On the first day back to school this semester, every high school student was called into the auditorium during advisory so Principal Jake Amlin could re-outline the expectations placed upon us by our district. Amongst the expectations discussed, there was talk about the cell phone policies, as well as talk about hoods, hats, and earbuds. In this article, I am going to explain these expectations as I understand them, as well as offer some commentary on each section.
The Cell Phone Policy:
It is my understanding that the rules surrounding cell phone usage during school hours are as follows: You may ONLY use your cell phone or other electronic communication devices (ECD) on the bus and in the lunchroom during lunchtime. You MAY NOT use your ECD during classes unless it is for a lesson and Amlin has given the instructor permission. Some exceptions apply on a case to case basis, but permission must be given by Amlin.
While I agree that ECDs should not be used during class time, I believe that students should be allowed to access their ECDs as long as they have all of their work done for the period. As for the case by case basis, there may be some family emergencies that students are not comfortable sharing with Amlin or other teachers in the school. In the political landscape of today’s world, I believe that it is more important than ever for parents to be able to reach their kids in the case of an emergency. Family emergencies are of no concern to the Federal Hocking Administration.
During the meeting, Amlin said: “I do not think parents should have access to their children during school hours.” He also stated that “I went to school before cell phones and we were fine.”
First off, Amlin would have been in school when pagers and payphones were all the rage. Alongside that, he didn’t go to school in a world where the threat of a school shooting loomed around every corner, nor did any of the Federal Hocking Administration, Federal Hocking School Board, State Board of Education, or State Government. I have had multiple parents in our district tell me they would be far more comfortable being able to contact their child while they are in the school building. I personally believe that the school district should not be able to dictate the usage of personal devices bought by parents (or students in some cases).
These outlines were met with a general disdain by the student body, who I feel share similar thoughts to my own, and since the time of this meeting, I have noticed some teachers allowing students to use them for class despite not getting proper permission from Amlin. I have also noticed that most teachers don’t really care about the usage during class, especially by upperclassmen.
Hoods, Hats, and Beanies:
In the meeting, Amlin told the student body that hoods and hats have always been banned, which while mostly true, wasn’t the case for one academic year recently. However, it has since gone back to the original rule, completely banning hats and hoods. After that, much to the entire student body’s disdain, Amlin then said that beanies were now banned alongside hoods and hats. While I understand the rule surrounding hats and hoods due to safety concerns, banning beanies feels odd to me. It almost feels like they want to introduce a uniform that students are required to wear.
“It may be cold outside, but it is plenty warm enough inside the building that you do not need a beanie,” Amlin said at the meeting.
It sounds like they’ve banned beanies because of safety concerns. However, I feel like the real reason they banned them is because they’re worried students will use them to hide earbuds. But if they’re that worried about hiding ears to hide earbuds, shouldn’t they be outlawing long hair or hair that isn’t tied back to expose the ears? And while it is entirely possible that it is just for safety, I don’t think somebody’s going to just wear a beanie to conceal their identity.
The exact language of the student handbook states, “Students may not wear hoods, ski masks, sheisties, or any other headwear that limits staff members from seeing or recognizing the student.” This rule continues on saying it is up to principal discretion what could be in violation of this rule, as does every other part of the dress code. The only problem I see with this is what a principal may deem “inappropriate,” others may find no issue with. Popular style and ways of dress are forever changing, and while it’s hard for dress codes to keep up with the trends, students should not be outlawed from wearing articles of clothing that they find comfortable as long as personal areas are covered. I have not seen this expectation enforced as much as I originally believed it would be. I still see students wearing beanies and baseball caps around the school. However, the rule surrounding hoods has held on, as almost every teacher will ask you to remove your hood should you be wearing one.