Teacher Spotlight: Mr. Tanaka

By: Annika Blackburn

Recently I interviewed Mr. Tanaka, an eighth grade Jefferson teacher who teaches writing on Team Inspiration. During the interview, I learned a lot about his unique life story and what is important to him. 

I learned in class that Mr. Tanaka came to the United States when he was only fifteen years old. I thought this was interesting and wondered why he came here. I asked him during the interview and he replied with a number of answers. “Number One: I wanted to study English. Number Two: I just wanted to go. Also, students in Japan don’t automatically go to high school. They have to take a test and I did not want to take the test.”

I then asked Mr. Tanaka what it was like to come to the United States at such a young age by himself. He replied, “It was hard, very hard. I could barely speak any English…It was so much fun, but it was so difficult…The friends that I had were very supportive. (They) made an effort to understand.”

I was interested in what kind of student Mr. Tanaka was in middle school. “I wasn’t an organized student, but I think that my work ethic allowed me to do okay.  I (sometimes) did not care about studying at all (but) my parents held me accountable.”

I then was curious about why he had become a teacher and he told me that, “I originally wanted to be something else (like) a baker, dentist, mechanical engineer, or a translator. (But) I went to China to teach and liked it. Also, my mother was a teacher, so I was probably influenced by that.”

Next, I asked Mr. Tanaka why he thought that the subject of writing is so important. “Because I believe writing exists in every part of our lives. I can’t think of any profession that does not use writing…You see writing everywhere.”

Lastly, I asked, Mr. Tanaka what he thought was the most important thing for students to learn in middle school. “Developing a strong work ethic is the most important…I want my students to leave my class every day with a better work ethic.”

Thank you, Mr. Tanaka, for allowing me to interview you and share your story with the Jefferson community. Not only does Mr. Tanaka teach on Team Inspiration – he is an inspiration. 

Disney, Warner Bros. Say “No” to Bulletproof Backpacks

By: Kiara Garcia-Reyes

Recently, Walt Disney Co. demanded that the manufacturing of bulletproof Disney Princesses and Avengers superhero backpack inserts be put to a halt. These Disney Princess themed backpack inserts feature Jasmine from Aladdin, Cinderella, Belle from Beauty and the Beast, and Rapunzel from Tangled.  The Avengers superhero version have Captain America and his shield front and center. They also released “Harry Potter,” “Major League Baseball” and “Camo” themed inserts. Each one retails for $129 and none of these products were authorized by Disney or Warner Bros.

The products were set to be released around Back-to-School sales but instead were launched after the nation’s latest shootings in El Paso and Dayton, which left 31 dead and about 40 injured. Tuffypacks, the Houston-based company selling these products, specifically marketed them towards parents with kids and designing them to protect against multiple bullets from a handgun.

Tuffypacks isn’t the only company that sells products like these, Brad de Geus founded the company Leatherback Gear with his brother three years ago. Leatherback sells backpacks that convert into bulletproof vests. On August 3rd, the day of the El Paso shooting, sales increased. “Every time we have one of these incidents, it’s a reminder of just how vulnerable we are,” says Marshal Cohen, who studies the purchase of goods for individual use. “So many of the things we’re investing in today, whether it’s smart-home technology or protective backpacks, are about safety and security.” 

After months of consideration, Raquel Donahue bought a backpack insert for her 6-year-old son. “We know it’s not a magical device, but he’s starting first grade and we want to feel a little better about putting him on a school bus each day,” said Donahue. “What we really need is gun reform. But our lawmakers are not moving at the speed parents need them to, so this is the best we can do.” Even though bulletproof products arent guaranteed to protect her son, it’s the best that parents can do. It makes them feel better about putting their kids on the bus, knowing that they have some sort of protection. 

Demand for bulletproof products continues to grow. Analysts estimate the total sales for bulletproof products are in the tens of millions of dollars. Meanwhile, school security has grown into a $2.7 billion-a-year industry, but that’s another story. 

Facing the Global Warming Crisis

By: Dayaneira Gomez and Abigail Cicone

Global warming is a huge issue facing the world, and JMS reporters Dayaneira Gomez and Abigail Cicone interviewed 6th-grade science teachers Ms. Lehr and Mr. Wills.

How big of a threat is global warming?
Lehr: “I think it’s a problem for our planet. There is evidence and proof that it exists. We need to find a solution.”
Wills: “It’s real,  and one day it will become a big deal.”
Dayaneira and Abigail: Global warming is the increase in the overall temperature on earth.  It causes a rise in sea levels, extreme heat, harm to animals and many more.

How does global warming affect animals?
Lehr: “Take the example of the polar bears.  The ice is melting. The polar bears could be losing their habitat, which leaves them starving.”
Wills: “It’s affecting them now and the polar bears’ habitats are melting. They can’t hunt that well right now, and their mating season is decreasing.  If it gets too hot, then some of the animals might not be able to adapt.”
Dayaneira and Abigail: Consider the plastic problem, plastic is being thrown into the ocean and harming wildlife. There is a floating island of plastic the size of Australia in the ocean. This severely affects the animals.

What is the first thing you think of when someone says “global warming”?
Lehr: “Our planet is in an unhealthy state.”
Wills: “Greenhouse gases, fossil fuels, rising sea levels and ice melting.”
Dayaneira and Abigail: Humans are the root cause of global warming.

What are some ways we can help?
Lehr: ““We need to help reduce greenhouse gasses. It would help if we had more laws about air pollutants so that we could have cleaner air.”
Wills: “We can try to find reasons to cut down on oil and other things by using things like Nest and turning off water when we’re not using it.”
Dayaneira and Abigail: Greenhouse gases, plastics, vehicles and pollution are all causes of global warming. We can instead recycle properly, reduce the amount of plastic we use, limit how much we drive our vehicles and there are many other things to do to help the planet.

The Gun Violence Epidemic

By: Annika Blackburn

As you probably already know, gun violence has become a big issue and is negatively affecting many people across the United States. Even though it’s not shown on mainstream news networks, there is an average of one mass shooting every single day. Think about all the lives that are being lost, all of the loved ones being affected. The majority of mass shootings are carried out using assault-style weapons, machines of war. As long as these weapons continue to be placed in the hands of the wrong people, then things are just going to keep getting worse. Many people want these guns to be banned or confiscated, but unfortunately, our current government just won’t go for that. Some people are just too scared of big ideas and hopes for the future. But that is the absolute only way that change and progress is going to happen. This is clearly an emergency, everyone in our country is under great danger.

Many of these mass shootings are taking place in schools. Just last year seventeen high school students died from a single act of gun violence. A nineteen-year-old man named Nikolas Cruz had opened fire at a school in Parkland, Florida using an AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle. Fourteen other students had been injured during the attack. The gunman had also been armed with several ten-round magazines. Magazines help a gunman shoot more efficiently and for longer periods of time, he doesn’t have to reload his gun as many times as he would otherwise have to. Cruz had purchased both the gun and the magazines legally. And that’s the problem right there. 

I do not believe that these types of should be allowed to be purchased in the United States. People should have weapons for defense purposes only, nobody needs a semi-automatic assault rifle to defend themselves. Also, the Second Amendment states that people have the right to bear arms if they are a part of a well-regulated militia. Random people in the streets were never even meant to be allowed their own guns. That law was also written in the 1700s, there weren’t even many people crowded together back then. Our country is currently full of a lot of hate and controversy right now, it is just way too dangerous to allow these types of weapons. 

An example of a mass shooting that was filled with hate is the recent El Paso Shooting. A terrorist named Patrick Crusius had driven many hours out of his city to specifically shoot Mexican people at a local Walmart in El Paso. He just didn’t like how the people all got along in there, he thought that the United States was being invaded by people from Mexico. He thought that he was on a mission, a sick mission, a racist mission. He shot and killed twenty-two innocent people at Walmart during a back-to-school sale. Children were there just trying to get ready for school. He injured and traumatized many others who were shopping there. A terrible, dangerous White Supremacist movement exists in this country, we just can’t be handing out guns during a time like this. No, guns don’t make our country safer, they just tear us apart. There are more guns than people in the U.S, if guns were helpful in that way then we would be one of the safest places on earth. 

People are afraid and people want change. Even if they don’t want it, they need it for their own good. If a motorcycle engine backfires, then people stampede through the streets. Preschoolers are practicing active-shooter drills. People always look for the exits when they’re in public places. A lot of people are panicked and terrified for good reason, we are living in the midst of a gun violence epidemic. Anybody can be next, anybody’s loved ones can be next. This is a big issue that we desperately need to fight for, that our government needs to understand. Yes, universal background checks are good, but we can really do better than that. We need to stop selling and buy back all semi-automatic assault-style weapons, we need to change the gun culture in America. Guns aren’t going to get us of this one, and no guns do protect us. If don’t do something fast, then things are just going to get worse and worse.

Illinois Begins Season With Big Win Against Akron

By: Matthew Ferrer

On Saturday, August 31,  I had the amazing opportunity of viewing the Illinois vs. Akron game.  Now, I didn’t have ordinary seating, either. I was seated, along with my close friend (Wes Shunk) and others,  in the box. The tickets were won by a raffle my friend’s family entered. It was an exciting day for me and others alike.  Illini pride was especially booming, as well.

The game started with a performance by a marching band,  the Marching Illini to be specific. After that, points were racking up quickly for home.  Akron was having an extremely difficult time.

To start,  I’ll delve into the specifics of the game.  Most obviously, Illinois was the home team going against Akron.  Illinois had a lot of support during the live game. Sadly, I can’t say the same for Akron.  Perhaps this was the reason why Akron did so poorly.  

A few specific things went down during the game.  Akron managed to earn one field goal for the whole match,  amounting to three points. On the other hand, Illinois managed to rack up an outrageous amount of points.  Illinois had two touchdowns downs and two extra points every single quarter. This equaled forty-two points in total.  During the second quarter. In the very end, the game was won by Illinois (42-3). 

After the second quarter,  halftime was afoot. It included an amalgam of brass,  woodwind, and percussion music from the Marching Illini.  They played different music by Disney like The Greatest Showman (A Musical Movie) and Dumbo.  Non-Disney pieces were played,  as well. I gladly enjoyed the halftime,  being a “theatre-kid” and musical lover.

On a more personal note,  the box seats felt very comfortable.  The room had a kitchen area by the door,  carpeted floors, and soft seats. There was plenty of food like macaroni and cheese,  garlic bread, and sausages in the room. Additionally, a lobby area provided a restaurant-like place with more food and desserts.  Most obviously, many windows were facing the ongoings of the football game.

Overall,  it was 42-3.  Illinois won and dominated Akron by 99.99 percent.  The game progressed quickly in the beginning. But, the action eventually started to die down.  To be honest, it was a great experience. Not only was it my first live sports game, but I bonded a great deal with kids my age.

If you ever get the chance to see a live sports game,  I suggest you do it. From what I now know, it’s a great deal of fun.  You’ll never forget it.

Harry Potter: Books or Movies?

By: Lizzy Good and Daisy Lewis

The Harry Potter novels and movies are very well-received and well known around the world. With over five hundred million published books in over eighty languages, and the commonly known films, Harry Potter is a name you may hear frequently. However, along with this enjoyable franchise, there is one recurring debate – are the books or movies more pleasing? Today, we are here to discuss and somewhat settle this notorious debate by stating our opinion.

Some of the great things about the Harry Potter novels are that they are a favorite worldwide. They really can open someone’s imagination, as well as giving them creativity in the field of visualization. They have also been a large impact on many people’s lives, mostly because a lot of adults read them as children.

The Harry Potter film series, in our personal opinion, did a considerable job on characterizing some cast members with great attention to detail. They looked almost identical and how you would have pictured them. Some may even say they took the image straight out of there head! Additionally, many individuals enjoy how the films portray some of the very action-packed scenes, such as The Battle of Hogwarts.

Our opinion is that the Harry Potter book series is more pleasing to read. We are not saying that the films are bad, though there are some things that we dislike about them. One thing that seemed like a big miss in the movies, was that due to the nature of turning the novel into a film, some important scenes had to be left out. This is quite disappointing from a viewer’s standpoint, but from a producer’s standpoint, they had no choice. Additionally, another small thing they missed was the relevance of the characters. They took out characters that we felt were important to the plot. 

Overall, both the Harry Potter book series and the film franchise are well – received and great, but we enjoy the novels more significantly. There are pros and cons to both sides of the story, but we would recommend them both.

The Good and Bad Side of Sports

By: Paressa Faith

Sports can be good, but it can also be bad.  You might be thinking . . . how can it be bad?  Well, just keep reading to find out.

You can make a lot of friends playing sports, and sports also help you develop teamwork and leadership.  When you play sports, it helps you get out of trouble. First, it gets your anger out. Second, when you play a sport you can get that privilege taken away so that causes good behavior.  Sports are also great exercise, which is good for your health. When you stay motivated, it reduces your blood pressure. When you play sports, it helps you get stress off your mind.

Even if there are some good things about sports, there are also some bad things.  Sports take up a lot of your life. If you have time for sports, that’s great. But, when you have to go to practice two or three times a week for two hours a day, and then you have games once a week, it could affect how you’re doing in school.

When you are in school sports or sports in general, some kids feel defeat or failure.  When some people lose, they feel like a failure, and on top of that, there are people who brag about how they win.  Sports takes a lot of energy, which can take a little bit of time to recover from. Also, some people don’t like sports because some can’t do the sport they want to do (for example, girls don’t often play football).

Jenny’s Book Corner

By: Jenny Liu

Are you a person that has way too much time on their hands and need something to do?  Well then, here are some books me and my friends have read that we highly recommend to everyone. Without further ado, here are 3 book recommendations. (Disclaimer: not ordered from best to worst or worst to best). Enjoy!

StarFish, Akemi Dawn Bowman
This book is perfect for romance and drama lovers. The story is about a girl that is named Kiko has her own insecurities and she thinks she is not good enough because of her mom. Her mom treats her like she’s not even hers. Her mom thinks she cannot go beyond and above her standards. So she just wants someone to comfort her. Then she remeets her childhood friend Jamie. She and Jamie just want to from her mom because her mom just keeps misleading her. Sometimes she starts crying and Jamie comforts her. Then they escaped to California to get a new life. If you want to check out the rest, Head on over to a nearby library.

Blood Rose Rebellion, Rosalyn Eves
I have been reading this book and I love it. I highly recommend this book to fantasy and romance lovers!  Anna Arden was born in a society that needs to use magic, she is unable to perform the simplest spells and sometimes breaks them. At her sister’s debutante spell, she lets the fury get to her and breaks her sister’s spell. Anna finds herself exiled to her family’s once powerful but now crumbling native Hungary. In Hungary, Anna discovers secrets that she did not know and can’t help but to break a few spells. As rebellion spreads across the region, Anna’s unique ability becomes the catalyst everyone is seeking. In the company of nobles, revolutionaries, and Romanies, Anna must choose: deny her unique power and cling to the life she’s always wanted, or embrace her ability and change that world forever.

Keeper of the Lost Cities, Shannon Messenger          
My friend highly recommended this book and I got immediately hooked by the summary. I hope you do too. Twelve-year-old Sophie Foster has a secret. She’s a Telepath–someone who can read minds. It’s a talent she’s never known how to explain. Everything changes the day she meets Fitz, a mysterious (and adorable) boy who appears out of nowhere, and who can also read minds like her. She discovers there’s somewhere she does belong, and that staying with her family will put her in grave danger. In the blink of an eye. Sophie is forced to leave behind everything and start a new life in a place that is vastly different from what she has ever known.

Is Archery a Sport?

By: Kaylee Kirkland

Archery is a big deal at Jefferson Middle School, but is it a sport . . . or a club?

In the 2000’s, archery was indeed in the Olympics (which may not be saying much since art was in the Olympics as well). Also, if you look it up in the dictionary, the definition of the word archery is “the sport or skill of shooting with a bow and arrows, especially at a target”. 

Here is another factor on the team of not a sport. If you look at the Jefferson website, archery is not listed under sports.  Instead, archery would be a club. By calling archery a club instead of a sport, they are able to go longer than school. This means they are able to go to both worlds and states. 

In conclusion, archery is a sport though it is operated like a club at Jefferson.

The Devastation of Hurricane Dorian

By: Annika Blackburn

A major storm called Hurricane Dorian has recently taken its toll on many people living in coastal regions. Many lives were lost, and many homes have sadly been destroyed. A hurricane is basically a tropical cyclone, a tornado that takes place at sea. Calm in the center, wild and destructive on its edges. Hurricane Dorian started out as a smaller, Category 2 storm, but then progressed into being an extremely dangerous Category 5 storm that took a lot of lives. (it actually fluctuated quite a bit) 

Hurricane Dorian was quite the slow-moving storm, it spent days moving at a speed of thirty miles per hour along the coast, and in the Bahamas. Dorian’s route along the Southeastern coast of the United States continued through the Atlantic Ocean as it moved upwards, towards the Carolinas. Since it was moving so slowly, this major hurricane caused a great deal of mass destruction, the areas that were closest to storm kept getting hit over, and over again. Though Dorian technically isn’t an official hurricane anymore, wind gusts are still causing many of problems in Canada, and it’s getting worse. It also indirectly caused a lot of “mini-storms” to take place in the United States. 

The Bahamas got damaged the worst by Hurricane Dorian. As was said earlier, they just kept getting hit, and hit, and hit. Many homes have been simply pulverized and the death toll has gone up to forty-three and is sadly expected to rise dramatically as more bodies are found. Part of the island is also still underwater and a lot of people are badly injured. The survivors of this storm are in desperate need of resources, but unfortunately, their airport was destroyed. It is now extremely difficult for enough food, water, medical supplies, and other essentials to be shipped to the Bahamas. Countries such as the United States are planning to use cargo ships to help with this problem, helicopters can only help so much. The destruction is so horrifying, it will take the Bahamas many years to recover both physically and emotionally from this tragedy. Though the residents of the Bahamas have lost homes, businesses, family, and friends; they still haven’t given up yet. When the time comes, the Bahamas will be beautiful once again.

Even though the Bahamas was the most affected by Hurricane Dorian, other countries and regions, including the United States, still felt its rath. Coastal states such as Florida and North Carolina were hit pretty badly as Hurricane Dorian had gained strength. Many stores and shops sold out of things as the hurricane got closer. Luckily, there wasn’t as much destruction in these areas as people originally predicted (the Bahamas took a lot of hits for the United States and other nearby countries). Some parts did still get hit badly though, there were evacuation orders in many areas such as in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.

In conclusion, hurricanes such as Hurricane Dorian can take and destroy lives. They cause both mass destruction and heartbreak, they also require a lot of money and resources. But yet, hurricanes are a force of nature, something that we have to take very seriously. There is one thing that we as human beings can do to make these hurricanes milder and less plentiful, we can work to get rid of climate change. You would be surprised how new innovations, modern technology, saving energy at home, and taking a proper stance on government regulations can save lives, our world. Hopefully, we as humans can continue, or work towards doing these things so that we can prevent future destruction. Hopefully the Bahamas and other areas that were affected can get back on their feet with our help. And, hopefully we will learn how to save more lives. I know that we can do it.