THROWBACK THURSDAY: Letters to the editor
Students now in their 40s and 50s wrote recommendations on how our school could have been improved
How the letters students wrote to editors back in the day probably looked. Can you believe that they had to use paper? Gross. Credit to Dim Hou on Unsplash.
September 22, 2022
Machines make cents
Dear Editor,
There is one necessity that is missing from McCallum that is important and useful…A CHANGE MACHINE! Everyday I happen upon my peers looking for change in order to use the phones and vending machines. Please do something about rectifying this problem.
–Jessica Baum
Also, the minimum age for tobacco use is 17. I have seen much younger students smoking right next to McCallum staff members who have not done anything about the problems.
— Mack Patterson
Students lack spirit
Dear Editor,
Students do not have to be in any clubs or other organizations to have school spirit. All one needs to do is to have enough self motivation and pride to take a little time out of a busy schedule to attend school functions or participate in extracurricular activities. Instead of just humming along with the school song, how about really learning it? Students need to attend pep rallies and give their support to the various teams. Hopefully this will boost team and student body spirits alike. All students should take time out to show their MAC PRIDE.
– Bert Kivell
Smokers bad influence
Dear Editor,
I am writing to complain about the groups of students who huddle around the front of the school and smoke cigarettes. I believe this group gives a bad impression to people driving by McCallum.
The idea of moving all of those students to a designated area for smoking is a good one. This is done at Austin High, and they have no problems with this.
Also, the minimum age for tobacco use is 17. I have seen much younger students smoking right next to McCallum staff members who have not done anything about the problems. Something has to be done.
-Mack Patterson
Improvements needed
Dear Editor,
I feel that this building needs some major maintenance. It doesn’t make sense that while adding on to the existing structure they don’t color coordinate.
Take for instance the lockers. They are the ugliest colors of orange, beige, and green. They should try to paint them soft pastel colors, not bright ones. Maybe painting them school colors would add spirit to the student body.
Another thing is that the classrooms are painted tacky colors. Those classrooms are so bright and ugly that it puts me in an undesirable learning mode. The colors should blend more with the rooms.
If everyone is so worried about the drop-out rate, why not do something to make coming to school more enjoyable?
— Amy Arredondo
The School Board should take these things into consideration. If someone would listen to our reasonable desires, the school would be a better learning environment. If everyone is so worried about the drop-out rate, why not do something to make coming to school more enjoyable?
-Amy Arredondo
This story was originally published in The Shield on March 10, 1989.
