Personal Comment-On Campus – the Southerner Online

Flipped classroom model puts students at a disadvantage

October 6, 2019

The flipped classroom model disadvantages students. While some teachers may claim the flipped classroom is an effective method, the model hurts student...

Imposter Syndrome alters perspectives, self-confidence in women

August 28, 2019

Audible sighs murmur through the room as quizzes are passed back down the rows of apathetic students. “I only did well because of the curve,” says t...

“Duck Syndrome:” Students Feel Alone in Academics

May 16, 2019

Sunlight reflects off a pond with a surface smooth as glass. A duck drifts across the water. Below the surface, its webbed feet paddle furiously, but from...

Dealing with depression as a freshman

December 5, 2018

Being a freshman, high school is a whole new world than the one I was used to a year ago. Heartbreak, stress, depression and pain are things that no one...

School must take steps to alleviate parking problems

Sophie Rivard

April 21, 2018

Every morning I am faced with the same question as I drive down 10th Street: should I park my car in the main lot or brave the dirt lot? A pro-con list...

Student athletes shouldn’t get their hopes up

Joanna Baker, Staff Writer

January 23, 2018

Many student athletes enjoy the thrill of winning a soccer game against a long-time rival, or the strong friendships they develop with their team through months of basketball. But imagine a young child coming home after a football game. Time and time again, he has been told that he’s “destined” for the NFL. With encouragement from teammates, coaches, friends, and family,...

School security needs updates to repair holes

Alex Durham, Comment Assistant Managing Editor

December 23, 2017

It’s no secret that security at Grady is less than adequate. This is apparent not only through the incidents involving discharged firearms or lockdowns because of threatening personnel on campus, but also by the arbitrary security the school now has. Security is mostly limited to teachers checking bags when students walk in through the metal detectors in the morning. But...

Senior fees prove too steep for students

Nafez Zohbi, Photo Editor

November 8, 2017

Seniors are forced to pay dues that go to the overall graduation experience. However, some students cannot afford the fees and other expenses of senior year. This is denying students the well-deserved graduation experience solely based on financial status. Students pay $195 for senior dues, $65-plus for college application fees, $45-$60 for the SAT, $29-$43 for the ACT, abou...

Tracking students eases teachers’ burden while hurting students

Maura O'Sullivan, Writer

October 29, 2017

By Maura O'Sullivan Comment Over the years, the Grady cluster has advocated for separation of gifted, on-level, and remedial courses, a practice which increases racial, socioeconomic, and academic achievement gaps. While it levels out classes, so-called “tracks” hurt students in the long run, and should be replaced. Students are separated early on. Many Grady stude...

Time to end Grady students’ self-segregation

Jaeden Davis, Writer

October 29, 2017

By Jaeden Davis Comment Students create self-segregation among themselves. This has been a growing topic at Grady and seems to be getting worse. During Grady’s three lunch periods, Caucasian students mostly sit outside in the courtyard at the tables. While on the inside, toward the back of the cafeteria, there are mainly African-American students. This is a problem bec...

Freshmen should have opportunity to take more AP classes

George Lefkowicz, Writer

October 29, 2017

By George Lefkowicz Comment At the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year, Grady to offer AP Human Geography as a class that 9th graders could take. That was the first time an AP class had been offered to freshmen. With the growing opportunity for these Advanced Placement classes to be taken, it begs the question, should more AP classes be offered for lower classmen? ...

Weekly advisement wastes time on irrelevant skills

Lauren Silcock, Writer

October 29, 2017

By Lauren Silcock Comment Every Wednesday, after their first period class, Grady students settle into their assigned classrooms for an hour of "Advisement." This class is intended to assist students in their everyday school lives, as well as providing them with skills required for the future. However, this class is sorely misguided. The class spends hours teaching t...