Malala Yousafzai and the Right to Female Education

Do you ever feel like not going to school because you’d rather be at home doing something better than sitting in a classroom all day? Well most people don’t realize how lucky they are to be getting an education. In Swat Valley, Pakistan girls aren’t allowed to go to school. They stay home and help their mothers. The Taliban were threatening the lives of families that sent their daughters to school. It seemed like the Taliban had complete control over everyone, but not quite.

Malala Yousafzai, the daughter of a school owner was only 11 years old when she spoke up about how the right to education should not be taken away. The Taliban threatened her life but that didn’t stop her. She snuck into school every day with only a few other girls because to her education means everything. One day on the way home from school her bus was attacked by the Taliban. Two other girls were injured but she was the target. Her speeches about education angered them and they wanted to stop her. Malala was shot in the head and many thought that would be the end, but due to the gunman’s shaky hand she survived. Malala is now 18, an author and the youngest person to receive the Nobel peace Prize. She has left Pakistan but travels around the world fighting for the right of education and inspiring millions of people with her story and beliefs. So next time you wish you didn’t have to go to school just remember that other people risk their lives for an education.

~Janna

Cheshire High School Threat

On October 1st, students at Cheshire High School discovered a note written on a boys bathroom wall that said “people will die on/in school on October 2nd according to the Mayans.” Soon after the note was found and reported, Mr. Solan (principle of CHS) sent an email to all parents, informing them that the town will be taking extreme precautions tomorrow (October 2nd) at the school. The next day on October 2nd, Cheshire police were stationed outside of the high school and were there the rest of the week. Located on the local town website, cheshirepatch.com, is a copy of the email that was sent to parents and a more indepth rendition of the story.

Now this whole note could have been either a prank or something very serious. Personally I am quite happy about how the town reacted to the threat. They took it into their own hands and kept the school and students safe. I would like to take this time to thank the Cheshire Police for protecting our school even it was just a joke, their help was very close to our hearts. I believe that every situation no matter how big or how small, our town should do everything in their power to do the right thing and keep us safe. When I first heard about this “note” my first thought was about why would someone do this? I had gotten a text from a CHS students telling me that there was a rumor about someone bringing a gun to school. After I had gotten the text and the minute I saw my parents later, my mom showed me the email that someone had gotten and later posted on Facebook. It all tied together, it wasn’t just a rumor, this was something very serious. I am happy to say that the students of Cheshire High School are safe and will stay safe thanks to the police.


-Molly Michaud

Eighth Grader Shot and Killed by Police

Two weeks ago on January 5, 2012 a 15 year old boy named Jaime Gonzalez, an 8th grader in Brownsville, Texas was armed with a pellet gun at Cummings Middle School. To the police this harmless pellet gun appeared to be a real handgun. When the police ordered Jaime to put down the gun he ignored their commands and pointed the gun towards the police officers. That’s when two officers decided to fire 3 shots and hit him at least twice, and he was pronounced dead at the hospital. No other students or staff were injured but was it needed to take away a young  man’s life?

I understand that the police had to make quick decisions, but that’s what they were trained to do. They weren’t trained to panic in fast acting situations and fire, especially at minors! It was unbelievable to me that at the start of a new year the police decided to take a 15 year old’s life away. Investigators do not know why he had pulled out the weapon. “We think it looks like this was a way to bring attention to himself,” a police chief said. Yes, Jaime had made beyond bad choices to bring a pellet gun to school and taunt people without taking all the consequences into mind first; but everybody makes mistakes, some are bigger than others, and the police should have calmed him down and been able to effectively handle the situation without death.

~ Sabrina Cuda