Non-Open Campus Anger
Student's predominantly negative opinions on not having an open campus at DHS
One thing that many students are unhappy with DHS about is the fact that we don’t have an open campus. Imagine that during your power hour free you would be allowed to leave school to get lunch from your favorite place to eat in town. Would be nice, wouldn’t it?
Lots of thoughts run through students’ minds about the District’s rationale for keeping DHS’ campus closed. Maybe this is all one big scheme for the cafeteria to make money, for instance.
What we were actually allowed to come in late or leave early if students had a free first or last, instead of having to sneak around the campus monitors or get a note from our parents? This is something that most students fantasize about and don’t understand why this isn’t allowed.
“I don’t mind not being able to leave now since I can’t drive to school anyway, but at the end of this year and next year when I can it will be annoying,” junior Heather Grant said.
It seems that freshmen, sophomores, and juniors (juniors for at least for the first semester) are less affected by the closed campus, but this is something that irks seniors especially.
“I believe as a 17 year old about to become an adult and head off to college it’s ridiculous that I can’t walk five feet to my house to eat lunch at home during a power hour free” says senior Alexa Cornacchia. She lives closer to school than most people, which makes the non open campus even more irritating.
Many students wonder: If my car is at school, and I’m back for my class, why does it matter if I leave for lunch? There has always been the rumor that a student from either Darien or New Canaan was on their way back to school from getting lunch and got into a fatal car crash, and that is the reason why we don’t have an open campus anymore. Although this is a popular rumor, students have never been given any concrete information to support this, so it is all one big mystery.
The other part of our closed campus is that we do not have open ends. This is something that truly baffles me.
“I don’t get why I have to be in school during my first and last period frees. Why does the school care where I am if I don’t have a class?” junior Caroline Andren said.
A lot of students would be much happier with more freedom. The school staff is always preaching to us about how we are “young adults” and can make our own decisions; however, you would think that that freedom would include being able to leave the school if one didn’t have class, but the school does not and will not function this way.
Having an open campus could lead to more relaxed and more well-rested students. While it does not look like any changes will be made, as there has not been any talk of this recently at all, perhaps administrationand the school board would consider that move to more freedom.
To read a similar story written 36 years ago, check out the 1974 edition of Reflections On Open Campus. In this story you can see the opinions of old students on having an open campus. If you would like to check this out click this link!