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40th Year, Issue No. 4 May 24, 2018 the Sherwood High School: 300 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Sandy Spring, MD 20860 Warriorwww.thewarrioronline.com Dr. Eric Minus Appointed as New Sherwood Principal by Mallory Carlson ‘19 an assistant principal at White cants will be given the chance to Oak Middle School and principal be interviewed. As for the num- On May 21, the Board of at both Francis Scott Key Mid- ber of candidates that are inter- Education approved Eric Minus dle School and John F. Kennedy viewed, there is no fixed quota, to become the next Sherwood High School. Following these but generally it is between three principal. He will officially be- positions, he was the Administra- and six. This year for Sherwood, gin at Sherwood on July 1. tive Director for Howard County six contenders were interviewed. Minus grew up in Montgom- middle schools, and most recently Kali Dang, the SGA Presi- ery County and attended MCPS a Director of School Support and dent, was one of a few students schools, graduating from Blair, Improvement of MCPS middle who observed the interviews. and heard great things about the schools. “It was awesome to see all these Sherwood students, staff, and Many months of work and candidates that were so excited community. “I look forward to discussion among various groups to have even the chance to be our joining the Sherwood family and went into selecting Minus as next principal,” she said. “It was demonstrate an approachable per- they belong and are successful,” leading the school community,” principal. The Office of Human inspiring to see how passionate so sonality, create a community-cen- Minus explained. “In order for he said. Resources and Development is many of them are about bettering tered environment to maintain a all students to be successful, we Minus began his educational responsible for carefully exam- the schools and the students they positive and safe school climate, all need to come together as a career as a middle school science ining the application documents lead and how they want to do that have high expectations for staff school community.” teacher in Newport News, Vir- to ensure that all candidates who at Sherwood as well.” and students and create rigorous Sherwood was not the only ginia. He later left education for will be interviewed are eligible MCPS released a survey educational opportunities, and school searching for a new head three years to work in corporate for the position, based on the for the Sherwood community in have an extensive knowledge of of administration for the 2018- America as a licensed health- requirements listed in the job April that asked participants to the curriculum and instruction. 2019 school year. New princi- care administrator. He returned advertisement. The office then select four (out of 11) leadership “My vision is to ensure that pals have been named at Gaith- to education as a teacher and checks the references given by skills they want to see in the new Sherwood High School is a place ersburg, Quince Orchard, Walt eventually shifted into admin- the applicants and a senior level principal. The results showed where inclusivity is valued and Whitman, and Winston Chur- istrative positions. He has been committee decides which appli- that the principal will, hopefully, each and every student feels like chill. Teachers Walk a Fine Line in Grades Reveal That Half of Students Rank Exceptional Discussing Political Opinions by Anika Mittu ‘19 to the same reason. by Vendela Krenkel ‘20 speak about their views on public don’t. In social studies, 41 percent controversies. It has been left up “As students, we should be The grade of “A” in a given of A’s received in AP courses A Florida middle school to school districts to create their able to learn unbiased informa- class is supposed to reflect mas- originated from differing quar- teacher was caught secretly pro- rules for the extent to which edu- tion and then make our opinions tery of content and outstanding terly grades, and 42 percent in moting white nationalist views on cators are allowed to express their based off of that,” said sopho- work performed by a student. Yet, honors courses became A’s due to her podcast under a pseudonym. A views in school. more Lauren Loebach. with A’s comprising 54 percent the same circumstance. Both per- history teacher in California was In an email to MCPS prin- Most teachers can agree that of the grades that are earned by centages startle Michelle Games, recorded calling the U.S. army cipals regarding protests for gun the best education is one in which Sherwood students for first se- an AP social studies teacher who “the lowest of the low” during control and safety, Deputy Su- both sides of an argument are mester, the question that arises is argues that the 2016 grading pol- a discussion about the outcome perintendent Kimberly Statham equally presented so the student whether student performance or icy contributes to poor learning of the war in Afghanistan and a wrote, “It is not appropriate for can formulate their own opinion. inflation lies behind the number and studying habits. “[Teachers] California social studies teacher school staff to … use their pro- “We have to remain unbiased. of stellar grades. spend so much time creating as- compared Trump to Hitler. These fessional contact with students to We can talk about hot topics, but In 2016, MCPS debuted a sessments that for the grades to educators were removed from further personal political aims.” shouldn’t discourage any of the controversial grading policy that not be reflective of student mas- their classrooms, but not before MCPS staff were prohibited from [opposing viewpoints] involved,” eliminated final exams. Instead, tery is not a good system,” said preaching their views to impres- participating in walkouts during said social studies teacher Mi- the system has relied solely on Games. sionable students. times when they have a class to chael King. the two quarterly grades in order Meanwhile, English classes The controversy over wheth- teach. “A teacher may express his If an issue applies directly to to determine a student’s grade in revealed that about 14-percent er teachers should express their or her opinion ... provided that the teacher, should they have the a given class. Based on a point more of the A’s earned in AP political views in the classroom the total presentation is essen- right to be able to speak up for system that assigns 4 points to an classes resulting from an A and B is one that is increasingly rele- tially balanced and fair … MCPS themselves? Some have discussed A, 3 points to a B, 2 points to a C, as quarterly grades than in honors vant at MCPS schools including staff should strive to promote tol- President Trump’s suggestion 1 point to a D, and no points to classes. Beth Petralia, a teacher Sherwood. Sherwood’s teachers erance for the opinions of others to arm teachers in schools and an E, the system numerically av- of both Honors and AP English tend to lean toward the left polit- and respect for the right of all in- whether they find this outrageous erages the two quarterly grades. classes during first semester, said ically, which can lead to a feeling dividuals to have differing opin- or sensible. The MCPS policies The policy averages quarterly that in her experience with teach- of alienation among students that ions,” stated Statham. suggest that teachers can express grades of an A and a B into a 3.5, ing AP Language, “second quar- disagree with whatever is being The presentation of lessons their opinions as long as they cre- which rounds to form a semester ter is more difficult than first,” suggested. with bias potentially affects stu- ate an environment in which stu- grade of A. said Petralia. This might explain “It is the teacher’s role to dents’ learning experiences, and dents also can share their views At Sherwood, the new pol- why 42 percent of A’s earned by present a variety of perspectives, whether it be consciously or sub- without fear of retribution. The icy has impacted social studies students in the class occurred due but teachers have bias, so it is un- consciously, high schoolers may guidance found in the MCPS and English more than the other to the student receiving an A for fair for them to explicitly mention adopt these views because their Employee Code of Conduct is to core subjects.. In the social stud- first quarter and a B for second their views,” said AP U.S. Histo- instructor has studied the subject avoid preferential treatment and ies courses, roughly 42 percent of quarter, while only eight percent ry teacher Beth Shevitz. and has likely come to a learned discrimination of students, the the A’s received originated from of the A’s earned occurred as a re- The Supreme Court in Pick- conclusion. This can be easy to consequences of this including differing quarterly grades of ei- sult of receiving a B for first quar- ering v. Board of Education overlook if students agree with verbal or written warning, written ther an A and a B or a B and an A, ter and an A for second quarter. (1968) ruled that teachers are pro- their teachers’ viewpoints, but reprimand, suspension and termi- while 50 percent of the A’s earned tected under freedom of speech to it can be uncomfortable if they nation. in English courses occurred due See GRADES, pg. 4 News: 1-4, Features: 5-7, Humor: 8-9, Destinations: 10-13, Spotlight: 14-15, Opinions: 16-18, Wondering Warrior: 19, Columns: 20-23, Entertainment: 24-25, Sports: 26-27, All-Senior Team: 28 Destinations Senior Columns See where the members of the Senior Warrior Staffers talk about their Class of 2018 are going next time in high school: lessons they’ve year, college and otherwise! learned, advice they have, and more.

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