21 search results for "senior seminar"

Introducing MHS Senior Seminar editorials

Beginning October 27th 2009, MyTownMatters is publishing editorials written by students enrolled in Senior Seminar at Milton High School.

Senior Seminar is an honors level History elective in which students study contemporary world issues. As part of their coursework, students have a biweekly assignment to select a news topic and write a persuasive essay advocating a particular point of view with regard to that topic. There are no guidelines regarding topic selection. They  are selected by the students based on their individual interests and concerns. Anything from domestic health policy to international climate change to President Obama’s recent endorsement of Deval Patrick are all possibilities.

The first editorial was written by Emily Hughes and posted on 10.27.09. She discusses standardized educational test scores as a gauge of teacher performance. It is a good example of a national topic with local relevance. New editorials are published every Sunday. You can view a list of published editorials here.

We welcome these thoughtful, informed contributions to public discourse and want to thank Ms. Barbara Wright, Chair of the MHS History Department, and the students of Senior Seminar for the opportunity to share them.

NOTE: The views expressed are those of the the students. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Milton High School or MyTownMatters.

Homelessness Tough for Teens

Learn more about Senior Seminar Editorials here. View a list of previous editorials here.

A Senior Seminar Editorial by Julie Mitchell, MHS 2010

There is an epidemic spreading throughout Massachusetts between adult teenagers and homelessness. Throughout the Unites States nearly 1.3 million of the United State’s youth society is deeply affected by the crippling damage of homelessness. 

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Smoking: a right or a threat?

Learn more about Senior Seminar Editorials here. View a list of previous editorials here.

A Senior Seminar Editorial by Kathleen Coombs, MHS 2010

A recent article in the Argus Press reported that local bar owners in the latest state to establish a smoking ban are furious.  Michigan is the 38th state to go “smoke free” in restaurants, bars, and workplaces. 

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Youth Mathematics

Learn more about Senior Seminar Editorials here. View a list of previous editorials here.

A Senior Seminar Editorial by Colman Flanagan, MHS 2010

A common misconception is made way too often among scientists regarding the study of mathematics in children before the age of five years old. For the last century, the vast majority of scientists and educators believed that the brain of a child younger than five years old was simply not ready to do any type of mathematics.

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Barbie’s Islamic Makeover

Learn more about Senior Seminar Editorials here. View a list of previous editorials here.

A Senior Seminar Editorial by Danya Kiernan, MHS 2010

There has been much controversy over Barbie’s new “Islamic look”.   This new look is composed of a Burka, the traditional Islamic dress with a mesh eye hole and a head-covering Muslim veil known as the Hijab.  While some people think this is a great idea, others feel is insulting.

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TV review: “Jersey Shore” is offensive

Learn more about Senior Seminar Editorials here. View a list of previous editorials here.

A Senior Seminar Editorial by Kristen Caniff, MHS 2010

Similar to other pointless reality shows invading our society, MTV’s “Jersey Shore” has generated its own following. The majority of the viewers watch the show because of its absurd cast which consists of eight Italian Americans. It is almost like watching a car accident about to occur; one wants to get as far away as possible however something lures one in because of the forthcoming mayhem.

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Lowering the drinking age to 18 years old will not help

NOTE:  The following editorial was submitted by a 7th grade middle school student in Bellevue, WA. She wrote it as a counterpoint to an editorial we ran a couple of weeks ago, “Why it makes sense to lower the drinking age.” You can find it here.

Learn more about Senior Seminar Editorials here. View a list of previous editorials here.

An Editorial by Shareen Khatibloo, Tyee Middle School, Bellvue WA

I came across your article, and it got me thinking about teen drinking. So I did some research on this topic, and I have to say that I disagree with what you are stating in your editorial.  I think that lowering the drinking age to 18 years old will not help this issue very much.

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It’s time to abolish the death penalty

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A Senior Seminar Editorial by Maureen Walsh, MHS 2010

Editorial of the Death Penalty: January 7, 2010

Although the death penalty is banned in many countries around the world, the United States is one country that allows it to remain. Whether capital punishment should remain as a punishment for crimes has been debated for centuries.

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Why it makes sense to lower the drinking age

Learn more about Senior Seminar Editorials here. View a list of previous editorials here.

A Senior Seminar Editorial by Mary Slowey, MHS 2010

In the fall of 2008, a group of more than one hundred college presidents signed a declaration stating that the drinking age should be lowered to the age of eighteen.  This group included the presidents of prestigious schools such as Dartmouth, Virginia Tech and Duke.  The drinking age was raised to twenty one back in the mid-1980’s, but this change was obviously not very effective seeing as

there is a major problem with underage drinking in our society today

.  Initially, the law was created to reduce the number of drunk driving accidents, but this comes with the cost of raising the number of off-road, alcohol related deaths.  In order to lower the number of underage drinkers, and therefore lower the number of alcohol related deaths in general, we should begin by first lowering the drinking age to eighteen, as the college presidents have proposed.

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Point/Counterpoint: The US-Saudi Alliance is Key

[NOTE: This is the second in a pair of articles that take opposing points of view with regard to the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia. In the following editorial, Ms. Riordan argues against the relationship. Last week we published an editorial by MHS student, Gillian Riordan, offering a counterpoint to this. You can find that article here.]

Learn more about Senior Seminar Editorials here. View a list of previous editorials here.

A Senior Seminar Editorial by Edward Corcoran, MHS 2010

Since 1933, the United States has been allied to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  Although the original terms heavily favored the US, the two countries have remained together.  For the past eight years, following the September 11 attacks, the alliance has been questioned.  Home country of Osama bin Laden, the Kingdom has come under scrutiny for this connection to bin Laden, as well as other potential terrorist connections.  Also, Saudi Arabia is notorious for its civil rights violations, especially against women.  However, the US and Saudi Arabia need to stay allied.  Saudi Arabia’s culture has been religiously controlled for centuries, and has not changed much.  The US uses Saudi Arabia as a foothold in the Middle East, and buys most of its oil from the Kingdom.  The biggest reason for the alliance is the threat posed to the Saudi Arabian monarchy by Osama bin Laden, and other terrorist organizations.

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