News — In Brief: A look at East, Local and National news

EAST

English teacher Samantha Feinberg and Associate Principal Dr. Susan Leonard are working together to start a teacher education class at East, which will provide teaching experiences for students looking to pursue a career in education. 

The class will be divided into two sections: one will be dedicated to learning how to grade papers properly, how to handle different student behavior and how to create lesson plans. The other section will include traveling to a school in the district — elementary, middle, or even a high school — where students will get hands-on experience with a teacher and observe the day-to-day routine with their students. Students will be able to choose which grade level they want to train in and will be able to choose which school if opting for the elementary option.

Junior Kate Schirger has always considered teaching as a career option. However, going into college with no experience in this field, she feared she may fall out of love with the idea — this class will allow her to explore this interest while in high school.

“This class would help me decide if I really want to be a teacher before I even go to college,” Schirger said. “I don’t want to waste my time in college on something I don’t love.”

Currently, East is the only SMSD high school that does not offer this class. Feinberg and Leonard attempted to start the class in 2020, but only two students signed up, failing to fill the required minimum of 10. 

The typical stereotypes of professions may have affected the outcome of only two students signing up for the class. According to Leonard, education can be a taboo subject as people tend to look down upon teachers for reasons like them making a lower income.

“Sometimes people don’t like to outwardly say, ‘I’m going to major in education,’” Leonard said. 

Leonard is certain that once East provides this class, it will be here forever. Feinberg and Leonard are hoping in the school year of 2022-23, the class will finally be a success.

LOCAL

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt threatened to sue Jackson County on Dec. 10 for a second time for illegal mask mandates, though federal guidelines don’t suggest bringing back the mandate.

The legislature voted 5-4 on Nov. 12 to end the mask mandate 10 days ahead of schedule despite federal guidelines suggesting that the mandate stays in place. However, the new Omicron variant has resulted in the Jackson County legislature rethinking their decision.

The Missouri state law requires governing bodies to approve health orders. With mask mandates constantly fluctuating, the Jackson County legislators have voted multiple times in support of extending the county mask mandate, even after Schmitt sued previously to void the mask mandate. 

Jackson County reinstated the proposal for masks indoors until Jan. 12 for everyone five years and older due to the high number of COVID cases and low vaccination rates. This upset Schmitt, causing him to threaten to sue for the second time.

With Swope Park and the Kansas City Zoo located in Jackson County, the mask mandate would affect students who visit these attractions, such as Environmental Education students who visit the zoo for their class.

Over the past week, Schmitt has sent letters to local public health and school districts directing them to stop enforcing mask mandates. Schmitt claims the mask mandate being implemented is illegal, therefore making children criminals for wearing masks indoors. 

“I urge you to stop imposing mask mandates, especially ones that make five-year-olds criminals,” Schmitt stated in a letter to the nine members of the county legislature.

The legislature will hold a meeting at the downtown courthouse on Monday, Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. to discuss whether or not they will implement the mask mandate. 

NATIONAL

Many have reported Christmas trees being much harder to find this season, with the selection also having worsened.

Due to the recession in 2008, tree farmers didn’t plant as many trees as they typically would. This is causing a visible effect 11-12 years later since Christmas trees would’ve now been full size from that time, growing about one foot per year. 2012 was the most recent year a higher, more normal amount of trees were planted at farms, meaning that the tree shortage should be fully rebounded by 2024.

“We had to go to 3 different stores to find a decent looking tree,” freshman Seri Steinbrecher said, “The tree we ended up with was shorter and slimmer than normal.” 

People start to point to COVID-19 as a blame for the shortage, but according to C&G Newspapers, it’s simply bad timing. Hardware stores are seeing the effects of the shortage with their usual suppliers not producing enough trees, causing customers to be left with limited options and higher prices. Many people have turned to getting artificial trees due to the lack of selection.

“There are very few artificial trees left,” Home Depot employee Kevin Dyer* said. “The real trees don’t look as good, so more people turned to getting artificial trees.”

Tree farms all over the country have already closed for the season because they sold out of tall Christmas trees weeks before they usually do. Though they aren’t completely out of trees, they’re left with underground trees that need three more years to fully grow. Some Christmas tree farmers say it’s a first for closing this early. 

“Well, this is the first time we have had to do this in our farm’s 57 year history,” Tonry Christmas Tree Farms stated on their Facebook page. “But we will be closing early for the season.”