Blue Springs High School - Campus Cadence Yearbook (Blue Springs, MO)

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TEMPORARILY OUT OF GASOLINE UNTILTOMORROW OTHER SERVICES A RE OFF ERED Weekend plans were frequently ruin- ed by this sign. A lack of gasoline forced many BSHS ' ers to remain in town on weekends. Motorcycles appeared this year in the parking lot like never before as a result of the energy crisis. ' Sr 12 — Energy Crisis Essay

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Tests tecluVte sta Vt a Many of today ' s youth have become accustomed to the barrage of tests ad- ministered to them throughout their school years. Since many of these evaluations can prove greatly beneficial as well as detrimental to one ' s educational success, the amount of student concern involving testing is often extreme. True, many academic tests taken during high school do not insure ease and success in job applications, figuring one ' s income tax, and obtaining college scholarships. Yet, the information gained from the classroom is retained to a great extent because of tests. Fear may be a prime fac- tor in tests inducing stu- dent study habits. The car may be taken away, allowances cut, or curfews shortened — threats that few students want carried out. Junior Myrna Koch states, Tests are un- necessary because you cram for them and tend to forget the subject matter the next week. Along the same line, junior John Anthius believes, It ' s a farce because tests are just for points. Kids study and cram for a test and forget the next day. The desire to succeed is another reason why tests promote academic enthusiasm. Unfortunate- ly, tests do not always ac- curately evaluate one ' s knowledge in academic areas. Often students may score poorly on a quiz and yet apply the same knowledge to daily situations or other school subjects. I don ' t think tests should be counting so much on your grade as they do. It ' s not the test, but what you learn, quotes Rusty Mellor, senior. The inverse is also true; one can successfully cram for a test, score highly and yet fail to grasp an un- derstanding of the subject matter. Yet tests are the only widely accepted means of evaluating stu- dent understanding, con- cerning schoolwork. Other means of testing do exist. When asked of the need of tests, Dr. Larry Clark, principal, said, Absolutely, we use tests as a method of achieving mental discipline if nothing else. For in- stance, standardized tests are often given so that local students may view how they rank with students across the nation. Accoring to counselor Larry Moehle, Standar- dized tests should be more accurate than classroom tests. They often evaluate students ' aptitude and fields of interest, claimed Mrs. Linda White. I would like to see as few standardized tests as possible for the majority of students. With the excep- tion of those going on to college, I would like to see students take more stan- dardized tests. ACT, SAT, and PSAT are the major tests ad- ministered which often determine college students ' entrance in ma- jor colleges today. Seemingly meaningless dates, figures and facts required to pass high school courses, often come up on these tests, often making the difference between the acceptance and rejection of college applications. Tests do not always come in the standardized written form. They can come in the form of inter- views, applications, verbal and physical tests. Inter- views, for example, play a big part in one ' s life. I believe interviewing an in- dividual brings out their true identity and per- sonality on a job situation. Yes, interviews are a big part of life, states Mr. Bill Webb, drama director. Some interviews are of the question and answer method. Some job inter- views take place on loca- tion, rather than in an ex- ecutive ' s air-conditioned office. During these inter- views, one is not actually tested , but rather the in- terviewer or the prospec- tive boss tests one ' s prac- tical knowledge in the field. Upon completion of an interview many prospec- tive employers want the interviewee ' s opinions and feelings concerning the job. Although interviews are not standardized tests they serve the same func- tion as tests in that they evaluate one ' s knowledge in a given area. Specific courses such as mathematics, algebra, history, English, and science have their respec- tive tests, both oral and written, standardized and non-standardized forms. Business courses have a different method of testing. For example in typing and shorthand, tests revolve around how many words per minute one types or transcribes, rather than questions con- cerning the history or mechanics of business. Art classes also alter testing to meet the needs of evaluating aesthetic ap- preciation of art and creative ability and skill. Student ability is surveyed in areas involving work with pastels, oils, and pen- cil sketches; little memorization of facts is stressed in testing though. Students ' feelings and reactions to tests have been an invaluable aid to teaching, said Mr. Roy Stephenson. Many students feel that tests are unneeded and serve no function. Many BSHS students have expressed the notion that tests are not necessary to the teaching process; discus- sion is enough. Senior Gary Goodwin casts his feelings on the subject, They are okay, but they are boring after awhile. Many faculty ad- visors also express the same sentiment as the students, Tests are fine if they are administered thoughtfully and for the right reason. Despite its low validity, testing has a big impact on today ' s youth. For satisfactory results in evaluations provide a significant amount of proof of one ' s competency and prediction of success. Tests are administered for numerous reasons and in an endless number of ways. One ' s future employment, scholastic record, and consequent happiness often hinge upon these examinations. Evaluation is an ongoing process; one is tested men- tally, physically, emotionally and socially through oral, written or silent scrutiny by faculty, family, peers, employers and society in general. Tests Essay — 11

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c isis slow s d Own ctivi ies Sorry, no gas. 10 gallon limit please. We ' re closed until next week. Fill up on Friday for the weekend. Slow down — Save gas. These have become familiar phrases throughout the past year. Students were asked by administrators, and sometimes ordered by parents to ride the bus to school and save gas. Many students had to cut down on the after school and evening drives around town. Kevin Hornick said, I can ' t go cruising around any more. For about a month and one-half I had to ride the bus. When ask- ed about the energy crisis Jeanne Edmundson said, It ' s cut down on my driving. The biggest problem didn ' t seem to be the lack of gas though, the lack of money to buy the available gas was even more of a current problem. Gas prices soared to all-time highs and in some stations was selling for up to 80 cents a gallon. When the gas prices finally settled around 50 cents a gallon the pocket books were still deflating at rapid rates. Randi Monheiser related, I didn ' t cut down on my driving. It (the energy crisis) broke me because of my driving. Cheryl Mehrer added, A bunch of us got together and formed a car pool to help ease the expense. We all take turns driving to school. It helps with the expense of driving all the time. Mike McCarter summed up the situation when he stated, It ' s hurt my pocket book. Clubs in the school also felt the crunch of the shor- tage. Pep Club was limited to two buses to away spor- ting event and then had to choose only one event per week that the club would atte nd. Thespians and NFL were limited to one overnight during the year. Therefore, an important tourney in St. Louis had to be cancelled while the squad traveled only as far as Marshall, Mo., for the overnight. Field trips for all organizations and classes from the elemen- tary on up were cancelled to save gas. Choir members were also dis- tressed as the fall tour to the Ozarks for a singing engagement had to be cancelled. Many of the students felt that there really wasn ' t a gas shortage and, therefore, it was not to be worried about. Jan Ried stated it as fact when she said, There isn ' t one. Patrice Wohls added, The gas company ' s just created it to raise the price of gas. There may be one coming, but it ' s not here yet. It was evident that others agreed as the park- ing lots stayed full and the town continued to function normally except for a few closed gas stations. The speed limit was lowered by the government to 55 mph in another attempt to save gas. This worked only after the tickets started going out. Even then few students followed them all the time. One student stated, I always go 40 Highway now to the Mall so I don ' t have to worry about being stopped for going 60. Another one commented, I follow the limits because my dad would kill me if I got stopped. Nonetheless, the energy crisis is upon us and we must face it — now or later. Energy Crisis E ay — 13