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Security

October 18, 2008 by  
Filed under Editorials, Featured

20 Comments

By Marki Webster, Staff Writer

So you are walking down the hall and suddenly you remember that you forgot to tell your mom it’s a minimum day and that you need to be picked up early. You reach into your backpack to get your phone and start dialing. A security guard appears and snatches the phone away. And that\’s it— you just won\’t have a ride home today.

Granted, the security guards at FVHS are here to enforce the rules and create a safe and healthy learning environment. But, as far as I can see, they\’re not doing their job—at least not correctly. The security guards are astoundingly arbitrary, not flexible to each student\’s situations, or being respectful to our rights as individuals.

Sometimes there are occurrences that call for using a cell phone to alert a parent. Why is it that we have to duck into a restroom to make the call? Are rules made to make us sneak?

False accusations from the security guards run rampant. Sophomore Journey Wright says, “Sometimes when I’m walking down a hall a security guard just stops me and asks me if I’m under the influence.” Doesn\’t this seem unwarranted? Disrespectful? Confrontational? I don\’t know what it seems to you, but to me, it\’s just not right.

The security guards are also sometimes unnecessarily intimidating and cross the line of doing what they were hired to do. “At the Aloha dance,” says sophomore Savannah Webster, “a security guard yelled at me for having gum, and then started asking me all these lame questions about what I did that night.”

Okay, tell her to spit out her gum. Okay, tell her to not chew gum next time. But honesty, why yell? Why interrogate her on what she was doing before the dance? Have a little respect. She obviously had to be breathalyzed and bag checked before even stepping onto the dance floor.

Additionally, it\’s wrong how rules are carried out with such fickleness. Sophomore Allison Lang arrived at school for her 7:00 a.m. zero period class one morning in a halter top, and was accosted by a security guard.

Lang says, “I came to school early for my zero period and I was already getting in trouble.” It was 7:00 in the foggy, dark morning, and she was wearing a top that doesn\’t reveal much but the top of her back and her shoulders. Throughout the day, other girls showing much more skin went to their classes without incident or questioning.

High school should be a place where you grow and mature. But I don’t feel like I’m growing up at all. I’m constantly being told what not to do, what not to wear, and what not to bring to school. I guess I should just blindly grow up following other peoples\’ random rules. Is that the lesson FVHS is supposed to be teaching us?

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  • tiffanyp

    MSIE 7.0 Windows Vista

    not to mention, supervision seriously makes up their own rules. last year for the asb elections? i had these lightbulbs attatched to head bands as apart of my campaign…and i walked passed the principal and he did not say a thing! then supervision made me take it off because someone might walk by, smash it, and cut me…

  • Anonymous

    Firefox 3.0.3 Windows XP

    maybe the security guards have a case of inferiority complex. haha!

  • Anonymous

    MSIE 7.0 Windows XP

    i agree! supervision abuses their power. i had pe 4th period last year, the period before lunch. sometimes my teacher would let us out of pe late, so my class would get to the lockerooms late. and the security there would start yelling at us for no apparent reason. they’re yelling about how we come in late (which is not entirely our fault) and yelling for us to hurry up. they didn’t let us use the toilets for 3 seconds or even glance at the mirror. seriously, is that really neccesary?

  • anonymous

    Firefox 3.0.1 Windows Vista

    I totally agree with anonymous. I currently have 4th period P.E. and supervision always comes in the locker room and yells at us to leave even before the bell rings. Why do they expect us to change in 1 minute? They need to respect our rights and stop abusing their power.

  • anonymous

    Firefox 3.0.3 Windows XP

    this article is completely true. i hate security guards. they really need to have a little more respect for students.

    p.s. i liked the first draft more.(:

  • ahhhhnonymous

    Firefox 3.0.3 Windows XP

    Marki,
    I understand where you’re coming from- it does seem like supervisors abuse their power. However, I am a little bothered by your dress code argument. You said that Allison Lang was stopped by a security guard for wearing a halter top. Guess what- our school dress code explicitly states that halters aren’t allowed to be worn at school. If we all just followed the rules, I’m sure there wouldn’t be that many problems with the security guards at all. I know, I know. You’re probably wondering- so why not just let girls wear their halters to avoid any more trouble? The thing is, rules are rules. If you want to change it, take it up with administration. But for now, why try to break the rules when you know you have a chance of getting caught?
    It’s like cheating. Most people don’t do it (on a major test, at least), because teachers and administrators say that if you get caught, you get an honor code violation. You know it’s not allowed, so you don’t do it. What’s the difference with other school rules? Sometimes it seems as if people go around knowing they’re breaking them and not caring.
    And I agree, Marki, that security guards do seem uptight and annoyed. They do yell at us to get out of the locker room way too early, and I agree that that needs to be changed. But also try and understand that we’re not the best type of people security guards would like to look after. Perhaps they would just like to know that there are kids out there who don’t mind going to school in t-shirts and shorts.
    I know. You must think I’m totally for administration and security guards. It’s true that so many other people aren’t getting caught when they’re breaking school rules. I know it’s not fair. But just because they’re breaking them doesn’t mean that you can, and should, too.

  • no name

    MSIE 7.0 Windows XP

    I totally agree with you! This one girl in my class said she once got run over by a security guard’s cart! She said the security gaurd apologized sarcastically and that was it. Oh they make me so mad.

  • anonymous

    MSIE 7.0 Windows XP

    You are so right Marki. Supervision needs to calm down. This one time I got my phone taken away because I was turning it off! I was punished for following the rules! I like your article because unlike those political articles on here (seriously why is there only a democratic writer? I’m tired of reading one person’s point of view), your article is one a lot of students can relate to. You can just tell by all the comments on this article. Good job girl!

  • anonymous

    MSIE 7.0 Windows XP

    i totally agree. last year, i was on campus and took out my phone to call my mom and have her pick me up-i didnt have a sixth period. security came up and started yelling at me because i didn’t know that the “no cell phones on campus” rule applied during sixth if you had an open period. I WAS A FRESHMAN!! how could i possibly have known?! no one had ever told me! and you’re right-the restrictions on dress code are way too strict. my friend once got dress coded for a tank top when her stomach, chest, bra, and brastraps were completely covered. another friend of mine once got dress coded for a pair of shorts that supervision had seen her wear before, when that same day i watched as girls wearing shorter shorts were not punished or warned in any way. and is it just me, or do couples who are publicly making out get yelled at fewer times than couples who just give each other one or two brief kisses? seriously, theres something wrong with that…i dont mind if people kiss, but i’d like to be able to walk around a corner and not have to worry about finding people “swapping spit”.
    i swear, they have some serious issues. they need to loosen up, like, a lot!

  • A Nonny Mouse

    Firefox 3.0.3 Windows XP

    “Any fool can make a rule, and any fool will mind it.”
    – Henry David Thoreau

    Some rules probably exist for our protection; some rules are sops to the community or parents; some rules exist to make things easier for teachers; some rules are outmoded artifacts or pure prejudice.

    By its nature enforcement is subjective. Supervision needs judgment, compassion, humor and a sense of proportion.

  • rachel mcmillen

    Firefox 3.0.3 Windows XP

    This is a really good article Marki. :) You could even go further on this, like a follow up article and talk about why some of the ridiculous rules are there. For example, if you ask Dr. Poff about the dress code thing he will give you a ten minute extremely interesting rant about how its the administration being afraid of change. They don’t know today’s fashion and they don’t want to be left out, its not about showing shoulders or whatever they claim.

    And you could also expand more about the cell phone thing. Seriously, how many kids text answers? And what happens in an emergency? I walk home and once after fifth it was pouring rain and I needed to call my mom for a ride home. I was right inside the gates under the awning because I knew if I went outside the gates my phone would get soaked, but did they take that into consideration when they took my phone away, or even let me explain? nope.

    I suggest going and talking to mr. hertzfeld and some other administration, see there ridiculous defenses to this article, and then write a follow up. get some change started girl. :D

  • sabrina

    MSIE 7.0 Windows XP

    I completely agree with Rachel.
    This article is what we’ve all needed.
    It’s the first step to change.

  • Mick Jagger

    MSIE 7.0 Windows XP

    I agree Completely, The Security at FVHS needs to lay off just a bit.

  • FV Pride

    MSIE 7.0 Windows XP

    FINALLY!!! Someone who stands up to security!!!

  • very upset student

    Camino 1.6.4 MacIntosh

    ok so i have a little story
    the security is so stupid
    i was a freshman and i was waiting for my 6th period class to start and i was sitting out side and i got a serious text message from my dad saying that my really sick great aunt was in the hospital about to pass away of brain damage & i was trying to reply. but then i hear this whistle of a security guard. and she took my phone away and talked to me forever about the rules blah blah blah. but i ended up being late to 6th period..and my stupid teacher sent me to go get a late slip(detention slip) and so i go up there to get it and the front office lady asks for my ID and of course i dont have it cause the security guard took it along with my phone. and she was so rude and said..”well then i guess thats 2 detentions” and i told her what had happened and she said ” well you shouldnt of had your phone out”
    the nerv of these rude inconsiterit people.
    in the end i had 3 detentions in the processes of like 15 min.

  • anonymous

    MSIE 7.0 Windows XP

    To very upset student: I can’t believe that! That is soo unfair! You should have complained!

  • Anonymous

    Firefox 3.0.6 Windows XP

    HahahahahahahhhHAHAHAHAHAHAH HAHAHAH hhahahaha hahah ahaha hahaha ahahaha

    that sux for you who

  • Anonymous

    Firefox 3.0.6 Windows XP

    Dude seriously, what is up with security. On wildlife wednesday I was dress coded for only showing school spirit. I wore a tanktop that was thrashed and had a headband and the security lady dress coded me for it. I was just trying to show a little school spirit and I was punished for it. Not one teacher or administrator said anything about it, in fact they actually enjoyed it, but no the security lady had to come and ruin all the fun. They honestly do make their own rules.

  • Anonymous

    MSIE 6.0 Windows XP

    get over it,
    dont break the rules,
    and you will not be harressed.
    <3

  • Anonymous_1

    MSIE 7.0 Windows Vista

    how is it that we hire more security people and our librarian gets pink-slipped