Dear Increscent, January

Dear Increscent welcomes all student questions regarding a number of topics including (but not limited to) school, friends, relationships, or clubs. Questions may be sent to bmhs.increscent@gmail.com or hand-delivered to Mrs. Fink or the editorial staff. We publish them anonymously. For each individual question the editorial team will collaboratively answer them candidly and thoroughly. Let us flex our journalistic skills by offering real-student answers to real-student questions. Please continue sending your thoughts!

Why is it so cold in this building?

Our school was founded in 1868, and the building we know was built in 1951, with few updates to the older parts. There are structural issues with the older parts of the building. The elementary and intermediate schools in our district have a program called Optimal Start/Stop that keeps the buildings at a consistent, comfortable temperature. Major modifications would have to be made to use this program at our school. All in all, the age of the building is likely to blame for the temperature being so cold.

-Increscent Editors

Is there a difference between living and existing? If so, what is that difference?

Existing is simply the act of taking up space as a human. A corpse exists in the same way a living human does. To live is usually accepted to mean to be alive while existing. However, to some, surviving means to be alive while existing, while living means to exist, survive and find joy without fear of livelihood.

-Increscent Editors

Will we go back to virtual learning?

In short, we don’t know for sure, and ultimately it will be decided by the school board. The longer answer is that it’s entirely possible. Depending on the rise and fall of Covid-19 cases among both students and staff, shortages and risk of contagion may make it so that in-person instruction may not be viable. While we can’t predict how BMHS will act, we can look to other schools and see what they are doing. Beloit Turner has an optional mask-wearing policy, and has in-person instruction. Milwaukee’s entire public school district has gone virtual. Our opinion truly has no bearing, but the choice that is in the interest of the health of Beloit should be made.

-Increscent Editors

Why do staff members lack remorse or genuine care for their students’ safety?

Here at The Increscent, we can’t answer your question to the extent that you would likely be satisfied. This question is better directed towards staff of either BMHS, or higher-ups such as the superintendent or school board.

-Increscent Editors

Why are people so greedy ?

Capitalism makes it so unless you’re greedy, you will die due to lack of money. It is not inherent, it is just what humans need to do to survive under the crushing, suffocating weight of capitalism.

-Increscent Editors

Why are there so many conflicts between nations? Why do they have so much trouble getting along?

There are as many reasons for conflict between nations as there are between individuals. Nations are prone to misunderstandings, cultural differences, economic dependence, war history, and all sorts of foul things that result in bad relations with one another.

-Increscent Editors

How can we fix Beloit’s reputation?

There is a lot that could be covered in the scope of ‘reputation’ so we will focus on aspects that students can affect. One major thing that students can do is placing more value on their education. Recently the state’s report card came out and the district scored very poorly overall. Another thing we could do is behave decently, and take pride in our community. If we do these things, how others percive Beloit won’t even matter.

-Increscent Editors