1st Place, Staff Editorial
2022-23, Division 3, News Writing
By Staff
Focus
Midland HS
At the beginning of the school year, we were told that the dress code and phone policy would be enforced more consistently. Since then, we have noticed the “blue box” and “phone cubbies” policies being carried out. What we have not seen is an anti-vaping campaign. We The Focus believe that the enforcement of the school dress code and phone policy is currently greater than the enforcement of anti-vaping. It should be the other way around.
The Midland Public Schools secondary dress code is a box that covers the collarbone to “mid-thigh.” During the Covid-19 pandemic, it seemed fewer teachers were concerned with the policy. However, at the beginning of this school year, we noticed many teachers going over the dress code with their classes. Within the first few days of school especially, teachers told students to “cover up,” informing them that they were breaking the dress code. These were typically considered warnings, and were given in order to prevent students from further breaking the dress code. As a result of this, we have seen students push back against the dress code due to it being sexist and insignificant compared to other things going on within the school.
The other policy where have noticed a resurgence is the phone policy. While this policy may vary, in most classrooms the expectation is that students are not on their phones in class. If students are caught on their phones, some teachers simply give students a reminder, some confiscate the phone and some send a “mommy email” (an email to the parents telling them that their child had been disruptive on their phones.)
We believe these policies are all very reasonable– every other school has a dress code and phones can be a distraction from learning. However, when these take precedence over a student’s safety it is illogical. A student’s exposed midriff should not be prioritized over their health.
Here is were we are starting to notice misplaced priorities. Vaping has grown into a major issue among many teenagers and has seeped into the schools. Whether it be going to the bathroom or taking a puff in their hoodie, students catch other students vaping daily. Currently, nothing is being done about it. While other students are getting dress coded for a shirt being too short, these vapers are continuing their poor habits with little to no consequences.
We have seen teachers dress coding students. We have seen teachers confiscate phones. But we have seen an inadequate amount of people vaping being shut down. It has gotten to the point where students are scared to use the bathroom due to the herds of people in one stall sharing a vape in between classes. Anyone that truly needs to use the restroom will feel like an intruder, being met with scowls, stares and angry faces.
Teachers have attempted to prevent vaping by limiting bathroom passes,
but what about the honest students who actually need to go? Can they not because there is no other way to stop students from vaping? We do not believe it should fall upon teachers to prevent vaping, so who is being held responsible? The school itself tried to stop vaping by installing vape detectors. They never worked. Even if they did, students still would have found ways around them.
The Focus believes it is imperative for the school to shift their focus back to anti-vaping. The current emphasis on dress code and phone policies, while good, shouldn’t be the priority. All students are talking about related to school policies is the dress code and the phone policy, which are enforced by teachers. The vaping policy, on the other hand, is enforced by a non-existent team. To combat this, the school should have a specified administrator monitoring vaping and should start up the anti- vaping campaign again. These measures would increase awareness of the problem that affects students’ safety.
Nothing should be put above students’ health, least of all a bare midriff.
NW-06. Staff Editorial
Staff editorials should represent the opinion of the staff, editors or editorial board on a timely news matter of concern to the school, community, state, nation or world. They may express appreciation, offer interpretation or attempt to deal with problems. Editorials are not to be bylined, signed or initialed, or in any way identified as being the opinion of the writer(s). Submit a PDF of the print page(s) on which the story was published or the URL to the story on an online news site.
JUDGING CRITERIA
- Represents the opinion of the staff or editorial board
- Topic relevant to interests and/or welfare of school or students
- Wins reader interest with a compelling lead
- Presents evidence/interpretation in logical sequence
- States issue; uses effective examples, facts, and comparisons to clarify
- Deals with specific issue: avoids preaching, rhetoric, and cliches
- Shows sufficient thought and research
- Sentences, paragraphs of varied length; written clearly, concisely and vividly
- Proper diction/grammar