Seniors here at BHS are all looking forward to the much anticipated senior privileges next semester. However, I and many other seniors find that the “privileges” are nothing short of a let down for what it is.
According to the BHS Handbook, the current privileges are, “During Semester 2, seniors who have a study hall the first period of the day and who meet the requirements set forth in the permission form (based on Term 2 data), will be granted the privilege of arriving to school for the second period of the day,” as well as being able to leave the school last period if you have a study hall and you haven’t used it in the first period.
This is a pretty mundane “privilege” that seniors have to wait until the last semester of high school to have.
“We should at least be able to come in late and leave early if we have two studies during those blocks,” said senior Brady Ung, and he’s right. There is absolutely no reason this shouldn’t be the case.
For many years, seniors have complained about the lack of perks that we feel like we deserve, and many other schools have more exciting privileges. These include, but are not limited to, open campus during lunch, ability to leave early and come in late on the same day, senior lounge, etc… The fact that Braintree High doesn’t have any of these shows the lack of trust and the barrier there is between students and the administration. Why can other schools have these privileges but not us?
Did something happen in the past that broke this trust? The answer is no. According to House 3 assistant principal Matthew Riordan, “This has always been the arrangement.” So then why does the administration hold us back so much? Everybody complains, yet nothing is done.
Of course, nobody is saying that privileges should be handed out without accountability, senior privileges are about gaining trust, rewarding years of hard work, fostering independence and responsibility, and boosting overall morale for soon to be adults. Most seniors already drive, have a job, have their own financial responsibilities, and overall already prove they are more than capable of possessing a little more freedom during their last year of high school. We have yet to be given a real reason for the lack of senior privileges.
In conclusion, Braintree High needs to step up, and give its seniors the freedom they deserve.
