Sophomores Find Their Voice
Aelyn Thompson
News Editor
Sophomores in first semester Speech were assigned to create a persuasive speech with a topic of their choice: whatever gets them going and the cogs in their minds turning.
Wearing business formal outfits, receiving a substantial grade, speaking in front of peers and teachers and administration in the equation, these grade 10 students were forced to think outside the basic topics.
English teacher Erin Konecky teaches the sophomore speech classes and cannot wait to listen to the students’ work.
“The topics this year are more complex and local,” Konecky said. “[The topics] are geared more toward high schoolers, but not the old ‘open campus lunch’-type topics.”
Groups in all class periods have their own ideas about what should be changed in the community, from field trips to respect for veterans.
“Our topic is based around feminist ideals, but we are not persuading people to be feminist,” student Mary Morton said. “We are attempting to change people’s view on subjects such as rape and dress code equality, specifically on the female side.”
Four members of Morton’s group are ladies, with one guy to have the male voice to speak for quality of genders.
Working with mature topics geared toward local problems is a trait of other groups in Konecky’s class.
“Our speech is about the treatment of military veterans,” student Colten Stutheit said. “We chose it because people don’t talk about it enough and we feel that they don’t get the respect they deserve.”
Heavy topics for 16 year olds to talk about, but necessary conversations (or speeches) nonetheless. However, some topics are a little too heavy for a sophomore speech class.
A group wanted to do their speech on their opinion of certain students and how they receive more para support than they need.
“The big thing with that one is that none of them themselves have para-support, even if they had family ties to the subject. The Special Education department wrote to me and were concerned,” Konecky explained. “Sadly, there really isn’t a way to talk about it without someone’s feelings getting hurt.”
While the certain topics could not be changed in the classroom, other topics have the opportunity to actually change the district’s curriculum and real-life application programs.
“The school should set aside more time for field trips,” sophomore Arielle Wiedenbeck said. “Field trips have been proven to connect the students with the world outside of high school, and more importantly the world after.”
Administrators are open for sources, and they often come into the speech classes and listen to the students’ points and ideas. The obvious point of these speeches is to influence and change.
“I’m really impressed that they [students] are wanting to take action and wanting to make a change,” Principal Ryan Ricenbaw said. “It’s not that they will change things and it’s not that they won’t change things, but that’s what it’s all about: gaining information and perspectives and proposing a change.”
As for the speeches, students, teachers and administrators are welcomed in class periods 1, 3 and 6 Monday through Friday of this week, Nov. 17 - 21.
Ideas can change the world, no matter how small they start. Even if it’s just a topic for a required speech grade, maybe the sophomores’ words will hit home.
