Across America, schools are cracking down on safety issues for the students and faculty. Here at Hastings High one of the ways administration is attempting to do so is to cut down on the time the doors remain unlocked. Which in turn forces students to wait outside of the school until right before the passing bell rings. This may be a good plan, but many students do not agree with this new rule.
Students strongly dislike the new system, feeling as if the policy has wronged them. School administrators know this and strive to not upset their students, but sometimes students’ safety and ability to learn must be respected over rules that havebenefit to students’ social interactions.
“In this day and age I feel the school has an obligation to keep our students as safe as possible. We have a high expectation to do what ever we can to keep our students out of danger,” Principal Jay Opperman said.
Despite this, students still feel that this will limit access to teachers during open class periods.
“With some students, the only time they can get help (from teachers) is over lunch. If they leave at all, even if it is just to grab a quick lunch, they can’t get back in at all to get help,” junior Laura McCarthy said.
Opperman wants upperclassmen to understand that there are other options for students other than leaving the building.
“We always serve lunch in the cafeteria therefore no one really needs to leave the school. So if a teacher cannot work with his/her students, the student can eat in the cafeteria or go to the library,” Opperman said.
McCarthy also wants the administration to think about the conditions some students are forced to withstand while students are waiting outside.
“What is going to happen in the winter when everyone is sitting out side in the cold?” McCarthy asked.
She thinks it would be better for administration to use a system where students who have their student identification can gain access into the building.
“I think it would work well to use a card scanner, or something along those lines for students to get into the school,” McCarthy said.
Opperman leaves with a final note on keeping the school safe.
“In my ideal world students would be able to come and go as they want in our school. But this is not an ideal world, therefore security has to adjust with today’s society.”
