Dismantling the stigma: Creating the necessary toolkit to deal with catcalling
Annabelle Chan
June 5, 2018
A feeling of sheer terror washed over my body, an almost debilitating and numbing feeling impossible to erase from my memory. There is a stigma around the term “catcalling,” a modern term that describes verbal sexual harassment. It’s a problem that the majority of women face at least once i...
Acknowledging ignorance: education is not a free pass
Yasmin McLamb
June 5, 2018
It’s finally Spring at Horace Mann - flowers are blooming, ice cream is melting, seniors are graduating - and rap music blasts on the field. Last Thursday, one of those songs drifted through the window of my Comparative Race & Ethnicity classroom while I was presenting “This Is America” by ...
Paying it forward: a thank you from Zhao (9)
Erin Zhao
January 18, 2018
Along with many teens, this summer I got my first job. I was beyond ecstatic, I truly believed that I was on the road to the rich and famous life. However, I was soon brought back into reality when I realized that my increased income also meant increased responsibilities. By the end of the summer, though...
Recognizing the reality of sexual harassment
Mahika Hari
January 18, 2018
Just a few days ago, I read yet another case of a woman being sexually assaulted. This time, it was in her sleep by the man sitting next to her on the plane. What astonished and terrified me is the lack of surprise I felt when hearing about this, demonstrating how the culture of sexual harassment no...
How we can improve HMO
Josh Underberg
December 9, 2017
I recently completed Horace Mann Orientation (HMO), a required first trimester class for ninth graders. One teacher and multiple upperclassmen mentors lead HMO class discussions in a variety of different topics from stress management to interactions with parents to parties. The class was very pr...
Reshaping our outlook on service learning
December 3, 2017
Serving meals at a food pantry, visiting a nursing home to talk with elderly residents, sprucing up a local park, joining Habitat for Humanity to build homes for displaced families--these are a few of the hundreds of volunteer service learning projects that Horace Mann students undertake each year. Right...
Reflecting on a trimester of the athletic attendance policy
Euwan Kim
December 3, 2017
The new athletic attendance policy, a well-intended attempt to ensuring students’ commitment to their sports teams, is not only difficult to execute but also an arbitrary annoyance to the students. It is difficult to enforce, unfair to devoted athletes, and burdensome for already-stressed student athletes. In...
From the Olympics to Prettyman: a case for varsity ping pong
December 3, 2017
In 2014, the sport of table tennis became an official varsity sport in New York City public schools. Today, 22 public schools throughout the five boroughs all compete against one another during the winter season in the PSAL (Public School Athletic League). The sport does not demand large quantities of...
Navigating ADHD: in and out of the classroom
Ruthie Yankwitt
December 3, 2017
Earlier this week, I received an email from my calculus teacher. The subject line was “YOUR GRADE – SEATING ARRANGEMENT,” instantly I felt my heartbeat quicken and my phone slip in my hands as my palms became sweaty. I wasn’t nervous about my grade; I was nervous about the prospect of another...
The Rappaccini Variations: separating intent from impact
Allison Li
November 18, 2017
Starting off my senior year, one of the things I most looked forward to throughout the week was rehearsal for the Rappaccini Variations. I was eager to improve my acting skills and participate in a play at school for the first time. I was particularly excited by the concept of this production, a retelling...
Casual use of offensive jokes: it’s not funny
Surya Gowda, Staff Writer
November 18, 2017
As a school, we pride ourselves in our diversity and acceptance of all cultures and identities. It is written in our core values and put in practice in our classrooms. Though it sounds good on paper, is that really what happens behind the doors of the library classrooms and casual conversations with...
Defining beauty: my senior year without makeup
Emma Jones
November 6, 2017
What does your face really look like? This might seem like an obvious question, but many women have two faces they wear, one of which is completely artificial. For most of high school, I really liked to wear makeup. I thought eyeliner was fun, and I’m grateful for the way that colorful makeup allowed...
