Withdrawal of Student ID Badges at Central York High School

The petition of which you are reading is intended to persuade the Central York School District in hopes of disposing the mandatory requirement of student ID badges within school grounds.

This requirement is one of many faults, of which several are very costly to the district. For one, the badges themselves cost thousands of dollars to the district. Whether it be on initial distribution or when a careless student misplaces or simply forgets to wear it to school and is forced to receive a new one. This circumstance costs the district a reported $10 a badge to produce; that money could better be spent on educational materials, athletic equipment, bigger classrooms, a greater number of staff etc.

When first enforced midway through the 2005-2006 school year, many students were puzzled as to what purpose they will serve. We were told that they were meant to be treated as a safety concern. This answer to our questions came very oddly as they do no such thing but cause students to receive undeserving punishments. As if it weren't bad enough to be checked every period at the commencement of class, we are furthermore instructed that the ID badges MUST be worn through the ENTIRE duration of the class. To me, this is absurd. What will this rule solve? Who will it appeal and be worthwhile to? It causes nothing but hostility among teachers trying to carry out the wishes of the administration and inflicts anger among the students.

Furthermore, everytime someone within the school is caught without their ID present on themself and visible, he/she is promptly given a detention. That, in turn, causes several teachers everyday to stay after hours and tend to those in detention. They of course are being paid for their extra time and effort put in. That money is also being wasted.

On a final note, many students believe that the badges serve no real purpose, quite on the contrary to the authoritative administration. They firmly believe that in an emergency situation that having all students wearing an ID will adequatly identify who belongs in the building and who does not. It is highly unlikely that in such a situation, ALL students will be checked and surveyed. If there is an intruder, all students report to the nearest room. I do think that all teachers can tell who is a student and who is not.

In light of this predicament, I propose to Dr. Linda Estep, Superintendent of the Central York School District, that this unnecessary requirement of student ID badges on all Central York High School students be withdrawn. A revision of the situation at hand will not prove profitable in the long run because the basic nature of the circumstance will still persist. Please take time to seriously consider the student body's inquiries and difficulties with the aforementioned statements.

Speaking on behalf of Central York High School, I appreciate your time. Thank you-Alex Peterson