The summer has nearly arrived, meaning it’s also time
for insects to rear their ugly heads once again. As we begin
to spend more time outside, avoiding insects is not just
important for general comfort but also for steering clear
of diseases.

The most common type of insect repellent contains a
chemical called N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, or DEET
for short. This chemical has proven to be very effective,
being the strongest bug repellent option on the market
and having saved millions of lives in disease-prone
areas. However, in places with fewer mosquito-borne
diseases, it’s a good idea to move away from DEET as
we consider a greener future.

A study by the National Institutes of Health
in 2020 shows that DEET is an excellent bug
repellent because it disrupts the olfactory
system of insects, making it so that insects
cannot detect humans. Unfortunately,
pollinator insects also rely very heavily
on these senses to support their survival
and their ecosystem. Compounded with DEET’s long
degradation time, this negative externality significantly
harms biodiversity, food webs, farming, and many
environmental aspects for long periods of time.

DEET also has a few other issues, such as having
an unpleasant odor and causing skin irritation.
According to the National Pesticide
Information Center, it can occasionally
be harmful to pets that are nearby while
applying the spray, potentially causing
seizures if the animal is overexposed.
These problems can be solved by
switching to plant-based repellents —
made from essential oils such as neem,
clove, or eucalyptus. Additionally, plantbased repellents degrade much faster
than DEET based repellants. Consumer
Reports stated in 2023 that because of
their fast evaporation time, however,
plant-based botanical repellents usually
only provide around two hours of protection, requiring
frequent reapplication. But given that crucial pollinators
are affected far less by botanical sprays, the trade off is
worth it to lessen environmental damage.

While alternative insect repellents may offer
environmental and health benefits, DEET remains the
most effective option in certain contexts. In regions such as
sub-Saharan Africa, where mosquito-borne illnesses such
as malaria claim hundreds of thousands of lives each year,
DEET’s potency makes it a preferred choice. Thus, if you’re
traveling to areas with a high risk of insect-borne diseases,
using a DEET-based repellent is advisable.

However, even then, you still don’t necessarily need a
formula with 100 percent DEET; concentrations of 20 to
30 percent can still offer strong protection with reduced
exposure. For those staying in lower-risk areas like
Princeton, consider switching to repellents that are less
harmful to both your health and the environment. Choosing
safer alternatives can still provide adequate protection while
minimizing negative impacts. 

Ditch the DEET this summer

“Hard times create strong men, strong men create good
times, good times create weak men, and weak men create
hard times,” wrote the postapocalyptic author G. Michael
Hopf. Currently, our country’s education system is in the
“good times” phase in many ways.

However, after the recent relatively calm decades and
the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, many
students today face various academic challenges,
one of the most significant being social media’s
increased influence and usage, which has led to
a decline in focus and engagement in learning.
If we want to avoid creating “hard times,” PHS
needs to go beyond our educational standards
and learn from other countries to improve the
present state of our education culture.

What is the current education culture like
in the United States? When compared to
educational systems overseas, the U.S. school system is falling
behind in multiple different aspects. Taking a look at the latest
Programme for International Student Assessment, Trends
in International Mathematics and Science Study, and the
National Assessment of Educational Progress exams held in
the years 2018–2021, the United States regularly doesn’t even
land in the top ten. This is despite being a global superpower
and an extremely well-developed first-world country.
When zooming in on the Princeton area, the case is no
different. According to the official website of the state of New
Jersey, for the 2022–2023 NJSLA and DLM, 71.4 percent
and 61.0 percent of students in the PPS District met or
exceeded expectations in the English Language Arts section
and Mathematics section, respectively. This doesn’t look
good in comparison to other districts, like the Summit
Public School District, which had 81.0 percent and 69.9
percent of students meeting or exceeding expectations
for the same test. In New Jersey, PMS and PHS don’t
even come close to being on top. So what
could PPS do better?

To improve, there are many
ways our school could
take inspiration from
international educational
standards and culture,
specifically when it comes
to respect for teachers. In
China, a 2018 study conducted
by the National Institute of Economic and
Social Research found that 81 percent
of teachers felt that they were respected
by their students, compared to the
international average of 36 percent.

This is not at all the case at PHS, where
it is becoming increasingly common
to see students being distracted during
classes — not participating, talking
during lessons, or ignoring classroom
rules. For teachers, these distractions are
more than just frustrating, but also make them feel insulted
and undervalued. In a study published in 2018 by the
Journal of Educational Psychology, it was found that
teachers who reported that they felt disrespected
by their students were less likely to be engaged in
supporting their students and have enthusiasm in
their teaching. For more teachers to feel like they
are valued, more students need to start listening
to instructions, being curious about lessons, and
engaging with their classes.

Simply put, to improve our current educational
state, there needs to be a change in students’
attitudes and the environment in which they learn.
For PHS to create future leaders, we have to focus
on our education — students need to put in the
effort and show that they care about
school. Being engaged in learning
and academics helps us build
lifelong skills and become more
knowledgeable citizens in the
future. It’s time for PHS to step
away from our current education
culture and follow the lead of
other countries when it comes
to learning, like by increasing
academic rigor, showing respect to
teachers, and showing a genuine
interest in learning

Johanna Chen's Work