Most students want to keep open campus

In past years, Whitefish High School has maintained an off-campus lunch policy, allowing students to leave school grounds during the 40-minute lunch period if they so choose.

However, this lunch policy will change, with modifications, beginning next year. The administration has decided to maintain a closed-campus policy for all incoming freshmen for the 2010-2011 school year, and is currently considering similar or modified policies for sophomores, juniors and seniors.

The prospect of a changed lunch policy has sparked controversy among students, and as a result of heavy demand, students took part in a survey this past week to share their thoughts on the issue.

Students were provided with arguments both for and against the closed campus policy and asked whether or not the lunch period should be closed or open. Of 136 students interviewed, an overwhelming 126 students stated that lunch should be open-campus; three students advocated for closed campus; and seven were unsure on the matter.

Those in favor of an open-campus policy held diverse and persuasive arguments. The most frequent argument was the need for a "break" from school.

"Being able to leave at lunch is what everyone looks forward to," one student said. "Students deserve to have the privilege to leave school and enjoy some freedom."

"We need a break to get fresh air during the day," another said. "It's a time to discuss with friends how our day is, and what to do for the next half of the day. It's unhealthy to be stuck inside."

"Going out to lunch is probably the best part of the school day," another student said.

Proponents of off-campus lunch also said food options in town are superior to what's offered on campus.

"People don't like the school lunch, and so they like to eat out," a student said. "Off-campus lunch gives students more options with the food, which is not very healthy at school and is less than satisfactory."

"If lunch is closed, businesses of Whitefish that sell food, such as Markus, would lose some of their lunch business," another said.

The high school doesn't have proper facilities for a closed campus lunch, some said.

"Until we build a better lunchroom, we cannot have a closed campus," a student said. "There are too many kids to all fit in the foyer, and Whitefish High School is not capable of keeping track of every freshman, sophomore and junior at lunch."

"We don't have a cafeteria or food court," another said.

In response to this observation, the high school administration has proposed two separate, shortened lunches for the four classes, with a 15-minute pre-lunch "advisory period" for clubs to meet. But this set up another argument from those opposing closing the campus.

"If we have two lunches, it will ruin clubs, which I think are very important and get a lot of kids involved," one student said. "With shortened lunches, we'd be late all the time."

"Fifteen minutes is not enough time for clubs to meet," another student said. "The two lunch periods might mean that you don't see your friends."

Students supporting the past lunch policy also argued that students should be given the responsibility to enjoy an open campus.

"I think as highschoolers, we should be expected to be responsible. It's only one hour of the day," one student said. "We're being prepared to live alone at college and take care of ourselves. We need to practice being responsible."

"I believe that if you want us to act like adults, you have to treat us that way," another said. "We're in high school. I think we can handle it."

"There is a sense of responsibility and freedom when you enter high school. If lunch becomes closed, then we will not have that," another student pointed out. "If kids can't be trusted with the responsibility to go eat lunch out of school for less than an hour, how can they be prepared to attend college?"

Students opposed to an open campus said closing the campus has its benefits.

"We have a right to leave, but some students abuse that privilege," one student said. "I think that the way they're treating the lunch period next year may help the problems that occur at lunch."

"Kids can make their lunch if they get up just five minutes earlier," another said. "It's not that big of a deal. Also, off-campus could be used as some sort of incentive."

Those unsure on the issue agreed that freshmen should not be allowed off-campus privileges, and that other classes should enjoy an open campus.