Parents and students: how many of you are up-to-date with school and district policies? Almost every other day, the school sends out various calls to update parents and guardians on on-campus incidents or school events. These calls try to reassure parents that, “Safety and well-being of students is our top priority”- Principal Puentes.
The school is usually timely in updating and introducing all individuals to policy changes, such as the latest phone policy in which the Yondr pouches would take effect. These policies are typically followed by a list of disciplinary actions to be taken if said policies are violated. John Marshall High has enforced this Phone Policy by issuing campus clean-up hours for violating the policy. For example, Barristers are reminded that “if you are caught with a burner phone, you will only have 2 school days to pick up your phone.” If the school is influential in notifying and reminding us of this, why aren’t other significant things, such as punishments for being late and entering school with store-bought beverages, not mentioned?

While it is essential to recognize that rules are in place to maintain order and safety, with clarity around disciplinary actions, said rules would contribute greatly to a more positive school environment. When students and guardians are fully aware and informed of consequences of various infractions, further building upon a sense of trust and understanding between the school and its community, there is a greater likelihood that students will adhere to these policies. Promoting a community that values awareness and accordance.
Let’s talk about this policy, which falls under the “Attendance Policy.” While the policy can be found online on the Marshall High page, the consequences remain far off from the gruesome reality some students have encountered.

The policy states that “Students who arrive after 8:00 am with a purchased beverage from any type of restaurant or cafe will be confiscated and the beverage may be picked up by a guardian.”However, the student can expect 30 minutes of campus clean-up hours if that student has acquired 5 tardies per semester, and can also anticipate repercussions for not completing them. The policy regarding arriving tardy with store-bought beverages does not go more in depth with consequences for defying the policy, there are consequences that exist, that haven’t been registered onto the policy, and have not been modified since 2020.

As a Senior who is set to graduate this Spring, it is very confusing to see how some policies appear to have unwritten aftermaths. A most controversial example on campus is the dress code. One of the regulations in the Barristers Code of Conduct notes that “Students are to dress in modest, appropriate attire free of offensive or gang-related content; “offensive,” including sexual innuendos, alcohol, drugs, violence, profanity, or gestures.” The page also does not account for ramifications if the students do not comply, but the assumption can be made that the student will be sent home or have a guardian come and bring them a change of clothes. But that action will be taken nonetheless after the student dresses provocatively. The complications with having unclear disciplinary actions results in catching students off guard, whether or not they were to be aware of the attention they would then be receiving. Not to mention the experience where other students and staff members are at a loss for words because of that attire or the content that the said student is publicly displaying and the discomfort following having to interact with that individual.
Throughout my entire school semester, I have only once seen a student who was reprimanded at the start of class during my freshman year for wearing a tank top. Although the situation was not as dire, recently there have been more occurrences of a majority of female students choosing to dress in a more appalling manner. The trend seems to be becoming more and more common as the days go by. Regardless of gender, all students should be held to the same standards, but with those standards, the significance of their etiquette should be published so that as the school year is initiated, students can’t be blindsided with the rules intact or leave room to say that they were oblivious.

The third policy being, campus clean-up and completing hours. As receiving hours impacts all students as a whole, seniors are set more into a frenzy where failure to complete the hours results in them missing out on senior activities and walking across the stage for graduation. While a great proportion of seniors know this, from circumstances that led them to make a note mentally, there’s another percent of students who aren’t at all aware. Assumingly, the directives are not widely distributed, students should be conscious of discipline following their reason for obtaining hours, perhaps with this students are less likely to commit infractions as well.

With this, change doesn’t happen overnight, but advocating for change begins by raising awareness and our voices to other things that also matter outside of sports and fashion. However, seeing as to how the policies play key roles, I believe the policies should be revised for the following: