Although this has caused us students anger, we do appreciate been let out of school 30 minutes earlier. However, saying this I do believe the majority of students prefer the way it has been for the past 4 years of attending Rokeby School.
For the past number of years the students of Rokeby School have been complaining about the time in which they start school and how the time was too early. The head teacher has not taken our complaints into contemplation. Instead he has gone against what we have said and is ‘punishing’ us by making us start earlier. What sort of complaints do you think are going to be made by us now? The answer is, “more than before!”
Secondly, we bring forward the subject of uniform. Uniform seems to have got its purpose across effectively. So effectively, the students are complaining twice as much as before. Whenever the issue arises about uniform, the famous expression darts up, “How can we study if we are uncomfortable!” How many of you can sincerely put your hand up and say that you would rather prefer hard, tough and rough shoes than those that are comfortable, durable and affordable. Again “nobody” is the answer. Fair enough it looks smart and shows that we represent the school. It enables us to stand out from a crowd and makes us presentable. It helps to give the school a good impression and helps with such things as truancy.
However, the list of disadvantages to school uniform is endless. We are constantly complaining about uniform and the more we complain the more we are ignored. Uniform is not only uncomfortable but is costing people a lot of money. We have to wear shoes, a tie, a jacket, a trouser, a jumper, a shirt, a blazer, a p.e kit, stationary and bags etc. The list will go on. For families with financial issues this is a big problem. We cannot only spend a year with one uniform we have to buy at least 2 or 3 sets. We need all of these, which is a problem for families just for the head teacher and schools sake.
Students are sent home if they do not attend in correct uniform. Why do we come to school, for an education, or to look smart? Why should we miss a lesson for a lousy piece of material i.e. a tie? Fair enough, we have to abide by the school rules. So why should our shoes affect the school? We should be able to come to school in what we can afford and what we are comfortable wearing. The teachers do not follow a dress code so why should the students? We are attending school and seeking an education for the sake of our future. The clothes we wear while seeking our education does not make a difference to our futures.
During lunch break we are not allowed to wear trainers and have to be dressed in complete uniform all throughout the lunch break. For people that do sports at lunch time this is inappropriate as they sweat. Then some teachers and students make sly remarks as to the way they smell. I would prefer to play football in my lunch break than just sit around. It is not the students fault that the uniform makes this a problem.
We as students are slowly bringing in our own styles to uniform which makes us feel a lot more comfortable. This may sometimes include not tucking in our shirts. This should not make a difference to the school, yet we are still penalised for it. Our comfort should matter not peoples reputations.
Our last topic is our dinnertimes. How we are expected to work all day and get no more than 45 minutes of lunch. We recognise our lunchtimes by the phrase “Lunch hour” not “Lunch 45 minutes”. Which other schools around the borough get that amount of time? Please let me know as soon as you find out, because there isn’t any! To make matters even more critical we aren’t allowed to go out for lunch. How are we to become refreshed, if we are imprisoned in the school for up to 6 hours straight? What about the students that dislike the small variety of food the school has to offer? Are they supposed to starve for 6 hours? Why don’t you think about the unfortunate students that have special dietary needs and need to go home, they would have to write a letter every day just so that they can go home? I have fabricated 4 facts that may occur by lack of free time:
1) “Students give teachers a hard time”
2) “Teachers cannot teach”
3) “Students cannot learn”
4) “Students cannot pass”
Throughout this speech we have looked at the new rules that have been set at Rokeby School. We have looked at many advantages and disadvantages of the rules. In my opinion, there seem to be more disadvantages to all the rules. They are drawback of the School that we students bring up again and again. However, these rules are always ignored. These new rules are supposed to be ‘helping’ us, yet they seem to cause more anger from the students. Rules should be made according to how we the students are able to learn. For example, enough break time in order to get us to focus. We should be able to work in comfort where what we wear is not an issue. The school rules should be made to include our opinions. Let’s face it... The teachers don’t have to stick to them.
