Have you ever planned to drive to Chapman early to sit and talk with your friends in the parking lot?
Or have you wanted to sit in your car, relax and listen to music before heading in for a seven-hour school day ahead? Many of you have.
There’s one slight problem with your plans, though.
You get to school, park and turn the volume up on your car. Suddenly, you hear a knock at your door, and it’s the teachers on duty. You roll down your window, and they tell you to get out and head into the school.
You are aggravated and angry because all you wanted to do was have a little “me” time from rushing to get to school and the stress of the workload that lies ahead.
The teachers scan the cars in the parking lot for anybody lingering inside. They do this whether you are doing something suspicious or not.
It should not be this way.
I understand that some students may not be doing what they should be doing, but innocent students should not be punished.
Since the teachers are making their rounds anyway, they should only kick students out of their cars that are not doing what they are supposed to be doing (smoking, inappropriate activities, etc.).
From personal experience, I have fallen victim to the parking lot police. I would be listening to music in the car or on my phone, and I get a knock on my car door.
Because of this, I aim to arrive at school later — at 7:55 — so I can head into school without having to sit in the gym or cafeteria with people I do not know.
Because of this, I have been late to school on numerous occasions, thus increasing my number of tardies. If I could sit freely in my car in the mornings, I would arrive at school much earlier, making me on time for my class.
The teachers also prohibit students from getting in each other’s cars in the morning and socializing. Some of these students may not have any classes with their friends, and it may be the only time they can socialize.
So the next time these adults see a group of friends or someone sitting in their car in the morning, they should let them be.