Sometimes change is good… or not

It’s Friday and you finally have the incentive. You wait for the travel bell to ring to run to the cafeteria to see your friends. 

Last year, this is how many South students would describe their Fridays in Tutorial.

On August 14, students gathered in the auditorium to hear some news that was disappointing to many: there was a new incentive. 

Many didn’t think it would be a drastic change, but after listening to Dr. Beth Esco, assistant principal, talk students learned the system changed completely. 

“They changed the whole system, getting rid of any to all freedom for not just the seniors but every grade,” said Shea Worley, sophomore. 

With this new system, students have to be given ribbon from a teacher and they are allowed to go to the cafeteria or leave early for a small period of time.

Allison Houchin, sophomore, said, “The problem with traveling with the incentive is the chances of your friends having it the same time as you are very slim, so most people don’t even travel with it.”

But the main problem of the incentive is not social time; it is that most kids have no desire or goal to reach and work hard for, causing their grades to drop because there is no reward to look forward to.

“I no longer have something to inspire me to keep my grades up,” stated Ryan Chase, senior.

Worley talked about how if she could change the incentive she would keep the original one from last year and just make sure that all Tutorial teachers hold the students accountable and make sure they are picking a reasonable goal for themselves.

Luke Brown, sophomore, said, “the new incentive is unfair and based on biased judgments of the teachers.”

Brown has noticed that out of the students he’s seen get the incentive they have all been “teacher’s pets.”

After given the incentive you are free to travel and leave class a couple of minutes early.

Students without the incentive, to travel, have to plan out a meeting with their teachers up to a day in advance. If you don’t have a pass, you are not allowed to go. 

Ryan Chase, senior, said he feels like he’s in elementary school with all of the rules and restrictions.

“Seniors are about to go to college in less than a year and the school doesn’t even trust us to go talk to a teacher. How are we supposed to be prepared for being an adult in a couple of months?” Chase asked.

Sadly, teachers are showing no signs of changing back, but students will keep fighting for a little more freedom!