The Stupidity of Nametags

[Ford]

That's true. The way they are being used are in no way going to stop anything.
Obviously a member of this board does not have the same views has me. I thought I could freely express my opinion here and obviously I was wrong. Out of the blue yesterday I was called to the office and accused of not wearing my name tag when I was clearly wearing my nametag. Just because I do not agree to the policy does not mean that I do not obey the policy. I am not a fool. I know that by not wearing the namtag it will not change anything, I will just end up in Saturday school. I only wish that if some one had a problem with my views on the issue they would address me instead of the vice-principal.

[emily]

ok, I haven't been on in a while, so I am playing catch-up. I read about half of the thread, so if I repeat what someone else has already said, I am sorry.

1. All students and faculty/staff in CPS has the tags, starting at Kindergarten, (possibly pre-k, but I am not sure on that one). The younger kids (at least at NCP) only wear their tags when going to eat in the caf....but they do have them.

2. When I was in school, we had ID cards as well, we just didn't have to wear them on our necks, and they didn't have our pictures. Really they served no purpose other than to be able to buy lunch. So the concept of the cards is not a new thing for the CPS, just the concept of having the picture and wearing them around your neck is. A plus for the picture...some jobs will accept a school Photo ID, when a DL is not available. Also some businesses give discounts to students with a school picture ID.

If the people in the front office are doing their jobs, and catching people as they come through the front doors, (which are the only doors open or should be anyways), then the tags help to identify if the person is supposed to be in the building. All visitors are supposed to check in at the front office and get some type of pass. Even the subs are given a tag that shows that they are a sub. If the procedures are followed properly, the tags can help to quickly identify if a person is supposed to be in the building or not.

As for the kids complaining because they don't like wearing the tags... get used to it. Most major companies have some type of ID tag that you have to wear as an employee. At the Wal-Mart Home Offices, if you don't have a tag, you can't clock in for work, and you can't get inside the front door of most of the buildings. Even at restaurants, you have a nametag that you have to wear. At the college level, you are given student IDs, and there are times when those IDs have to be presented to enter an exam, or more importantly the student section at the big game. They don't go away just because you are getting out of CHS, this is just the beginning.

[hogdog]

oh lord.................here we go again

[heathwaldrop]

emily said:

As for the kids complaining because they don't like wearing the tags... get used to it. Most major companies have some type of ID tag that you have to wear as an employee.

I guess we should start paying the students so they also can get used to receiving paychecks.

[hogdog]

Also.............I hear that most of the people that were doing all the complaining over the school uniforms didn't even have kids in school.................What's up with those folks??

[heathwaldrop]

hogdog said:

Also.............I hear that most of the people that were doing all the complaining over the school uniforms didn't even have kids in school.................What's up with those folks??

If you mean the group that wants the uniforms in place...you're absolutely, positively right. Most of them are retirees, many former educators and administrators.

[memnocktheblogger]

Alright, this string has forced me to leave my own opinion. Yes, forced. Why forced you ask? When those in power take outrageous steps to accomplish nothing, something has to be said, maybe even done. And the name tags do accomplish absolutely nothing.

1. It does not improve security at all. A man/woman could walk into the school during a class period, when there are very few or no teachers in the hall to stop them, with a hammer and a gun. The hammer would allow them to enter a room (even though the administrators now have magical locks that stop people without keys from entering) and be able to do whatever else the wish after entering said room. Or, instead of a hammer for entry, they could just take a key. (This is not the plans of the author or anyone the author knows, just a hypothetical situation)

2. It costs money. Money that could be better spent on educational materials. I am not a school official so I don't know what those materials would be, but I am sure they could be used.

3. It gets kids in trouble. Good kids. Kids who just forgot to get something before school. It used to be if a student forgot his/her pencil, he/she either went without or borrowed one. Maybe they got written up, because it wasn't bad enough according to the teachers to get bad grades for the day. (maybe not at cps but at others, I have not lived here all my life) Now they get a day of Saturday school or worse for forgetting a card that most of them don't use all day long except to not get in trouble. As I said before, good kids is who this happens to. I myself have seen much worse things in the school happen than someone not wearing a freaken piece of plastic around there neck. I have seen people threaten each other, set up fights, actually fight, talk about their excessive drug use, excessively use drugs, bring others into there world of excessive drug use(usually by selling or from their own distorted sense of generosity) and (last but most assuredly not least) seen what I have seen as (and others agree) sexual harassment of several kinds.

I am leaving as long as a post as I can so deal with it.

If a group of students ( as an experiment of course(just hypothetical)) brought water guns to school and shot every one they could with said water in said water guns, I am sure they would be able to roam freely. The name tags would not act as some magical force field to keep people dry. It would not set off any sirens in the school because the students wearing them would have water-guns. Its my guess that about ten students, could wet the pants of every teacher and most students in a matter of minutes, not really changing the status or well being of some.

As for the idea that this is just the beginning, I can accept that. But I would also like to point out that if given the choice to simply have the id card in a wallet, purse, or pocket, that most people would put them there instead of around their necks. If this seems like a foreign idea to anyone look around a bit. Look for your driver's license. Go ahead, I 'll wait..........Found it? Where was it? Not around you neck I bet. Still not convinced? What other id's might you have? Military? Probably still not around you neck either, huh? As for other id's that most people have for work. Your not exactly in something that you think would clash with it, huh? Go ask how many teenage girls are in to style. Go ahead. I can wait some more. I have made time to spare. How many said they did? Lots I bet. Many bunches of groups of lots probably. How many outside school wear wearing the name tags? None? Really? Wow! How amazing. I am really stunned. Not! Now how many guys do you think want to look good for these girls. Go ask. I can wait all freaken day long. Results similar? Maybe now you know some of the reasons why students don't wear them. Some other reasons? It gets in your food, clings to long hair, is uncomfortable, and gets in the way when you spit. Yeah it happens. People spit. The lanyard is too long. Other people and myself have bent over to do something while sitting at a desk (yes at school) and when we come up, we about lose our head from the force or get choked by the lanyard. Sound safe? I think not. Still think its for our own good?

I also agree with Heath. A paycheck at school would be great. Would help out alot with me.


And now, my last thoughts...

Sylas Dogood for President! I mean Memnock! Yes Memnock! Muhahaha!

[memnocksally]

Here is my take on the idea of the nametags. I am a student at CHS; however, I have some experiences that they do not. I agree with everything in me with memnock. To add to the idea of other ID cards that you do not wear around your neck. I recently attended ULM this summer. I, of course, had to get an ID card for me to obtain certain items from the school. I still to this day have it. Guess where it is and always has been since the day that i got it. Well, that is when i wasn't using it. That is correct...right where my license and all other cards that I own are. IN MY WALLET. So that totally eliminates any response about colleges require you to have an ID. They do, but you NEVER have to wear it around your neck. Sorry that had to prove somebody wrong. Actually, I am not. Because anybody that supports or agrees with the idea of nametags is extremely stupid in my case. Yes, I said stupid. That is being nice because I do not want to alarm anybody with other language that would not be allowed. If I would get away with it then I would be a lot more vulgar. The nametags do not do anything. I am tired of people getting on to me for not having mine on when somebody standing right beside me does not either. Not only does the nametags not serve the load of crap answer that we have been giving, the teachers also show favoritism to students. Not everybody can remember to wear theirs. I have a younger brother that is very forgetful. He does not always remember his. I would bet money, though, if the school thinks about punishing him then it would not be easy. I have experienced countless times that I have seen our beloved high school principle, Mr. Gragg, not wearing his nametag. When confronted he claims that he was working and the nametag got in his way. To avoid this problem, he then removes it. Afterwords, when he leaves his office, he forgets to put it back on. I am tired of being punished for this same incident happening, but I have a chance of getting suspended. This same concept applies to the idea of cell phones on campus and a lot of other rules. The student handbook is meant for students. I am not an idiot. I understand this. However, I do not agree with the actions of the teachers doing activities that us, students, are not able to do. It is not like they can not use the pay phone just like us. If they can't I am willing to teach everyone of the teachers how to use the pay phone. You will not even have to pay me. Since that topic has been brought up. The teachers excuse is that we are not adults. I frankly am tired of hearing this. I am 17 years old. Yes, only 17; on the contrary, that does not mean that I do not posses the abilities to do the activities that teachers are allowed to do. Age or adulthood has absolutely no context to these said rules. The idea that has been fed to us to about all these rules and how they are for my safety is a load of CRAP! Just the other day I lent my nametag to my friend so he could go down to get a coke, because he did not have his with him. He continued down to get his drink, came back to give me my nametag, and continued to go outside to eat. Which is another thing that I feel is stupid. We can't even eat in the courtyard. That is going to be in a totally different blog though. This supports the fact that the purpose of the nametags is not working. So this being said how do you think that teachers would notice if somebody came in with the intention of killing if they do not notice that students are not even wearing there own nametags. I am all for safety of the students. I do not want to die. I think that there is a better way to go about this. Now I realize that this is Crossett, Arkansas but if the people on the school board or whoever thought about this will stop and spend many days to think about this, that is going to be required since they have come up with so many bad ideas they need time to make sure all the bad ideas are forgotten. So I think that something should be done about the nametags. I also think that parents need to shut there mouths and keep their opinions to themselves. I am tired of all of these parents wanting uniforms and nametags. How about they come to school with us and have to deal with it. Then they can voice their opinion about what has been going on with all of this. I am going to sign off now and collect my thoughts. That way I can get on later and make more remarks about all of this that crap. Send your remarks if you disagree. I do not mind shutting more people down. The more the better day that I will have. Peace out, throw your deuces, and watch out, I just might punk you next.

[momofmemnock]

So much for free speech. What the students need is a good lawyer.

[emily]

memnocktheblogger said:

2. It costs money. Money that could be better spent on educational materials. I am not a school official so I don't know what those materials would be, but I am sure they could be used.

I have said what I felt I needed to say on the subject, but I would just like to point out one thing... The money issue is not really even an issue. The name tags serve the same purpose as a lunch card, which would be issued to each student anyway, seeing as all purchases made in the cafeteria are done using said card, rather than by using cash. It is all electronic, and if you don't have the card, then you aren't supposed to be able to eat. I do know that the lunch ladies used to let us just give them our number if we did not have our card, but you still had the ID. The money would still be spent.

Also someone stated that it gets good kids in trouble just because they may forget their tag one day...well how often do you walk out the door without your car keys, or your wallet?? These are things that you use everyday, and know that you need to have with you for one reason or another. You all are acting as though it is extremely difficult to remember to pick up you tag, which is something that you should have everyday that you attend school. You aren't going to walk out of the house without your backpack, so if you have to, just put your tag in your bag at the end of each day, so it will be there in the morning. My goodness, I can understand the younger kids not remembering, but the high school students are supposed to be getting ready to be an adult. Part of growing up is following rules, and if the rule says to wear the dang tag around your neck everyday, then just buck up and do it. You want responsibility, but you complain when someone gives you a seemingly small and insignificant task to do. I swear people around here just want something to complain about, and something to point a finger at an authority figure and say that " you messed up". GROW UP....It is not the end of the work that you have to wear this tag. You want to complain about something of importance, then complain about something that might actually help you get a better education.

[Eddie Goodson]

emily said:

memnocktheblogger said:

2. It costs money. Money that could be better spent on educational materials. I am not a school official so I don't know what those materials would be, but I am sure they could be used.

I have said what I felt I needed to say on the subject, but I would just like to point out one thing... The money issue is not really even an issue. The name tags serve the same purpose as a lunch card, which would be issued to each student anyway, seeing as all purchases made in the cafeteria are done using said card, rather than by using cash. It is all electronic, and if you don't have the card, then you aren't supposed to be able to eat. I do know that the lunch ladies used to let us just give them our number if we did not have our card, but you still had the ID. The money would still be spent.

Also someone stated that it gets good kids in trouble just because they may forget their tag one day...well how often do you walk out the door without your car keys, or your wallet?? These are things that you use everyday, and know that you need to have with you for one reason or another. You all are acting as though it is extremely difficult to remember to pick up you tag, which is something that you should have everyday that you attend school. You aren't going to walk out of the house without your backpack, so if you have to, just put your tag in your bag at the end of each day, so it will be there in the morning. My goodness, I can understand the younger kids not remembering, but the high school students are supposed to be getting ready to be an adult. Part of growing up is following rules, and if the rule says to wear the dang tag around your neck everyday, then just buck up and do it. You want responsibility, but you complain when someone gives you a seemingly small and insignificant task to do. I swear people around here just want something to complain about, and something to point a finger at an authority figure and say that " you messed up". GROW UP....It is not the end of the work that you have to wear this tag. You want to complain about something of importance, then complain about something that might actually help you get a better education.

So basically what you are saying Em is that is teaches responsibility. The Lord knows there's a need for that today.

If they require every student to have an ID card around your neck at all times, I suggest you have it around your neck at all times. So someone is telling you to do something you don't like. I got a newsflash. Someone will be giving you orders of some type your whole life. I got an even more important revelation for you. There are going to be times when someone tells you to do something you think is stupid and pointless. Guess what. You'll do it. Because it will be your job and you will lose it if you don't.

[memnocktheblogger]

Actually, it still costs money. If I lose mine or it breaks to the point of "disuse," I have to buy a new one. Or I go to Saturday school. Which still goes over to the point of how kids get in trouble. So far as the keys, I need them to drive my car. Its kinda hard for me to not realize that I am not driving to school. And the wallet? I forget it all the time. I forget pencils and yes, I have even forgotten my backpack before. No I am not trying to prove that I am forgetful. Oh, wait, I am! And so other humans. Humans that go to school. (My card is actually tied to my backpack. Most of the time. Sometimes I forget to tie there at the end of the day. It would be nice if I could just walk around with the tag on my backpack. That way I wouldn't forget. But I am not allowed to. Even though I go everywhere with my backpack when I am at school. Which brings up the fact that I don't use my locker. I forget the combination. So I just keep all my crap in my backpack. But I digress. Yes, I can use big words too adults.) Going back to the money thing. It still costs us students money to buy them. The lanyards (which I don't like) and the card (pretty obvious I don't like them) can both be bought in the office.

And now to the better education idea. If I am having to dodge the teachers because I don't have my name tag and I don't want to get into trouble and I am broke, how am I going to ask the teacher questions about something I don't understand, get up to get a textbook (some teachers don't have enough(school materials!)) or to get from class to class. If you threaten the student with things like Saturday school or suspension, what else is the student to do besides hide his tag-less neck?

I think that's it. Nope. I forgot something. Wow.


Now this part is simply guessing, but I thought that the money spent in the lunch room was to pay for the crappy lunch. (not in regards to the lunch ladies, I love them all and they are doing an outstanding job with what they have) What else does it pay for? This is a question. Please answer in your next post if you can, because if this money is being spent on something constructive I want to know.(seriously I don't know. I am not trying to make a point here)

Have a wonderful day/evening ladies and Gentlemen.

[memnocksally]

Ok, I understand what you are saying about the keys and the wallet. Here is a thought. Make a card that I can carry in my wallet. Now scroll up and check out my previous post. Wow! I have already said that. Now some people need to pay attention. That would take care of it being around the neck. I do not mind having the card. I just do not want to wear it around my neck. I am not worried about the cost. The card is not serving the purpose that it is supposed to. About half the people do and half do not. So something is wrong. Why are those kids not getting caught and disciplined? As for having to wear them on jobs. I bet I can name more jobs that do not require them then you can that do. So I am really tired of hearing that argument. Why not let the students decide some things. It is the student body that has to deal with all the decisions. Now that would be responsibility. Not somebody saying to do something and if you do not then you will be punished. Why not listen to what the students are saying? Instead you are not worried about us you just want to prove your point. That is all for now. Peace out, throw your deuces, and watch out, I just might shut you next.

[heathwaldrop]

While I agree that if it's the rule, then, as a student, you should abide by it, I don't believe in sitting by idly and allowing a failed policy to continue.

You follow the proper channels and work within the system to get the policy changed. I don't believe in saying "Oh, that's that" and not doing anything about it. If everyone thought that way, we'd still be a collection of English colonies today.

This, to me, is the point:

The card is not serving the purpose that it is supposed to.

I agree with that. Something needs to be done to the policy; either tweak it to make it work, or do away with it. It's important to have real REASONS behind policies, and preferably not ones based on somebody's imagination ("safety").

A policy without a reason is no better than U.S. paper money with nothing to back it up in the Federal Reserve. This nametag policy has no gold standard.

[Ford]

I do believe some people had an epiphany since the last time I logged on here. Finally! I have been saying the same thing for what, about two years now. I would carry the silly little piece of plastic in my purse, but why are these people making me where it around my neck? They serve no purpose to me, seeing that I do not eat in the lunchroom. I'm only wearing it currently because I am abiding by the rules. So why do they have to be around our necks? Go ahead ask them; I bet they can't give you a reason. Something like this probably, "Well... uhhhhh....it's a "safety" precaution. Uhhh...because we said so." Yeah, not really good reasons.

[memnocksally]

I am wondering what the proper channels to follow would be. I am following the rules because I am a student; however, I do want them to change. Not even for my sake. I mean by the time that this gets resolved(if it ever does) I will be long gone. For all those students that will be here after I leave is who I am fighting for. I am not afraid of the administration and really want to fight this because I think that there is a better way to go about the whole issue. I just need some people to back me up and know how to go about trying to get the rule changed. So anybody that has any information about this please tell me so I can try to do something about it. I am ready for some changes to happen. So that is all for now. Peace out, throw your deuces, and watch out, I just might shut you next.

[dancerk]

ok let me just say that i hate name tags...it makes me feel so dumb...i mean i feel like a criminal wearing an ID and a pic and barcode...ITS STUPID!!! it serves no pupose what so ever...they just like bossing us around!!

[Kim_Day]

dancerk said:

they just like bossing us around!!

I am sorry, but I couldn't help but comment here! Yes, that's why we entered the education profession, so we could boss people around! ;D We sit around just dreaming up things we can do to make students miserable. No offense to you dancerk. I probably felt the same way when I was in school. That just struck me funny.

[Kim_Day]

memnocksally said:

We can't even eat in the courtyard.

The courtyard is closed because we have several piggies that decided to make it a hogpen. I guess they were too lazy to walk to the trash can or just figured that our wonderful custodians would clean up after them.

[heathwaldrop]

memnocksally said:

I am wondering what the proper channels to follow would be.

Find out who your representative is on the school board and call him. It's important that you approach him about it in the right way. If you want to be treated as an intelligent adult, you've got to make sure that you come across that way.

Bring your friends with you. Raise concerns. Request to be placed on the agenda to speak at a school-board meeting.

Present alternative ideas so you won't look like you're just griping just to gripe. A proposed solution (or multiple proposed solutions) will get attention.

Write letters. Write them to the superintendent and to all of the board members. Write letters to the newspaper.

Do some research. Most of you have friends who go to other schools outside of the area. What are the policies of those schools in regards to identification? Find out. Get everything in writing from good, reliable sources. Present your evidence to the board and administration.

If it's a failed policy, this board has demonstrated a willingness to examine it and change the policy.

You've all made good points, but it will take more than some message-board posts to effect change.