October 15, 2008
Temp IDs, please
It was three minutes before the 7:25 late bell and I was frantically dashing to my first period class. Before I could sprint through the University Blvd. entrance, I was halted by security requesting my ID. I halted, fishing though the abyss that is my humongous backpack to find nothing but an ID from last year. Attempting to be sly, I tried to flash the back of it, thinking that I could avoid that fact that the front of it was last year's red instead of this year's white.
My efforts were futile and the security guard told me I had to walk to the other side of the school to get a new ID. It was now 7:23 and if I had to walk around the entire school and wait for an ID, I would most certainly been late. In a general sense I was happy to see that the administration is working to keep us safe; however, this new ID door check is pointless and hurtful to students.
The punishment for forgetfulness is now a potential tardy that you will gain after spending a long duration of time waiting for security to print your new ID. Last year's policy was far more forgiving, allowing students to gain a free temporary ID during their first block class, giving them the opportunity to get to class on time, despite their forgetfulness. Last year's system did not charge you $5 for every time you failed to bring your ID, and obligations did not skyrocket, except for the habitually unidentified. This year's system is supposed to further weed out those who have forgotten their IDs, but alternative modes of entering the school put holes in the system. Then, as a result, teachers have stopped checking for IDs during first block , and thus students can still roam the school without identification.
I'm not going to argue about the uselessness of IDs because, quite frankly, there's no point in debating. The fact is we have them and we have to wear them, but it is unfair to penalize students for forgetting their student IDs occasionally. Come on, administration, cut us some slack and bring back temporary IDs.
Before entering the school, Blazers fish through their backpacks for their IDs while a security guard watches.
My efforts were futile and the security guard told me I had to walk to the other side of the school to get a new ID. It was now 7:23 and if I had to walk around the entire school and wait for an ID, I would most certainly been late. In a general sense I was happy to see that the administration is working to keep us safe; however, this new ID door check is pointless and hurtful to students.
The punishment for forgetfulness is now a potential tardy that you will gain after spending a long duration of time waiting for security to print your new ID. Last year's policy was far more forgiving, allowing students to gain a free temporary ID during their first block class, giving them the opportunity to get to class on time, despite their forgetfulness. Last year's system did not charge you $5 for every time you failed to bring your ID, and obligations did not skyrocket, except for the habitually unidentified. This year's system is supposed to further weed out those who have forgotten their IDs, but alternative modes of entering the school put holes in the system. Then, as a result, teachers have stopped checking for IDs during first block , and thus students can still roam the school without identification.
I'm not going to argue about the uselessness of IDs because, quite frankly, there's no point in debating. The fact is we have them and we have to wear them, but it is unfair to penalize students for forgetting their student IDs occasionally. Come on, administration, cut us some slack and bring back temporary IDs.
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That's absurd. An ID from previous years is just as good as an ID from this year; same name, same ID#, same barcode, same person in the picture. And aren't those the things that matter?
Don't come to school late
Problem solved
OK, first of all, I don't think the merit of a responsible student lay solely on whether they wear their "badge" or not as they walk into school. It makes no sense that you would even dare imply that the author is irresponsible because of a blog she wrote, its a generalization that is offensive and juvenile. I believe the author stated that she did not want to argue whether or not IDs were necessary. Further, she went on to say that she agrees that penalization for lacking a "badge" is fine for the repeat offenders. But, as students-- rather humans, we are all prone to the occasional forgetfulness, and empathy towards that from the administration is far from unreasonable. And as for your suggestion about getting to school earlier, some of us are, in fact, high school students, are not as fortunate as others (say, teachers or administrators, or school system employees) to have a car to drive to school and as such, sometimes, are forced to rely on a capricious means of transportation. I truly hope the cold, cruel "real" world is just un-pampering, and not filled with condescending people who don't know the difference between whining and being opinionated.
The author clearly states that she is not debating the usefullness of the ids. Also, please try and be mature and not criticize the author for "whining." Personally, I have only forgotten my ID once this year, and before that fateful day I had never been late to school. The day I forgot it, I arrived at school at the Colesville entrance at 7:15, plenty of time to get to class. I ended up walking around the school and finally arriving to class at 7:35, 20 minutes later than my intial arrival and toting a new ID in hand, and a new tardy on my record, all for once instance of forgetfullness.