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Ever since the budget cuts announced this past year, Kansas schools have been forced to make changes in their spending to fit the limited supply of money. This has led to varied outcomes within each school across the state.

“I have to tell you it’s kind of sad honestly. I got into this job to try and figure out more opportunities for kids, not to make us focus on what we’re not going to do anymore,” Dr. Julie Ford, 501 superintendent, said. “What is happening in Kansas is we are so focused on just keeping the doors open. Having to cut too much we’re not being as innovative as we should be.”

Continued onto page 3

Topeka High School

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800 SW 10th St. Topeka, Kansas 66612 Wednesday May 4. 2015 Volume 148 Issue 6 www.THSTower.com

Budget cuts affect school spending

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Students discuss gun control laws Generations of Trojans Trojan Profile: Duawne Pomeroy Letter to Governor Sam Brownback

A family affair:Families attend Topeka High for generations

Martin Moreno, art teacher, has been teaching generations of families for 30 years at Topeka High. Photo by Adam Cole

ByJulia Howell

Educators who have been teaching at a school for a long period of time are able to experience working with generations of families. Some teachers have taught grandparents, parents and current children of a family.

Martin Moreno, art teacher, has been at the school for over 30 years. Teaching different generations has built Moreno’s memory.

“You have to have a good memory,” Moreno said. “In the middle of class they’ll [students] say ‘you taught my mom’ and then you’re trying to figure out who their mom is and what they look like because now you have to remember stuff. It’s kinda scary because if you don’t remember you feel bad.”

From the diverse population the school holds, one might think family members would hold some similarities. Moreno thinks just the opposite.

“You think that they [students] are going to be just like their parent and they are totally different,” Moreno said. “They are usually nothing like their parents. They are separate and I like it like that.”

Continued onto page 6

News 05.04.162Teachers say goodbye to Topeka High

Several teachers have announced their retirement this year after being a part of Topeka High for decades.

“[Teaching] has been really great. Between meeting and getting to know thousands of very interesting people and sharing just a little bit of their existence, their lives, their interests, has been just a great thing for me to do with my professional career,” Anton Ahrens, chemistry teacher, said. “This part of it’s been very satisfying. And a lot of that’s been due to the fact that I’ve had amazing students. Most of it in fact. I mean, that’s what it’s really about. Getting them every year, getting to know them, growing with them, struggling with them, that’s all part of the deal.”

Anton Ahrens, chemistry teacher, has announced his retirement after 32 years at Topeka High and 34 years in USD 501 where he has mainly taught chemistry.

“Two years at Highland Park High School teaching physics, chemistry, and physical science. Then back to KU for two years doing lab TA work and I did my chemical research work to get my masters, Ahrens said. “And then 32 years right here in this beautiful place. 32 years. I could have graduated eight different times. That’s pretty darn good don’t you think?”

Ahrens started his career in education as a tutor in high school and college, then followed his passion for both chemistry and teaching back to Topeka High.

“When I got into college, my college advisor, who was a chemistry professor at K-State said to me ‘would you be interested in taking one of the ‘concepts of chemistry classes’ and helping these kids with a help session?’ I walked in the room the first week and there were ten or

ByTom Teeter twelve people sitting there, and we went through the questions, and the next week there were twenty people. After that there were 35 and there weren’t enough chairs for people to sit in. And before the end of the semester I thought I’d like to do that for a living.”

The long time band director Steve Holloman announced he would step down earlier this year to his classes, wrapping up 36 years at Topeka High.

“It’s going to be okay. Nothing is going to change. It’s going to be the same great kids here,” Holloman said. “It’s not me that makes the kids good it’s the love they have for music.”

Holloman has been legendary within the school for the quality of his bands and

Both Ahrens and Holloman plan to continue to be involved in education past their retirement. and Holloman has considered volunteering within the district to help his daughter, who is an elementary band teacher.

“I thought I could go follow her around and help her with band, the beginning kids,” Holloman said. “ I could come up here [the school] if we need help checking out uniforms or doing stuff with band day. I could just be volunteer and do things like that.”

Ahrens has expressed an interest in educating the public on science matters in his retirement, as well as travelling and becoming more involved in his community.

“There are too many things to think about. I asked my wife if I should ask the paper if they’d like the occasional article on understanding scientific ideas about x, y, and z articles that have been in the paper because I don’t think people really understand some of the basic physics and chemistry of what’s going on. People should be informed about such things.”

What are seniors’ favorite memories of Topeka High?

“My favorite memory is cheering front row of the football games. That was the most hype the crowd has ever been. It was lit.”

Riley Huckabay

“My favorite memory of high school was when we (the soccer team) beat Lawrence High. We stormed the field and we were all really hype.”

Fernando Garcia

“I really liked going to all of the home football games and being a part of a great student section.”

Brendon Stock

“My favorite memory of high school was dressing up for home-coming. It was fun getting hon-ored in front of the whole school.”

Photos by Jayden Huckabay

Jessica Barriga

Steve Holloman marches with the band during a parade. Photos courtesy of the Sunflower Yearbook

Anton Ahrens helps students with their homework in AP Chemistry.

News 305.04.16

Funding cuts affect schools Business students pitch ideas on jet

Imagine a long limo, large, leather-interior jets, and a few of Northeast Kansas’ most prominent business owners.

That’s what two of Topeka High’s members of Youth Entrepreneurs of Kansas (YEK) got when they gathered at Forbes Field with six other Topeka region YEK students to pitch their own business ideas.

“I started off kind of nervous because you’re going in front of these people and you’re telling them about your idea,” Tyler Thompson, senior, said. “You don’t know if they’re going to go with it or what they’re going to think about it.”

Students not only got to pitch their ideas to prominent people, but got to pitch in a lavish setting.

“[The jet and limo pitch was] mostly to kind of put it to a higher standard, the people that really put in the work with their business plan,” Thompson said.

This pitch is a part of Youth Entrepreneurship of Kansas’ year-long curriculum. The class gives students to a hands-on learning experience in the world of business, with events like an in-school market day and business fair.

“You learn what it takes to run a business,” Thompson said. “You learn a lot about advertising, capturing a core audience, and the challenges of doing those things.”

When the budget cuts were initially planned, various concerns arose on exactly the impact. The most noticeable effects have been in the arts department, leaving teachers with a lack of materials.

“Money for the arts has always been tight,” Katie Wood, art teacher, said. “The past few years have definitely been the worst. I find myself thrifting, garage sale hunting, or buying lots of art supplies with my own money just to get by. I have also reached out to friends, family, and other teachers who often donate things to my classroom.”

The district has been issued a new budgeting system to substitute the per-pupil funding formula until a more effective one can be found to solve the funding problem.

“Last year [the state] gave us what they called the block grants and really what it is, is a two year program so you know how much money you’re going to have for two years,” Ford said. “We kind of know what we’re supposed to get, but we don’t trust that we’re actually going to get that money for next year. We kind of have to plan ahead and try to save anything that we can going along because we may not get that money.”

The school is much larger than others in the area, and when trying to balance the budget within the different departments there is more cushion for administration to work with.

“I think they have done a pretty good job of spreading out the funding that they do have so that everybody gets kind of an equal budget,” William Loehr, junior, said.

The budget cuts on school education directly affect the students, and how they work and learn in the classroom.

“Students are upset and disappointed,” Wood said. “They have

become more diligent in not wasting the few supplies that we do have, but we all wish for a change in the funding.”

The state has not been bringing in enough revenue, which is the original source of the budget cuts decisions made by Governor Sam Brownback. These numbers have not improved and the state is looking for another way to make up for the loss of money in the budget.

“The revenue was so much lower than anyone expected and it’s been less every month. But this month [April] was by far the worst,” Ford said. “Our legislatures are coming back this week and a lot of them are realizing these are not working, and even a lot of the Republicans are going back and hearing from the people in their town saying ‘you have to change something, you need to be bringing in more revenue.’”

The Kansas Supreme Court gives the state until June 30 to produce the new formula for school budgeting, which needs to fix the current underfunding.

“[The court is] saying if your budget isn’t equitable we’re going to send you

back and you’re going to have to redo it again,” Ford said. “So really it is a possibility that the courts could close schools in July and say until you get it figured out we’re just not going to open the schools.”

The goal of the upcoming court decision is to determine whether Kansas students are going to be treated fairly financially for the 2016-2017 school year.

“It’s just a very, very scary situation for schools and we shouldn’t be in this, this is self-inflicted pain,” Ford said. “A lot of districts are at the point where they are given more money and doing all these innovative things, preparing kids for their future careers. We’re sitting here talking about what can we do less. It’s almost really criminal.”

According to Great Bend Post, the Kansas Supreme Court will be hearing oral arguments on whether a new education funding law is constitutional on May 10.

ByAdam coleByShayna Myers

Photo courtesy of USD 501

Local businessmen listen to pitches from entre-preneurship students. Photo by Adam Cole

News 05.04.164

Earlier this year Governor Brownback signed a bill which will allow people 21 and older to carry concealed weapons on the campuses of Kansas public universities.

Michael Brown, senior, will be attending Kansas State next year and will be there when the bill goes into effect.

“Personally, I don’t think it will affect me too much because I don’t think there will be a situation where I’m around people with guns,” Brown said.

During the 2015 session, lawmakers amended the law allowing people to carry concealed guns without permit training. That law will apply to the Kansas public campuses starting in 2017.

Molly Hatesohl, senior, will be attending The University of Kansas in the fall and has strong feelings about the new legislation.

“I think it’s really stupid and not well thought out,” Hatesohl said.

At that point, campuses must allow students, faculty, staff and any visitors to carry concealed weapons unless security measures, including metal detectors and security guards, are installed at the building entrances.

“It is going to create a more hostile environment for everyone even in the classroom because violence begets violence,” Hatesohl said.

The Kansas Board of Regents has been studying how to accommodate firearms in schools for the past several months and after repeated attacks on colleges throughout the country.

“Personally I don’t feel any need to carry a firearm on campus. It’s a lot of responsibility to put on one person,” Brown said.

According to the regents’ policy, handguns can be out for purposes of self-defense or when placing it in secure storage which could mean anyone who pulls a gun in defense of another person will be in violation of

the policy. “I can’t really foresee a situation

where I would feel more comfortable with someone else having a gun, I think it will ultimately just lead to more problems,” Hatesohl said.

In 2013 at least 19 states introduced legislation to implement concealed carry on campuses in some way. As of now there are eight other states which have provisions allowing concealed weapons on campuses.

Blake Morrell, senior, will also be attending The University of Kansas when this policy goes into effect.

“I think the idea of college kids being able to have guns around the school is bad, overall it just seems unnecessary,” Morrell said.

Shortly before the regents’ vote, a poll of students at Kansas public universities showed nearly 70 percent of college students were unhappy with allowing concealed guns on campus. Of the 20,561 students at the six state schools as well as Washburn University, 55 percent want the law repealed and

14 percent want the campus exemption extended. There is roughly 25 percent of the students who supported this bill with the other six percent having no strong opinion. The students received the poll on November 4 and had until November 25 to respond.

“I can see why people would want to carry guns for their own self-defense but there is just too many people it could hurt if it goes badly,” Morrell said.

Another poll released early this month from the Docking Institute of Public Affairs of 10,800 faculty and staff in Kansas public universities indicated that 70 percent of respondents prefer amending the state law to prohibit concealed firearms on campus. While there is much attention to this bill and how it will impact Kansas and its schools going forward, results won’t truly be known until the new policy’s implementation.

New law allows guns on campusesByAlex Carter

Trojans’ views on gun laws Photos by Erin Mumford

“Gun control is really important. If we’re living in a world where mass shootings are something that have almost become normal, that’s obvi-ously a bad thing. That shouldn’t be happening.”

- Nell DeCoursey Brennan, sophomore

“Concealed carry puts the kids in a state of not putting their efforts towards work but rather towards worrying, and so it creates an envi-ronment that isn’t conducive.”

- Isaach Johnson, junior

“If you have a conceal and carry liscense, I think it’s okay for anyone to have a gun if they want one.”

- Kyia McWilliams, sophomore

“I support gun laws because we need to make America safe. I feel like guns should be regulated.”

- Demontay Tarver, junior

News 505.04.16

Scholarships Small Class Sizes

Innovative Learning Career Placement

620-341-5523 y bac@emporia.edubizhornet1 ESU.Business

emporia.edu/business

*These programs are not AACSB-Accredited

School of BUSINESS

We offer majors in Accounting, Business Administration, Business Education,* Computer Science,* Information Systems, Management, and Marketing. Visit www.emporia.edu/business to find out more.

The School of Business at Emporia State University is accredited by AACSB International. This distinction is held by less than 5% of business schools worldwide.

6 Features 705.04.1605.04.16

ByJulia Howell

Generations of Trojans

For the many years he has been at the school he has built his own traditions in the classroom. From doing the same art projects every year to saying the same quips and phrases everyday when students enter and leave the classroom, Moreno is determined to stick to how he has always been.

“I still have the same sayings that I say all the time. The parents still wonder if I say them and I still do

The tradition of coming to this school is one that lives strong through several families. The Jackson - James family is one that represents how important this school is to so many people.

Currently at the school, representing the Jackson - James family is Tanuelle Jackson freshmen, Tonyce Jackson, sophomore and Terrell Jackson, senior. Before they attended the school, a long line of relatives had come before them, including; Tara James Wallace (aunt) ‘84-’88, Trevin James (uncle) ‘89-’93, Trevor James (uncle) ‘92-’96, Trenton James (uncle) ‘91-’95, Talya James (aunt) ‘83-’87, Toiya James (mother) ‘93-’97 and Todd James (uncle) ‘93-’97.

These students are proud to be able to carry on their families tradition in attending the school.

“It’s like my family is apart of the history of Topeka High and it feels pretty good,” said Terrell.

Although for the youngest sibling at the school, she believes not all good comes with having alumni in her family.

“Just everyone knows me,” said

Tanuelle. “If I get in trouble they will be like ‘Oh, I know your mom and I’m going to tell her.’ But it is good [we attend the school] because of the history [of the school].”

At one point the Jackson - James family almost broke the tradition of attending the school when one of their cousins decided he wanted to attend a different school. He decided on not going but it definitely caused a commotion throughout the family.

“My cousin almost went to Highland Park and it was a big deal,” said Tonyce. “They [the Jackson - James family] were like ‘No, we will carpool if it means he is going to be at Topeka High and not Highland Park.’”

From the Kennedy family, Sofia, a senior, is the last of four siblings who have gone through the school. Pablo Kennedy (brother) ‘03-’07, Daniel Kennedy (brother) ‘07-’11 and Mariella Kennedy (sister) ‘11-’15.

“It’s just really weird because everyone says I’m the youngest

Teachers

Relatives & Siblings

and it’s sad that a generation has gone.”The tradition of attending the school

holds strong in the Kennedy family, considering the many years they have been at the school. The many different characteristics the school has is what keeps the Kennedy family coming back.

“We just love the diversity and the atmosphere of the school and the teachers,” Sofia said. “I think it has really opened us up to a view of what the real world actually is.”

because it’s just kind of fun,” Moreno said.

One of his more common sayings is one that he believes to have one of the greatest impact on his students.

“I tell them I love them as they leave the classroom and that might be the only time they’ll hear it,” Moreno said. “I really do love them.”

Since Moreno has been at the school he would say that one of his favorite things was having an impact on different families in various ways.

“The benefit is that we call ourselves a family. I got to be a part of their family. There is something

in common about being in that room and being taught by that one teacher,” Moreno said. “You can’t remove any of that fun.”

Numerous families have had Moreno as a teacher. One family is the Aratez family. Maribel Aratez, junior, attends the school and has him for a class now, but her mother also came to the school and had Moreno as her art teacher.

“He always tells me how I look like my mom and act like her,” Aratez said . “He’ll make jokes all the time.”

Hoy, Hoy, Mighty Troy

Continued from front page.

Sports 05.04.168A step in the right direction:Step Team sees progress in a year of change

ByJustase Young

A new club sponsor, a new coach, new steps, and a new attitude, it’s safe to say the 2015-2016 school year was a considerable period of change for the girls of step team.

“I have nothing really to judge [last year] against since I wasn’t the team’s sponsor before,” Leslie Canty, step team sponsor, said. “[However] All indications from the community and the school staff has told me that they’ve never seen them perform better than what they’ve done this year.”

The school year began with a rocky start for the team when due to conflicting schedules both their coach and previous sponsor, had to leave.

“First semester was kind of rough because they were starting off with a new sponsor and I think there were some growing pains,” Canty said. “They had a great coach last semester. However, her college scheduling was interfering and she wasn’t able to always be at practices.”

However thanks to the help of their new coach, Sae’zon Steele, the girls were able to overcome their struggles and grow as a team.

to get the opportunity to explore other stuff with a group of people that I really love and with something that I love to do,” Carter said.

Carter credits much of the team’s success this semester to the new management.

“[Step team has] improved a lot due to our new sponsor [Canty] and our new Coach [Steele], they’ve been a major help” Brooke Carter, senior, said.

Zya Smith, junior, and co-captain has been a part of step team for the past three years. At first a new coach seemed daunting but Smith sees the positives of the situation.

“It was definitely a change,” Smith said. “I think any time you have a change in a coach it’s going to be hard, especially since our coach is so different, she pushes us more.”

In addition to the new coach the team’s new sponsor proved to provide numerous changes as well and has given the team many new opportunities.

“She’s not as experienced but she wants us to improve and she’s gotten us a lot of opportunities at K State and KU,” Smith said. “She’s also introduced us to Greek life, sororities and fraternities.”

“She’s a natural coach, she’s able to motivate them to do their best and they’ve had some command performances,” Canty said.

This year has gone well for the team. They’re already making plans for future performances.

“[Step team has] been asked to perform this summer at the Juneteenth celebration and Meadows Elementary has asked them to perform this upcoming spring,” Canty said.

She is also making plans to improve the team as a whole.

“[Next year] we’re definitely going to be a lot more organized, I think that’ll be helpful,” Canty said. “We’ll also have more parental involvement [as well as] promoting step team earlier [in the year].”

Brooke Carter, senior, joined the step team with the hopes of making her senior year special.

“As a senior it was pretty amazing

The Step Team performing at this year’s spring pep rally. Photos by Adam Cole

Sports 905.04.16

Trojan Profile:

Some know him as the man of many ties, while others call him “coach.” Duane Pomeroy has been coaching tennis at Topeka High since 1994.

“I always liked tennis, and my first year [coaching] I was an assistant. Then the girls coach switched over to golf and the boys coach switched over to soccer, so that gave me the opportunity to step up to the head coaching,” Pomeroy said. “I’ve coached over 50 teams at Topeka High between boys and girls tennis and boys and girls bowling.”

The Halls of Troy are very familiar to Pomeroy, who graduated from here in 1970. He taught government and psychology until he retired, and he is now a substitute teacher exclusively at Topeka High.

“I started coaching in 1994, but I actually owe my life to Topeka High because my mom and dad met here, and then my wife and I met here, and I played tennis for Topeka High,” Pomeroy said. “With that kind of a background, I had to name one of my sons Troy.”

One of Pomeroy’s favorite aspects about coaching high school students is being able to see them grow over the years.

“I love watching the players develop from having them for four years, from freshman to senior [year,] watching them develop skill wise, maturity wise, just all that,” Pomeroy said.

So far this season, Pomeroy is proud of his players and what

they have accomplished.“I’d rather focus towards the

end game rather than just trying to get an early season victory,” Pomeroy said. “But we have won a couple of the quads and I’m real pleased with how we’re doing.”

While tennis is important to him, Pomeroy said his players’ grades come before athletics.

“Academics always comes first,” Pomeroy said. “An academic related competition like forensics, I’m glad to see them doing that.”

As for his own tennis career, Pomeroy played at Emporia State University and Washburn University after his time at Topeka High. Now, he continues to play and compete.

“I’m ranked number one in Kansas in the 60 and over singles, and I was on a 60 and over team that took third in the nation three years ago,” Pomeroy said.

ByErin Mumford

Pomeroy teaching a psychology class in 2001 Photo courtesy of Sunflower Yearbook

Duane Pomeroy

While working as a psychology and substitue teacher, Pomeroy has coached Trojan tennis for 22 years. Photo by Adam Cole

Opinion 05.04.1610

TheWorld StaffEditor-in-Chief: Adam ColeManaging Editor: TomTeeterFeatures Editor: Shayna MyersReporters: David Brennan Alex Carter De’Aja Casteel Tessa Duncan Jayden Huckabay Haley Myers Ashley Yoder Justase Young The Tower Website: Julia Howell, EditorSocial Media Manager: Erin MumfordAdviser: Kristy Dekat,MJE

Advertisement PolicyThe World has the right to accept, reject, edit, or cancel any advertisement at any time. Advertising shall be free of statements, illustrations, or implications that are offensive based on the opinion of the staff. Ads are not an endorsement of the adviser, the administration, or the USD 501 Board of Education.

Editorial PolicyThe World opinion section is an accessible public forum for the publication readers. Kansas Senate Bill 62 guarantees the same rights for student journalists as are guaranteed for professional journalists. Editorials represent the collective opinion of the publication staff. Others opinions expressed in any Topeka High student publication are not necessarily those of The World editorial staff, the student body, faculty, administration, or school district. Signed columns and letters to the editor represent the view and opinion of the writer only. The content reflects student thinking and is not necessarily in agreement with administrative policies.Letters will be edited for content and length as well as spelling, grammar, and other considerations. Letters that are libelous, obscene, or an invasion of privacy will not be printed in the paper. All letters must be signed and verified before publication. The World will not directly answer letters unless a question is posed.The opinion pages area forum for the exchange of comment and criticism, and they are open to students and others interested in Topeka High School. Typed, double-spaced letters are preferred, but legible handwritten letters are acceptable. E-Mailed letters will not be accepted (since there would be no signature.) Letters should be limited to approximately 300 words, or about one-and-a-half pages double-spaced.

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There is no lack of talk around Kansas about the conditions of the state’s finances, especially regarding our public education system. Kansas residents have been made well aware over the last few school years of the oppressive budget cuts made to public schools statewide under your guidance. Since the last half of your second term is approaching, a little review of the last six years seems necessary. In 2011 you took office with a promise of fixing the Kansas budget. Being told that the state faced a projected $500 million deficit if the administration took no action, you came up with a plan to cut income, sales, and property taxes. You called this a “necessary experiment.” With all due respect, Governor. Your “experiment” has left Kansas broke. With no taxes to finance the state, the budget is basically being held up by children. In just the month of July last year $62.6 million was cut from Kansas’ budget. $17.6 million, the largest of these cuts, was made to SCHIP, a health insurance program for students. In January of this year the state faced a $190 million budget gap. The proposed solution to fixing this hole was taking $50.6 million out of the Children’s Initiative Fund and moving it to the general fund, spending only $6.5 million of this money on early childhood programs. This is just a small example of the cuts you’ve made affecting the youth in Kansas. Considering you have children of your own, it seems as though you’d value the importance of education more. According to your campaign website you believe “Every Kansas child should have access to a quality education

that not only meets their individual needs but also embraces their specific talents and interests.” However, in February you announced your plan to cut $45 million from public schools and higher education. In order to make up for a large deficit in the state’s budget, caused by your administration, it became clear half of this money would come from schools, including state universities. In the last year $1.9 million was cut from Kansas Board of Regents Incentive Grant for Education. In 2015 it was ruled that spending on public education had gotten so low it was unconstitutional. With no money to give and little money to take from public schools, the Supreme Court is left to clean up your mess and the solutions sound almost as ridiculous as the problem. The legislature has been circling around the financial crisis for months searching for answers. Since block grants didn’t work, the most reasonable answer they’ve come up with is taking money from the wealthier school districts and giving it to the poor ones. This solution seems to be dragging out the problem. It is redundant to pass around money that the state does not have in the first place. Now the Supreme Court has issued an ultimatum; all funding must be restored by June 30 or the schools will not open their doors. So that leaves us with the question, Governor, of what can actually be done. Is it possible that it is time to admit your mistakes and raise taxes? Local business owners have actually urged you to raise taxes and spare their children’s education. What if instead of defending your decisions, you actually listen to the people of Kansas? Lead the state how you feel necessary, however when doing so, we ask to not let your pride get in the way.

-The World Staff

Dear Governor Brownback

Photo illustration by De’Aja Casteel

Opinion05.04.16

Reflecting back on the events of the year

The school year is quickly coming to The school year is quickly coming to a close and it is almost time to say goodbye to the class of 2016. As a senior, one tends to look back on all of the good as well as the bad times in the Halls of Troy. The 2015-2016 school year has consisted of some incredible changes, and more changes are continuing to be made for the years to come.

Starting this year, every student received a Chromebook to enhance their learning experience in the classroom. While the beginning of the year was rough technologically, the Chromebooks have lasted well and proven to be a successful investment.

Students can work on their assignments at home, even when they are sick. They receive assignment notifications from their school email, so if students are well enough they can work on their assignments at home or at least know where to look when they

By Ashley Yoder

ByDavid Brennan

return to school.Our sports teams once again fired

up the student section by playing their hearts out. To support the team and increase school spirit, the student government created themes for almost every game. The themes seemed to increase student turn out, but caused a few problems.

There were several instances where students shouted inappropriate chants to the opposing teams and laughing at players who had injured themselves. The behavior was uncalled for and shameful, upsetting a lot of parents and faculty. School spirit was great, but the horrible behavior ruined the experience.in test scores and has figured this to be in

While it is nice to look at all of the great things that have happened at Topeka High, it is sad to know that the class of 2016 will be leaving. All of the teachers, pep assemblies, and spirit weeks will be missed, but there are some great changes being made in the Halls of Troy that make the future of this school a bright one.

See more at THSTower.com

Conceal and carry does more harm than good

The Kansas Legislature has been ridiculed for bill which is requiring universities to spend upwards of $20 million on security for their campuses or allow students, 21 and over, and faculty to conceal and carry handguns. The legislation believes this is a suitable exchange and a “good guy” with a gun will be able to stop a “bad guy” with a gun. However, according to Mother Jones, of 62 mass shooting cases identified, none of them were stopped by armed civilians. These cases and the law allowing people to get a gun without training will lead to a more inexperienced citizen and will

Underclassman and upperclassman perspectives: 11

In the beginning, we welcomed some new foreign exchange students from all over. After that exciting week or so, not much was happening. The volleyball, football and basketball season went great. Along with all of the sports was an amazing student section. Those are moments that students will never forget.

As the school year progressed new rules came in play. Students disagreed with the tardy policy- where you were restricted to go anywhere within in the Halls of Troy if late more than six times.

Apparently there were “hundreds of bottles found on school grounds,” so Hayes also reinforced that food should only be eaten within the student cafeteria, to reduce the amounts of trash being left throughout the school and on the school grounds.

Speaking of grounds, Topeka High’s step team has improved dramatically

ByDe’Aja Casteel over the school year. New coach, also former stepper- Sae’Czon Steele, has gotten the team many different gigs since she’s been helping out the girls. Steele plans to continue coaching the team, “step is something I love to do, it’s a passion for me, so when that door opened for me, there’s no way I could turn it down.” The team’s season may be over, but it will not be forgotten.

Topeka High has welcomed many new student teachers throughout the year. While they’re trying to teach us, they’re also being taught. They’re being taught how today’s generation functions and how to respond to teens, and the situations that may occur.

Overall the year has been fun, fast, and stressful. The year may not have seemed as exciting as some may have wanted. When it comes down to it, Topeka High and it’s spirit makes you forget about the not so fun moments.

cause more problems than good. Dr. Stephen Hargarten, an expert on emergency medicine and gun violence at the Medical College of Wisconsin, said, “Armed civilians attempting to intervene are actually more likely to increase the bloodshed given that civilian shooters are less likely to hit their targets than police in these circumstances.” Issues of safety also begin to become a problem when it comes to students carrying guns on campus. Students and Faculty will be more worried about people being able to conceal weapons, than continuing to ban them with upgrading the safety. According to a poll of over twenty thousand employees across all Kansas Board of Regents schools found a majority disagreed with the bill.

Eighty-two percent said they would feel less safe if students could carry guns to class. While the bill supporters argue guns will help to provide safety on the campus, and help stop crimes such as sexual assault. An examination from the Clery Act, shows that since the conceal and carry passed in Colorado, forcible rape has increased 36 percent in 2013, and in Utah where conceal and carry has been allowed since 2004, rape statistics have fluctuated over the years but had an increase of 50 percent in 2013. The national average has also decreased around 3 percent over the last ten years. These statistics are not saying guns have caused more crime, but how conceal and carry does not help to prevent these problems. This conceal and carry bill would

also cause problems within the classroom. The poll also concluded seventy percent believed it would negatively impact their course and how they teach, and two-thirds of the people polled believe it would limit their freedom to teach and engage with students. This new bill will do more harm than it will good. It has the potential to cause problems within the setting of the classroom, whether it is from the teachers impacting how they teach or students being afraid to speak their mind due to someone getting angry at them for what they said. The bill will also not provide safety as it is intended to do, and will just be another thing on the long list of problems which the rest of the United States mocks Kansas.

Senior farewell:

1. Haley Myers served as a reporter, culture and sports editor, and Editor-in-Chief for the World. She will study education at Emporia State University.2. Ashley Yoder reported for the World and was Online Editor-in-Chief for the Tower. She will study secondary education at Kansas University.3. Tessa Duncan was a reporter and opinion editor for the World Staff. She will major in dance and minor in journalism at The University of Missouri-Kansas City.4. Alex Carter was a reporter, opinion editor, and managing editor with the World. He will continue studying journalism at Kansas University.5. David Brennan was reporter and social media manager for the World staff. He will continue his studies at Regis University in Denver, Colordao6. Justase Young was a reporter for the the World Staff. Justace is taking a gap year after graduation to travel.7. Thank you, seniors. You will be missed.

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World says goodbye to staff members