The student news site of Pleasant Valley High School

Spartan Shield

The student news site of Pleasant Valley High School

Spartan Shield

The student news site of Pleasant Valley High School

Spartan Shield

School choice in Iowa would gravely impact rural schools, whose taxpayer financed funds would be siphoned into private schools under the voucher system.

Cracking the school choice myth in rural America

Shobini Iyer, Co-editor-in-chief December 6, 2022

In the days leading up to the June primary election, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced her support for tax-payer financed vouchers, a stance that was in opposition to a handful of Republican House incumbents....

Millions of people watch talk show hosts everyday.

The double standard: gender hypocrisy in the entertainment industry

Emma Vaaler, Photo manager November 28, 2022

Double standards are overlooked far too often in many facets of society. Holding certain people to different social standards solely based on their demographics often goes unquestioned. one aspect of society...

Customers can spend hundreds of dollars on big lotteries very well knowing that their chances of winning are close to zero, which is the goal of the marketing campaign.

Lottery tickets: Selling false hope

Sarah Chen, Copy editor November 17, 2022

The $2.04 billion Powerball Jackpot ended on Nov. 8, with a man holding the “lucky” six-number card. In the weeks prior, the lottery value grew, eventually exceeding the previous record by nearly $400...

Senior spartan assembly executive, Leila Assadi, wearing the hunger drive shirt for the last day of the 2022 hunger drive.

The trend of activism; making an impact versus adding to the chaos

Emma Vaaler, Photo manager November 14, 2022

Trends are continuously being brought to the surface by new generations. Fashion trends, social media trends and predominantly, activism trends captivate and influence people. Activism trends lead people...

Political campaigns spend a large amount of money trying to influence votes.

The stagnant cycle of polarization and campaign spending in US politics

Sam Brown, Copy editor November 14, 2022

As this year’s midterm elections wrap up and the relentless advertising campaigns begin to cease, many statistics emerge regarding the election. One often overlooked data point is campaign spending.  Every...

Halloween safety becomes more of an issue, leading many kids to have different experiences than in previous years

Is trick-or-treating safe anymore?

Kira McAuliffe, Student life editor November 10, 2022

On the night of Halloween, streets are traditionally lined with dressed-up kids traversing house to house to collect candy. However, this year was different. The streets were silent and bowls of candy...

Recent attempts to end affirmative action have renewed debates over the role of race in admissions.

Move to end affirmative action jeopardizes the future of American education

Shobini Iyer and Anagha Sudhindra November 9, 2022
Created during the civil rights movement to provide more opportunities for people historically discriminated against, affirmative action in university admissions has become a standard part of the holistic process used by many higher institutions over the last few decades.
The termination of the Yeezy shoe line, a long standing partnership between Adidas and Kanye West, definitively signaled to the world that West’s anti-Semitic comments would not be tolerated.

Ethics over entertainment: What it took to bring down Ye

Gretchen Highberger, Copy Editor November 4, 2022

What Happened?  His Instagram followers number 18.4 million. His brand partnerships have been valued at 220 million dollars. His music records have earned him 24 Grammy awards. Ye, better known as...

Big corporations like Mcdonalds contribute to the capitalist mindset that prioritizes profit over consumer health.

“The American Diet” fueled by Capitalism

Sarah Chen, Copy editor November 3, 2022

“My stomach problems disappeared!” “All my food sensitivities went away in Europe!”  Statements like these have been shared by TikTok creators regarding their health changes after moving...

 Although many celebrated Rishi Sunak becoming the first British Prime Minister of color, many were quick to criticize his background.

A small victory in an uphill battle: UK elects first PM of color

Shobini Iyer, Co-editor-in-chief November 2, 2022

While Indians around the world lit fireworks for the Hindu festival Diwali, news of Rishi Sunak stepping into the role of British Prime Minister rose to the forefront of headlines, giving Indians around...

Some local teens of the Quad Cities, like Rock Island Senior Grayson Phares, show their pride by participating in queer pride events like parades and festivals.

The plight of queer teens

Tommy Glennon, Copy editor October 22, 2022

Lucky youth have fond thoughts of their high school days. But for others, being a teenager is nothing short of a nightmare. In the frenzy of puberty, fractured friendships and the whirlwind of high...

A student looks at Kanye West’s Twitter account.

Unconditional support: the blind following of celebrities and influencers

Emma Vaaler, Photo Manager October 19, 2022

Trends in fashion, music, arts, design, food and politics are constantly changing. These shifts are shaped by celebrities and influencers, though only possible with people who follow in those footsteps.  The...

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