Big Brother is Watching You.
The chilling words from Orwell’s tale 1984 reverberated through my head when I opened the latest email from Mr. Morrison regarding the new lanyard policy. As I slowly reread the warning directed at the student body, “If it is in your pocket and the strap is dangling out – detention. Forgot it in your class – detention. Give us an attitude for no good reason – detention,” I began to reflect about my four years in high school, and tried to pinpoint where it all went wrong.
Having the SSLs ensure that students are wearing their lanyards doesn’t bother me at all. I understand that it’s a measure of security and identification. However, the fact that they zip around punishing someone with immediate detention, even if it’s on their desk as they work or in their pocket after using the bathroom, is disappointing to say the least.
It’s hard to imagine the days where students received one warning when they didn’t bring their lanyard to school. It’s also hard to imagine how that punishment wasn’t deemed strong enough, and that “attitude” is now a punishable offense. But then again, should we really be surprised with every measure that’s been taken lately?
Our school wasn’t always a dystopian world. In fact, looking back at my freshman year, everything was different. The effects of COVID were still relevant—I had to wear a mask and prepare a green check mark every day. But beyond that, things were more free. Since then, I have noticed how traditions and privileges alike have been taken away one by one.
In freshman year, I would often start my day by opening an email with all the IDTs listed for the day. At this time, the lists were far more robust, and I could expect getting an IDT about every other day. These provided a necessary break in my schedule to do assigned work at my own pace and get to socialize with friends, and I always managed to get my work done. Substitutes watching our every move have only made me do my work less efficiently. I forgot to mention: this year, I have gotten about five IDTs. Total.
As a senior, I find the slow revoking of traditions even more upsetting. Whether the renowned and student-favorite game of Assassin, or even smaller things like not getting to come in through the senior door after lunch, seniors have been given a fraction of the respect they once received. I was especially upset by the cancellation of Assassin and the unwillingness to try and rework some of its rules so that it could be returned. While other towns nearby have managed to maintain this tradition, the Tenafly administration stretched its influence into what seniors choose to do outside of their school time, and threatened to take away their senior prom.
Our school infrastructure is pretty awful and our ranking on many websites is continuing to fall. But hey, you got the seniors to stop shooting water guns at each other by threatening the most iconic moment of their high school experience. That’s a win if I’ve ever seen one!
The lack of respect for seniors was made especially clear with the decision to change the final exemption requirements for seniors; what used to be a benchmark of an A- for the entire year was changed to the second semester. This completely belittles the hard work that countless seniors put into their studies in the first semester while simultaneously juggling college applications, captain roles on sports teams, or club leadership. All this to keep seniors on the hook for their last semester? What happened to allowing them to enjoy their final days in the school after over three and a half years of dedication?
As a sophomore sitting in on a Principal’s Cabinet meeting, I remember clearly the remark of a senior after the announcement of the installation of Classwize: “I’m so glad I’m leaving this year before this place becomes even more like a prison.” I often find myself thinking the same way, and I laugh trying to guess what the next generations of Tenafly students will have to endure. What’s next? No more Tux? A combined senior-junior lot? Surrendering your phone for the whole day? No more finals exemptions for seniors?
No, thanks. Good luck, you guys.
