PHS News from the Phoenix: New Gym Requirements

New Gym Class Options to be Offered

— Caroline Crocco

According to The Phoenix, high school gym curriculum will change next year, with a wider range of activities, more mixed-grade classes and less classes for upperclassmen.

Currently, classes are divided by grade, with lower classmen meeting two days a week all year and upperclassmen meeting three days a week for half the year.  Planned changes will merge junior and senior grades into one class that will meet two days a week.

The classes will also teach more than traditional sports, with options for self-defense, yoga and pilates along with more usual activities.

Opinion: The SAT Lacks Logic

—      Tessa Newell

According to Newell, the SAT is an outdated test that proves nothing of intelligence, or even readiness for college.  That people naturally have different skill sets — ability at multiple choice being one skill — causes Newell to question the egalitarian nature of the test.

Newell makes an interesting point about language as well; grammar is necessarily a shifting system, and if a word like ‘Mendacious’ is obscure and not useful, is there a benefit to being tested on it?

PHS at Harvard Model U.N.

—      Elizabeth Cohn

Cohn recounts her experience at the Model U.N., helping to represent Tajikistan.

Despite a difficult assembly session, Cohn recalls being taken aback by the level of commitment form her fellow students.