the such as a guitar signed by Car- auction free of the $175 dol- los Santana, a vacation home college early decisions arrive lar admission charge. “We had in Thailand, and a letter writ- by Anders Hulleberg ’07 increase an applicant’s chance sion is the possibility of receiv- never done this before,” said ten by Abraham Lincoln. of being accepted. “Early De- ing early notice of the decision. Livingston, “and as a result, “It’s wrong to say that the For the vast majority of Park cision is most helpful to the Rolling Decision occurs at Uni- we had over 65 faculty at- only purpose for the auction School, today will be a care- applicant because colleges are versities, and applying early tend, more than ever before.” is to raise money,” said Mc- free half-day fi lled with music, more likely to compromise a bit means they haven’t yet fi lled the The auction, fi rst held in Guire. “This is really a commu- sweets, amiable teachers, and on a candidate who promises class. Early Action may have 1979, has raised over $3 mil- nity-building event. It gets new less than focused class periods. to enroll,” said Ganzenmuller. some small advantage at certain lion for the Financial Assis- people to meet others within But for much of the Senior College-based anxiety is schools,” said Gazenmuller. tance Fund. This year, more the community, and brings Class, it will be one of extreme common throughout the Class of There is still the other 40 than 500 people attended the them all together to work for a emotional highs and lows, jubi- 2007. It has grown in intensity percent of the Senior Class that event. “We get sponsorships common cause. That alone is lation and despair; the last school and palpability everyday since did not apply under any early and ads to cover the majority of just as important as the money. day of 2006 is also the day that Thanksgiving break. College plan. Of that group, some stu- many seniors who applied Early has been the principal subject dents will be too busy worrying Decision to a college fi nd out hallway conversations over the about their own deadlines (most whether they have been accepted. past weeks. “A month ago, it was regular decision deadlines are in “About 60 percent of the Se- a taboo topic,” said Steven Mad- early January) to stop and smell nior Class applied Early Deci- ow ’07, who has applied Early the holly, but others plan on en- sion, Early Action or Rolling De- Decision. “However, in the past joying the last day before winter cision,” said Director of College week, many more people have break just a little more than usual. Guidance Paul Gazenmuller. wanted to talk about college.” “I plan on bringing a beach Such a high percentage of For those seniors who ap- chair on the fi fteenth,” said Ian early applicants is not uncom- plied Early Action or Rolling Long ’07, among the 40 percent. mon in a day and age where Decision, the fi fteenth looms U.S. News and World Report’s less dauntingly, as both Early rankings of America’s top col- Action and Rolling Decision leges fl y off shelves and parents are non-binding, meaning a happily pay thousands of dollars student is not legally obligated photo courtesy Development Offi ce to enroll their children in SAT to attend, should he or she be The Wyman Arts Center overfl owed with items and bidders at Prep courses. Many student be- accepted. “The advantage to the Nov. 18 auction to raise money for fi nancial assistance. lieving that applying “E.D.” can Early Action and Rolling Deci- photo by J. Webber ‘07 What’s inside... service day forum diversity theater basketball news page 3 commentary pages 5 features pages 6&7 reviews page 8 sports page 12 page 2 The Postscript | December 15, 2006 Editorial Invisible seniors Mixed Messages The second generation of semi-controversial advertising posters are up. Today is Dr. Jackson’s last holiday assembly. Progres- sivism at Park could be in dire trouble, and it’s not the fault of whom you might expect. A noticeably large portion of students is failing its responsibilities as part of the Park community. The problem can be seen by anybody taking a look around at assemblies. There are more empty chairs than there have ever been in the theater over the past four years, even though this is the largest upper school ever. An approximate count during a re- cent senior class meeting showed that half the grade was absent. Assemblies and class meetings are less managed than regular classes, and could therefore be considered to be a better test of the phi- losophy. Where is the self-discipline that dictates that we go and take part in the communal activities? There are no tests, grades, homework reading, essays, or any of the other pressures that regular classes have. Basically, there are no external motivations. In a perfect Park world, the only trouble during assembly would be the oc- casional student that forgets that feet belong on the ground and not the backs of chairs. Even for the students that do show up, how many tune out and use assembly periods as naptime? Human Sexuality instructor Debbie Roffman has spoken ab- stractly about the beauty of Park as the trust between students and teachers. If that is the case, students who are absent either physically or mentally are seriously betraying an integral part of the school. During an interview with Dr. Jackson about Progres- sive Education at Park, he mentioned that you have to keep trying even if Progressive methods don’t seem to be working. That leaves the onus on the students, as it should be. There are few, if any, punishments or penalties for absence. Just be aware of the implications of your actions. If you want Park to be a successful Progressive institution, maybe you should show up. The Secular Quiz The Postscript by Howard Berkowitz, Upper School English Is Park a secular school? Should it be? Take this simple quiz to determine your attitude: The Park School of Baltimore 1)If a group of students wanted to use one of the side rooms in the library to have a brief P.O. 8200 Brooklandville, MD 21022, prayer meeting before school, should the school say “Sure” or “No way”? Tel. 410-339-7070 2)If a small group of athletes on say, the Girls Varsity Softball team, wanted to pray together December 15, 2006 before a big game, should the coach say “Sure” or “No way”? Volume LXVII|Issue No.4 3)If students wanted to put up both a Christmas tree and a Hanukkah menorah somewhere in Editors-in-chief the Upper School to recognize their tradition AND religious diversity, should they be allowed to? Julian Charnas, Jen Webber, Carrie Young 4)Should a Moslem girl in the middle school be allowed to wear a hijab? 5)Should ALL religions be celebrated at Park or should NO religions be celebrated at Park? News Features Jeremy Golden, Elizabeth Cunningham, Now, look up the word “secular” and score yourself! Anders Hulleberg Tony Demarco, Scotty Shuldiner, Assistant Mara James To the Editors: Reviews Commentary Leah Greenberg, Peter Sicher Liz Gauvey-Kern, Committee works to improve nondisciplinary group Brett Kaup, Assistant Mica Fidler As the current facilitator of behavior, and third, that students program to be responsible for Everett Rosenfeld, Assistant the faculty committee looking feel there are several ways to drug use in the community- this Photography Sports to build a new program to re- help a friend they are worried just isn’t possible, nor is it the Amir Patel, Drew Rosenthal Ben Goldstein, Ben Levin place NAG I’ve been asked to about.

Load more