This year, Niles North issued a new rule: Students are required to wear identification cards around their necks at all times. But North isn’t the only high school who recently decided to take on this new safety precaution.
Being a junior, it comes as no surprise that we must have our ID on us at all times. When I heard about the new rule, I was shocked. I didn’t think this rule would actually be accepted, let alone implemented. When I first got my ID, my eyes were drawn to the horrid orange and purple color combination; if we have to wear these tags around our necks, couldn’t they be a little more flattering? Second, I realized how itchy the actual necklace part is. I understand that our IDs must be visible at all times, but why can’t we just attach them to our backpacks, pants, pockets, etc.?
Although there are some drawbacks to these tags, there are definitely positive aspects which, in my opinion, outshine the negatives. These tags are, after all, for our safety. Many people are naive about the subject of school shootings, saying it won’t happen here. But, truthfully, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Besides the underlying reason for this policy, I also appreciate the tiny details taken into consideration. For example, the fact that we are able to stretch our IDs to swipe into study hall, or even have something to play with when class seems to be dragging.
As I walk around the hall, I have noticed that many people have taken to bedazzling their tags, adding fun pins or altogether buying their own strings. To me, this is a wonderful idea. It allows us to personalize this rather plain tag and make it reflect our personality. So while this new rule seems a bit irritating, remember that’s this for our safety and you can personalize your tag.
Student • Sep 18, 2013 at 8:27 pm
While I don’t agree with the new school policy, the ID policy is in affect. We don’t have a choice. For the first few weeks of school, many were lax. But I have friends whose teachers have forced them to wear it in class. There is really no point to the IDs, because there is little that they do to stop an attack. If a crisis were to happen, I doubt the IDs would make a difference. But it gives many a peace of mind after all these terrible shootings people hear about from the media.
Alum • Sep 11, 2013 at 1:57 pm
It’s a pretty safe bet that the student newspaper should oppose draconian new security measures, just for the basic reason that students in general should oppose these sorts of things.
But instead the author is totally cool with it. This honestly scares me.
I’m an alum, and probably about the age of many of the teachers, so I remember life before 9/11, but kids in high school today were born at a time when they don’t remember how there was a time when security stuff like this wasn’t normal.
In addition, how do IDs really help? Why didn’t the author ask any important questions of the administration, such as what problem they’re trying to solve?
In the Columbine incident, the perpetrators would have been wearing the same ID cards as all the other students, and with the Sandy Hook incident, ID cards would not have protected anyone.
Shouldn’t students question a little bit or wonder why something like this is being done? What purpose is there to writing an article agreeing with some new step the school administration takes? It worries me a student would think this way and so easily accept it and agree with it.