In some homes, freedom is earned. Caregivers place restrictions on kids and gradually lift them as kids prove that they are trustworthy and responsible.
Other families afford children all of their freedoms from the beginning and only set limitations if children violate their caregivers’ trust. Often, an open conversation with mutual trust and respect for one another is enough to prevent future conflict. Harsh punishment, on the other hand, “does not change the tendency to engage in the behavior that was punished,” said Dr. Michael Karson in Psychology Today.
The student body has heard our administrators refer to the Nyack High School community as a “family” on many occasions, yet they have suddenly stripped the student body of our freedoms without any explanation. Many teachers are enforcing the “ten minute rule”, barring students from using the bathroom during the first or last ten minutes of class. Others are not allowing students to use the bathroom at all, citing new rules from administration as the cause. Students are required to carry a hall pass or fill out a Google Form whenever they leave a room. This is “nyack prison,” said one anonymous Instagram account.
While these changes are generally nothing more than minor inconveniences, this editorial board believes that students deserve an explanation for our sudden lack of freedom - no matter how trivial the restrictions. The student body has not been made aware of any concerns about our behavior during class time, which is when most of the restrictions are in effect. Without knowing what behavior warranted such restrictive rules, we cannot improve.
We acknowledge that our administration has a responsibility, first and foremost, to keep the student body safe. However, we believe that cultivating a safe, positive school environment means communicating with the people most affected by administrative decisions: the student body.
Is the sudden lockdown of our hallways warranted by recent behavior? Should all students be punished for the actions of a few? Are strict rules the best remedy for unrest?
Perhaps administrators should instead consider analyzing the potential causes for student angst, like recent global violence, school stress, and external socioeconomic factors, to name a few.
Either way, the editorial staff of Nyack Spectrum contends that administration owes the student body transparency and a voice in our own educational experience.