Every day it seems the parking lot fills up more and more as new drivers get their licenses. Every day students drive to school, drive to Ben Barber and drive back home. Every day students violate rules and drive to go get food. Driving is a part of everyday activities in MISD, and students should be allowed to leave campus for lunch without fear of reprisal.
The district sets a double standard by allowing students to drive to and from school and to Ben Barber, but not allowing them to drive to lunch. The district cannot have it both ways where student’s safety is their own responsibility some of the time, and then use the opposite logic for why we have closed campuses. Students are just as likely, or more so, to have a deadly car accident while driving to or from school or between campus as they are when driving to Chick-fil-a or Wendy’s. Whether the district acknowledges it or not, students’ safety on the road is their own responsibility, and should be treated as such.
If the district insists on maintaining their inconsistency in rule enforcement philosophy, they can allow students over the age of 18 to sign a waiver for themselves, and let younger student-drivers have the option of letting their parents sign one for them. Anyone without a waiver would fall under the current closed campus rule. This solution would allow students with permission to have off-campus lunch, while protecting MISD from any potential lawsuits.
District administrators should either allow a completely open campus, or let students or their parents sign waivers for a limited open-campus option.
noah • Apr 20, 2016 at 2:38 pm
why is having an open campus such a big deal i mean doesn’t anyone have trust in the highschoolers hoping that they will not wreck and try to eat healthy i mean this is 2016 we have came past this ordeal of trusting right? right? that’s just my opinion though so no hate. but seriously cmone. the whole signing the waver thing is good buuuuuut.
samone anderson • Apr 7, 2015 at 9:11 am
will the food we have at my school is not good to but we have 2 lunch and we brell get food and it not good at all all my ferind bring ther lunch or oder there lounch and some of it have stuff in it
Blake • Mar 26, 2015 at 8:26 am
I think it should
skyler baskin • Dec 11, 2014 at 11:01 am
I wish we had an open campus lunch because a lot of kids at my school think the food is nasty so they go do not eat until they get home and that can be about 5 to 6 hours. HELP
mickey • Dec 5, 2012 at 10:55 am
this is a good rule but students should just be able to leave campus when ever they want there shouldnt be a rule like that in high school maybe for freshmen but not the other high schoolers that are NOT freshmen
Regina • Apr 13, 2011 at 11:42 am
OFF CAMPUS LUNCH IS GREAT!!! I HAVE IT AT MY SCHOOL!
Ferman=God • Jan 25, 2011 at 10:48 am
Ferman is 100000% accurate. Enough said.
Brent McConville • Dec 15, 2010 at 9:08 am
🙂
Brent McConville • Dec 14, 2010 at 9:16 am
I think that J-B & Ferman need to realy wake up and smell the roses. I think that if you came to north port high and if you tried to eat the food you’ed change your mind faster than you could blick an eye!
J-B • Dec 9, 2010 at 11:20 am
I agree with Ferman 100% (and not just because he made me laugh ha). I hate when students complain about getting their parking sticker removed when it’s their fault, THEY broke the rules, dont blame the school. Follow the rules or deal with the consequences. 🙂
Krysten Williams • Nov 30, 2010 at 12:00 pm
I completely agree with this. I definitely think the district should at least consider this because if they did they would probably realize there are very little consequences possible. They need to give it a shot. Don’t knock it before you try it.
steven • Oct 8, 2010 at 8:53 am
im doing a paper on this subject and need help….. can any one give me more ideas on why its a good idea….
Kymber • May 31, 2010 at 3:39 pm
If they don’t want students going off campus then they should not let students drive to school at all. Period. They can’t expect students to stay on campus if they let them drive to school in the first place. Driving to Ben Barber is almost exactly like driving for off campus lunch. If students cannot go off campus for lunch then they should not be allowed to drive themselves to and from Legacy and too and from Ben Barber.
Julianna Di Napoli • May 28, 2010 at 12:51 pm
If you think about it, Ferman has a huge point. As a student, I am totally for off campus. It would be really cool to run to chick fil a or whataburger during lunch or maybe to run an errand like the teachers get to. However, I do understand that teachers/faculty have that power and we don’t. We are kids but we also have quick errands to run. For instance, maybe we need to get milk for a lab we’re doing in chemistry (true story), we can go during lunch to grab what we need. Adults forget little things, and sp do kids. Now, back on topic of lunch, there are still kids who go off (even though we’re not allowed) and speed to lunch so they can get back in time. If the district is so worried about accidents, then they need to take that in account as well.
Sean • May 26, 2010 at 3:55 pm
This should of been allowed since day one. There hasn’t been really any big accidents during people trying to go off campus since opening year. They should allow this, and it is pretty much not even enforced. There are only 2 people that really do and smith doesnt care.
WRIGSA • May 20, 2010 at 6:56 pm
Just FYI: School districts aren’t allowed to make a profit in the cafeteria, it’s against the law. So, they aren’t trying to get you to just buy from them.
Michele Stricklin • May 20, 2010 at 10:28 am
I sadly have to agree with Ferman 100%, yes our food tast like regergitated nastyness, yes the lunches are so full you almost have no time to eat, but rules are rules. I dont hate not going out to eat any more than other people, I despise what i have to put in my mouth everyday at lunch but knowing that my friends and peers wont get hurt trying to get food makes this worth it. Its true smith does absolutly nothing but sit and stare, just the other day I had an appointmen and a smith car passed me going to my jeep, well i got in and drove behind smith to exit the school just to see if they would do anything and nothing. They just kept driving. Teachers deserve the chance to get away and have a yummy lunch dealing with freshmans, sophmores and the ocassional wacky senior and junior. Go for it!!! Yall deserve any moment of peace….just dont bring the food in front of our faces to me it is torture. The school should reavluate (sp) lunches the praportions are horrid (I got 4 fries once….4!!!!!) well bell rang ta ta
dakota bishop • May 8, 2010 at 9:22 am
well i think if we had an open campus then well there would be less tickets from the sucureity.
we would also feel that we are not being treated like kids any more.
Glenn Woodward • May 5, 2010 at 5:58 pm
I don’t get the point of arguing this. They’re not going to change anything because we don’t like it. I think an open campus would just be an inconvenience. We’d have to have better security, people would be coming back late, all that fast food trash and smell would linger in the classes, and its a waste of money anyways. You know most people want to go just because they have a car and they can go. The second you pull your car key out of your pocket all of your friends will ask you to take them and when they don’t have money you’ll be picking up the bill so you might as well stay. As for food poisoning, just about every kitchen will mess up some thing at some point and some one will be unfourtunate enough to get it but that doesn’t mean it will happen every time. That doesn’t even mean it will happen often. Let’s face it, people are arguing this because they feel its their right but if it changes they’ll find some thing else to argue about. High school doesn’t last long and standing in a line isn’t that bad. When we get out in a year or two, we can go get food from any where we want. As for now, I think we can get along with a lunch room.
Ferman • May 5, 2010 at 8:09 am
Aaron, I COMPLETELY agree with you on your point of enforcement. I truly wish the closed campus rule were enforced as much as other rules. Why isn’t this rule enforced? Also, I found out recently that the “rule” for going to your car is actually that you need a pass from an AP to go out of the doors. I can’t tell you how many students I have seen in parking lots with plastic hall passes.
Now to the point of adults getting to leave. It is just a different situation. It isn’t pot calling kettle black because there is a different relationship here. Teachers are neither pots nor kettles. We have a job to do. Sometimes we need to go off campus to go to the doctor during the school day, or run errands that can’t be taken care of after we get out of rehearsal or practice, or whatever we do extracurricular-wise. Because this is our job we have a legal right to breaks and during those breaks we are legally allowed to do as we please. I hope that doesn’t sound high and mighty, and it isn’t intended to be, but there is a point where being old gets rewarded.
Now remember, I started this whole thing with the fact that I am neither for nor against Open Campus, I am, however, totally for following the rules.
Once again, I love editorials. I love the rider online! Thank you for an open forum where people can express opinion and have discussion without too much mudslinging!
Aaron Sakowski • Apr 30, 2010 at 8:07 pm
Both arguments for and against open campus have merit. I’m just sick of policies made without clear reasoning, especially when the policy makers can’t enforce said policies, nor seem to really care to. Either we should have completely open or completely closed campus, and whatever decision is made should be enforced adequately.
I understand that teachers, as adults, have more priveleges, but at the same time it doesn’t foster obedience in students when a teacher tells them they’ll get severe consequences for leaving campus for lunch while at the same time they themselves go and tell one of their colleagues to go get everyone a sandwich from subway. However legitimate something like that may be, it still comes across as the pot calling the kettle black.
And to Nadley, that’s the whole point of editorials :-p. I highly doubt misd officials are going to read it and have a mind-changing epiphany about their policies, but we still have the right to try and get things changed. It’s not just ‘complaining’, it’s a call for consistency in the people that are supposed to be setting an example for the people who are supposedly their future.
Sophie Smith • Apr 30, 2010 at 12:27 pm
I think people should just respect their authorities and follow the rules.
Midnight • Apr 30, 2010 at 12:14 pm
Off-campus lunch sounds like a wonderful idea, and I do agree that the people who drive and have the wrecks are the ones at fault because it’s their lousy driving. I also think having a closed campus for lunch is better for the students. Yes, Wendy’s, Subway, and Taco bell are all very good places to eat and I myself go there to eat a lot, but we do want to live for a long time so cutting back on fast food by keeping the students on campus is a good idea. Truth is, a good portion of the school is overweight, myself included, and it is because we eat too much fast food. I admit, when I leave for Ben Barber sometimes I do stop for food, but if we allowed students to go off campus for lunch every day, then every day students would be eating fattening junk food. The size of the students would increase and it is already hard enough getting through the halls during passing period. Another way to stay alive longer is to not tempt fate by driving to get your favorite fast food, realizing you have only five minutes to get back to class, racing out of the parking lot and speeding to school where you lose control of your car because you are a young driver, not yet that knowledgeable behind the wheel, and hitting either another car or a person walking back into the building. Having off-campus lunch sounds good to students, but it is more dangerous than students like to think. We already had one fatal car wreck, but if we had off campus lunches, we would probably have those weekly. Fast food is wonderful, but instead of going off-campus every day to eat it, it should be saved for like once a week at the most because all it does is harm for the body. I’m happy with where the rule is.
Nadley Doerge • Apr 29, 2010 at 10:18 pm
Honestly, I really don’t care. I mean, don’t get me wrong..Off campus lunch would be nice, BUT I’m not ready to go crying to the MISD school board about it. No biggie. If I went to a school, or worked at a place that made me 100% happy ALL the time I would be a little concerned. You must have SOME FORM OF BOUNDARIES! It’s just life, get over it. Actually I’m somewhat glad we have a closed campus because if we didn’t then we wouldn’t have interactive discussion like this.. We’d all be bored with ourselves.
Although if we did have off campus lunch you’d probably see me walking in the school after lunch with a large delicious ice cold Dr. Pepper. Just sayin’…
😉
Ferman • Apr 27, 2010 at 8:35 pm
I will respond in kind, i love discussion!
To all respondents thus far: If I had my way, everyone would ride the bus to Ben Barber and no one would drive. “Uh oh! Ferman! What are you thinking!” Personally I would rather work in a school that is secure. If I had a nickle for every time I unblock a door near my room, and I have nickles dimes and quarters from it, I would be a rich man! Keeping the exterior doors to the school locked keeps the people within safe. My class room is really close to the doors that invariably get blocked open and if some crazy person were to come in, my classes and I would be easy targets. I don’t like that. I know that isn’t “going to happen” and I hope it doesn’t, but the possibility is there.
I digress. I guess when it comes down to it, any food that you can get in the 30 minute lunch period probably isn’t all that good for you. I wish we could get Jaimie Oliver and his Food Revolution to come to Mansfield and change the quality of food we eat in the cafeteria. I will write him a letter.
And as far as Principals, teachers, and staff going off campus, you say it is a double standard, but these people are grown adults, not minors, and have earned that right to go off campus, because this is our job. Just like when you take your break from work Russell, we do too. Don’t get me wrong, we love what we do, but sometimes we need Subway because we didn’t have any more lunch stuff at the house because we were at school with our students until 6:00 working on a show or in tutorials or at a practice for our students and didn’t have time to hit the store on the way home.
Not to be argumentative either, but rather to keep the forum open and discussing.
P.S. Oh yeah, Smith, to my knowledge just gives out parking tickets. 🙂
Aaron Sakowski • Apr 27, 2010 at 6:18 pm
I can understand the point of view of concern for student safety, but ultimately the truth is that a student driver can be killed in a deadly car accident at any time while driving to school, from school, or to Ben Barber, and the district has decided that it’s an acceptable risk. While the accident 2 years ago was tragic, it wasn’t the fault of off-campus lunch, it was the fault of the driver behind the wheel. A similar accident could happen at any time, regardless of school policy or where the driver happens to be going. If the district were truly afraid we would be dying in car accidents all the time, they wouldn’t allow us to drive at all.
As for as I know, the reason for having several short lunches is to cut down on crowding so that all students have enough time to get through the lines and eat. Allowing off-campus lunch and changing the lunch schedule to just a couple longer lunch periods would allow all under-classmen to eat while a large number of drivers leave, reducing crowding in the cafeteria.
Now about the waivers. While the current ones only apply to Ben Barber, students leave Ben Barber everyday during their long passing periods to get food, and then come back (often carrying the food they just got), right in front of the APs, police officers, and teachers stationed there. Students at home campuses leave everyday, despite having Smith security actively watching them go. The concern for students leaving campus for reasons other than traveling between campuses seems to be in reality very small. If Smith (which we already have) were parked at all exits, they could screen departing students for off-campus lunch waivers as they leave (which would give the presence of smith an actual purpose, because currently they seem to have none).
I’m not trying to be argumentative, just to be realistic and prove a point. The district is obviously unable to enforce its own policy, and it’s wasting its resources on added security. I believe the alternative solutions listed work best for both the students and the district.
Megan Ireland • Apr 27, 2010 at 1:48 pm
I completely agree, it does seem like a scheme to fund the school. Dont get me wrong i love this school…Sometimes. It’s not even a matter of kids loving school. Who cares if you like school? Get it over with. You not liking school isn’t going to change the dress code, so what makes you think they care enough if you ‘like’ the school because its open-campus. I got food poisoning from legacy, so i therefore cannot eat here. On A days i have to live with Cheese itz. isn’t THAT healthy?? Open campus is a very good idea. Students everyday take a risk and go off campus everyday ANYWAY, it’s their choice. If kids go off anyways what will be the difference if it’s open campus? And P.S. The AP’s have whataburger or chik-fil-a everyday. . .Why don’t THEY NOT go off campus and fund THEIR school instead of making US be the only ones contribute!
Russell Kirby • Apr 26, 2010 at 10:52 pm
I’m disappointed that you think this, Ferman. I drive to and from school every day along with hundreds of other students and staff. I make 30 minute lunch breaks at work usually heading a mile or more down the road. An altered schedule doesn’t have to mean an extended day, either. A lot of other schools offer open campus lunch and I’m certain something can be worked out within our district to provide students more than enough time to choose lunch and still have time to spare while getting out at 2:30. I also know that this disappointment isn’t just felt within the teenage mind because my parents and many of my teachers feel the same way. Even with the points you’ve made, I still cannot see how they can justify allowing Ben Barbers students to drive off campus. They do not check waivers each time a student leaves now. After a little schedule tweaking and the laying down of some rules (and it’s the perfect time with the addition of Frontier) there’s no reason a change isn’t possible. If a wreck were to happen while a student is traversing to Ben Barber, I don’t see MISD stepping in and taking responsibility for a wreck that is ultimately the student’s fault. Thank you.
Landon • Apr 26, 2010 at 6:52 pm
I’d have to agree with Ferman. (not the whole coin thing though that is very funny haha) But having it closed campus may seem like a drag but I mean, think about it, two years ago when those kids coming back from getting lunch probably didn’t expect to have a wreck, but they did. People say that it will never happen to them, and who knows, it might not. But I’d rather be safe than sorry. When we are out of high school we can get fast food whenever we want. Plus if you want Chick-fil-a so bad you can have your parent bring it to you. I see people do it all of the time! So 4 years of closed campus lunch doesn’t seem like too much to ask. I’d rather live past high school instead of dying prematurely, but that’s just me…
Ferman • Apr 26, 2010 at 2:20 pm
I had to ponder long and hard before responding to this article…
Here is my deal. I am neither FOR nor AGAINST open campus lunch. The fact is, however, Legacy High School is a CLOSED campus. So, my opinion is that people should follow the rules unless something is changed, so I will still remove pencils, pens, coins etc. from doors and snicker as I watch students trying to get back in the building.
Regarding the lunch situation. I believe there are a couple of reasons for closing the campus for lunch:
1. To my knowledge it is the responsibility for the district to make available a balanced meal full of nutrients, etc. Now, if everyone eats mashed potatoes and chicken fried steak, or a Clux Delux, that is their deal.
2. There is not enough time built into lunches to get safely to and from your local restaurants. I know that you guys make it, but just barely. Not 2 years ago we had an accident with a fatality and severe injuries all so they could get some Taco Bell. Mmmmm. Not worth it. Besides if they added enough time to our lunches to let you have open campus I imagine we would get out of school around 4:00…I don’t know about you, but I like the 2:30 end of my school day.
3. It is a liability issue. There is a form for Ben Barber Drivers to sign because they have a class there. The district, I believe, is liable for each student from the moment they set foot on campus until they leave. The Ben Barber waiver is for going to another educational institution, not to Burger King.
In summation, although open campus seems like a really good idea to the teenage mind, and I was a teenager once (believe it or not), The logistics just don’t work for the structure we have. We would have to add guards to verify peoples “waivers” and our parking lots are just not set up for that.
So, eat a Clux Delux instead of Chik-fil-a. Or, bring something even more healthy from home.
Eat your veggies.
P.S. For those of you who use coins to keep the doors open, please go back to quarters, I have missed the extra money.
Alex Jantz • Apr 26, 2010 at 11:42 am
I completely agree with this article and think that a new policy should be put into action. Plus, people who go to Ben Barber during third period have an oppurtunity to go to Whataburger as they are driving back because of the different bell schedules. My brother was allowed to have off-campus lunch, and nothing happend to him. The drivers would just have to be responsible and safe.
highggggggggggh • Apr 25, 2010 at 8:45 am
I’m surprised you didn’t address population control in the lunch room. It isn’t nearly as crowed as it is at other schools but it’s still inconvenient. Btw perhaps it is possible that closed campus is a fund raising scheme more than it is an issue of student safety. Perhaps if you choose to refute that as well your statement might have more strength (not that it doesn’t have any as it is)
Chase • Apr 25, 2010 at 1:20 am
I think this is a good policy. The district is happy, and the students definately are. I’ll be driving next year, so a policy change for open campus lunches will be welcomed!