Every school should have a student handbook, a book of rules that students and faculty are expected to follow. Schools should enforce rules to ensure a better learning environment for students and faculty.

Rules and regulations are set to teach students and prepare them for the future, but students have to know that their future is their choice, and choosing to follow the rules also is up to them.

            “As a school, our goal is to teach responsibility and respect to help students grow into responsible citizens,” Mitch Berenson, assistant principal, said.

            In some schools, the “I love boobies” bracelets supporting the fight against breast cancer are being banned because of the vulgarity of the accessories. The makers of the bracelet suspect that making accessories with words like “boobies” will attract more attention from potential buyers.

“I wouldn’t ban [the bracelets]; I’m very much in support of breast cancer awareness, but I do think there’s a more appropriate way to show support,” Kim Kolze, principal, said.

LZHS is not one of the schools with a ban on the bracelets, but if students cannot behave maturely about these bracelets, changes will be made, according to Berenson. Even if only one student shows inappropriate behavior, the entire school will be affected.

            One student can bring a topic to focus when breaking a rule or disrupting the school day. The school might reinforce or add on more rules as a result to one student’s misbehavior.

“The question is: can it be taken the wrong way? Some students might ruin it for others. Maturity is a big part of it,” Berenson said. “Anything that we regulate or oppose is about ensuring that students have a good environment.”

            Part of having a good learning environment in school is having rules to reinforce it. The type of environment students learn in has a lot to do with the way the rules are set up.

The way students and staff behave can have a big effect on the way rules are set up in the school. If students can show their maturity and responsibility to the rules, some of the rules can be changed.

            “We’re not against changing rules, we review the rule book every year. If there are rules in there that we think may need changing or need to be more specific, we do look at that and we do try to fix it,” Kolze said. “On the whole, I think we have a safe and secure school, and I hope the kids feel safe here.”

            Part of having rules in school is to keep the students and faculty safe, but also to help them with their futures.

Schools want their students to accomplish their goals in life and become successful adults. The faculty and administration are here to help students and prepare them for the future.

            “The rules are more like expectations. I think that all they do is that they’re trying to help you become a better student and to help you get to where you want to be,” Kolze said.

            The “I love boobies” bracelets should not be banned in LZHS, but if students cannot behave properly, then changes to the rules should be made.

            The rules and regulations enforced in LZ are not to punish students or make life difficult, but to let students learn and be free and be responsible at the same time.