Keeping track of changes in high school rules these days can be almost as hard as keeping up with the advances in technology that propel them. Parents who remember a high school code of conduct that boiled down to “no incendiary devices” may find some surprises. Although rules vary from school to school, here are some basics.
Technology
The rules governing technology are pretty simple: It is not to be seen or heard. Some schools ban things like iPods and cell phones altogether from the building during school hours, but most are okay with students’ having them as long as they seem nonexistent. This can be hard to accomplish for a lot of teens.
“Cell phones are like jewelry to this age bracket,” says Bill Smith, principal of Southwest High School in Minneapolis. Displaying fancy cell phones and iPods can make students targets for theft.
Some schools have eased up on rules about cell phones because of parents’ concerns for their children’s safety. All the same, if an emergency comes up, schools prefer that parents call the office and have the child pulled out of class to take the call.
One steadfast rule is that absolutely no cell phones are allowed in the locker rooms. The popularity of camera phones has prompted fears that illicit pictures of kids changing clothes will get passed around cyberspace.
Backpacks
Backpacks are still an iconic part of the school experience but with some restrictions on where students can carry them. For the most part, schools try to keep backpacks out of halls and classrooms. Some schools require kids to keep backpacks (and sometimes outer coats) in their lockers, and others just strongly encourage it.
The fact is backpacks take up space. Lugging backpacks through crowded hallways and into crowded classrooms just make crowding worse. Rochester’s Century High School tries to ease that problem a little by checking backpacks at the doors of the music room and lunchroom.
Another big reason for discouraging backpacks is that they can cause back strain or even make kids lose their balance. Some kids carry up to 25 percent of their body weight in their backpacks! Not to mention, banned objects can easily be concealed in a bag.
While Minnesota doesn’t have any statewide policies on these issues, individual schools usually try to make their rules pretty clear in their handbooks.
“Rules are only as good as how you practice them and make them,” said Todd Hochman, principal of Harding Senior High School in St. Paul. “The fewer rules the better in most cases, but some people like to see things in black and white.”
