During J-Term 2025 at Mount Vernon High School, open campus was only acceptable for seniors. Students began to question why the grades 9-11 didn’t receive that privilege.
J-Term is a two week period where students have one class for the whole school day. Students do receive five minute breaks here and there, depending on the teacher; however, that’s not enough, so the lunch break was extended to around an hour and twenty minutes. This gives students plenty of time to get out of the school and go home or even to nearby food establishments, but students who aren’t seniors are required to stay in the building.
Students should be able to get outside during this time to enjoy the sun. Even though in early January it is still cold, usually this is the first time in a long time that the sun truly shines. To lower stress and anxiety that most students experience in the winter, allowing students to go out with their friends would make J-Term that much more enjoyable.
After being restricted to a single classroom the whole day, it is good for students to grow by socializing. Allowing students open campus encourages opportunity for new memories and connections to be made throughout the student body. It would be a time where students would be able to reconnect with their old friends and new friends after winter break. It also helps with the idea of easing back into regular classes.
There is no harm in letting the kids leave. Those who aren’t allowed to drive out of town would either go back to their house or have to be accompanied by an older student. There are local restaurants like Si Senor and fast food places like Subway here in town, so students would be able to eat with plenty of time to spare. Therefore, there is no harm in letting students get a break outside of school.
With the lunch break being an hour and twenty minutes long, students should be allowed to truly use that time to decompress at home or with their friends. There really is no harm in giving the open campus privilege to all grades during J-Term.
