At Gallatin High school, there is nothing more important than making sure you get through the DECA line quick enough to make it to your next class. However, a close second is school culture. Our school culture defines us and our attitudes towards each other and our community, making it a pivotal piece of what makes GHS our house. The most important part of school culture is one that often comes automatically– the unwritten rules. Yet, lately it seems as if the students of our school have lost sight of the unwritten rules, and therefore this article is taking it upon itself to do something that should be inexplicably unnecessary: write them.

The Halls

It’s to the understanding of the students that the staff need not involve themselves in the silent customs of the student body, and therefore when they do speak up, there is a solemn knowledge that the issue has reached a ridiculous point. This is, of course, the topic of the hallways. When walking through the halls, every student should treat it like a road. All of the students with licenses understand that this means you stick to the right side of the halls and do not stop, similar to how you would not stop your car in the middle of Huffine. Nevertheless, we do have a large student population that does not have licenses, and this section serves as a gentle education on how to not anger those who have gone through driver’s ed. Of course, those with licenses need no reminder on how to conduct themselves in the halls, and therefore should not need this reminder… and yet, here we are. Please, for the sake of everyone who is trying to get to class on time, either learn to multitask and have a conversation while walking, or direct yourselves to a table or classroom to continue your conversation.

Line Etiquette

One of the most important skills acquired in elementary school is how to conduct yourself in a situation that involves a line. Children are taught to not cut, and to generally not be unkind to the other people who are also waiting in the line. The students of GHS are not kindergarteners. Roughly half of our student population will be liable to vote in the next presidential election. Therefore, we should be of the understanding that standing in a lunch line in an orderly manner is not very difficult. Although you might have to wait a bit longer to get your food, you will not be the annoyance of those who are trying to exercise civility and respect. In addition to the lunch lines, this same etiquette can be applied to the parking lot directly after school. Many of the students in our school have jobs they need to get to, siblings to pick up, or appointments to make. Regardless of where you are going, you should always take the time to let at least one person into the line that is exiting the lot. You might be going somewhere important, but remember that they might be as well. Exercise empathy.

Seniority

Seniority is an issue that should be important to not only upperclassmen, but underclassmen as well. A lot of underclassmen do not understand why seniors get special privilege, but this reporter can assure you that after one has been through so many years of high school, something as simple as standing in the front of the student section can be extremely appreciated. Seniors are in their last year of high school, moving out soon, and trying to soak up every last minute of youthful freedom that they can before they are launched into a college or other town in which they know nobody. Consider seniority a dying courtesy, something that you should offer in the understanding that it will be offered to you in a few short years. In order to sustain this commonality, you should stand with your grade level in the student section, park a bit further from the school, and try not to bother them if they’re catching a couple more minutes of sleep in your first hour class.

Our school’s culture is something that affects every student, regardless of who you are. When we all follow the invisible legislation established by previous classes, we are preserving a system that has worked for decades. These systems were undoubtedly established for a reason, and, when utilized, positively affect the rest of the Raptor population.