Tennis court gates closed at SLOHS during lunch for students create unnecessary lines in the front. It’s lunch, let us out faster! Photo collage courtesy of junior Hudson Loughran.
Last school year, San Luis Obispo High School students in grades ten through twelve were allowed to use the tennis court gates as another exit other than the front gates during lunch. This extra exit helped reduce crowding and made it easier for students to come and go efficiently.
This year, those gates are closed, and students have strong opinions about it. While staff members view this as a positive change for keeping everyone in order and under supervision, many students see it as unnecessary. The decision has led to strong opinions on both sides.
Students being able to go off campus during lunch helps them become more independent and responsible. When students are trusted to leave campus, they have to manage their time, make sure they get food, and return to class on time, which also helps them with real life skills like decision making.
Going off campus also gives students more food options than the school cafeteria, so they can choose something that satisfies them, or for their dietary needs. For some students, eating off campus feels more comfortable and less socially stressful than in the crowded commons. It also helps reduce overcrowding in the cafeteria or for students who stay on campus for lunch.
“I think it would be a lot more helpful if we had access to the tennis court gates as a second option because we could save time if your car is parked on that side or if you’re going out to eat somewhere that you would have to walk around the school for,” said junior Hudson Loughran.
Being given this choice has also led to students being late to their fourth period class. Because of this, principal Rollin Dickinson decided that it would be a better idea to have students enter and exit from the front gates only.
“This year, the number of fourth period tardies has gone down by 22 percent compared to last year at this time,” said SLOHS principal Rollin Dickinson.
The majority of SLOHS juniors and seniors have cars or are able to drive, but there are also some who can not. Why make it more challenging to those who have no control over not being able to drive. If there are security guards at the front gate, why can’t they also be at the tennis court gates?
“I feel like it wastes our lunch time. It gets crowded at the front gate and having to get our ID’s checked also takes away more time. I don’t think it’s helpful, it’s an inconvenience to those who walk,” said junior Kamiko Aldridge.
SLOHS students only get a 35 minute lunch break. Many may argue that it is not enough time, the time at the front gate waiting to get your ID checked also takes away from that time. In addition, if you don’t have a car you have to walk to your destination and back, often having to walk around the school campus through the outside while the tennis court gates provide a useful shortcut.
In the end, closing the tennis court gates for lunch shows how trying to balance school rules and student freedom can be a challenge. Off campus lunch is meant to teach responsibility, and limiting access may take away from that. While SLOHS believes this is the better option, many students feel it just creates more problems than it solves. Listening to student concerns could help find a better solution for everyone.
