What the world needs now is Civil Disagreement

By Sophie Chiang ‘23

Trump’s contentious beliefs and wrongful acts certainly make it easy to want to dismiss the Conservative party as a whole. His narcissism, xenophobia, and blatant disrespect have truly painted his party in a negative light, especially in the eyes of our St. Markers. But does that mean Republicans and Democrats should live in constant division?

In a recent chapel, it was mentioned that the Young Republicans club did not yet have a leader this year. However, the SM mock election revealed that there are, in fact, at least 63 Republicans on campus. Though they make up the minority, any of them are eligible to step up as leader of the club. Nobody has. This got me thinking, why is that? In a community where leadership positions are so sought after, why has nobody stepped up? Perhaps, it’s because of the controversy in sporting a conservative stance in today’s divisive political climate.

Dealing with controversial topics and controversial stances can be difficult. In a school of vastly liberal students (with 79% voting for Biden in the mock election), St Mark’s conservatives may be reluctant to lead a Republican club. Each party has differing positions on topics ranging from basic human rights to economic policies, leading to an increasingly polarized world. But we are a school under one roof, and so we must learn how to handle different viewpoints with clarification, reflection, and compromise. 

When controversy arises, we need to clarify the nature of the conflict by setting forth all the information needed. Each side should explain clearly why they stand behind their conviction and offer any relevant evidence, being impartial and using reason wisely. Then, each side should reflect on what the other person has to say. Using prudence and poise, each side should think deeply about the others’ stance, taking it in completely. This requires an open mind, without prejudice or assumptions.

Not every Democrat is an easily offended hippie and not every Republican is a heartless Trump-worshipper. Not every person has as extreme a view as you might assume. We mustn't demonize any one side. You might even come to find out that you have more common ground than you thought on certain issues with a member of the opposite party. But what if you don’t? If you come to disagree strongly with the other person, be sure to do it with maturity. Civil disagreement demands poise, empathy, and compromise. Both sides should be willing to accept that there may not necessarily be a “right answer” or a way to get the other person to agree completely. But of course, use your judgement. If you are disagreeing on something as basic as women’s rights or gay marriage, it is okay to simply walk away from the conversation.

We should keep in mind our differences but not let them prevent us from respecting other groups’ beliefs. We shouldn’t silence someone’s opinion, but instead hear them out. If you don’t believe it is right, give them food for thought to let them change their own mind. Democrats and Republicans have a lot to learn from each other, and by hearing each other out, we might realize that the other actually has some valuable points to present. 

Unexpected learning outcomes

By Amber Lee ‘24

We can all agree that remote learning has brought drastic changes in our lives. It is a method that is new to everyone, and it has thrown us into a different classroom environment. In the process of adapting, we find ourselves experiencing things that would never have occurred in normal situations. Many of us realized the importance and preciousness of interacting with each other. Also, some developed new hobbies, new interests, and even progressed to complete activities that they always wished to do but never had the chance. Although the pandemic and the online classes were situations that were unexpectedly thrust upon us, making the best out of it and using the disaster as an opportunity and to our advantage definitely helped improve the confusion.

When I first started online classes, I thought it would be much easier and much more comfortable. All that was required was a computer, and I did not have to go all the way to school in order to participate in my classes. However, as time passed and I went through months of zoom lessons, I realized the value of in person learning. I missed the time when I could ask questions without fear of technical difficulties and the opportunity to learn with my classmates. It also made me value my teachers and peers. Staying at home all the time allowed me to appreciate my family as well. My parents made sure my learning environment was quiet and appropriate for studying, and they tried their best to make me comfortable and focused. Aside from studying, we also spent a lot of time together, which bonded us even better than before quarantine. We became even closer and learned to understand each other better, even though it was not an optional opportunity. My family tried to make the best out of the situation, so it was nice to be able to be around them and communicate more often.

Another aspect that I appreciated about remote learning was the fact that I could pursue my interests and passions. Although I love books, I did not have the time to read as much as I wanted to. However, I ended up reading at least five books as so much time was saved during the online classes period. I eventually learned how to use the free periods such as time that was previously used for transportation to my advantage, and I completed so many things during them. I also learned to do the splits and learned to cook from my parents. It was nice to be able to get good use out of those times and make it useful.

Although quarantine and social distancing is a difficult and unprecedented situation for everyone, it made us appreciate the opportunities that we usually take for granted. Also, taking advantage of our free time helped make the period richer and fuller.

The Loneliness of online Learning

By Mandy Hui ‘23

Being intentionally small has always been a part of St. Mark’s philosophy since the day it was founded in 1865. Every year, students have sought comfort in the small community and believed it was one of the key factors in differentiating our school from others. This year, however, the pandemic has presented a great barrier to students around the globe studying in different time zones. Many of us have one question in mind: am I the only one feeling lonely?

The feeling of loneliness is ubiquitous and is probably not foreign to any of us, but it poses a number of threats to us, as humans. Loneliness can lead to a higher risk of both physical and mental problems - including anxiety and depression. Since the pandemic, victims of these mental states have surged throughout the world because of the necessity of social distancing, which ultimately forced schools to shut down in-person classes. Students adapted to the new remote environment, learning from a computer screen at home all day, away from real-life interactions.

Everyone has different takes on learning remotely. Some may be exasperated, some may be content, and others may simply be indifferent. There are a number of options to help alleviate loneliness. One may be video-chatting. We are privileged to be in a position where we are able to easily reach out to people via mobile devices. During this pandemic, facetime/skype/zoom can be a bridge for people who crave social interaction as it allows us to view our facial expressions and actions on screen. Compared to texting, video-calling a friend or family is the way to go. Allot a certain time during your day to just call someone; it’ll definitely make your day. Another solution may be exercising - take time out of your day to be active (at home or outdoors) because being active benefits both physically and mentally. Other activities may include any hobbies that are fitting for a home environment. 

Ultimately, coming in terms with the fact that you are not the only one feeling lonely is the best way to combat this feeling. You might try activities other people are doing to mitigate their situation, and since we have so much time in our hands, it’s also important to reflect on yourself as a person. You can discover things you never knew about yourself before this pandemic: your habits, moods, and what you should start prioritizing in life. Reflecting on your needs and learning how to be independent are essential in life. You may enjoy reading, someone may enjoy drawing, and another may enjoy writing to help them handle these circumstances; so at the end of the day, we all cope with this pandemic differently. There is no single answer that will cure this feeling, but if you are in need of help, always talk to someone as they can support you through these difficult times because, in my opinion, that’s when you’ll slowly start to feel better again. 

Look for the Silver Linings

By Katie Park ‘21

On the night before our spring break, Ms. Finnerty came to my room to check-in with me and told me that I should bring some of my textbooks with me because classes might be online after spring break. At the time, I simply thought that was not a possibility. There was an outbreak in European and Asian countries, which was probably the sign that I should be alarmed, but for some reason, I just was not. Then, after about two weeks, I found out that school would be remote until late May. I did not know how to process this news, but at the time, little did I know that Coronavirus would last way longer than late May. 

As soon as I heard back from school, I flew back home, which is in South Korea. I was not able to go back to my dorm to pack my room, so I basically left everything behind and hopped on a plane. When I went back home, I was in quarantine for 14 days while I took classes remotely. There is a 13 hour time difference, so I could not attend some of my classes, and all my classes were at night, which felt very different. Keeping in touch with my close friends was also difficult because of the time difference. I would meet up with my friends from home, but I still felt a bit isolated. I could not help but think about everything that was being taken away from us. 

When I came to the realization that things are not going to get drastically better any time soon, I decided to change my mindset. As cliche as it sounds, positivity is what has helped me go through these trying times. Instead of being frustrated about what was being taken away, I started feeling grateful for what I took for granted. Things that once seemed insignificant, like spending time with my friends in the dining hall complaining about our long days, all of a sudden felt special. While being grateful for the little things, on some days, I couldn’t help acknowledge how unnormal this “new normal” felt and complained about everything. I have discovered the important thing is to find the balance between being grateful and feeling frustrated, and that is how I have tried to cope with the situation. 

Every generation faces hardships, be it a war, depression, or anything else, and the biggest hardship that our generation is facing at the moment is fighting the Coronavirus. They say every cloud has a silver lining. As we go through these remarkable times together, we will be stronger and be prepared to fight any hardships that are yet to come, even if they might be more challenging than the one we are currently fighting.

St. Markers in different time zones face unique learning challenges

By Madison Hoang ‘23

The beginning of the 2020-2021 academic year at St. Mark's has been anything but ordinary: faculty and students alike have found themselves either picking up from the remote learning battle once again - having just ended just 3 months ago - or only just stepping into the chaos and confusion for the first time this fall. While remote learning may have only imposed a slight shift towards the standard 8-4 schedule for most domestic St. Markers, it is an unusually different experience for those who've opted to attend their studies from as far as halfway across the world, where distant time zones can mean as great as an 11, 12 or 13 hour difference. On top of the social and technological challenges presented by remote learning itself, international students face even more obscure, less obvious boundaries, which, for many, have caused a huge shift in their overall lifestyle, including their ability to perform in school and maintain their well-being.

For many international remote learners, classes begin in the evenings, and students are excused after 11:30pm. This year, St. Mark's has implemented ‘evening blocks' to its schedule, in order to better accommodate international students for missed afternoon classes. These blocks usually begin from 7:30am and onwards in Eastern Asia. Lily Luo, a 6th former connecting 1 hour ahead of St. Mark’s time, describes her usual work day:  “I wake up around 9 to catch my morning class, do homework  . . . I sleep around 1 or 2am.” In China, which is 12 hours ahead, Coco Xia a III former experiences a drastically different schedule: “I sometimes get up early to ask questions during evening blocks in the US, and then in the morning I finish the assignments that are due by noon, and I watch the recording videos of some of my classes. My afternoons are mostly free, so I spend time more flexibly. I have remote learning on Zoom starting at 8 p.m. and ending at 1:30 a.m. or 3 a.m. I’m considering getting more sleep during the day.” Due to inverse time zones, students work during the day and attend classes at night. The regular sleep schedule of most international students seems to consist of waking up early in the morning and staying up late for classes.

When asked about their thoughts on the current schedule and its effects on their lifestyle, students expressed mixed reactions. Coco pointed out that it has given her more time in the afternoons to catch up on leisurely activities. But she, along with students like Mandy Hui from the 4th form, express that maintaining a sleep schedule is hard because of the restrictive nature of the dismissal times and evening blocks. According to school guidelines, dismissal for all begins as late as 11:30pm, and ends as early as 7:30am. But evening block times vary according to respective time zones, putting some international students at an advantage over others. For many in Asia, these ‘evening blocks’ can begin as early as  7:30am. Therefore, distant remote learners have to wake up early in the mornings to attend missed classes, resulting in as few as 6 or 7 hours of sleep on some nights. Though this schedule was designed with the intentions to ease communications between teachers and students, this has also imposed negative effects on international learners' sleeping habits and overall well-being. 

So how can teachers better accommodate students in distant time zones, and how can distant learners overcome their remote learning challenges? Unfortunately, there is no easy solution, due to the wide variety of time zones where international students reside. But for many, late bedtimes and early classes are an ill-suited combination, so teachers are encouraged to try their best in facilitating more effective communication with their international students  - keeping in mind that many remote learners may often shy away from being the first to reach out. On the other hand, students should also reciprocate these efforts and communicate with their teachers, by being transparent about any challenges they face with early wake up times and late classes, while also trying their best to go to sleep before 12am and getting at least 8 hours of rest each night. But until daylight savings goes into effect on November 1st - which pushes international students' morning classes back by an hour - the best that learners and teachers can do is try their best to take charge with their own communication and time-management abilities.

Get back in the Groove: Tips for making the best of a sequestered semester

By Fiona Tran ‘23

After the long and well deserved summer break, I am sure that we are all ready to head back to school. But wait, something seems different. Instead of coming to school everyday and having fun with our peers, many of us are at home, and our classes are all held online for the time being. While the novelty might be interesting for the first few days  now that we all are moving up to a new grade and course materials are unfamiliar, things have the potential to get boring very quickly around here. 

As a remote student, I really dislike the fact that I am missing out on the things that any normal high school student is supposed to be experiencing right now. I know that for the time being, or, at least until the spring semester, I will be at home, back in Vietnam. Though, things have gotten better for me, because I have found a way to enjoy the remote experience as much as I possibly can.  Here is how I do it, and I hope that these tips will help you out as well, remote or not.

1. Find a study buddy

Though this might seem like an obvious tip, I don’t think people utilize our amazing social circle enough. Having someone who is also remote like you will definitely make the experience of studying online a little easier. I would highly recommend reaching out to a friend that you know who’s also studying remote, and set up a time where you can study together. If you know that your peer is also staying in the same country as you, reach out and set up a date to have socially distanced hang out. Studying online does not necessarily mean that your social interaction is limited to just online. 

2. Learn to communicate effectively with your advisor/teachers

Reaching out to my advisor about the different problems that I was struggling with proved really effective while I navigated my way through the school year for the first two weeks. I learned that by not sharing your problems with someone who will clearly have the ability to fix it will not fix your problems for you. If you’re struggling with a class, ask your advisor to communicate with your teacher to give you extensions and lower the workload for the first few weeks as you get back. If time zones are too difficult, reach out to your advisor to also talk to your teachers to make adjustments accordingly. No teachers and no advisors will refuse to help you out. In fact they are always willing to accommodate in order to make your learning experience the most effective. 

3. Take a timeout from electronics

No one wants to be sitting behind a computer screen nine hours in a row, and I would assume that you would not like that too. Zooming a lot can be very exhausting. Mentally and physically. Find a slot of time in the day, or in between classes to take a break and stay away from your computer and phone. This will give your eyes a break and will make you feel like your life is not just surrounded by technology. Personally, I find that taking my pet for a walk and playing with him takes my mind off of technology. This is also another thing that people might find weird, but reading also helps a lot as well. 

I hope that all of these tips will help you all thrive and navigate your way through the virtual school year a little bit better, and please please remember that taking breaks for yourself is healthy, and you should always prioritize your emotions before anything else!

St. Mark’s Strong : keeping the pride intact in difficult times

By Eve Elkins’21

No longer can we cheer around the bonfire as the monitors throw in a paper mache zebra. No longer can students pack the Lion’s Den and sing along to song after song. These school traditions were a much-needed outlet from the hard work and stress that academics and extracurriculars at St.Marks entail. In the hybrid version of St.Mark’s, where these traditions no longer stand, how do we keep our sense of togetherness- how do we keep the Pride strong? 

Whether you are remote or in-person this fall, the mindfulness practices and the check-ins with each grade foster strong community connections. I recently started going to these brief mindfulness practices over Zoom, and they are a great way to help retain connectivity and interactions that we took for granted. Talking about how I was doing with people who could empathize with me reminded me that I am not alone. As for going to the check-ins with your grade, we all know too well those periods of awkward silence on Zoom. Embracing that awkwardness is vital because when you go to these check-ins, you contribute to the St.Mark’s community. Libby Flathers, a sixth former, said, “watch for the small things. They may not seem like a lot, but the small things are what can really make or break a community.” Especially now, these small efforts you can make matter because showing up for each other is fundamental to maintain the community. The dreaded Zoom silence is worth it because it is uncertain when or if things will ever be completely normal again. Another Zooming tip I have found to be useful is to keep myself off mute as much as I can even when I am not talking. I find the flow of the virtual conversation to be much smoother and that I participate more. 

Focusing on short term goals for yourself is key to staying motivated and positive in times of great uncertainty. Focus on the immediate and internal factors you can change rather than worrying about the external ones. Keep the long-term goals in the back of your mind so that you can adapt when things do change. A goal that everyone should keep in mind is rebuilding their relationship with learning. Last spring, it was challenging to stay motivated because virtual classes were a huge adjustment for everyone. Also, in the pass-fail quarter, we no longer had grades as something to motivate us. Now that the grading system is back and teachers are more prepared for the challenges of virtual school, everyone should begin to regain the trust that we used to have in our education. Regaining the academic mindset and motivation is an essential step in keeping the community strong. When we have the right attitude and eagerness, we become intellectually curious and can provide meaningful contributions to the class, making it more engaging.

Those who are remote just passed their 60th day of attending classes on Zoom. If you are in person, reach out to all the remote learners this fall that you know. Even if you don’t have much in common, we are all going through the global pandemic, which unites us no matter how far apart we are from each other. 

https://www.columbiaspectator.com/search=education&size=10&from=0/

Reflections on Remote teaching and Learning

by suha choi’22

The realities of distance learning hold many difficulties and barriers. Despite unprecedented challenges, the St. Mark’s faculty have done excellent jobs this spring to promote learning for their students. Several faculty share their experiences of online teaching for Window 4 as well as some thoughts of gratitude and positivity.  We asked them what they have learned about themselves as teachers and their students as learners during this time we have been learning remotely.

Reverend Talcott

 “I have learned that St. Markers really have a desire to learn, and are not in it just for the grades.  It has been such an amazing gift to see that!  They did all the work they needed in order to learn deeply, and they did it with enthusiasm--it was incredibly heartening and rewarding to see that.”- Reverend Talcott

Mr. Palmer

“Remote teaching and learning has really reinforced for me how important actual human interaction is to my teaching and my ability to communicate with students: the feedback both verbal and nonverbal when face to face is so much better than through a video screen. I teach to be with people not to just tell them stuff.” Mr. Palmer

Ms. McCann

“I am daily impressed by the way students have adapted to these wild and painful times by dashing headlong, without hesitation, into a new (and hopefully temporary) normal of remote learning.  I had much more trepidation than any of my students, so they have bolstered both my teaching and my hope.  I have had confirmed a long-held belief of mine: humor is instructive, powerful, and healing.” Ms. McCann

Mr. Corliss

“Remote Learning has taught me about how much I miss all the small nuances of connecting in person: without really experiencing body language, eye contact, and small cues, it is really difficult to feel connected.”

Dr. Harwood

“I have been so grateful to have the technology and professional  support  needed to continue teaching and learning with my students during the Pandemic. So many other students and teachers in our country and the world are without these amazing tools and resources. A lot of individuals worked tirelessly behind the scenes to  make this transition possible. This time has made me even more appreciative of St. Mark’s; of the strong and supportive community of faculty, staff and students and the wonderful learning opportunities we can engage in with our students- even from a distance. ” Dr. Harwood

Things to Do This Summer

By Suha Choi ‘22

• Scroll through the App Store and discover some really cool apps

• If you’re missing the seniors… watch the recordings of chapel talks (up on Canvas) and read through this year’s online yearbook

• Make face-masks and share them with your frontline worker relatives (there is also the no-sew version)

• Make cookies and brownies, but give them a twist with unconventional flavors!

• Practice random acts of kindness to your family and friends

• Try reading from a news website that you normally do not read from, and see how you feel about it and if there is anything different from the news websites that you normally go to. 

• Do a book swap with your family or try reading your friend’s favorite book\

• Do a diet swap with your friend– text each other what each of you would typically eat in a day and try each other’s diet for a day

• Educate yourself more about racism (emails from Ms. Adams and Ms. Roussinos also provide very helpful resources)

• Toss out all of your expired products or search if there are any ways to reuse them (for example, you can turn your expired moisturizer into a body scrub)

• Sign up for cool online classes (and not more zoom math or English classes). Think of it as our Saturday classes, but only more diverse and self-paced!  Some of the coolest classes. Two recommendations are : Mental floss and Teachthought

• Have a campfire at back-yard

• Compare yourself to the teenage photos of your parents and/or grandparents

• Make your own book… like Dr. Harwood is doing right now!

• Make your own bath bombs and take a nice bath

• Take a virtual museum tour.

• Order cheap at-home movie projectors and set up a home movie theatre

• Tired of staring at the screen all day long? Go on a 24-hour digital detox (off your phone and social media for 24 hours) 

• Enjoy your summer!