Let’s face it. Our school has a problem staying consistent when it comes to rules. One week we are being yelled at about the dress code and tank tops, but as soon as the sun comes out even the shortest of shorts are acceptable.
All year long the rules have been wishy-washy.
Guys can’t wear tank tops, but girls can. Ask one person and the straps are supposed to a dollar-bill width. Ask another, and it’s two fingers, maybe three.
Students can only have eight absences instead of 10. However, days missed during the first semester didn’t even count against you. As a result, according to Assistant Principal Aaron Harris, over 300 students have served Saturday school.
Even more difficult to understand is that sexual intercourse in the bathroom is equivalent to the punishment of texting in class: five days of detention.
Throughout the entire first semester, we didn’t need our ID’s to check in or out, but during second semester we get two days of detention for not having it.
Students were told prior to prom that IDs would be needed for being admitted into the formal. To get into Homecoming, students had to show IDs, so the expectation was established. At prom, however, students were not required to show IDs at the door.
We aren’t saying that the enforcers of rules should become obsessed with following every single rule in the handbook, but at least give us consistent consequences or expectations. We expect rules. We expect enforcement. Or at least stick with the same rules from the beginning of the school year to the end.
Having consistent expectations is a must in order for the school to run efficiently. If there are going to be rules, enforce them and don’t pick and choose. It’s difficult enough to hold ourselves accountable when there’s no consistency. And it’s unfair to punish us or to dole out consequences when we don’t know what is expected of us.
Simply put, be consistent. Help us follow your rules.