The Academy Should Implement an Open
Campus
Haley Blanchette
Editor-in-Chief
Of the 1,372 students at the Academy, a select few – determined
to get accepted into the school of their dreams – work exceptionally
hard throughout their academic careers. All through high school,
students cannot wait for senior year because of the promises it
holds: guaranteed demolition of all under classmen during spirit
week, lunch in the atrium, and... supposedly easy classes. Obviously,
there are plenty of students who sign up for an easy senior schedule;
however, I have a rigorous schedule full of AP and college-level
courses, as do an abundance of my fellow seniors, which were almost
impossible to balance with extra curricular activities and the
college application process.
If the upperclassmen are lucky enough, they may get early dismissal
or late arrival if their study halls happen to fall in the fateful
slots which allow them to catch an extra hour of much-needed
sleep or to head out early and relax at home before weeding through
those seemingly endless mounds of homework. Unfortunately, there
are several hardworking seniors who remain confined in school
during four periods of study halls and lunches straight. Basically,
they got unlucky schedules that sandwich study halls in between
core classes. I propose the Academy implement an open campus
system in which seniors become entrusted with the responsibility
of leaving school during the day and returning on time. Only
the most diligent students, ones who take AP, IB, and/or college-level
courses, should receive this privilege.
An open campus would allow these seniors a break from the stress
of school during the day. Only those students with two or more
free periods in a row—any less would encourage truancy—should
be granted permission to leave early and only on several conditions.
The first conditions are that they have a minimum of a 90 average
and are a member of National Honor Society. NHS membership should
be a prerequisite because these students have worked particularly
hard to do exceptionally well in classes and to stand out from
the majority throughout high school. These students who have
a record of timeliness and responsibility should be granted permission—from
the administration in addition to their parents—to leave
school on the condition that they continue to return on time
and maintain a record of merit. These privileges could be revoked
if at any time the student violates the conditions.
Senior Lindsey Lord, who takes several AP courses, has four
free periods in a row on A days. She complains that, “for
at least one of the periods I have nothing to do.” If she
could leave she would “probably go home or run errands.”
Assistant Principal Richard Faccio explains that, “We
don’t want to put [students] in situations where [they]
can get into trouble.” He adds that the decision is in
the Board of Education’s hands and not the administration’s
but that he would “love to give seniors more privileges.”
Board of Education President, Tarry Shipley says, “[She
does not] see an open campus happening within the current structure
of the school program,” because “the issue of safety
and security for our students must continue to be a strong component
of all Board decisions.
I have early dismissal for 8th and 9th period on A days. Occasionally,
I drive home for lunch and return to school, on time, for after
school activities. Essentially, this is an open campus — I
just happen to have the benefit of early dismissal to participate
in it.
Senior Davis Blackwell went to Willsonville High School in Oregon,
where they had an open campus system in which students “would
pretty much go wherever they wanted on campus during free periods.” The
main problem was that “people would show up late.” Punishment
came in the form of detention. If Canandaigua were to introduce
an open campus, revoking the privilege for the system violators
would be the most effective punishment.
Assistant Principal John LaFave does “not believe this
is a good idea for anyone.” He thinks “it would be
a particularly bad idea to open it up to a select few. That would
create an atmosphere of elitism or special privilege.” Does
NHS not do that? Students with 89 averages and numerous qualifying
extra curricular activities miss out because of that one grade
point. Making open campus a privilege for the advanced students
is the only way to avoid chaos.
Principal Lynne Erdle says that an open campus wouldn’t
work because “the school has a legal responsibility to
know where our students are.” Local Attorney at Law, Brenda
Smith, who works at the Ontario County Court House, says that “in
loco parentis” “states when a child is in school,
the school and it’s authorities act as if they are the
parents… and have the ability to authorize medical care,
etc. and act in may ways as if they are the parent. The school
is required to exercise all due diligence and the appropriate
standard of care when they act in the children’s interest.
If they breach their ‘duty’ or fail to fulfill their
responsibilities, then they can be sued for their negligence
and damages such as monies can be awarded to the family.”
Smith adds, “When talking about an open campus system,
[she] would assume the school would take a very conservative
view… since there could be an issue of liability when the
school is not actually supervising the student. There will also
be issues of how the student signs in and out, who will check
and monitor the times, does the parent give the student permission
to do this or is it up to the student and school…”
I would suggest that the student receives permission from his
or her guardians in addition to meeting all of the aforementioned
conditions. Smith says that a, “waiver would at least give
the school some protection…”
Erdle does “want to give privileges” and doesn’t “want
to control [students.]” If there are safe, successful systems
of an open campus, she seems open to the possibility.
The number of students with access to an open campus system
will be far less than overwhelming. By meeting the standards
and having the appropriate schedule, they would have the privilege.
In roughly six months, seniors will begin their college experience.
At college, students will have the responsibility to show up
to class—on time—without the help of parents or administrators.
An open campus system would help students adjust to major changes
that occur in the college atmosphere.
Administrators are worried about colleges rejecting students
based on light course loads; however, these students take higher-level
classes and simply happen to have several free periods in a row,
which are inconveniently located in the middle of their schedules.
A major benefit of this system is that it will encourage students
to participate more often and to try to excel even more in school.
Students who desire the privilege of an open campus will work
remarkably hard in order to reap the benefits. The students who
are granted the benefit of open campus will most likely improve
their overall academic experience.
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