Hard News Topic & Questions .

Eastview High School seniors, class of 2011-anxious for graduation day of June 4th which is quickly approaching.

"I'm excited for graduation, I'm able to start all over again, be on my own" says senior Tiarra Buchanon. She is just one of the many students who are ready to throw on the cap and gown. With it only being may, for seniors it may seem like June is years away but really only a less than a month.

"I don't think I even paid the cap and gown fee yet" jokes senior Brandon Roberts. "I'm just ready to move on though, I could care less about the ceremony". Some seniors would rather just be done than to go through with the ceremony, but some feel like it marks the next phase to their life. The beginning of their independence, for some.

Does the ceremony add to the feeling of accomplishment? Does it take as much pressure off of you as the last day of school for seniors does? "I didn't graduate from High School, but it would have been nice to go out with a big bang rather than someone handing me a G.E.D." States Tasha Sims, the mother of a senior at Eastview high school. "I think the ceremony is important because it's a reminder that you finished high school on time, even if you were struggling, you still did it. That's what makes the ceremony so special, the kids might not see it now, but they will".
It only makes sense that parents and adults would like to see their children and students walk. It's huge deal to them. Four years of hard work and dedication for most students deserves to be rewarded. “It’s absolutely important to have a ceremony, it’s a right of passage. It signals completion , four years of hard work and dedication”. Ms. Hawes says. Some students feel the same. It’s worth getting up at six A.M. every day, being on time and ready for every class, having to follow rules and respect other students even if you don’t get along. That it’s self seems like enough reason as to why it’s important to mark this transition. Even though some students feel like it’s just a waste of time.

Even though they may be ready to get High School over with, some students admit to missing a lot of it’s benefits. The set lunch times, the early release, all of those things may seem like nothing now. But being independent is one of the key responsibilities and expectations in college.
"I am going to miss not having a bell to tell me when it's time to get to class, but that's one of the prices you pay to be independent". Tiarra Buchanon states. “They’re not gonna remind me that I’m late or that I have a paper due or a test next week, I’m all on my own”.

It also seems like the students may want to get the ceremony over with because of the reality check. Once you graduate, you can't turn back. You're officially out of High School. That may scare both students and their parents but once again, it’s a transition that should be marked. They should be look back on that day and remember it for what it’s worth, not just for the moment.

• Around 600 Words.


• It starts with a summary lead (First 2 sentences & who, what, when, where, & why).


• Feature Story, twice as long.


• 5 Ws Should be in lead. (first 2 sentences).


• The body should be facts & interview.

Law & Ethics Notes .

1. What are the 5 freedoms of the 1st amendment? Press, Relgion, Assembly, Pention, & Speech .

2. What is the Tinker Standard? Student Speech cannot be censored as long as it does not "materially disrupt class or work or involve substantial disorder or invasion of other rights". (First court case in favor of students)



3. What is the Frasier Standard? School officials can censor student speech that is vulgar or indecent, even if it does not cause a "material is substantial disruption".

4. What is the Hazelwood Standard? (1988) Censorship of school-sponsored student expression is permissable when school officials can show that ut is "reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical concerns".


5. What is the Frederick Standard? (2002)


6. What is the definition of libel? It defames a peron's character, published to at least one other plaintiff & it's false.