Losing it Over Lanyards

by Brianna Platania

This year the Wethersfield School District is taking new safety precautions by giving every student in Wethersfield High School and Silas Deane Middle School lanyards with their school IDs on them.

​There has been a great deal of controversy about these lanyards and whether or not they will be successful. Many students seem to believe that the lanyards are aggravating and useless, but they are only meant to benefit us. 

“I think it’s a great idea because this way everybody knows if you belong in the building or not. Nowadays, because craziness has been happening around the world in schools, it’s very important to know that the people that are within the schools are supposed to be there. They’re students or teachers or visitors and not just someone from the street.” says Marisa Rodriguez, mother of two Wethersfield students.

That is an excellent point. Walking around a high school you see both familiar and not so familiar faces. From teachers and other staff members to seniors that look like grown men, it’s hard to tell if everyone you come across is supposed to be in the building.

It is terrifying to think that someone could easily grab a backpack and walk through the front door just like the rest of us and go unnoticed. These lanyards will make it easier for our administrators to decipher who doesn't belong in the building and ensure that students will be safe throughout the day.

There is no doubt that safety purposes are an immense part in why we wear the lanyards but that can’t be the only reason. I talked to some students at the high school and asked them for their opinion on what they think the point of the lanyards is.

“I think the lanyards are used for safety purposes, [and] also to prep students for a job and college environment where IDs are worn.” says Devyn Clark, a student at Wethersfield High School.

Although the school probably didn’t intend for the lanyards to prepare us for jobs or a college setting it is an added bonus that will only help us in the future. When we graduate and are put into an environment where IDs are needed we will already be used to always having them on us and it will already be like a second nature.

Now that we know the lanyards make the jobs of teachers and staff easier, what about us? One thing I’m sure about is that it makes buying lunch a lot easier. We used to have to wait in line for almost the whole lunch period waiting for everyone to punch in their ID number and pay for their food. Now all we have to do is swipe your ID and the computer reads our barcode. This makes buying lunch quicker and more efficient for both the students and the lunch ladies so it’s a win win for everyone.

​Considering all of the benefits we are provided, wearing a small piece of plastic around our necks seems like a very small price to pay. These IDs have already improved our school lives and with all of the improvements in technology around the school who knows what the future holds for the lanyards. ​

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