Cardozo Pride?

By: Mariah Stanley

As I walked up the steps of Cardozo Senior High School for the first time I thought to myself how overwhelming this new school would be. With a bad impression from my sister already set in my mind, I was upset I would be attending this school also known as "Cardirty." I went to orientation upset but left sort of relieved that the staff I had met was so welcoming. What I also noticed about Cardozo was the beautiful architecture that had been so poorly taken care of, it surely did live up to its well known nickname. My mother and I looked around and knew I went from bad to worse.

My name is Mariah Stanley. I have lived in the D.C area my entire life. Last year I attended Duval high school in Prince George's County. From there to Cardozo was not a huge transition. My old school also had a bad reputation its nickname was similar to Carodozo's it was called "Dirty Duval." But I've noticed a difference between Cardozo and Duval is the pride the students have for their school. In Duval, even with the bad reputation, many students participate in activities and clubs. There was a club for almost anything you could think. You could also suggest a new club if you wanted. Teachers who promoted these clubs did not have a deadline in which you could join. They were open to anyone who was interested, even with no prior experience in whatever that club or sport was about.

I've witnessed here in Cardozo that many students do not take pride in their school, many do not participate in activities and a lot of children do not even try to learn. There are many clubs here but it seems that no one really wants to participate. I think the staff and student body government need to come together and find ways to help the students of Cardozo take pride in this school, and also take pride in them selves. It's time for everyone in Cardozo to wake up and find some motivation to take pride in their so called "EXCELelerator School."

By George Telzrow |  November 30, 2006; 11:12 AM ET School
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