Niles West likes to adopt many new ideas. We’ve got new construction, new food, and now we have a new system of how our locker rooms function. Bizarre. Although I haven’t had the “privilege” to be red locked, yet at least, I still find the theory of the arrangement quite…dumb.
This is what I know about how it works. Let’s say you have an after school activity or are going to your gym class during the day and you leave your backpack, shoes (etc.) in one of the lockers (long or short) and you leave. Whoops, you suddenly remember that you left your lock on the shelf of the locker instead of actually locking it, and yet you have no time to run back or else you get a tardy and will have to run two more laps (at least for my class).
At the end of your activity you come back to find this bright red lock dangling from where your lock was supposed to be on your locker. Now you have to walk all the way down to the dean’s, deal with them just to get a key, and retreat back all because you left your stuff unlocked. Shouldn’t it be my own concern if my stuff ends up getting stolen? I find this red lock thing to just be an additional step that I have to comply with just to get my stuff and get to class.
“A lot of students find that their items end up getting lost or stolen in the boys and girls locker rooms,” says dean Joaquin Stephenson. “It’s an inconvenience, but then they get their stuff back, and it’s all about avoiding theft within the school.”
Sure, I guess it’s supposed to “help” make sure that your personal items don’t get stolen if your locker is unlocked, but I think it just adds more hassle to gym that doesn’t need to be there. For example, I have early bird strength & conditioning and every morning I don’t even have five minutes to spare because I’m in such a rush. So, when I practically sprint my way into the locker room from the parking lot, I want to be able to go straight to my locker and get in and out in the shortest amount of time possible. I have had the occasional “I accidentally left my lock unlocked” moments before, but I don’t think I should be “punished” for those moments. I mean I’m turning 18 in a few months. I think I know what consequences are by now.
Sure, thanks to the school for trying to decrease the theft rate and all, but if your stuff gets stolen, that’s your own fault, not the schools. I think kids should learn for themselves of how to watch their stuff, instead of the school enforcing this concept. The red lock just shows that there’s some sort of chastise system and the school is trying to get involved but it’s just another consequence. I mean the system is almost as annoying as actually getting your stuff stolen because it’s this whole process that you have to deal with.
I think it’s sad that people’s things do get stolen, but it should be their own responsibility of how carefully they watch their stuff. And if they do have their possessions end up getting stolen, then they’ll have a life lesson to not be forgetful and leave their things out. This dog-eat-dog world doesn’t have red lock, so as high school kids who are about to enter the “real world,” we should learn by now that there are REAL consequences to leaving your items unattended. Simple Solution: Just lock your locker.
Ross • Oct 2, 2012 at 8:43 PM
I don’t see any problem with the system and it doesn’t take that long to just put a lock on the locker door and give a tug to make sure it is locked. To avoid leaving my lock on the shelf of the locker that I just put my clothes in I put my lock in the locker I just took my gym clothes out of. This way I can check to see if the locker is completely empty before I leave. I think that this is a way for students to learn to solve potential problems they may have later in life. Once people figure out a plan that works they can avoid the hassle and other consequences. If there is a problem with making sure you don’t get Red Locked just ask your councilor and they may be able to help you, its what they are there for.
Student • Dec 4, 2011 at 12:42 PM
” I mean the system is almost as annoying as actually getting your stuff stolen because it’s this whole process that you have to deal with.”
lol I would take a walk to the deans over losing a $300 phone and a $100 calculator any day
rodger sass • Dec 2, 2011 at 5:12 PM
um but the thing is, as a victim of theft, i have to say that once someone’s stuff is stolen they cause a huge problemz trying to get it back bothering everyone at the school and freaking out so if people don’t start locking they gonna get red locking!!! so how bout that and also it’s pretty clear that once this system is enforced, people who have been redlocked will stop leaving their stuff in unlocked LOCKERS!! dealing with whiny students who are careless with their stuff is far more trouble for the administration than having to unlock a red lock that is not only for the benefit of the deans, etc. but also in the best interest of the students!! duh! dumb issue treated xoxox
jaslup • Dec 1, 2011 at 8:27 PM
wee to be honest its the niles wolfst way the deans care more than you’d know show appreciation the is the wolf way, are you niles or not? i wouldnt want my ipod 5-time stolen and to be honest neither should anywest else.