by Josh Steiner
Ring, ring, the final bell sounds and students run out of the school to get on the
bus. Many go home, some go to work, and a select amount stays after for clubs.
Since the riddance of Seahawk Hour, students are finding themselves frustrated
that they are not able to stay after school for clubs. Many because they don't have a ride
home.
"It's hard to do anything after school because I don't have a ride home,"
sophomore Stephanie Crowell said.
Teachers involved in the after school clubs are having a hard time bringing
freshman and sophomores to clubs for just that reason.
"Seahawk hour has definitely affected our clubs after school," teacher Karen
Peck said. "We have only been having juniors and seniors come because most have cars."
Some teachers have said that if after school clubs more funding there would be
more options. A few years ago, Peninsula ran an activity bus that would bring kids home
at 3 o'clock so people could stay after.
Much of the school's money goes to sports like football and basketball. But, not
every student enjoys sports. Things like art, photography, writing and debate are well
liked and has dedicated students, but they aren't as funded as sports.
"Sports have way too much weight," Peck continues. "Activities means activities,
not just sports.
Some clubs are starting to be run directly by the students without the aid of the
ASB. Fashion Society was started by Melanie Shu and is becoming increasingly popular.
“If the school won’t do it, I guess we will.” junior Jeff Smith said. “Maybe its the
only way.”
Seahawk Hour is definitely a loss to the school and a dramatic one. But funding
for the clubs may prove to be just as significant. After school clubs are a part of school
life. By supporting your passion whether it be art, photography, writing, or anything else
you can help it grow bigger and bigger, just by staying after school.
“Activities like environmental club help our community,” junior Amanda Anson
said. “Getting rid of them would be like getting rid of a math class.”
After School Clubs
Features
365 words
by Josh Steiner
As the cars go whipping by, you begin to wonder why you are even here. Finally,
a beat up old Ford truck comes along and offers a ride to Tacoma. Your luck has finally
turned and you are on your way.
This is an every day occurrence for some kids and adults. Hitchhiking is and has
been one of the only ways of free transportation for years. But, this isn’t the 50’s. There
are vast numbers of unsafe people today making it risky to take a ride from just anyone.
“It can be dangerous if you get a ride from the wrong person,” junior Desiree’
Rattlinggourd said. “You have to watch out for the truck drivers.”
Fellow hitchhiker senior Lisa Rolfsen has been hitchhiking for years uses her own
instinct to get around.
“I guess you just need to judge a book by its cover,” Rolfsen said. “But sometimes
you just can’t tell and in those cases, you just don’t go.
Getting around can be a tedious thing. A ride from one end of town to the other
can be an hour trip for some people if they don’t know what they are doing.
“It took me 30 minutes to get from downtown Gig Harbor to Tacoma,” Rolfsen
continues. “I had to find a few different rides.”
Hitchhiking may not be for all people, but it does seem to work. Be aware of who
you are riding with before you get in the car. But if it just doesn’t seem safe, there’s
always the bus.