Greenbrier East High School has undergone many changes over the past two or three years that I–and other upperclassmen–have noticed. Some developments are positive, but the majority are not. Negative changes center on unnecessarily stricter rules.
Last year, East’s administration, presumably trying to “keep the kids safe,” put up a prison-like fence outside the cafeteria to keep kids from leaving campus. Before the fence was erected, it was convenient for students to use the cafeteria walkway to walk to lower science classes, but now they can’t. School administrator David Vincent says the reasoning behind the fence was to allow a safe place for kids to walk from class to class while making it easier on the staff so they don’t have to keep unlocking and locking doors between classes.
Attendance has always been important, but in the past East would never punish students for their absences unless they reached a level of truancy. This year our district is implementing a rule that forces students to take semester exams under the following conditions:
- If they have a D or an F average in the course
- If they have an A, B, or C average in the course, but more than 7 absences.
This policy punishes students who have valid excuses to miss school, including illnesses they can’t help. David Vincent says that the policy is countywide and is becoming a norm for schools across America, but that the schools need time to adjust to the policy.
Students also notice teacher behavior changing. Most teachers used to have more of a carefree environment in their classrooms, but in recent years they are more focused on rules and regulations (especially about cell phones), which probably reflects the pressure they feel from administration to crack down. Students miss that more relaxed, friendlier classroom atmosphere.
Another change in Greenbrier East is the school climate. It seems that students really took pride in their school in prior years, but now some teachers and students are noticing that the student body is more apathetic. Some blame the Covid pandemic, but veteran Spanish teacher Scott Vogelsong says kids are simply not showing interest in their school like they used to.
Students also complain about school lunches getting worse every year. The consensus regarding food quality is “hit or miss.” It seems like school lunch wasn’t half bad my freshman year, but the food has slowly changed to the point where students sometimes don’t eat even half the portion. Vogelsong witnesses this firsthand because he has lunch duty for two of the three lunches.
Another negative change that has impacted East students is the stricter bathroom policies. Just two years ago–even last year–you were able to go to the bathroom whenever you wanted. All you had to do was ask. Now you have to make a digital pass and you only get to use the facilities three times a day. In addition, bathroom space is limited: You have to wait for a certain number of people to come out before you can even generate a SmartPass. At lunchtime, the bathroom is monitored by the school police and long lines form, causing long wait times for students who just need to use the restroom quickly.
Finally, I want to end with a few positive ways in which Greenbrier East has changed. First, obviously, is their new parking lot, which allows students not to risk car damage by driving and parking on gravel. Another perk is that students now have the ability to buy slushies at the slushy stand during lunch for one dollar. At least now if students don’t like what being served for lunch they can get a slushy and snacks from the vending machine.
Greenbrier Easts faculty work hard to make this school a better place and a good environment for its students; however, the changes on select issues irritate the students.
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