schools

In a season that was not meant to be, the Robbinsville Ravens have once again soared to great heights. This outstanding group of student-athletes has demonstrated their tenacity and their drive this season. They have worked exceptionally hard, both on their game and on keeping themselves and their teammates safe. In their recent game against Lawrence, the team suffered a COVID exposure through no fault of their own, and are now being penalized for this occurrence. The governing body of scholastic athletics in New Jersey - the NJSIAA - has REFUSED to postpone the Championship game between Robbinsville and Nottingham scheduled for March 6th, choosing instead to prohibit the varsity team from competing. The Varsity Ravens have earned the right to play in this championship. These students have sacrificed enough. For many on the varsity team, this game constitutes the last chance to play for their beloved High School team and make their community proud. We ask that as soon as the team returns negative tests; that they would be allowed to compete in a postponed championship game.

The students in the Piscataway public school systems should be allowed to set their own display names on Schoology. Piscataway public schools have used Schoology as a platform to communicate with students and teachers, to create assignments, and to take tests. During virtual learning, the bulk of the work done is done on Schoology or submitted to the teachers via schoology. There is, however, one problem with Schoology. Many transgender (trans) and gender-non-conforming students can only have their legal names (deadnames) on Schoology as their display names. Many trans and gender-non-conforming students change their name from their legal name to better represent their gender identity.  Not allowing students to change their display names is actively is causing students discomfort in their learning environment. Many trans and gender-non-conforming students have had their display names changed to their preferred names, only to have them switched back to their legal ones. This can cause intense discomfort and heighten gender dysphoria for these students. This is why I'm urging the administrators of Piscataway's Schoology to let students change their display names. It would allow students to better reflect their identity, and make them more comfortable in a learning environment.

The J&J vaccine has been approved and 80,000 doses will go to Massachusetts in March. We are petitioning for all 80,000 doses to be dedicated to the 72,000 teachers in our state so that the children can return to in person  school. Our great state was founded on strong principles that education is of the highest importance. Let's hold true to that belief by getting teachers back into the classrooms and children back to learning the traditional way. 

The problem about IXL is it's rigged. The point system is glitched and it doesn't help kids. I looked at recent reviews and it actually makes students less engaged in the lesson IXL has to offer. Also, I found that some of the lessons make you assume genders. This makes students very stressed when they are in the "Challenge Zone" and they get a question wrong and are back down to like 80-78. This can be resolved by just getting rid of IXL from public education in all the states of the U.S. and maybe other countries. We must get rid of this IXL website for the good of us students. I am am 7th grader that currently is assigned to IXL for English and its terrible. It stress's me so much and makes me angry. This is the worst website ever.