Alief Elsik High School - Ramblings Yearbook (Houston, TX)

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or Maryann Protomarlir studies diligently at her desk to make good grades. Photo by R. Law Goldwater, Secretary of Defense Casper Wein- berger, and the Honorable Sandra Day O'Connor, and other senators and rep- resentatives, we obtained many different viewpoints on different subjects, but all were very sincere and diligent people. Itwasanhonortobeable to share a time with each of these persons, discussing issues that directly affect the people of America. After visiting the Supreme Court, the Pentagon, the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Smithsonian Institution, I feel America has so many things to be proud of. It made me remember that we are One nation, under God, indivisible, with liber- ty and justice for all. Junior Tracie Rutherford stands out- side the Pentagon building in Wash- ington, D.C. She was selected as the winnerof Bill Archer's Intern Program. Photo by T. Rutherford Last fall. Junior Tracie Rutherford won an essay contest for a contest as part of Congressman Bill Archer's Intern Program. One student from each high school in Congress- man Archer's district was selected on the basis of an essay on what a trip to Washington, D.C. would mean to them. A panel of teachers chose four win- ners from the contestants' essays. Tracie left Houston Saturday, March 24, and returned from Washing- ton a week later. By Tracie Rutherford Being a part of the Bill Archer Intern Program was about the most exciting and fulfilling activity that I have every been involved in. Every aspect of the trip was dedicated to learning more about our nation's gov- ernment, its functions and the people involed in it. Due to the lack of knowledge about our government, many people are apt to criticize and ridicule politics, but the one right that is more often taken for granted in this country is freedom. With- out the freedom we as citizens of the U.S. can obtain, we would lose our purpose as a nation. This was the main point that many of the legislators and politicians emphasized. I believe that our gov- ernment is dedicated to the betterment of the citizens' lives,even though this is not always an easy task. By meeting such people as Mr. Barry ony Palguta has a great interest in Washington Proves id culture. Photo by R. Law Rewarding, Fun, Worthwhile

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Asians Achieve Parents Demand Excellence Seniors jasmin Ilanga and Vu Tran listen closely to instructions during tl British Literature class. Photo by R. I Increasingly, Asian stu- dents are able to out-perform American students in the U.S. on a basis of art and intellect in science and math. Since the immigration of Asians to the U.S. has increased greatly, many worried American educators and parents look enviously to the East. Dr. Harold Stevenson, a professor of child psy- chology at the University of Michigan, says that in a competative world such as ours, we have a right to be worried. The average high school graduate in China and Japan has a much better understanding of physics and math than his American counterpart. Stevenson says this affects the quality of the product each produces. The Chin- ese or Japanese worker is more likely to understand the need for precision and will strive to accomplish excellence more often than the American worker. Across the U.S., school officials see Asian-Amer- icans topping honor rolls of some of the country's highly regarded schools. The same is true for Alief. Nevertheless, achieve- ment can be a source of pain as well as pride to Asian-American students. Unlike their admirers, these students seldom take their success for granted. There is a heavy sense of obligation not to do anything that is embarrassing to the family. This is called face. Even students of average ability attempt to over achieve at all costs. According to Senior Don Quach who came from Vietnam nine years ago, there is an incentive to do extremely well in Vietnam schools. You can really feel the pressure; a parental as well as community pres- sure. Parental expecta- tions can be a mixed blessing. They set such high standards that some children fall apart if they cannot maintain an A- average. Such single- mindedness can cause social problems for these young people trying to adjust to a new culture. The high motivation Asians share with other immigrants is the drive to establish themselves, once they reach the U.S. Many An increasing percent of our students are Asian. As elsewhere in the U.S., they are out-performing Americans. parents ot these students do not have money or property. The only thing they can give their children is the best available opportunity to achieve their potential- education. The in- ternational language of math and science also allows children still strug- gling with English to achieve in those field faster. Parents often tend to nudge their children into careers that seem to have no political context because of the painful and frightening memories of social activism in their native countries. The U.S. still believes that education is the path to attainment, but citizens are unwilling to pay more taxes or to upgrade the educational profession. American teachers receive far less respect than Asian. Americans tend to cat- egorize certain children at a very young age as having ability levels or handicaps. According to Stevenson, there is no educational advantage to segregating children by their academic skills. When a child starts making mistakes in the U.S., many educators deduce failure. In Japan, errors are regarded as one of the best learning tools. In many student si- tuations, there is no parent supervision, support, or real belief in homework, and a lack of parent teacher communication. As one of Elsik's teachers questioned, How can we conduct class when half the students do not do their homework? This is the responsibility of the parent and the student. In Japan and China, children take message booklets back and forth to home and school. The school day is longer, and the week is five and a half days, but teaching time is the same. Teachers and students also have more breaks. In higher education, the U.S. still excels, but only for the cream of the crop. Senior Kris Hoang attends m; of the school’s extra-curricu activities. Photo by R. Law For the average stude we need to re-install 1 belief that education important. We need to concerned, stated S venson. by Ericka H 152 Rjmbler Asian Students

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 The suicide rate among teenage Americans has tripled in the last twenty years. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among our nations's youth. The five to ten thousand teenage deaths annually signal a problem of epi- demic proportions. These were just a few of the terrifying statements printed by the papers. The Houston Post published true-life accounts of sui- cidal teens throughout the year. This story was one of the more powerful ones. Beth (not her real name) looks like a modern day Cinderella, with long blond hair, expressive eyes, and a slim 14 year old figure. But today, she sounds like a very old woman. Beth is a resident of West Oaks Hospital. She takes a seat in the hospital's conference room and tells her story in hopes that somebody somewhere might learn something about teenage suicide. She begins timidly. When she was little, she says, her father used to drink, and beat up her mother. It always went on, before I was even born. Along with Beth and her parents lived her mother's six brothers and sisters. My mom wasn't really available for me. I felt forgotten about. When Beth was six, her parents separated, and she and her mother wound up in a shelter for battered women. About a month after the split, her mother moved in with a new boyfriend. I liked him, Beth says, but I resented him for taking my dad's place. Within the year, Beth's mom was married and pregnant. She used to call me her best friend, Beth re- members. My mom was a weak person. I took the attitude that I had to be strong. Beth pauses to think. That's probably when my problems started. I was acting so Photo by S. Lacl strong when things we really bothering me. When Beth was eigi her stepfather assault her sexually. That was t beginning of an incestuo relationship that lasted 1 three miserable yea Beth's straight A grac became a thing of the pa I had a lot of anger - a i of stuff I was feeling bu wasn't saying. One day Beth took electric knife from t kitchen and cut herself - the leg. I couldn't s verbally how hurt I fell thought maybe a physh hurt would be better th an emotional one. Anc remember thinking tha wanted to be taken care o Nobody seemed to noti the child's bleeding leg The next day Beth curs at her teacher, who sent b to the principal. Tha when Beth broke do and told the schc administrator about b problems at home. T principal called the chi welfare authorities, a: her life with her moth stepfather and stepbrotb came to an end. For me than a year, Beth lived in assortment of institutioi staffed by a variety therapists who tried 154 Rambler