The annual Niles West Winter Spirit week starts today, and, to be honest, I just don’t understand the point. There are one too many spirit days during the year. Some people go over the top, painting themselves completely red or wearing alien costumes. Other people, however, don’t bother participating at all. There really isn’t any middle ground to be found. The days were recently announced.
Look familiar? They should, because they’re eerily similar to all of the other spirit days we have during the year.
The only days I find moderately enjoyable are Wednesday, “Ugly Sweater Day” and Thursday, “Hat Day,” which will help raise money for the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Other than those days, the lack of creativity is very obvious. We literally have “Pajama Day” every Monday for every Spirit Week. For most people that just means wearing the same thing as they always do.
If student government came up with some different themed days, then maybe it would be more enjoyable, and people would be eager to participate. The same old “Pajama Day” just doesn’t cut it anymore.
Senior Nissan Malko agrees.
“I’m looking forward to Ugly Sweater Day, but besides that, I think the same days we have every year get boring and repetitive,” Malko said.
It’s certain that the creativity is mild, but that’s not to blame anyone. I’m a low-key fan of the “Code Red” day. It’s humorous to see my peers charge through the hallways and rage just because it’s the Friday two weeks before Winter Break. I think that if we want spirit days that are actually fun and reasonable, then we should all give our ideas to student government and go from there. Shout out to my peers who are actually dedicated to the Spirit cause, but newsflash to Student Government and Ms. Ogulnik, the entire school needs to actually participate in picking spirit days, otherwise we just won’t care anymore.
Don’t even get me started on the Holiday Assemblies. Let’s be honest, everyone is a fan of missing school to go to an assembly and sit with friends. But a lot of students don’t even bother going. It’s also the same thing every year. We watch sports teams get honored, and then what seems to be an increasing amount of weird videos. Sports teams are important, sure, but there are clubs and groups that don’t get the attention they deserve. There’s always room for change in the ways we celebrate school spirit; it doesn’t have to be a tradition every year.
Anonymous!! • Dec 12, 2012 at 2:25 PM
Students choose not to participate in spirit days because they are sick of the same ones over and over again. People will only participate in sprit days if they are fun and creative. I’m sure everyone is sick of doing pajama day every Monday of every spirit week. It becomes boring. All students should participate in spirit days, but when they are always the same this makes students less likely to participate.
Lyba, I agree everyone should join in on the fun. However the school can still have “safe” and “cheap” spirit days that are not always the same. For example, colors day where everyone wears a different color of the rainbow. Student government should explore more options instead of always resorting to the same spirit days.
I also believe the student government was made to help speak for the student body. Students shouldn’t have to go up to other students who participate in student government just to get their word out there. Student government should come to the students and ask them what they would like. That is the sole purpose of student government. Students in student government were elected because they knew they could be counted on to make a difference but when the actual students have to step forward and give ideas, then the whole purpose of student government is lost.
Another Anonymous • Dec 11, 2012 at 9:50 PM
All of the Spirit days are very similar, and it seems no one wants to come up with new ideas. From what I’ve heard, during the meetings no one seems to want what’s best for the school, but what’s best for them by picking the same things over and over. People within those meetings do want new things for the rest of the students, but it always gets shot down.
Spirit days would be more spirited if people outside of government had a voice. Student Government is not giving the other students a voice, no matter how much they say they are.
At the same time, we must wonder why Student Government is planning assemblies and spirit days. At the same time, there are other problems within the school that they could be focusing on actually changing, yet to me, it doesn’t seem like that’s happening.
Lyba Zia • Dec 11, 2012 at 6:03 PM
I agree that some of the days lack creativity, but it is important to understand that Student Government intentionally chooses some spirit days that seem “safe” in hope to get maximum student involvement. We don’t want people to feel left out by picking days that are very bold or “difficult” to dress up for. Our goal is to get as many people participating as possible.
And if students have ideas for spirit week, they need to speak to a member or join Gov’t themselves to make sure their voice is heard. The “anonymous” who commented before me said that Student Gov’t choices do not satisfy the school, and my response is simply this: How do you expect us to make everyone happy? We are students, too, and are simply trying to choose days that will be best for everyone, not just specific students, classes, or reporters. If a majority of our members like a day, we decide on it. If students have other ideas, they need to make the effort to have them heard.
anonymous • Dec 11, 2012 at 11:58 PM
The answer is simple: actually ask the students what they want. Broaden your scope of communication with students. There are countless ways to do that. Sure, kids could reach out to student government and say, “Hey, we don’t really like your spirit days you pick every year.” Oh wait, that’s what this article is doing and that’s what students have said for many years now.
It’s student government’s job to reach out to students. They don’t exactly serve as student representatives if they aren’t doing what students want, which is precisely the basis of the problem here. You said it yourself, if a majority of MEMBERS support an idea, they’ll go through with it. Members aren’t exactly representatives of the student body, which is quite obviously a major problem.
anonymous • Dec 10, 2012 at 11:34 PM
If only Student Government actually chose to listen to the students they’re supposed to represent, maybe people wouldn’t think so low of them, and the school would be actually happy with the spirit days the SCHOOL is supposed to choose, not them.