Tabb High School - Bengal Yearbook (Tabb, VA)

Page 106 text:

I? ' 5 marks a time of new communkations and nesv changes at Tabb. New attendance rules were set down by administrators — a juke box was installed in the cafeteria — teachers went through grueling paperwork for school evaluation — two room length murals sprang up in the art and choral rooms — the SCA made $1200 by the end of third pentamester — assistant principals switched offices — a Tabb Gymnast went to State. A myriad of events and happenings made their mark in the memories of many. Every individual gave something to the making up of THS. Yes, 192 held a lot of • experiences and lessons never to be forgotten. ? ? .« » . . ‘

Page 108 text:

Point With the advent of the new year at Tabb High School, new attend- ance regulations were incorporated and made known to the weary stu- dents. These regulations stated that three tardies to class would consti- tute one absence from school and be counted as one of the allowable seven days absence. Also, any students found in halls without proper authorization would be escorted to class and counted absent for that day. The reasons behind these rules were to curb the rising amounts of student absences and tardies and to also prevent students roaming the halls during classes. Mr. Miller stated that it was a disruptive influence to the class and to the teacher when students came into class tardy. Sometimes the noise level in the hall during classes was completely out of hand. There are also legal obligations. Teachers are held responsible for the student from the time school begins to the time it ends. These problems of tardiness and attendance were noticeably decreased with new, stricter attendance regulations. r t r Counterpoint The purpose of attendance rules is sometimes not very clear to stu- dents. Are these rules objectionable because of the principle, or because of severity (should we allow 2 or 3 tardies, should we give zeros in class, suspensions, or paddlings?) Some say that mandatory attendance at spec- ified times is necessary to the proper and efficient functioning of school. It is also said that these rules are intended to teach responsibil- ity; that is, they prepare one for later life and employment. But if the purpose of the rule is to insure education, and the result of abuse of attendance- related freedoms is a lesser education, then many people feel that is punishment enough. The rule seems to insure that whether one’s actions are in themselves detrimental or not, their result, by way of punitive measures, is. The issue is one of who decides what is in the best interests of the student (the student or the administration) and what measures are taken to enforce it. While more stringent enforce- ment may be necessary for the younger, less mature students, it is of general student opinion that upperclassmen maybe should be given more leeway. It seems to many students the only sensible reason for tardy and attendance rules is in the case of homeroom attendance, where certain clerical and administrative functions must be carried out. This is the one area where omission of these functions, while not particularly damaging to the student, would hinder others. It is true that in the school struc- ture there is certain information needed from the students instead of needed by them; but here again the question of the rule’s intended effect versus its real one arises. A rule must be enforced equally in order to be fair; this leads, in this case, to tardy violations being reported for being one second late and the like. This brings about an intense hatred of rules and regulations; the same ones of which these punitive meas- ures are intended to instill a respect. Which is more desirable, an effi- cient bureaucracy,” or a relaxed atmosphere, admittedly less efficient, but intended to build a non-enforced respect for rules — those things which make a cooperative society possible. 104 ADMINISTRATION