Opinion

The ability to leave during your lunch period, open-campus lunch, is available at many high schools in America, however Pewaukee High School is not one of these schools.

Many juniors and seniors from Pewaukee High School feel passionate about this topic as they can drive and would prefer to leave. However, during finals week, they open the boundaries up and allow for off campus lunch, leading us to the question, why is this not year round?

A third hour free period is available for upperclassmen, where you are allowed to leave during the class hour and also includes lunch time, proving that it is feasible for students to have their responsibility. Free periods during the second and fourth hour also can prove that people being at school, then leaving, are still responsible enough to come back on time for their next period.

Off campus lunch is incredibly important, as not only would this allow you to get food nearby, such as on Capital drive, but even to grab a notebook or charger that you forgot in the morning. Using this time for possible productivity is another reason why off campus lunch should be an option.

There may be some possible issues, such as students not returning on time to their third hour, or possibly misbehaving during the off campus lunch time. These are feasible concerns; however, if there are issues with students not returning on time, this can be treated like any other unexcused tardy or absence.

The punishments for not showing up on time or not behaving can be assessed on an individual basis rather than impacting the entire student population, just like tardies and other disciplinary offenses.

Open campus lunch is a great opportunity for people to continue independence, and if it becomes an issue, their privilege should be revoked, as simple as that. At this point in the school year, implementing this policy is unlikely; however, hopefully for future Pewaukee High School students, they may receive this privilege.