At Schreiber, the lanyard system has become part of our daily routine.  Each grade has its own color and  it’s designed to quickly communicate what grade a student is in, which can help security identify who is allowed to go off campus.  

But, if a student happens to forget their lanyard at home, that privilege disappears instantly.  Even if you’re a senior with a perfectly valid student ID, the moment it becomes a temporary sticker on your chest, you’re stuck inside.  The sticker lists your name, photo, and your grade level.  The school knows exactly who you are.  Yet, the rule says: no lanyard, no leaving.

The goal of the policy is understandable.  Lanyards are more visible from a distance and offer quick identification for security.  Stickers can be harder to see and may fall off throughout the day.  School safety matters, and the administration has every right to put procedures in place to protect students.

However, the current rule overlooks a key point: a forgotten lanyard doesn’t erase a student’s  maturity.  It treats trusted upperclassmen as if they suddenly lost the privilege they have earned after their first two years at Schreiber.  Forgetting something during the morning rush is human.  It shouldn’t automatically revoke a student’s freedom.

For some students, the consequences go beyond inconvenience.  Many rely on leaving campus to eat a quick lunch, attend appointments, or even go back home to grab something important for a class.  When a temporary ID blocks them from leaving, it disrupts routines.

There is also inconsistency in how trust is applied.  A parent can sign a student out at any moment, allowing them to leave campus freely.  Yet that same responsible junior or senior can’t walk down the street during a free period simply because their lanyard is sitting on a bedroom desk.  The rule starts to feel less like protection and more like punishment.

This is an opportunity for Schreiber to modernize its approach.  Grade and identity can be verified directly at the security post at the top of Campus Drive, or a different temporary ID design could be used for upperclassmen who are allowed to leave.  The privilege could continue as long as the student checks in properly.  These steps would still maintain security while respecting the independence of juniors and seniors.

High school is supposed to prepare students for adulthood, an age defined by responsibility, accountability, and trust.  But trust shouldn’t depend entirely on whether you remembered a piece of fabric.

A fair system recognizes that responsibility doesn’t disappear just because a lanyard does.   A temporary ID should still mean temporary freedom, especially for those who have proven they deserve it.