Why letting kids leave campus at lunch could solve several problems at AHS
By Adrian P.L.
Frustrated, overwhelmed, annoyed. These words describe many students' reactions to school. In my humble yet honest opinion, countless students have at least a few dropout friends, the main reason being them suffering from the existential exhaustion known as burnout, and as a result, quitting their educational prowess. But it does not stop there. Some students even end up getting into fights with one another, not due to being provoked, but with the stress that is clouding their mind as well, they get into a headspace where they cannot ethically think before making the right decision; they just snap. As this proceeds to happen more and more, there can be an increase in dropouts. This year yet again, according to the National Institute for Education Statistics, the dropout rate as of right now is 5.3% since 2022, a decrease from the original 7.0% since 2017. Although drop out rates are lower than they previously were, 5% is still a high number, and if we do not act soon, it may rise again. I myself can speak on this fact. A friend of mine by the name of Liam G. dropped out of AHS in late 2023. I am not alone, as multiple seniors can be heard talking about friends who have been left back, or even dropped out. Is there a solution to this problem? One solution might be to give students more of a break during the school day, including a longer lunch during which they are allowed to leave campus. Said another way, students should be allowed off of school grounds during lunch, but under a few conditions.
The first reason why students should be allowed to leave campus at lunch (other than to give them a break during the school day, a break that would prevent less burnout and thus less dropouts) is because students want to leave campus. According to PHAI, when given the option, around 80% of students would leave campus for lunch, meaning that there is popular support for leaving campus. While admin should not go around giving kids everything they want just because they want it, leaving campus at lunch as a senior privilege or reward for good behavior and academics could be a good incentive for students.
A secondary reason as to why is determined by lack of vitamin D. Countless students can be heard & seen visibly complaining or groaning at the sight or hearing of literal work. This is caused from lack of sunlight, as an unhealthy amount of vitamin D can result in many downsides, such as bone pain, fractures, and mainly, muscle weakness… It even gets to the point where students are seen skipping classes, & growing to be extremely rowdy and obnoxious in the halls before class as a last attempt at enjoying themselves, and unnoticeably growing into one entire loud classroom once a teacher steps one foot out. Makes you wonder why students feel so weak and unwilling to do anything whilst having a grumpy unsatisfied mood. Perhaps if students could leave and go outdoors during the school day, they would reap the benefits of vitamin D. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Research shows that low levels of vitamin D in the blood are associated with cognitive decline.”
A tertiary and final reason as to why students should be allowed off campus relates to the outdoor environment. Students, especially those who are about to graduate, should be let off campus to enjoy themselves, all while learning a bit on how the world works, according to the article Here. Indeed, they are learning about what you have to use in the real world during school hours, but they do not even know what the real world is like. This could also benefit students with anxiety that worry for their future & social skills, finding their own people rather than sitting in a classroom with a bunch of people you do not know. The interactions outside of school alone could teach you about the real world just as fast, if not faster than teachers themselves. In short, time off campus can allow students to know what it feels like to be a functioning member of society, all whilst learning about what they need to know about the world around them
In school. It is a win-win.
Some administrators or teachers may have a rebuttal, stating that it may be dangerous considering how careless students tend to be. That is where a possible test has taken place. Admins and maybe even officers scanning the area, practically surrounding the school. That way, students will not try such stunts off campus, and nobody will get into any conflict.
Minevanh P. stated when asked, "It would be beneficial, as students are seen slouching from time to time.
A respected parent of mine has also said that students are seen doing better and overall happier up north when given time outside of school during lunch."
Even a former student, by the name of Liam, has stated that students are likely to have more potential if gifted time outside, as it could reduce the amount of dropouts because the kids feel less like prisoners when given a little freedom. With no freedom, they want to break free from school altogether in the form of dropping out.
In conclusion, by granting students here at AHS time outside, we could be happier, and overall better. A few changes would definitely need to be met, but once the possibility is considered, and later abolished, both students and teachers will get time to themselves to wind down, in or out.