An Unforeseen Blessing: The New Rules
By Lindsey Piel
There are three major changes to the school rules this year. The first will separate students from their phones during the course of the school day. Students are to place their phones in a container their first hour, which is then locked until the end of the day. Many students find themselves habitually reaching for their phone in their uniform pocket to be reminded of this rule when they find nothing.
The response among a few senior boys was quite considerate.
“I think it’s needed as it creates a better learning environment and allows people to connect better with their friends, though it can be a pain at times,”
said Brooks Basler. James Whiting simply stated,
“I don’t mind it, I think it’s good”.
While lots of students feel like James, some don’t like the rule because they don’t want the school interfering with their property. Nolan Silkworth said,
“It’s not that bad, but I do think they are out of line and overstepping their authority.”
Along with the somewhat vexing phone policy, doors in the lower foyer will now close at 7:40 every morning instead of 7:45. Though this update also doesn't excite students, it could motivate them to develop good habits. Time management is pivotal for students who are engaged in numerous extracurriculars, there are many at Hackett. Closing the lower foyer doors earlier instills students with one more reason to get out of bed in the morning. Remembering this rule in the morning may have its positives despite the initial reaction.
Regardless of these humdrum changes, students have been blessed with a wonderful addition to the dress code. Students are now allowed to wear sweatshirts and hoodies that say ‘Hackett’ on them every day of the week. As the ‘ber’ months approach and the weather gets cooler, this is especially exciting. It allows for some variation from the classic yet boring Flynn O’Hara quarter zip. However, students should be careful not to wear sweatshirts that don’t have the word ‘Hackett’ on them such as United gear and MHSAA unless it is a spirit day.
These three changes have stirred up an array of emotions throughout the student body and staff. There seems to be a change in the school’s atmosphere already as students socialize more and scroll less. Though change can be a hassle, it seems like there is merit within these rules.
