DEVIOUS LICKS

Hello, my name is Xavier Gonzalez and I come to you in the form of a journalist looking through 
evidence and interviews to try to break down issues I have seen and heard of in our current 
educational system.
How about the destruction of property? This should be pretty well known since it was made a 
trend where deliberately destroying school property would get you a bit of attention. Yep, I’m 
talking about devious licks, one of the latest TikTok Trends that directly affect not only the 
property of schools but also the economy of it. Stick with me here for a bit to hear what some of 
our fellow East Tech Titans feel about the current conditions concerning our school system right 
now.
Do you see any other issues besides “Devious Licks” or the dress code that aren’t publicly 
spoken about or aren’t given as much media coverage as you believe they should? If not let me 
introduce you to some of the responses I’ve gotten throughout the “Top of the Mountain.”
On my travels throughout our school's hallways, I got the opportunity to interview some of our 
fellow classmates and a teacher on the topics I introduce to you today. To make my research as 
diverse and has spread out as possible I went to female students, male students, even a 
teacher who gave me quite a bit to think about not only about my way of interviews but also 
interpreting some of the situations we see as only affecting us students whilst they affect our 
teachers just as much. 
On Friday October 8th, I started my journey to explore the views of my fellow peers and I 
finished my explorations Thursday October 14th. As I journeyed through the hallways to take 
some statements, notepad prepared to take notes, I readied myself for my first interviews with 
questions I was prepared to get answers on. My questions prepared to talk about not only 
issues publicized now but to also hear what others see as issues.
As I greeted my first interviewee, Rayden, I brought him to the place where we would interview. 
I threw out my first question. “What are your overall thoughts and opinions on devious licks and 
the outcomes of students who participated in them?” 
“ “Devious Licks” are pretty annoying, I don’t believe anyone including me wants to go to the 
complete other side of the campus just to be able to use an open restroom.”
This was a comment I was expecting since a month ago whilst walking towards my 7th period I 
saw the destruction of the male’s bathroom in the 900’s. When walking into the bathroom the 
word I could use to describe the state of the bathroom is chaos. Someone decided that for a 
little hint of attention they’d rip off the soap dispensers, they broke the sink station pipe which 
caused a flood on the floor, they threw paper towels everywhere, and they threw the trash can 
into a stall. Does this seem like good imagery when we think about the state we want our school 
bathrooms?
Going off on the same question but with different students I was given similar answers ranging 
from Lindsey Alvarez stating “Taking school property is unnecessary.” Most other students I 
interviewed went with a similar approach to Lindsey’s besides one who went more on the 
bathroom side of things, this time a female.
“I feel like devious licks are just wrong, vandalism, and I find it just annoying. I used to see the 
bathrooms as a relatively clean place but devious licks ruined that. The bathrooms in the 900’s 
smell like fish and the floor is all wet.” exclaims Diane Florez. 
Seeing the connection between answers as students, I decided to look for that second 
perspective that is also one of the main groups being affected by devious licks, teachers. I went 
to Mr. Schaff, a US Government teacher that I happen to have for 3rd period. When addressing 
the results and effects of devious licks.
“First off, seniors chastise those who are destroying the school since it's gotten to the point 
where you don't want to see the school you care so much about get vandalized. My first 
experience with the destruction of devious licks was with the culinary bathrooms because they 
were destroyed and we had to make a police report which caused the bathroom to get locked. If 
anything you’re hurting yourself more than the school, we can get the stolen items replaced but 
that money has to be taken out somewhere which means the funds that go into the fun school 
activities starts to dwindle.” Mr. Schaff responds. 
As the talk about devious licks dwindled down with my interviewees, I proceeded to the next 
issue, dress code. I predicted that the female students I interviewed would have more to say 
against the dress code than the male students and my prediction was right. The male students 
said things along the lines of it just being “unfair to women” but never going really into depth. 
Unlike the female students who had a few things to say.
“Dress code is overly sexual, especially to females. Can can wear something and teachers 
won't say anything but when girls do it they’re instantly called out. It's because people say girls 
are distracting but girls aren't distracting, it's people's mentality that makes them find it 
distracting.” replied Lindsey.
“The dress code promotes an oversexualization of women and it's way more stricter to women 
than men. I’ve seen boys walking the hallways with their pants sagging, nothing said to them.” 
said Diane.
When going and asking Mr. Schaff the same question, I didn’t know what to expect except one 
of the best answers out of everyone since he was really good at giving answers. 
“I think to an extent I agree that the dress code affects females more than males causing 
backlash. With the dress code, if no one else really cares I’ll choose my battles especially as a 
male teacher. “If I’m not going to dress code the female group, I want the male group unless it’s 
a swear word or something actually distracting.” states Mr. Schaff.
From the talks of both students and teachers they both seem to agree that females have it the 
most unfair when it comes to dress code rules and regulations. Besides the point of these 
issues that have been publicized I went to see what some students see as issues in school that 
haven't been pushed into the media or people don’t really hear about.
“I believe that diversity is something that isn’t really put out there especially if you’re someone 
like me. Diversity sucks, I stand out, there are only a handful of people that are like me.” Rayden 
says as I ask him if he sees issues with the school that he doesn’t see out there. 
When going around I’ve seen that most students didn’t know how to respond the way Rayden 
was able to respond on issues he sees in the school. I was ready to take my final student 
interview and I wasn’t expecting the gemstone of a response I got from who I asked.
“I see mental health as something that I don’t really see being publicized if the school doesn’t 
have to or unless something happens that needs the school to have to talk about it. I feel like 
our mental health isn’t really being taken as seriously, especially in school.” Diane Florez said 
after I asked her the question. 
We see these issues with students that we would change but do we really see what our 
teachers have to deal with? With the interview with Mr. Schaff I wasn’t expecting to see many 
issues from a teachers perspective but that leads me back to why we don't see their issues. 
“I can’t really say anything from a student's perspective but something not publicized in the life 
as a teacher is feeling overworked especially through this year and it has its rumblings in 
discussions but it's never put out there. I believe where we meet as containing students and 
teachers is mental health. What I give my students for work is within the time I think you’ll need 
in class because I want to stop that outside work.” Mr.Schaff says through his teaching 
experience. 
Lastly, I wanted to see what could change and where people think the school system fell off. 
Most responses contained the same answer with dress code since they see it as something 
easy to change but again Diane and Mr. Schaff gave me more information to digest as I see 
where we can actually change.
“I believe what the school system tried to do with the grading reforms and everything was a 
good idea and all but it really depended on how the school worked it out. The whole district's 
interpretation ended up being a bit messy since some schools work differently and it causes 
differences in how things will be affected.” Mr. Schaff says when I asked where he thinks that 
the system fell a bit short. 
“I think that the new grading system can sometimes be more focused on the students passing 
rather than the students actually learning. I feel like the new grading system puts too much 
emphasis on tests and those summative assessments that are actually for a grade instead of 
the studies of our students.” Diane Florez says when I asked what issue she sees in school 
that she would change.
Seeing as Diane’s response was going onto attacking the grading system that the teachers use, 
I knew when I asked Mr.Schaff that I wanted to get his view on the whole new grading system.
“I think in defense of the new summative grading system, it’s to see where you're at in regards 
to your formative instead of actually doing tests and quizzes. That’s the reason I give projects 
instead of quizzes as summative assessments because some people mess up on quizzes whilst 
I can see your project and see that you do understand the material. Opposed to a test which is 
just a number, a project is actually subjective on what you know.” Mr.Schaff explains giving me 
a view on how he likes to teach in the classroom.
With that final question and response finishing my adventures into the thoughts of teachers and 
students on issues they’ve seen publicized or not. We may think we know what we have 
struggles against or if we have similar thoughts on what exactly we see as issues but do we 
really look into everyone’s views? Did you expect to see Mr.Schaffs views being defendant on 
students or did you expect a more school defendant view? The views and perspectives of 
people are weird especially when it comes to issues since they can be so diverse. Do you see 
any of these issues as something that needs to be addressed more and changed? Are you 
willing to fight for it? If so I am glad I was able to expose you to these views with my article, 
getting your word and views out is essential.