EDITORIALS

PARKING PERMITS

By Brittany

Who knew not having a little sticker on the windshield of your car could get you in so much trouble? Parking permits were made to put on students’ cars so the school administration could control and supervise Jones High School’s parking lots. Permits ensure that all students have proper auto insurance and license verification in case of an accident in the parking lot. 

 

School administrators created parking permits to help prevent chaos. The permits help the school officials deal with problems and complications in the parking lots such as drugs, alcohol, and other illegal items. The school officer checks each student’s car when rumors are around school about these illegal items. Parking permits help the school keep control of all the students that are driving on the campus. 

The reason for the school board being so strict on parking permits is because they have had accidents and wrecks in the past with students that didn’t have them. Having parking permits is a big advantage for school officials in case of accidents such as stolen cars, stolen items, flat tires, or wrecks. Dr. Johnson said, “We have had a situation in the past where a parent came to the school and took a student’s car without warning, but these permits help track down the car if taken.”

Parking permits are a good and helpful idea. They are very useful when a student could possibly be missing from school or if something is wrong with their car. Parking permits are also very helpful when there is an accident. Without parking permits it would be very difficult to keep up with all the student’s driving on campus. 

 

Many students misunderstand parking permits. This fall student rumors said that if you have a parking permit for a different vehicle than the one drove that day that you would immediately receive ISP. This is not the case. A student can go to the office with an explanation, insurance, and driver’s license and be excused for not having a permit. Others falsely believe that the school is just making students get parking permits for the extra cash. But the parking permits cost only $5. This fee pays for the program, camera system, and the sticker itself. 

 

Parking permits are actually very reasonable. They ensure safety and are a precaution. Five dollars for a parking permit is very cheap; other schools make students pay $50 for the permits. Security cameras, which permits partially pay for, help with finding stolen items and investigating on-campus wrecks.

Most faculty members I interviewed see parking permits as a positive thing for student divers. The school board and administration will seriously enforce parking permits this year despite student opposition. That little sticker on the window is much more than a $5 frustration.

By Leila

No free parking! That’s how it is at our school; we have to pay to park in the lot. The administration has enforced a Parking Permit requirement, the requires that any student parking in the school lot has to have a sticker certifying that the school officials have saw the driver’s insurance, license, and paid 5 dollars. 

 

Dr. Carl Johnson said, “It is to ensure that everyone has proper driving requirements. It helps us find vehicles with problems like stolen stuff, parents taking cars, flat tires, etc. It also keeps a safe environment because it allows the school to get stuff that shouldn’t be in a car.” While there is a practical reason to have them, while there is still the issue of charging for them. Many students agree “they are useless and shouldn’t have to be paid,” for says senior Hank. 

 

The consequences of not buying one, is lunch detention for every day you don’t have it. So, how do we solve this problem? There’s nothing we can do about, but pay for it and go along with the rules. It’ll make everything go smoother, keep you out of trouble, and let you spend lunchtime how you want too.

ISP: Good or bad?

By Angela

School disciplinary procedures are meant to keep students in check. ISP (In School Suspension) is one of these punishments that are in use. ISP starts with a misbehaving student. This student thus receives ISP. On the scheduled day, the student is removed from the regular classroom into an un-educational environment for some time. Students might even say this environment is “fun”. A punishment shouldn’t be fun. In this environment, the students will then complete the work in which they would have received if they were in class and to be finished. And of course they do finish their homework, but what are they to do for the rest of their ISP day? Some students get in laptops and watch movies, others go to sleep. Now how is that an effective way to make misbehaving students behave? For many students, the current ISP design may tempt them to misbehave once again in order to visit ISP.

Some possible problems with ISP are students that receive more ISP you can see that their grades are going down the drain compared to other students. These students wish to stand anonymous. They are on a slippery slope, and ISP is not helping. In addition, some teachers may use ISP as a way to escape from the student instead of dealing with the student.

Perhaps alternative courses of actions are the student is given a warning and if the student misbehaves once again, then the teacher should give them detention. Not ISP. Afterwards, if the student misbehaves again give them another detention. The teacher should give the detention until they feel that the student is not learning from the disciplinary actions, and then the teacher should give them ISP. A number of teachers already go by this method, but not enough of the teachers are using it. Another action is taking the computers away from the students while they are in ISP. By doing this maybe the students will learn from their mistakes and maybe ISP won’t be used as often.

CELL PHONES

By Morgan

Most teens think they can’t survive without their cell phones except when they come to school. But the cell phone policy at Jones High School states that “you may not have a cellular device on school grounds at anytime.” When school let out students can again use the devices. 

 

Rumors from students about teachers that can confiscate your phone when they catch you texting have become true. For example, if your phone is in your pocket a teacher can and will take it from you. Also, if it’s in a girl’s purse, or if a teacher suspects a student of texting; they can reach in a purse and get it. “There is no privacy in a public domain and they have the ability to search any personal item on that site,” confirmed Resource officer Scott Novotny. 

 

Students will likely find ways around the updated rule here at Jones.

Other schools have made some compromises in their cell phone policy. According to the news www.wowt.com, a new policy at Millard North High School in Kansas allows students to have their cell phones out in their 5^th hour. This gives the students some added freedom. The teachers may use their cell phones at their discretion at Millard North. 

 

An idea that many students will consider as fair is a “basket idea.” In between classes they can use their phone but once they get in class they will have to turn in their phone to the teacher and put it in a basket. They will need to be off or put on silent. The teachers can put the students name on a sticky note and put it on the phone. When the phones are all turned in the teacher will then lock them in a drawer of some sort. To make sure no one steals phones at the end of class, students could describe their phones to get them back. 

 

Perhaps the administration can find another way to keep students focused on school without being so strict about cell phones.

By Brian

Not everyone thinks cell phones should be allowed in school. Some people say that “cell phones are a distraction in class”. Some also say they can be used for cheating. Usually this is said by the staff of schools including principals and teachers. But if you asked, many students and parents would say that they believe cell phones should be allowed at certain times. 

 

The current policy for mobile phones at Jones High School says, “Cell phones are not allowed anywhere in the school, except in a locker while the cell phone is turned off. However, students from other schools, such as Guthrie, are allowed to have cell phones out at certain times. At Guthrie, as long as the student is done with their work, they may have their phone out anywhere in the school.

Perhaps a compromise can be reached. Students at Jones could be required to place their cell phone in a basket or small lockbox upon entering class. Then when they are done with their work the teacher can tell them they can have their phones back, if the teacher chooses to allow it.

Another reason that cells phones are not allowed at Jones High School is because students have used them to take inappropriate pictures. Administrators could enforce the rule by sending students caught taking photos to the office. The administrators will then go through the phone to check for inappropriate photos. For every inappropriate picture that is found their phone is taken away for a week per photo. As soon as they arrive at school each day they must drop their phone off in the office. 

 

These compromises would enforce school rules and order while still giving students access to their phone. The Basket Policy would resolve a most issues with cell phone use during school hours, while still giving them freedom to entertain themselves, use phones to do work, or communicate with parents without bothering the office.