Straight
to the Point:
In my two and a half years navigating through the
halls of Marian, I have seen countless points be issued to unsuspecting
students. Personally, I have received somewhere in the ballpark of 25
points. Most of these little yellow discipline slips cite ³undue noise²
or reprimand a uniform violation.
If I were to receive 10 of those canary sheets over the course of one school
year, I would serve a 5-hour Saturday school with a group of my peers who also
received 10 points for similar infractions.
In all actuality, the designated Saturday school room would house a number of
girls with various violations of Marian rules. Those violations may
include skipping class or off campus substance abuse. While terribly
unfortunate, itıs not secret that both the previously mentioned behaviors do
happen at Marian.
I was always under the impression that substance abuse was a far more serious
violation than the quite common untucked shirt.
So why is that both the student not in complete uniform and the student
discovered to be using illegal substances can sometimes travel down similar
roads of disciplinary action? I turned to the Student/Parent Handbook for
some possible answers.
The Handbook makes it overwhelmingly clear that the accumulation of 10 points
will result in a five hour Saturday school. It also gives the
predetermined point assignments.
Those predetermined assignments never touch on the use of illegal substances
other than smoking, which for many Marian seniors is no longer illegal since
they are 18. The Handbook just says that smoking is not permitted on school
grounds.
The Handbook
does, however, list drugs, alcohol, vandalism, and theft as serious offenses,
with the Dean of Discipline determining the number of points for each.
Thatıs about as much clarity as I find in the Handbook.
It goes on to state the following: ³A student is subject to suspension or
expulsion by the Principal upon recommendation by the Review Board for: Serious
behavior situations not covered by the point system (i.e. included but not
limited to... use of alcohol or drugs).² According to that portion of the
Handbook, substance abuse, due to its severity, is not necessarily covered by
the point system.
Ideally, situations involving illegal activity would not exist, but they do. Following
a brief conversation with the Dean of Discipline, Ms. Motokowski, I realized
that each case of severe misbehavior is different. It would be
inconceivable to outline every possible scenario in the Handbook, so instead
³points to be determined² blankets most severe behavioral problems since each
case is circumstantial.
I understand the need for proper punishment at any institution, not excluding
Marian. I do think, however, that it is also the duty of that institution
to definitively establish guidelines for right and wrong, leaving as little
grey area as possible. This would allow for a safer environment for
students and teachers alike.