The Register Forum

Nacie Loh traveled to Madrid through the CIEE study abroad program.

Studying Abroad with CIEE

October 3, 2019

My CIEE trip was focused on language and culture and based in Rabat, Morocco. I heard about the program from Mr. Dagher, the Arabic teacher at CRLS, and was immediately intrigued by the possibility of learning more Arabic as well as exploring another culture I knew nothing about. The exposure and immersion I had while abroad gave me a much better understanding of not only Moroccan culture, but my own American culture. Not until after I left Morocco did I really feel any sort of culture shock. Back in the US, I am constantly thinking about the important characteristics of American culture that we don’t always realize. The stereotypes that surround Muslims and Arabs in America, the difficulty of immigrating here, the desire to search for opportunity in America, language, and class-associated barriers were all things that were immediately more noticeable when I returned. Additionally, the assumed privileges of American life, such as money, opportunity, and the idea that all products are better in America stood out to me in a way it hadn’t before.

Beginning next year, the College Board will report an Environmental Context Index along with students' SAT and AP test scores.

With New Adversity Index, the College Board Fails to Address Inequity

June 15, 2019

About a month ago, the College Board announced that their new “Environmental Context Dashboard” will be implemented next year, affecting all SAT and AP test takers. The Dashboard puts a student’s SAT scores in context with other students at their school by providing the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles of scores at their school as references.

Cambridge has been struggling to address rising housing costs since the '90s.

With Housing Unattainable for Many, Cambridge Must Deepen Its Commitment to Affordability

June 13, 2019

It is no secret that metro Boston is an expensive place to live, and Cambridge is certainly no exception. According to the Cambridge Development Commission, the average price of a house in the city is $1,150,000 and the median monthly rent is $3,145. For many, the prospect of buying—or even renting—a home can be extremely daunting given these prices.

The upcoming 2020 election could end up repeating the events of four years ago

In Biden and Sanders, America Risks a Repeat of 2016

June 4, 2019

Even before declaring his presidential campaign, former Vice President Joe Biden was the 2020 Democratic frontrunner. Sound familiar? In 2015, once Hillary Clinton announced her campaign, she quickly moved above the pack and joined a crowd of well-known establishment Democrats in the running for the nomination.

Stress Management in the Midst of End-of-Year Exams

June 4, 2019

Every student knows that May is “stress season.” The season for standardized tests, the season for end of year shows, the season for major projects.

There were 271 mass shootings in the US between 2004 and 2017.

Protecting Religious Diversity

June 3, 2019

Mass shootings have been an all too common occurrence in the United States over the last two decades. Exact numbers depend on how the term mass shooting is defined, but USA Today, which defines a mass shooting as a shooting in which at least four people are killed, identified 271 incidents between 2006 and 2017.

Why Pro-Cop Movements Are Self-Destructive

Thomas MacArthur, Contributing Writer

May 2, 2019

In the wake of the multiple accusations of judicial corruption leveled against Chicago attorney Kim Foxx following the dismissal of the Empire star Jussie Smollett’s case, protests and counter-protests arose outside the prosecutor’s office, drawing in participants from across the political spectrum, including the Fraternal Brotherhood of Police and multiple far-right groups.

According to the 2018 Teen Health Survey, 26% of CRLS students reported getting at least eight hours of sleep on school nights.

Lack of Sleep Among Teens Should Be Taken Seriously

May 2, 2019

Sleep: it’s one of the most essential parts of our day. It’s the time when the stress and demands of the preceding days and weeks can be temporarily ignored, allowing the mind to fall into a blissfully relaxed state. We all know the benefits of a full night’s sleep—feeling energized, motivated, and, in general, happier—but for many teenagers, the effects of sleep deprivation are known even better.

On Grade Mentality: To Give Credit Where Credit Is Due

May 1, 2019

I notice that when asked about a class, students tend to complain about their grade or their teacher’s grading system. I cannot think of a single time when a peer has even mentioned how much they have learned in response to the question unless prompted to. That sickens me to my core. My inner student, my inner intellectual, is crushed. How absurd it is to think of school as a vehicle for grades!

The Environmental Impact of Beef? It’s Complicated

Isabelle Agee-Jacobson, Managing Editor

May 1, 2019

Beef is bad. Or, at least, that’s what environmentalists and other climate change activists would have you believe. They would point to statistics about the extreme amounts of methane cows release into the air and all of the energy that goes into producing their feed. But increasingly, research is complicating the picture of beef and cattle as the ultimate enemies of the environment.

On March 15th, 2018, CRLS students walked out of classrooms to address gun violence.

Students Need to Remobilize Around Gun Control

March 28, 2019

The “March For Our Lives” and the movement for gun control reform, organized last year by students for students, was empowering. Students across the globe felt like their voices mattered and that they could make change, even at a young age. The catalyst for this popular mobilization was a school shooting that took place in Parkland, Florida, on Valentine’s Day last year.

The Hidden Cost of College: Test and Application Fees

March 28, 2019

It’s become accepted that higher education comes at a cost—in nearly all instances, attending college brings with it hefty tuition fees in the hundreds of thousands. Ironically, the ability to even apply to college is hindered with hidden fees and expenses that are less frequently discussed. Tuition costs are often accused of limiting the enrollment of financially disadvantaged students, but the cost to apply can result in a litany of expenses that families struggle to pay.