Should the Pep Rally be Mandatory?

Pep rallies- a staple in the high school experience. For years, it’s been a Monmouth Regional tradition to have an annual pep rally at the beginning of the year, with a seasonal winter and spring one to follow. However, in recent years, school spirit is at an all time low. People watching the event don’t seem to enjoy it as much as the students participating. This begs the question: should pep rallies be mandatory to attend?

Although this is an enjoyable way to start out the year, some are uninterested and annoyed. Many are not fond of being forced to sit in the heat and watch others compete in competitions. This causes an extreme lack of enthusiasm among the crowd. If the crowd only consisted of people that actually wanted to be there, it would be a lot more enraptured. Freshman Ali Naqvi explained his experience at his first pep rally, saying that “it’s a fun activity students shouldn’t be forced into, otherwise it makes it not fun.” There is no doubt that the idea of "Mandatory Fun" sucks the fun out of any event. History teacher Mrs. Domanich said “they should be extracurricular after school.” This would mean kids could choose to go on their own time, and they would not be missing out on classes or other elements of their education.

Pep rallies have many downfalls, but they work in energizing the students and staff. “[...] You gotta get your school spirit. We can’t let bummy schools like Brick and Neptune get ahead of us," Brandon Green, a senior said. Giving students a break from their assignments is also another plus. Senior Christian Leck thinks they should be mandatory “because we get to miss class.” However, if pep rallies were to be optional, freshman Emely Poveda-Morales adds, there would be an unfairness for those who decide to attend, because they’d be missing class. English teacher Mrs. Mitchell suggests an option for kids who don’t like crowds: “they can go to a quiet study hall proctored by a few teachers.” This especially would be a good option for kids who have difficulty with large crowds, and those with social anxiety who would be overwhelmed by the loud noise. By leaving options, all students would be respected no matter what their decision is.

Pep rallies are supposed to get everyone, under and upperclassmen, excited about the upcoming year, but that doesn't seem to be the case. During the first pep rally of the 2022-2023 school year, Friday September 16th, when classes were asked to cheer for their peers on the field, there was only the slightest rumble of glee. Sitting in the monotonous crowd, it was easy to hear yourself speak!

Are there other ways to get the students more rowdy and cheerful? The cheerleaders and the mascot, which was brought back after a three year hiatus, didn’t help. Mrs. Evans, who tried to lead the crowd with her pumped up attitude, still couldn’t rouse anyone into an enthusiastic mood. Junior Jennifer Wu recalls the color guard being more entertaining than the games itself.

Two days prior to the pep rally, an email was sent to all students asking if they wanted to participate in tug of war or the pie eating contest. That begs the question: If the other games, which only the athletes play, would be offered to any student who wanted to join, would there be more excitement? This would make it more inclusive to other students, like those who don't or can't even play sports.

Overall, though Monmouth Regional’s seasonal pep rallies consist of fun games, mixed with music and colorful performances, it's not thrilling to all; but has the potential to be.