Social Anxiety Disorder
Dear Editor,
Social Anxiety Disorder affects about 15 million people in America and this develops around the age of 13. This disorder often is looked over. Having participation making up a strong part of student grades is not okay. Teens who suffer from this have an incredibly difficult time getting up in front of people and speaking.
Some students who do exceptionally well academically could end up getting half a letter grade and sometimes even whole letter grade docked from that participation grade. I would like for the schools to propose options that students could do other than participation for a grade.
It would relieve stress from many students who have social anxiety and grade improvements would probably be seen. Our schools should be helpful and supportive of people who suffer from this disorder. It would contribute to the schools comforting and safe zone.
Aline Teran, sophomore

Parking Permits
Dear Editor,
When every new school year comes around. We students of Albert Lea High School that can drive have to pay for parking permits that are $50 a year and $30 a semester. And that’s to park in our school parking lot. I feel like that is way too much for parking at our school.
I understand that they may have reasons why. But I don’t think they need $50-$60 a year for each student that drives to school. Can you imagine how much money they get each year for just the parking permits? What do they need all that money for? I think that if they want us to pay it shouldn’t be that much maybe they could make it less for a year and a semester.
So if they are going to have us pay for parking at school, it should be less. I think we should try to find a compromise and a reasonable price that the majority agrees on. Also the students should have a say since it is their school.
Hailey Adams, junior