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By Teddy Dunn Chieftain Staff

As Michigan continues to throw it ’ s unpredictable weather our way , only one thing is clear for the hallways and classrooms of Brother Rice : winter coats . Wearing a coat to school may be necessary at times , but becomes a hot button issue for both teachers and students , possibly resulting in detentions or other disciplinary actions .

As students enter Brother Rice bundled for sub freezing temperatures and head to their first hour , many neglect to take their coats off . Students coats can ’ t be worn in the building by students and every so often you do see a faculty member reprimanding someone .

Many students want to wear coats in are in the most frigid classrooms , such as Mr . Seneski ’ s room . It seems that wearing of the coats during school hours is not really the problem : what they do with it after they have removed it is the concern . Senior Matthew Hendi said when asked about coats in the classroom , “ I get yelled at for having it on and get yelled at for carrying it with me . It ’ s just a lose-lose situation .”

When most students take their coats off , they unknowingly commit one of the classroom venial sins by draping it over their backpack for the remainder of that class . Most students don ’ t think anything of this , but many teachers in the building disapprove of the coats covering their classroom floor .

Teachers suggest other places for coats , rather than just thrown on their backpacks , such as your locker , your backpack , or even your car , but all of these solutions come with a flaw . Keeping it in your car completely defeats the purpose of having the extra layer as it can ’ t help if it ’ s in your car when you are walking in the building . Putting it inside of your backpack sounds like a better plan , but must cram a winter coat back into the backpack every time you get something out .

The teachers ’ final suggestion seem like the best and most obvious being to put coats in your lockers before first hour . Although lockers are designed for extra items , these days they are afterthoughts to almost all students . Many don ’ t even open their locker all

Student with coat on in the cafeteria awaiting the first hour bell .

four years at Brother Rice , never knowing they even had one .

Locker usage has steadily declined since iPads were implemented at Brother Rice 2015-2016 school year . Therefore , students no longer have textbooks for a majority of their classes . Besides the lack of use by students , the lockers bring about more questions than answers .

“ The lockers ’ slim design is not ideal for storage ’’ said Sophomore Mason Gorga “ especially for a thick winter coat .“ Many students rarely use their lockers and most likely have no idea where their locker is let alone how and where to find this information in order to access it , although it is on PowerSchool . Mr . Williamson , Dean of Students , elaborates on where students ’ locker number and combinations can be found , “ Within PowerSchool , on their browser , not the app , it is literally the very first thing [ students ] see at the top . It ’ s that easy .”

The argument over what to do with winter apparel during the school day may not be resolved anytime soon , as both sides are unmoving with their opinions . It will remain at the forefront for many students and teachers as they enter the building until a resolution occurs .

Brother Rice High School Chieftain Page 1 Page 1 S Mid e p te Winter mb e r 2022 2016