Opinion

Academic pressure is harming  BHS's sick students

If one looks around Berkeley High School, it’s easy to see that students are coming to school while ill. In most classrooms, you’ll hear at least a few coughs and sneezes, student voices scratchy with the beginnings of a cold or flu.

Young people's voices must be better represented in politics 

It’s hard for students to learn about critical national decisions being made while simultaneously knowing that youths’ voices are not  considered.

The PSAT allows students to easily prep for the SAT.

Lack of  PSAT access at BHS deprives students of opportunities

Berkeley High School will not offer the PSAT this year. The PSAT is a practice version of the SAT, usually taken by juniors, that allows students to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship as well as assess their abilities in preparation for the SAT.

Juvenile violence harms communities, Berkeley High School must get involved

On Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023, hundreds of kids broke out into fights near Emeryville’s AMC theater.  It was the day of AMC’s four dollar movie ticket sale, and the streets were flooded with up to four hundred kids, who then broke out into violence.  According to ABC7 News, one shot was fired and one juvenile

Counselor bonds aid students

Students are often encouraged to build relationships with their counselors, but the value of a strong student-counselor relationship can be overlooked.

Two hands shaking each other.

Legacy admissions: rooted in inequality

Should college admissions be based on merit or circumstance? Now that the Supreme Court has ended affirmative action, a practice meant to ensure equal opportunities for all, it makes no sense to allow a true injustice in college admissions to linger: legacy admissions.

SF

SF economic downfall is detrimental to Berkeley, action needed

San Francisco’s downtown was once a significant economic, cultural, and financial center. However, in recent years, the city’s iconic downtown has taken a turn for the worse.

Letter to the Editor

A note from the Editor in ChiefThe Jacket would like to apologize for the lack of context provided in the original article, as well as the unnecessary harm caused, in particular to the AMPS community.

Cheating culture at BHS is rooted in student disinterest

Each year, as it has been for decades, students start their school year greeted with the same message: “Don’t cheat, you’ll get a zero, I’ll fail you in this class,” said a Berkeley High School student who chose to remain anonymous, mimicking teachers at BHS.

A student is writing down notes with an open laptop.

Are unpaid internships predatory or helpful towards young people?

For a long time unpaid internships have been framed as a way for teenagers to gain experience before entering the workforce, but the reality is that they are very unfair.

A student is at a desk, with Chat GPT open.

Should AI be allowed as an educational tool?

PRO There’s no denying that the Artificial Intelligence revolution is here, but it looks nothing like the warped realities from The Matrix or Terminator.

Adults and children are in groups on a pink background with white decorative lines.

Parent days must become more inclusive

With Mother’s Day having just passed, it’s time to reconsider the relevancy and inclusivity of holidays like Mother’s and Father’s Day. All kids, not just ones with traditional households, should be encouraged to find ways to celebrate their parents.

Student feedback helps classes improve

At the end of the semester or school year, many teachers at Berkeley High School  request feedback from their students. Teachers usually ask for feedback through a Google form.

AMPS is one of five small schools at BHS.

SLCs require more accessible AP classes

For most Berkeley High School students, taking AP classes is a simple choice they task themselves with when choosing their schedules for the next school year.

AAPI students contribute cultural events to campus.

AAPI heritage adds to Cal campus culture

In the fall of 2022, over 43.3 percent of new freshmen enrolled at UC Berkeley identified as Asian or Pacific Islander. A common stereotype about Asian students is that they’re only ever focused on work, but the reality is that the dominant precence of AAPI heritage on campus adds joy and variation to the campus

Girl popping out from phone that has a lot of screens open

Co-opting  style trends damage Asian cultures

What do “white girl wellness,” fox eye makeup, and K-pop obsessions all have in common? Are they all somehow connected to Asian culture? Are they all things that white people have co-opted as their own?

Boy with headphones listening to music with questions and exclamations he doesn

Family languages strengthen cultural ties

Exploring languages other than English can be a gateway to understanding different cultures, widening the perspective of history, and connecting more with one’s ancestors.

Girl with green beams surrounding her.

Internalized colorism: Leaving deep marks in Asian communities

Colorism in Asian communities dates back to 710 A.D. when it was used to separate the elite from the working class. Over the centuries it has allowed for the preferential treatment of light skinned individuals in relation to their darker skinned counterparts.