The Hoofprint – January 7, 2010

You are better at... Understanding what is explained to you Explaining what you understand

Do you tend to remember dreams? Yes No

In an argument or heated discussion, you tend to... come to an understanding Drive your point home

If a friend asks you if they’ve gained weight, you are... completely honest spare her feelings

Even if you aren’t one yourself, you understand why people are vegetarians... True False

For relaxing reading, you chose... Fiction Non-Fiction

When someone is acting strange, you tend to... Ask for an explanation Try to read between the lines

If you have a problem you tend to... ask for input solve it alone

If your friend has a problem, it becomes yours as well... True False

RESULTS

FEMALE You think like a female. You are likely friendly, empathetic, organized, and in tune with emotions.

MALE You think like a male. You are likely more independent, solve problems by yourself and do not express emotion as often.

Students and teachers are mourning the death of 17-year-old Jonathon Kramnic, killed November 22 in a head-on collision in St. Michael.

Kramnic was one of two drivers in the crash on County Road 35 near Jamison Avenue. He lived with his father in Brooklyn Center, said Laura Barta, a spokeswoman for the district.

An eastbound 2001 Chevrolet Silverado pickup and a westbound 1998 Toyota Camry being driven by Kramnic collided about 6:25 p.m., the Wright County Sheriff’s Office said.

The Silverado’s driver, 44-year-old Todd Lifto, was taken to Mercy Hospital. No passengers were in the vehicles and the crash remains under investigation, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Kramnic was headed to see friends when he was killed, stepfather Wally Schatzley said. “He was exuberant in everything. He just loved life,” he added.

Kramnic is being remembered as a soccer standout who was active in a student newspaper, Barta said.

“He made a lot of friends, he knew a lot of kids,” she said. “He was a great student, a great friend, so energetic and lively.”

The principal sent messages to staffers and phoned parents to inform them of Kramnic’s death, Barta said. Counselors were at the school the following week to provide support, while students left messages on a rock on campus.

“A lot of students didn’t come to school because they were so distraught,” Barta said.

Todd Lifto, 44, was charged with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide in the death of Kramnic, said Tom Kelly, the county attorney.

It’s the second death of a Buffalo High student in an accident in two months. In September, 16-year-old Tyler Wood was killed by a train as she walked on railroad tracks in Buffalo.

-Story from the Minneapolis StarTribune.

Taking action at the October 26 school board meeting, the board approved a one-year pay freeze for teachers and other district employees for the 2009-2010 schoolyear.

Teachers are given contracts that are renewed every two years, and in July, negotiations regarding a “master agreement” (contract) for years 2009 through 2010 began with members of the district’s teacher negotiations committee. In September, a tentative agreement was reached and teachers voted in October to ratify the agreement. The teachers understood the district’s financial situation and agreed to a pay freeze for year one (2009-10) of their contract.

“Considering the financial situation and the fact we (teachers) had to take a freeze, this was one of the best negotiations I have had with the board,” said Science Teacher & Teacher’s Union Chief Negotiator Kip Wold. “This board team was especially respectful of our table team and the issues we brought to the table.”

The only teachers who will receive a pay adjustment are the 56 teachers (out of 357 teachers total) who completed the required credits for on-going learning increases. That means 84 percent of the teaching staff will have their pay frozen this year. For 2010-11, a two percent pay improvement was approved. Overall, the teachers’ package includes only a three percent improvement total over two years.

-Additional information from bhmschools.org

The district-wide absence rate is holding steady at about three to five percent of students missing from school. According to the School Nurse Justine Stephens, about 70 students come to the nurse’s office a day, and out of those 70, usually five or six students go home due to being sick.

“Out of the 70 who usually come to the health office, the major reasons are headaches, stomachaches, or just small injuries that they would need a band aid for,” said Stephens. “Around Thanksgiving is usually when we get most kids to the office, but this year, it started right away in September, and the amount of kids leaving school cause they’re sick almost doubled.”

Due to this increase in illness, Wright County Public Health has decided to offer free H1N1 vaccinations for anyone and everyone on January 14th from 2:00 to 6:00pm. The vaccinations will be given on a first come, first serve basis and no appointments will be taken.

“My daughter received the vaccination because it was just the right thing to do,” said Spanish Teacher Nancy Eiynck. “I don’t want her to be sick, and I don’t want any other children to be sick.”

Peek into the CIS Chemistry classroom and see a female student wearing goggles, performing a lab with a Bunsen burner. Glance into an art classroom and see a male student making an elaborate bracelet. Look into a technology education classroom and see a female student welding. Each of these scenes would usually be considered uncommon, but all throughout BHS students are continuing to break normal educational gender roles.

“I’m in Jewelry with two other guys,” said Senior Justin Doll. “It’s definitely different. Guys are a lot more confident when there are more guys in a classroom, and the class is usually more laidback. Female-dominated classes are a bit more boring, probably because guys don’t usually care or don’t know what to do. It seems like guys are usually better in math and girls are better in English-type classes.”

Despite societal norms that dictate that boys should take the more technological subjects and that girls should take the more art- based subjects, students find themselves eager to take classes that generate and fit their interests rather than reinforce their gender’s stereotypes.

“I’m actually in two classes that are almost all guys,” said Senior Leah Petersen. “My third block Metal Fabrication class has only four girls, and in my fourth block class, which is Automotive Engineering & Design, I am the only girl. And I’m actually welding in my Metal class. I’m not a great welder, but I really enjoy doing it. My dad is a welder, but he never taught me… Did he never teach me how to weld because I’m a girl? No, he never taught me because I never showed interest until now. My parents actually like that I’m taking some different classes this year, they think it’s helping me be a more well-rounded person, because I will have experience in a variety of subjects, not just the normal high school experience.”

This newfound interest in atypical classes could be contributed to the women’s movement and increase of a feminist presence in society, according to the National Education Association. But just because females are more willing to take a male-dominated class (or vice versa), does that mean they are just as good at the subject?

“There are definitely some differences between girls and boys when it comes to how they perform,” said Petersen. “Auto engineering is a really challenging class for me, but I know there are guys that think it’s ridiculously easy. And I’m sure there are classes where I could outperform them, but I don’t know if it’s actually gender-related, or if it’s influenced by how we’re raised.”

“There are a few ladies in my Jewelry class that talk way too loud and about very stupid stuff, but they’re definitely better at making jewelry, because they actually know what looks good,” said Doll. “The stuff I make looks stupid and usually ugly. I have to work more at doing well.”

Even at a faculty level, gender ratios are skewed. A higher concentration of female students can be found in the FACS department, being taught by the two female teachers. A large number of boys can be found in the Technology Education department, being taught by the three male teachers. Perhaps the most baffling department is the Business Department—a subject that is considered more for boys, but taught by only females.

“Computer technology is one field where it is more male- dominated, yet every year you see more women working with technology and in business,” said Business Teacher Rebecca Karna. “ It’s nice to have a balance so we can try to reach as many students as possible. In all seriousness I think it would be good to have a male in the department. There are some students who prefer male teachers to female teachers--they just seem to connect better. It’s nice to have a balance so we can try to reach as many students as possible. Right now I teach all of the web design classes and it would be nice to share them or have input from another teacher. Also, we deal with technology all day, every day. We would need someone who wasn’t scared to try new things and who loved business.”

The most evenly biased department in the building is the Social Studies department, with six female teachers and six male teachers.

“I think the equal mix is good for us,” said Social Studies Teacher Tracy Hulley. “It brings in a lot of different, diverse perspectives. Sometimes I’ll be working on a project with [Social Studies Teacher Scott] Palmer and he’ll bring up things that I never would have even thought of.”

“I’m not sure if the male to female ratio plays a huge part,” said Karna. “I think it depends on the personalities and people within each department, and also the size of the department. I know it’s hard to talk with the entire Social Studies department because of the amount of people and the different schedules. With only three of us [in the Business Department], we can talk and connect on a daily basis. If our personality make-up was different I think we would function in a different mode. We’ve found what works for us and we ran with it. I’ve really enjoyed every year here with [Business Teacher] Jennifer [Kremers] and [Business Teacher] Brenda [Diekman]. I would hope that teachers wouldn’t let others in the department have an effect on their teaching style.”

Males may perform better on standardized testing, but females are still dominating inside of the classroom.

Based off of last year’s ACT scores of students, boys scored .6 points higher than girls. Even on the SAT subject tests, boys outperformed girls on nearly every level.

But when it comes to the classroom, it’s female territory. In the 2003-2004 school year, 585 total F’s were given to males, whereas only 272 F’s were given to females. Based off of last year’s Academic Excellence Awards Program, females outperform males on nearly all levels. Looking at the Top Ten awards, nine out of last year’s seniors top ten were female. For this year’s classes, six senior, eight junior, and nine sophomore females make up their respective Top Tens. 60% of last year’s department awards given out at Academic Excellence were to girls, as well as the majority of Presidential Awards.

“I think it’s like that probably because girls tend to mature faster and then we aren’t so hyperactive in school... we can focus better,” said Senior and Top Ten Megan Davis. “Personally, I think I perform well because my parents expect it. I don’t really study, but I’m competitive enough to do my assignment and to want to do it well.”

At age 15, women had better grades, performed better on standardized tests, and had better study habits than their male counterparts. Additionally, parents placed greater academic expectations on daughters. Parental infl uence is a key determining factor as to whether a student will go to university.

“Girls are also more likely to go post-secondary than boys,” said Counselor Mark Jones. “I believe this is because girls are just more ready for it on an academic level and on a maturity level.”

At a national level, more boys than girls are suspended from school and more are held back and more drop out. Boys are three times as likely as girls to be enrolled in special education programs and four times as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD.

Girls also take more Advanced Placement (AP) tests than boys do, except for in three categories: math, science, and computer science. Girls represent only 15% of AP Physics classes, and are signifi cantly less likely to take the AP exam in calculus and computer science, and are fi ve times less likely to consider a technology-related career. Boys still dominate in physics, calculus, and other advanced courses, whereas girls are more likely to take art-based subjects like English, foreign language, and history.

Forbes released its annual list of World’s Most Powerful People on December 11th. Sixty-seven people were chosen across the globe, each one representing 100 million people on the planet. Of the 67 powerful people, 3 were female, and 64 were male.

For the men, Barack Obama led the way at #1, closely followed by Hu Jintao, the President of the People’s Republic of China. At #3 was Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel was the highest-ranked female at #15, followed by Hillary Clinton at #17, and to round out the females, Oprah Winfrey #45.

“It was to be expected” said English Teacher Denise Wahlin-Fiskum. “We live in a very patriarchal society, where we just don’t view women as the same.”

Candidates had to pass four essential standards: have infl uence over others, are relatively large in their fi eld, are powerful in more than one aspect, and actively use their power.

The gender issue stemmed from a simple conversation last month about the differences between boys and girls in education. Editors of The Hoofprint and adviser Ryan McCallum began this conversation while working on the last issue, discussing why boys tend to score higher on the ACT and other standardized tests while lagging behind on GPA for all four years. The small conversation soon turned into a staff discussion about the differences in gender. Our theme for the next issue was born.

The conversation was so interesting to us that we felt we could extend it into a sixteen-page newspaper. We hope this issue demonstrates the strong feelings we believe people hold about male and female differences and sparks extensions of our conversation. We encourage students to ask our staff any questions about the content in this issue, and to continue the discussion we all enjoyed.

We aren’t trying to give you the answers. The staff of The Hoofprint recognizes that the issue contains diffi cult questions that may not have a defi nitive answer. Rather, we aim to present the facts that exist at Buffalo High School as we’ve found them. It’s our goal for students to take these facts and form their own opinions. With luck, we will ignite debates among students and teachers alike, and prove the importance of talking about gender. Being aware of our differences will only enhance the way they are taught and perceived in society.

This paper is bursting with information that compares boys and girls in new, but relatable ways. It compares the ratio of boys and girls in certain classes, test scores and GPA variations, what both girls and boys do after graduation, and how they choose to keep themselves entertained. However, we do not condone gender segregation. Instead, we promote coming together in spite of the ways that we differ. Remember, we don’t presume to know the answers to the questions we’ve raised in this issue. We hope you’ll take it upon yourselves to fi nd them.

In a survey about Body image, conducted by Dove, 90% of the women they polled around the globe admitted they want to change some part of their appearance, and when asked if beauty is too narrowly defined by physical appearance, 70% said yes.

We are living in a time where it seems beauty defines what we’re worth, where we’re surrounded constantly by photo-shopped ads and models on runways, telling us what is fashionable, what makes us ‘look good.’ We are living in a world where magazines and television shows are telling us we need to change our bodies, our hair color, our weight to become beautiful. We are born a certain way, our genetic coding tells us what we are naturally meant to look like, so why are we running to the plastic surgeon’s ofice for Botox, liposuction and breast implants?

I think ‘beauty’ sucks. Not the natural type of beautiful, but the material, fit- into-this-image, you-must-look-a-certain-way ‘beauty,’ because it forces us to change ourselves to mold to someone else’s idea of looking good. I don’t understand why girls are told to wear makeup, shave, act ladylike while guys don’t have to do anything like that. Americans spent over seven billion dollars on beauty products last year--seven billion dollars!

Dr.. Oz, who episodically appears on the Oprah show, says, “The reason beauty is so important to us is because beauty is all about health.” If that’s true, then why are millions of girls in the world starving themselves, vomiting up food to lose weight because they think they need to? That’s certainly not healthy. In Mauritania, a country in the middle east, plump girls are considered beautiful. The women there actually force- feed themselves and buy black-market drugs, meant for animals, to gain weight.

The new definition of beauty is not necessarily how naturally pretty we are, but what we do with our natural beauty. Instead of thinking, “That girl is really pretty,” we now are conditioned by society to think, “She would be so pretty if only she got a nose-job/lost ten pounds/wore concealer.”

I really don’t want to live in a world where we need to change ourselves to become ‘beautiful.’

I look around and see elementary school girls wearing name-brand clothing, makeup and false hair extensions like some thing they conform to- -do I really want my children growing up thinking that they need to change how they look just so they can ‘fit in’ and become ‘beautiful?’

Even though I so strongly believe this, I still wake up every morning and put on makeup, look at myself in the mirror and think, “I would look better if only...[insert complaints here].” I hate that I think that, but I still do, all the same. Maybe now that more women are starting to accept their natural body size, society will realize that we don’t all fit into the same pair of genes.

Founded in 2002, the National Association for Single Sex Education originally began with just 11 classrooms that were single-gendered, and has since spread to over 547 public schools which offer single-gender opportunities. I firmly believe a program like this would be strongly beneficial if implemented at Buffalo High School.

One of the biggest differences in how boys and girls learn derives from the fact that girls mature differently than boys do, as evidenced by the biological differences present in the brains of said group.

One of the main problems in the co-ed format is the development of the phenomenon called “gender intensification,” which means that when girls and boys are together, they are mindful of acting like an “appropriate” girl or an “appropriate” boy- the idea that physics is for boys and English is for girls. We live in a very sexist culture, and the idea of crossing gender roles is almost unheard of because, let’s face it, few girls want to be the only girl in a class of 20 boys. It’s not a very comfortable situation.

“I believe that in some cases single-gendered classrooms would be beneficial,” said Technology Education Teacher Kurt Konsela. “I think that sometimes girls don’t take our tech. ed. classes because they think they’re going into a class that is male-dominated.”

For girls, single-gendered classrooms offer an opportunity for girls to explore more “non-traditional” subjects such as computer science and physics. According to The National Education Association, “girls who learn in all-girl environments are believed to be more comfortable responding to question and sharing their opinions.” Single-gendered classrooms also encourage girls to be more self-confident, independent, and to take on leadership roles in the community. I know that in my own experience, my junior-year Women in Literature course was dominated solely by females, and that environment for me was a lot more comfortable and allowed me to express my ideas more freely without worrying about whether or not I would be criticized for them.

The benefits aren’t just for girls, though. A lot of people will claim that single-sex education is “good for girls, but not for boys.” But recent studies done by Cambridge University suggest that a gender-specific environment leads to a hike in success rates among boys and spikes in an interest in a wide range of interests and activities. In single-gendered environments, boys enjoy the fl exibility of breaking normal stereotypes and can be a geek and a jock at the same time. Boys also tend to do better in terms of maturity and social adjustment.

Studies also suggest that enthusiasm towards education is significantly higher in single-gendered classrooms, especially among boys, who tend to perceive school as an institution run largely by women. Studies have shown that starting in the primary years, boys slowly start to lose more interest the longer they attend school.

“For many boys this age, it can be cool to be not-smart,” said Art Teacher Jon Holtz. “They won’t work as hard.”

If this plan was to be implemented at BHS, it is key to note that boys and girls would still have the same standards, just in different classrooms and in different ways.

What one also needs to realize is that the main reason for single- gendered classrooms is because there’s a large variation within sexes, and that focusing on that variation can lead to amazing opportunities. There is no need to panic. Students would still spend time in mixed environments, such as during lunch or in non-core classes, and students who want to opt out of the program could.

The perception of what it means to be a strong woman has dramatically changed. Girls today are no longer “confined” to becoming housewives. Women are free to lead lives like Angelina Jolie and Michelle Obama - balancing successful careers with happy, healthy families, with all opportunities open to us.

Yet these women did not make me feel empowered to achieve my dream, but guilty for having chosen the wrong one: to be a stay-at-home mother. This is 2010 - young women are no longer expected to raise a family or even marry until they’ve graduated college, established a career and have “lived their own life” first. Of 100 female students surveyed, 99 wished to pursue a successful career, and of 94 who wished to be mothers, 46 plan to have/adopt their first child after age 25, which is the average age of mothers at first birth, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

It isn’t normal anymore to just want a family. A woman must first find success both in the corporate world and at home if she is to be called strong. I am under the impression that my dream of raising children isn’t enough in itself; that it would not allow me to reach my “full potential” as a woman. My dream of being a stay at home mother is now an insult to every woman who fought for equality in the workplace, and it is thought of taking the easy way out.

What a foolish idea. Although I cannot speak from personal experience, no other job description requires changing diapers before sunrise, checking geometry homework despite a headache, and fighting back sleep until a son drives home safely (if past curfew). Parenting is a huge responsibility, and, unlike a career, it never ends.

Despite the tremendous workload motherhood brings, I’ve realized there are so many experiences I want to share with my children that being in a busy career would take away from me. I want to sit in the front row at every school play, to bake a tray of snickerdoodles as an after-school snack, to sing “I Will” to them as they nod off to sleep. I have realized that this matters so much more to me than gaining strangers’ respect in the corporate world.

I know what a strong woman is. She is the construction worker, the actress, the Secretary of State, and yes, even the stay-at-home mother. She is woman who would not settle for fetching coffee for her boss, but fought for equality and respect in the workplace. She is the strong American woman, whether she is consulting with a CEO in Singapore or making sandwiches for little faces in the living room.

She is the woman who follows her own dream, not anyone else’s. She defines her own definition of success. And If I can one day dance around with a little fella on my hip, naming the animals at the zoo, I can be a strong woman, too.

It is the year 2010, and society has made huge strides in improving the living standard of millions around the world. But even with all this many males still hold to the testosterone driven dogma of how they should live their lives. For men, certain ways of thinking, acting, and even daily living are in taboo, and to address them is to call into question your own masculinity. You have to be the working man of the house, be straight, love sports, and think in certain terms to be accepted as male. This can be harmful to your health, and causes you to sacrifice your free will for public opinion.

For almost as long as man and woman have walked this Earth, men were the providers of income, while women stayed at home and raised the children. It wasn’t until WWII (in the US at least) that women got out into the workforce. After the war, women won their civil rights and a new phenomenon began: the stay at home dad. For a many years, this situation was rare. However, according to the US Census Bureau, stay at home dads have increased three-fold from 1996, and according to ABC this trend is on the rise. Men should not be ashamed to stay at home with their kids. They will be getting to spend more time with their children when they otherwise might not. According to the Population Reference Bureau, fathers usually only spend 6.5 hours with their kids every week. If more men took the chance of staying home instead of fitting into the family leader stereotype, they would have the equally if not more important job of raising their children to be good people.

There are very few issues that raise a heated debate faster than the topic of homosexuality. Many males who are homosexual are afraid to speak up, and even those who aren’t gay are afraid to support gay rights. They don’t want to be called “queer”. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association, sexual orientation involves a complex mixture of biology, psychology, and environmental factors, which is to say you don’t “choose” your sexual preferences. If you “chose” your sexuality couldn’t you go up to any straight man and ask “when exactly did you decide to be straight?” Suppressing you sexual feelings can be very stressful and even lead to depression. Organizations like the Westboro Baptist Church who use religion to attack people are wrong. Churches can bar people from worship in their buildings if they so choose, but to try and force people to believe like they do, and label people outside their religion as “heretics” is sick. Please, if you know someone who’s gay get over it. It harms no one.

Every man on this planet is different. No one person has the same genes, has grown up in the same environment, or has the same ideals. There is no right way to be a “man”. Be who you are, because that’s who you want to be. Trying to live your life to the standard of others is to be nothing more than a slave to society.

The fi rst stepping stones of schooling all happen in the elementary schools. From learning how to write and read, to trying long division, boys and girls differ in the way they progress through the elementary stage. The Truth About Boys and Girls says that boys are falling behind girls in elementary and secondary schools, which is leading to boys being outnumbered on college campuses. In one of BHM’s schools, the average third grade girl spends thirty minutes on homework each night, while the boys spend about half that. When asked about their favorite subject in school, the majority of girls enjoy art, while the boys would rather be in science or gym. From that, the dominant half of the brain in boys and girls are opposites of one another. Boys and girls agree on one thing in our schools, what they like most in a teacher. Approximately sixty-fi ve percent of students thought that being nice was the number one component. As the curriculum increases in complexity in the transition from elementary to middle school so does the setting.

There is a great deal of debate about whether there are differences in the way boys and girls develop and perform academically. According to “Gender Bias in Education”, in middle school, girls are socialized to recognize popularity fi rst, and then educational ability and performance. In sixth grade, boys seem to be more focused on there schoolwork than girls, but in seventh grade, it is reversed. One of the reasons that tends to happen is the fact that in seventh grade, students are now eligible to participate in more extracurricular activities and sports.

As students mature, their perspectives of how boys and girls progress change. Freshman Will Bauman says, “Girls have a better work ethic. Therefore, most girls do better than most boys.” However, Junior Dani Nordin says, “I believe it depends on the person and their mind set.” In reference to high school, The Truth About Boys and Girls says that sixty six percent of girls are engaged in dieting, and spend more attention on their personal fi gures than anything else. Guys generally don’t take that factor too dramatically, and focus more on their sports and studies. Girls also may feel that being intelligent confl icts with popularity, so their schoolwork is neglected. At BHS, ninety-seven percent of students surveyed thought that girls perform better than boys in the early years of high school, but boys generally fi nish off stronger. As the journey through grade school fi nally comes to a close, all of the competitions, fights, and cliques are forgotten, and real world battles become reality.

number of sports played by a boy attending Buffalo Community Middle School is three, while the girls average participation is two. There is also evidence that girls are more successful academically than boys. On the other hand, when examining the classroom, it is still shown that girls and boys are being socialized in a way that is against gender equity. Seventh Grader Abi Thorn says, “I like that the teachers at BCMS treat boys and girls fairly and equally.” As the last transition of grade school approaches, students may become more apprehensive on what high school will bring.

The immense gap between the roles of men and women began to change in World War II, which was where the realization was brought to life that woman deserve equality to men. They were able to perform the same skills at the same level as a men could, astonishing many people, this began to change society. The traditional woman has become more and more diffi cult to fi nd. They aren’t only doing the cooking and cleaning anymore, but they have excelled in the work place as they continue to increase their power and prominence throughout the world.

However, as women work towards being successful, their status in relationships with men has begun to change.

“Guys just keep getting lazier and lazier,” said Junior Megan Durst. “They just see girls as their friends, so they feel like they don’t need to work to impress them, and they automatically assume that it’s not a big deal and you’ll still be impressed in them.”

According to survey results, boys and girls choose to share the responsibility in the noticeable change that is happening in many relationships. The amount of woman who decide to live very assertively and independently is increasing. Woman now take things into their own hands, such as calling a guy up for a date or even proposing.

“I think it’s cool when girls can be pretty independent and aren’t super clingy,” said Sophomore Jackson Becker. “But, it’s hard to make relationships work when thy won’t let you do anything. I mean I still want to feel needed.”

It isn’t just in the working environment that equality has become more apparent. According to an article in New York Times Magazine “Gender should not determine the division of the labor at home, or the upbringing of a child. Families who abide by this tend to feel happier and more secure.” Over 50 parents of the students surveyed said that their parents share equal responsibility at home.

“My parents both infl uence my life,” said Sophomore Alexis Magaard. “I view them as equals, like before one makes a decision like grounding me they talk it over. Overall, I like how it works.”

A leader is defined as a person who leads, guides, or inspires others.

A certain combination of qualities and abilities enable them to take charge of situations, but could it be possible that gender also plays a role? Males and females are often stereo-typed in the United States, meaning that the way the majority of people view them is how they are portrayed to society as a whole.

Of the students surveyed, which included both males and females, 63% expressed the opinion that males make better leaders overall. Surveyed students also agreed that males are often stereotyped as natural leaders and are stronger willed than females.

“I just think guys are more motivational,” said Junior Victor Hernandez. “They push groups better. They are more opinionated and competitive and try to be good at things. They just care more about being in charge.”

According to www.hrworld.com, an effective leadership quality is to have a vision. This means setting goals and knowing the steps to take in order to reach them. 59% of students agreed that males also have this specific ability, more so than females.

“We’re more goal-oriented because we know the only way to get girls is be successful,” said Junior Justin Marchlewski. “Girls know what’s better but they are usually more indecisive about how to get it. Guys know what to do to get what they want or need and are more confi dent while doing so.”

On the other hand, 81% expressed the opinion that females tend to be more organized than males. Surveyed students also came to the conclusion that females are often stereo-typed as smart and worrisome compared to males, who many stereo-typed as cocky.

“Girls care about the little things more than guys do,” said Junior Dakota Larson. “They take way more time to focus and take care of details that guys would just brush off.”

Although the majority of students agreed that males make better leaders, 58% of surveyed students concluded that there are more female leaders within Buffalo High School.

“Girls seem to be more interested in leadership at this age,” said Senior Leah Petersen. “We already realize that there is a need for positive role models, so we do our best to be one. I also think that high school boys are still in that dorky stage, where they’re still maybe a little embarrassed to be “out there” for the rest of the school to see.”

Although stronger female leadership may be true of Buffalo High School, it is not necessarily true world-wide. After all, every President of the United States has been a male, and according to www.thisnation.com males represent 83% of The United States House of Representatives in 2009.

“I think males like to argue more,” said Freshman Zoe Kunz. “They get elected more because they seem to have a higher authority and some type of power. Girls should be elected more often because we can do what guys do, but we can do it better.”

Girls’ Favorite Actor and Actress: Johnny Depp and Megan Fox

Boys’ Favorite Actor and Actress: Will Smith and Megan Fox

Influenced by Music Top Music Genres for both Boys and Girls: 1. Rock 2. Rap 3. Pop

Big Reads Top Books for Girls: Twilight and Harry Potter

Top Books for Boys: Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings

What’s on the Screen? Most popular television show for boys: Family Guy

Most popular television show for girls: The Office

Most popular movie for boys: The Dark Knight

Most popular movie for girls: Twilight

On the Interweb Top Websites for both Boys and Girls: facebook Google YouTube

Girls’ Hockey Win against North Metro 3-2 Lose against Edina 7-1 Win against Brainerd/Little Falls 5-3 Win against Fairbault 6-2 Tie against Maple grove 5-5 Win against Rogers 3-1 Win against Cambridge/Isanti 2-0 Lose against Mound/Westonka 4-2 Lose against Minnetonka 8-1 Win against Orono 4-1 Cable 12 tournament 2-1 7-4-1

Boys’ Hockey Win against North Metro 3-2 Lose against Edina 7-1 Win against Brainerd/Little Falls 5-3 Win against Fairbault 6-2 Tie against Maple grove 5-5 Win against Rogers 3-1 Win against Cambridge/Isanti 2-0 Lose against Mound/Westonka 4-2 Lose against Minnetonka 8-1 Win against Orono 4-1 Duluth invite 0-2-1 2-7-1

Girls’ Basketball Win against Elk River 52-48 Win against Alexandria 67-60 Win against Coon Rapids 57-53 Win against Tartan 58-47 Win against Princeton 61-49 Win against Monticello 54-45 Lose against Moorehead 57-55 Win against St. Micheal/Albertville 58-50 St. Cloud Tech invite 1-1 7-1

Boys’ Basketball Lose against Wayzata 8-0 Lose against Maple Grove 4-1 Lose against Cloquet 7-2 Win against Big Lake/Becker 7-2 Lose against Cloquet 10-1 Lose against Hopkins 4-0 Win against Rosemount 1-0 2-4

Gymnastics Lose against St. Francis Lose against St. Cloud Apollo Lose against Cambridge/Isanti Lose St. Cloud Tech invite 0-3 0-3

Wrestling Lose against Sauk Rapids/Rice Lose against Rocori Win against Rogers Lose against Cambridge/Isanti Lose against St.Cloud Tech Lose against Minnetonka Lose against Osseo 58-51 Win against Coon Rapids 56-54 Lose against Elk River 40-36 Lose to St. Cloud Apollo 51-40 Lose to Maple Grove 47-43 Win against St.Michael/Albertville 44-34 Lose against St. Francis Lose against St. Cloud Apollo Lose against Cambridge/Isanti Lose St. Cloud Tech invite 0-3 1-5

Tonight, January 7 6:00 pm Boys Swim and Dive vs. Orono

Tuesday, January 8 7:30 pm Boys Basketball vs. Becker

Wednesday, January 9 3:00 pm Girls Hockey vs. Wayzata 7:30 pm Boys Basketball vs. Minneapolis South

Saturday, January 12 7:30 pm Boys Basketball vs. Zimmerman

Monday, January 14 6:30 pm Gymnastics vs. STMA

Tuesday, January 15 Boys and Girls Hockey vs. Rogers -- Girls at 6:30 -- Boys at 8:00 7:00 pm Wrestling vs. STMA

Wednesday, January 16 3 Girls Hockey vs. Robinsdale Armstrong 6:00 pm Girls Basketball vs. Brainerd 7:30 Boys Basketball vs. Brainerd

While male athletes are not more “prone” to concussions than females, they do suffer them more

often because of the level of physicality in male athletics. According to USA Today, roughly 76,000

concussions occurred in male soccer and football players alone last year.

New research from The Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital

revealed that at least 40.5% of concussed athletes return to their sport too soon and increase their

chances of further injury. This raises risks for additional concussions or even death in some cases.

Studies have also been conducted on retired National Football League players, and there seems to be

a connection between concussions and depression or even early dementia.

There are two types of concussions. The first is a simple concussion in which

the person’s symptoms disappear within 10 days. The second is a complex con-

cussion, meaning that the person passed out, had seizures, or had at least one

previous concussion.

Senior Daniel Hanson has suffered five concussions in the last two years, one

from soccer and four from skiing.

“I was told to wait one year before returning to skiing after the first concus-

sion, but I only waited two months,” said Hanson. “I was going to Utah for

Spring Break to ski, so I just decided to take it easy. I also missed this year’s

section soccer game and the one before that due to a concussion at a Monticello

game.”

Symptoms include loss of consciousness, confusion, headache, vomiting,

blurred vision, loss of short term memory, and repetition. Even with mild

symptoms, anyone who has a suspected concussion is advised to seek medical

care.

Females and males are often susceptible to similar injuries, but according to www.nyp.org, it has

been proven in recent studies that adolescent female athletes are eight times more likely to sustain

injury to their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) than male athletes are. The ACL is one of the liga-

ments that connects the bones of the knee joint. Injury to the ACL most commonly occurs during

a sudden stop and twisting motion to the knee or a hard hit to the front of the knee.

Two theories have been developed as to why females are more susceptible to this injury. The first

is that adolescent females tend to strengthen the quadriceps while neglecting the hamstrings, which

leads to stress on the ACL. The second is that females tend to stand in a more

upright position during athletics, which also adds stress to the ACL.

Senior Frances Varner experienced an ACL tear her junior season of

soccer.

“I hadn’t had any knee problems up to that point,” said Varner. “I had a

small pain but I didn’t get it checked out or anything. Then in our state soc-

cer game I was running down the field chasing the player with the ball and

she kind of turned and cut back to the middle. I tried to do the same thing,

but I fell and heard and felt a pop. There was also really sharp pain outside

my knee. I had to do rehab for a month, then have surgery, then recover

from the surgery. I was devastated that I had to miss the hockey season.”

Strengthening the hamstrings, core, and hip muscles can help to prevent

injury. Taking these precautions may lessen the risk of tearing the ACL,

although it may still be a possibility.

We are constantly pressured by society telling us how we “should” look or act, and as a result many of us have formed unreal expectations for ourselves.

We always hear about how hard the media is on girls’ self esteems; that after seeing the epitome of perfection in all of Hollywood’s finest, they will never be satisfied with what they see in the mirror. But question is if these high aspirations affect both males and females.

According to Marc A. Silva, a counselor at MSOE counseling services, on average, men spend about $4,000,000,000 on exercise equipment and $3,000,000,000 on grooming aids and fragrances per year. EveryStudent.com says that women annually spend $20,000,000,000 on cosmetics and $300,000,000 on cosmetic surgeries. So even if the media’s effects on males aren’t as significant as they are among females, they are definitely existent

For example, Barbie or GI Joe produce many of these problems for young children who are exposed to these toys. They give kids an unrealistic view of body image before they even start grade school.

“A real woman build [like Barbie],” says the Media Awareness Network, “would have a back too weak to support the weight of her upper body, would suffer from chronic diarrhea [due to the small size of her abdomen], and eventually die from malnutrition.”

Boys are exposed to images just as ridiculous.

“The GI Joe Extreme action figure, if extrapolated to a height of five foot ten,” says The MSOE Counseling Service, “would have larger biceps than any bodybuilder in history.”

Nearly all models (males included) don’t really look like the pictures we see in magazines without spending thousands of dollars on plastic surgeries, and even after that they’re edited with computer techniques, according to The Consumerist. But it still becomes our standard of reality and desire and that failing to meet it is perceived as deficiency.

Don’t fall into the lie that the media is selling you when they say you don’t look good enough. They’re a business, and thus are trying to make money off of you by getting you to purchase their products. If you don’t feel like a model, you’re not deficient; chances are you’re actually healthier than those who keep their weights down by starving themselves or binging and purging, which certainly doesn’t sound very glamorous.

You are better at... Understanding what is explained to you Explaining what you understand

Do you tend to remember dreams? Yes No

In an argument or heated discussion, you tend to... come to an understanding Drive your point home

If a friend asks you if they’ve gained weight, you are... completely honest spare her feelings

Even if you aren’t one yourself, you understand why people are vegetarians... True False

For relaxing reading, you chose... Fiction Non-Fiction

When someone is acting strange, you tend to... Ask for an explanation Try to read between the lines

If you have a problem you tend to... ask for input solve it alone

If your friend has a problem, it becomes yours as well... True False

RESULTS

FEMALE You think like a female. You are likely friendly, empathetic, organized, and in tune with emotions.

MALE You think like a male. You are likely more independent, solve problems by yourself and do not express emotion as often.