THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 1: AUGUST

6 | FEATURE THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 1: AUGUST 7 | FEATURE

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SOCIAL
SAT SUN of high schoolers say they are “of ten or are always

75%
SOCIAL SOCIAL ENG SOCIAL ENG REST?
STUDIES ESSAY feeling stressed” by schoolwork. WASHINGTON POST
How toxic academia has affected students and staff in a pandemic STUDIES STUDIES
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Virtual school is a incredibly good grades,” AP learning class material. tests, open book and open these days, Collins understand that if you said. “I can see students tense “I don’t think that the
cheater’s paradise. It’s a turn and DP Chemistry teacher “The back of my note,” Collins said. “What I did keeps all tests to prevent unfairly raise the curve and up when papers are passed pressure to get a good grade
your camera off, in one ear Andrew Collins said. “I think mind is like ‘it’s just online not expect is that kids would students from accessing you get a really good score back because they don’t want has increased, but I think
out the other and take every that pushes people, just the learning. It’s not important,”’ just take tests together on tests from previous years. but it’s not your score, you to share their grades with their that it hasn’t decreased,”
shortcut possible type of place. system of it, to try to cut Muenz said. “It feels more Discord. It is one thing to peek “Last year, because of don’t deserve that,” Oh said. classmates. I spend a good Seidl said. “It’s obviously so
It’s also the type of place that’s corners a little bit because optional so I’m not gonna at your notes, it is completely the snow day and the midwinter S o m e t i m e s amount of time emphasizing much harder now not only
amplified an already prevalent they feel ‘hey my sister did really need this later.” another thing to break, I had two classes one students still resort to that this is not something to for students to actually pick
problem- toxic academia- this, my brother did this, my Even with a simply copy week behind one other class,” cheating. AP teachers compare, share or ask about. up the material but also to
which has an parents did year of preparation someone Collins said. “And so the first understand the stress, Sure if students want to share focus from home all the time.”

“
underlying this, I can’t after the pandemic e l s e ’ s group has taken a test, and the for example Collins offers with their peers, that’s fine, but Student mental
effect on be the one first hit, teachers answer.” second group is now coming collaborative work days and is it gets out of health has

“
numerous to let them struggled to Normally, up to take the test. I’m just regularly available to students, hand when also been Percent of teens saying they personally
schools. For me and my friends, down.’ So overcome this Collins has assuming that many people provided that they reach out. students impacted
there’s a lot lack of motivation designated have looked at the test already, Teachers often offer receive a by the toxic
“There’s this
grades are really a top of pressure.” from students. days for students or they have screenshots.” extensions when students paper and academic feel ____ pressure to ge t good grades
It is time to trust students
academic priority. They always A “I hate to say to look at tests To decrease cheating, ask early for support and on the first culture.
standard large part of this, but I am going when phones are Collins disabled the class a case-by-case basis revisions thing they more and treat them According A lot
come up in conversa-
that I have the pressure into this with the prohibited Zoom chat during tests, but are offered. It becomes say is, ‘What like the young adults to the
to achieve tions, and I hear that a n d assumption that, in class. he acknowledges that they tough though when students did you get?’ Child Mind
they are. I hope that
even though
no one
some got an A+ on a test
while I got a 98 percent.
competition
is driven by
even though it’s
not meant to
Outside
o f
could still text or email each
other. He also curves his
compare grades. The mentality
to get the A is still there.
That’s not
the purpose extending due dates and
Institute, 32
percent of 61%
talks about the college be this way, tests based on the highest Many times on of an offering opportunities to Americans
it,” class of I feel like I need to step it application every kid is score, to discourage students assessment pass-back days, assignment will meet the
2021 alumni process. taking the from sharing answers with teachers see toxic-academia and it make corrections gives criteria for
up even though it’s just
Joey Oh each other. What he noticed at its peak. Students are depreciates students overwhelming an anxiety Some
said. “You two percent” “The main was kids who cheated did quick to compare grades and the value of disorder
options other than cheat-
get looked
down on if
NATALIE MUENZ, 11 thing that I
see is that
not score as high on
the actual AP exam.
soon want to know how to
get just one or two points
the feedback
I give to ing”
by the age
of 18 and
27%
you don’t the culture Oh agrees that the more. AP 11 teacher Sara help them JEREMY SCHUITMAN 14 percent
meet this standard or if you really emphasizes things curve discourages Neevel addresses this when improve.” AP Statistics Teacher will be
don’t take these classes and that are tangible,” class of cheating. she hands back graded essays. affected by Not too much
if you don’t get this score.” 2021 alumni Rose Seidl said. “I think you “When students The do- a depressive
From the outside, “Our grades and GPA
Huron boasts impressive are tangible things
would receive their graded papers
or assignments in AP Lang,
it-yourself
of AP classes that Oh
mentality d i s o r d e r .
“I have witnessed 8%
rankings and scores. Niche that you can assess, I always encourage describes has exacerbated many students experience
Magazine has ranked Huron but you can’t really students to not during the pandemic. panic attacks due to school
as the third best high school in assess someone’s share grades “It’s more like you have to related pressures,” psychology None a t all
Washtenaw County and third understanding of with one be dependent on yourself teacher Nadine Ghawi said. “I
best college preparation high something by just looking
school in Michigan. In 2019, at things like that.”
another,”
Neevel
and if you can’t handle that feel that students can still learn
pressure, you just resort to and be successful without
4%
61 percent of Huron’s seniors Accordingly, other resources so that you the excessive pressure.”
had a GPA of 3.0 or higher. students find can handle it,” Muenz said. The pandemic has only Survey of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 conduct-
Regardless, there is a lot t h e m s e l v e s Even with the worsened the issue. According ed Sept. 17-Nov. 25, 2018. PEW RESEARCH
going on behind the numbers. p r i o r i t i z i n g social constraints to a study conducted by the CENTER
Junior Natalie Muenz getting good brought on by the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital,
also feels this pressure to g r a d e s “46 percent of parents say their everyone else,” Muenz said. is one of these teachers.
compete with her peers. instead of teen has shown signs of a new “It’s honestly exhausting “It is important
“For me and my actually or worsening mental health and can sometimes that students recognize two
friends, grades are really a condition since the start of the feel never-ending.” things: they are special and
top priority,” Muenz said. pandemic in March 2020.” Last year AAPS it is safe to communicate
“They always come up in Muenz is one of attempted to lower the struggles,” Schuitman said.
conversations, and I hear these students that feels pressure on students Schuitman gives his students
that some got an A+ on a test toxic academia and the by offering later start flexible deadlines and
while I got a 98 percent. I feel pandemic has negatively options, a block-schedule, opportunities to make test-
like I need to step it up even impacted her mental health. assigning no-homework corrections in an attempt
though it’s just two percent.” “I tend to focus all weekends and integrating to relieve some stress from
Pressure that my energy into this Social and Emotional the virtual school year.
even comes from family. competitive cycle Learning curriculum He also made all the AP
“You have to have of getting good into advisory classes. Statistic tests asynchronous.
the GPA, you have to take grades and just “Teachers at Huron “Cheating is
the SAT and you have trying to keep really try to combat toxic happening, whether we are
to load up and stress up with academia,” counselor Nichole in school or not,” Schuitman
yourself out and get Nunlee said. “They offer a said. “I kind of like that the
lot of help and recognize responsibility is on each
that our students face a lot student. It is time to trust
of stressors. They do their students more and treat them
best to be supportive and like the young adults they are. I
accommodate student hope that extending due dates
needs. They see students and offering opportunities
as much more than a grade.” to make corrections gives
AP Statistics students overwhelming
pandemic, it hasn’t reduced teacher Jeremy Schuitman options other than cheating.”
the pressure on students.

GRAPHIC BY AMY XU