Religion slandered in international debate
By By Joe Nolan, Staff Writer
March 3, 2011
When one thinks about religion today, events like 9/11 or funeral-picketing by Westboro Baptist Church members might come to mind. Amidst these concerning events caused by religious disparities, many have lost sight of the reason for religion and its significance. A debate held in Toronto in...
MCPS searches for new superintendent after Weast’s departure
By By Allison Srour, Contest Manager
March 1, 2011
In August, MCPS Superintendent Jerry Weast announced his plans to retire when his contract ends June 30. Weast has served as MCPS Superintendent for almost 12 years. The Montgomery County Board of Education (BOE) is conducting a national search in order to find a suitable replacement. “He...
Teacher tenure in question in new education initiatives
By By Manisha Singh, Staff Writer
March 1, 2011
Following President Obama’s proposals to improve America’s school systems, multiple state governors have called for the elimination of teacher tenure. Obama’s Race to the Top program (RTTT) grants $4 billion to states that have achieved federal goals for education, including improvements in student...
Text Zapper is a new device that limits students’ ability to text while driving
By By Thomas Geenen, Staff Writer
December 22, 2010
The open road requires a driver’s total attention, but the subtle beep of a text message notification tends to be distracting. Although the temptation of responding to a pending text is hard to resist, teens can now focus on the road knowing that texting back is not even an option. In light of the...
Is Cheerleading a sport? One reporter’s quest to find out
By By Charles Cook, Staff Writer
November 30, 2010
Just to clarify readers, no I am not the “official” Observer columnist, though many characterize me with traits pertaining to those of a young Ben Gloger. Well this month, my “informal” column addresses an issue that has just come to my attention: according to a legal judge ruling in a court ...
Sitcoms’ humor falls short
By Kyle Edwards
Sports Production Editor
May 6, 2010
After a brutal day of studies and athletic practices, I, like most people, kick back and enjoy a routine TV dinner then turn on the TV and flip to channels such as NBC or ABC to watch a sitcom. My life is torture, not because of the stress of school, basketball practices or poor quality food, but because...
Texting causes carpal tunnel
By Meghna Balakumar
Staff Writer
May 6, 2010
Annie Levitz, a 16-yearold teen from Adlai Stevenson High School, was recently diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome due to her avid text-messaging. Most teens today do not stop to think between one word texts, to ponder the fatal consequences of such a seemingly innocent addiction. What is CTS? The...
The Science Behind Dreams
By By Liz Chen, Circulation Manager
May 3, 2010
The common dream consists of situations that aren’t actually happening, but that the brain still processes while you sleep. In most cases, it might seem strange to the dreamer that they would even have dreams in the first place. The dreamer recollects nothing that could have logically triggered the...
“The Last Song” Movie Review
By Claudia Shannon
May 3, 2010
Normally, any sappy, clichéd, melodramatic teenage drama comes to mind when teenage rebellion, first love, and familial acceptance are wrapped into a two-hour long movie. While the film adaptation of Nicholas Sparks; newest best-selling novel, The Last Song, may fall into this category, it provides...