Our student body is often skeptical of changes made by the administration. When the class bells were removed this year, there was a general clamor to find out who was at “fault” for the change. When it was announced that identification cards were required for entry into the school, students griped about how much of a hassle the badges would be, eager to find an administrator to blame. 

However, we as students need to understand that these measures are not the fault of one single administrator or faculty member. While it may feel easier to blame one member, the reality is that the administration only wants what’s best for our school. This is why the school makes all of its decisions as a collective. 

There are several processes the administration goes through to make decisions for the school, and all of them involve multiple members discussing various courses of action. No decision is ever the work of a single administrator. These processes involve members such as the Administrative Leadership Team, the Dress Code Committee and the Student Council, moderated by Dean of Students Roslyn Landy. 

Many proposals for change go through the Administrative Leadership Team. This group consists of numerous administrators, teachers and faculty members who bring unique perspectives as to how a modification to the school might affect the student body. 

So when an administrator announces a decision, then we can be sure that multiple other teachers or faculty members have approved it. Conversely, that means we as students should never blame the spokesperson administrators for ideas that we do not support.

And even if the majority of the student body doesn’t support specific policies, we should always keep in mind that our administration tries to do what is best for us. They create these policies to help us grow as students in a safe learning environment. The administrators aren’t trying to make school worse, even if it may initially feel like they are.

It’s also important to note that teachers hear and care about student voices. A clear example of this is apparent from the inclusion of the student council, led by Landy, in the deliberation of various school decisions. Another is the inclusion of faculty advisers in grade governments. 

So when a policy becomes controversial, such as the current dress code, the administration is not averse to modifying it or developing it into a more appropriate guideline. That’s why the administration cooperated with the student body to create the Dress Code Committee, which is actively striving to reform the dress code and make it more inclusive.

Change is scary. We on the Lion’s Tale know it. But we urge you to consider the thought process behind every administration decision before you criticize it and complain about it with your friends. Know that your teachers and faculty deeply care about you and only want what’s best for the school. Additionally, if you have a problem with one of the administrative decisions, there is nothing stopping you from setting up a meeting with an administrator to voice your concerns.