When an individual walks in the halls or into any classroom of Audubon High School, he or she will find some sort of electronic device being used. Whether it is a student’s iPhone or laptop, the devices are there. With that comes social media such as Twitter and Facebook. Are these outlets a good thing or a bad thing?
    When ten random students at AHS were asked if they liked social media, 80% of them agreed they did.  Some reasons these students enjoy social media are that it provides an easy way to connect with family, friends, and like-minded people.
    However, with every good thing comes something negative. Social media can limit actual human interaction and affect productivity. Being productive with social media seems to be hard. According to Procon.org, students who used social networking sites had an average GPA of 3.06, compared to non-using student’s GPA of 3.82.
    Many students, including the students in the poll, hesitated in answering if they truly liked social media or not.  Janie Magner wasn’t hesitant to express her opinion; she feels social media has taken over people’s lives. “I think everyone is so overwhelmed with that fact that everyone has to have the latest technology…. And you have Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram where you’re posting all your feelings on, people make rude comments on some, and sometimes you have to leave that stuff off the computer.”
    One of the tech directors, Lynn Spies, admitted social media “is a good thing as long as it is not abused and used in the right way. Social media can always be followed and traced and students need to be aware of what they are posting.” 

     With parent teacher conferences coming up, many are wondering whether or not they are still beneficial. For a few years now, Audubon High has been using a website known to many as JMC. This site has made grades easily accessible for students and parents. Yet, Audubon still requires a meeting between parents and their child’s adviser to discuss grades and more. Some think that this may become a thing of the past.            

    Mr. Riebhoff, an adviser, says he’s having a bit of trouble this year since his advisory is a group of freshman. “I don’t know them yet, so I’m getting to know their interests.” When asked how conferences help he responded with, “Communicating with parents one to one really helps. I’m not a man who likes indirect contact like through email.” Riebhoff really sees himself as someone his advisees can go to for troubles with school and other students. “I really want to give them skills that they will need. My motto is: learn as much as you can; you don’t know where you can use it.”

     Kyle Polson, a freshman at Audubon, is having his first high school parent-teacher conference, but he has his share of experience from years past. When asked how conferences have helped him as he’s gone through elementary and junior high school, he responded with “They help me get my rear in gear and get my grades up.”

     Polson really appreciates having an adult who’s gone through high school and college to talk to. “Having my parents there really helps enforce what he [adviser] says.” While Polson said conferences are very beneficial, he says there is one thing that can improve them. Food. Polson said, “It’s fun and comforting [at conferences].”

With kids being able to tweet, text, and spread rumors faster than ever now, how many of them are bullies? Or are they just conflict starters?

According to dosomething.org, over 3.2 million students are bullied every year, with 71% of students reporting the incidents, 90% being 4th – 8th, and 1 in 10 being cyber bullied.  Several students in Audubon, both male and female, said that they have been bullied within the past several years.  Although, the numbers seem higher in middle school and freshman girls. It is more common for girls to gravitate toward the drama that is claimed to be bullying, whereas guys might keep quiet about it.

Some students spoke about what it’s like to be bullied. Carl* said, “I used to get made fun of for having a chest bigger than girls, so I lost a lot of weight and now I’m better than them.”

Although for some people, it brings them down. Rhonda* said, “I was bullied over my shape and size…I felt like it was never going to end. I felt like just breaking down. I felt like I couldn’t stay strong anymore.” 

When asked how many times Taylor* felt victimized, she responded with, “it’s an everyday thing.”

Although most bullying happens when teachers aren't around, Mr. Dammel said that if he sees something fishy in the hallways he tries to stop it before something could get ugly.

Principal Mr. Trager said, “most [bullying at AHS] is electronic, and I hesitate to call it cyber bullying because usually it’s not like somebody’s posting something, at least what I’m seeing, is someone’s not posting something evil about somebody else on Facebook that the whole world can see, it’s more like nasty text messages back and forth or Instagram, whatever. But it’s a lot of that and a lot of rumors spreading.” Mr. Trager later said, “a lot of what we see is actually conflict…Bullying is bad, it is harmful to the person who is being bullied, it’s a terrible thing, it shouldn’t happen.”

*names were changed to protect identity