The Crusader encourages community dialogue on public matters. Letters submitted to the Crusader may be edited prior to publication and must include a full name and class grade. Please email letters to either Opinion Editor, Antoinette Gilbert ([email protected]) or Paula Pichay ([email protected]) or visit www.bonitavistacrusader.org to view additional letters.
Dear Editor,
I enjoyed reading the Crusader article, “A new glance at sustainability” by Delilah Bannister. As a former student of the IB Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS) course, I was delighted to get an update on their activities. I remember during my time with the class, we would do many projects regarding campus beautification and cleaning-up the butterfly garden. I really enjoyed these activities. Just as Hyder mentioned in the article, it’s really gratifying seeing the work you accomplished especially with tiring aspects of garden work. Thus it was exciting to read about the implementation of a fruit garden to our campus! Especially considering the impact this will have on the Special Education department, I’m really happy that I was informed about the addition of this new garden for our school, which will not only promote biodiversity but also give more opportunities to the students of the Special Education Department. I can’t wait to see how it will turn out. Thank you for reporting on this event!
Sincerely,
Madeleine Mann
Dear Editor,
Reading the article, “It’s over for you” by Dani Fincher opened my eyes to the harms of a viral trend called “looksmaxxing” that I had previously believed was a lighthearted joke on TikTok. When I had viewed parody videos about “looksmaxxing”, I never realized the effects that this idealized trend has had on confidence and self-esteem among young men. I agree with Fincher’s viewpoint on the topic. While the idea of the trend may come off as a joke at times, it has clearly had destructive consequences on the mindsets of many young men. The idea of “starvemaxxing” that Fincher brought up was particularly horrifying to me. Addressing consequences such as disordered eating and body dysmorphic disorder was crucial in this article and I believe Fincher addressed the entirety of the situation. The article was very insightful as a whole, however, I would have appreciated the inclusion of an anecdote of one individual who has been negatively affected by the “looksmaxxing” trend in order to see its real world impacts. Overall, the toxicity behind beauty standards is still extremely prevalent in our world and I appreciate Fincher’s efforts to shed light on the dark side behind this trend.
Sincerely,
Cherise Magtoto
Dear Editor,
Greetings, my name is Adam Ramirez. I’m a senior here at BVHS and I wanted to give my opinion about the article, “A new glance at sustainability” by Delilah Bannister. First and foremost, I would like to commend this article by saying that it was a great read. The structure of the article allowed me to easily follow the story and grasp onto information provided. I believe that there was a perfect balance between the quotes provided by those interviewed and the author’s narrative to provide the reader with a well-rounded perspective on the topic. As someone who may not be as engaged in school activities as others, I find this article to be useful since I had no clue that a fruit garden was being developed. I’m sure that there are plenty of kids who attend BVH who may be interested in gardening but don’t even know about this program. It’s articles like these that encourage students of BVH to become more involved in the school community. Overall, this article serves as a reminder of all the diverse opportunities that our school has to offer. I believe that the same level of in-depth journalism should be implemented in all other articles. With many perspectives on a certain topic, the reader will get more information, thus creating an engaging article that people will enjoy reading. As BVH strives for a more connected student body, articles like these are crucial.
Sincerely,
Adam Ramirez
Dear Editor,
I recently had the pleasure of reading, “ASL should become an option for high school language requirements” by Kendall Johnson where she advocates for the inclusion of American Sign Language (ASL) in school curricula. I wholeheartedly agree with Johnson’s perspective on this matter. By introducing ASL classes at Bonita Vista High, we not only destigmatize the nuances of deaf culture but also open the door to empathy and support for the deaf and hard of hearing individuals within our community. I appreciate Johnson’s holistic viewpoint, highlighting not only the educational benefits of ASL classes but also the broader societal implications. After reading the article, I was enlightened by the fact that learning ASL can open up greater career opportunities and different career paths. Overall, reading this article has reinforced my belief that ASL should indeed be a part of the curriculum, not only for its direct benefits but also as a means to appreciate and understand our shared human diversity. By implementing inclusive practices, such as these, we are taking a step forward and breaking down barriers, ultimately enriching the BVH community.
Sincerely,
Brianna Magtoto
Dear Editor,
I appreciated your article published on December 8th titled “Spotify Wrapped Released”. I especially loved the insight on BVH student’s relationship with music. As someone deeply immersed in the music world, it is comforting to know that other students here at BVH share my opinions on the effect of music on the person. Music is an important creative outlet for self expression, and you can learn much about a person through what they listen to, making Spotify Wrapped a fun and insightful feature that builds community among the students of BVH. Keep up the great work!
Sincerely,
Kali Swanson
Dear Editor,
My name is Carlene Rico, I read your article “Femininity takes charge”, which discusses the coquette aesthetic and was very intrigued. I found the article rather fascinating. The way you were able to bring more light into the idea of wearing bows and how there is a deeper meaning behind it. Discussing how it brings women together and representing the power behind the bows. Reading your article was an eye opening movement, realizing that I too participated in the coquette aesthetic because of how elegant and empowered it makes me feel. I appreciate that you touched up on the topic of women not having to dress masculine in order to feel empowered. There is power behind the way women dress, it’s just shown differently.
Sincerely,
Carlene Rico
