Harlem Junior/Senior High School (HHS) is offering a new course: Journalism. HHS English Instructor, Matthew Hodgson rallied to get journalism approved as a class so that students would have protected time to construct the school newspaper rather than having to use extracurricular time.

The school has been without a newspaper since approximately 2000 when interest in sustaining the publication waned. Aware of the multiple lessons that being a student journalist provides, Hodgson determined that the school newspaper needed to be revived. "Although a high school newspaper reports the news, it also gives students an outlet to express their views on said news," Hodgson said. "It's a great way to give young people a voice, a creative outlet, and connections that will last a lifetime."

Given those beliefs, Hodgson pitched the idea to the administration last spring when Assistant Principal David Murray asked the English Department to redraft its course descriptions. "As I was cleaning out the classroom and going through my predecessor's things, I found a few stashed books on teaching journalism and decided I was up for teaching it.

"I confess I was overwhelmed at first, but now I am jazzed about the energy involved in creating a bi-weekly newspaper. In the classroom, there is a kind of rare eagerness to complete tasks that I find really refreshing. I suspect that the demands of a strict timeline motivate the students, but they also seem to enjoy the work," Hodgson reports.

Hodgson began this course with virtually no background knowledge about teaching journalism and with only brief experience gained while working at the newspaper in Big Sky and by writing a few articles periodically for the Great Falls Tribune and the Blaine County Journal.

As the newspaper's Editor-in-Chief, Hodgson will oversee the student's work in producing The Roarin' Times. That name was chosen and voted upon by the class. The first issue was printed on September 7 and began circulation on the morning of September 8. Inaugural articles focused on such topics as the newspaper's revival after roughly twenty-one years, the school's backpack policy, interviews with new teachers, and other related school news.

In addition to Hodgson, the staff of The Roarin' Times consists of two managing editors: Jessica King and Mylah Rider (both juniors); two copy editors: Ma'Lea Moore (junior) and Mia Wing (senior); a design team that consists of Amilia Blackcrow, Grace Brockie, and Michaie Mount (all juniors); three news editors: Desmond Pruneda, Mikkel Rider, and Vanise Little (all seniors); three opinion editors: Aniya Longknife (junior), Shayne Stiffarm (sophomore), and Keonna Medicine Bear (junior);, a sports editor: Darrius Longknife (senior); a creative correspondent, Beau Rider (freshman), whose short fiction is serialized in a creativity section, and a photographer, Chloé Messerly, who is senior.

Hodgson added that he embraces a lot of additional student talent and their efforts, although they are not formally enrolled in the course itself. For example, he employs the editing talents of Ryanne Briere (senior) and prints poems by various students. According to Hodgson, the paper represents a wholly collaborative project, a shared effort and employment for all the diverse talents at HHS.

With future issues, Hodgson and his students hope to earn a following in the school community by creating a paper for everyone, no matter their interests or involvement. "Personally, I tend to gravitate toward the arts," Hodgson stated, "But The Roarin' Times will cover general news, sports, arts, as well as promote student organizations and afterschool programs such as tutoring and credit recovery."

When asked what he hopes to achieve during this comeback year, Hodgson stated: "After the frequent shutdowns of the last school year, it is important to re-establish a sense of the school community and what it offers our students. With some students being remote learners and others disengaged from the learning environment, much of the student community and social life of students was disoriented. The Roarin' Times was designed to reinforce the student voice and to advertise healthy engagement practices in the school's diverse community."

About having a school newspaper, Ma'Lea Moore stated: "I think a school newspaper will help keep students and staff aware of new and upcoming events along with activities that are happening in the school."

One of the news editors, Vanise Little agreed, saying: "A lot more information can be spread to everyone in a fun, unique way."

Shayne Stiffarm added, "Having a school newspaper is important to me because it allows for the expression of students' thoughts and voices."

Hodgson considers a school newspaper important because it is important to the students. "With the last paper having existed before most of them, I wanted to try something completely different from the normal routine; perhaps even something a little nostalgic and old-fashioned. I stand by my belief that the classroom is a place of experimentation, and experimentation yields fresh curiosity."