The Emporia Gazette

May 27, 2012

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I HAVE TO ADMIT, when I first heard the latest from the Emporia school board, my initial reaction was straight out of “Treasure of the Sierra Madre,” by way of Mel Brooks:

“Badges? We don’t need no stinking badges!”

After a moment’s reflection, though, I realized it was more complicated than I thought. Real life usually is.

For those of you who missed it the first time, Emporia High School will be making its students wear their IDs in plain sight this year, hung around the neck on a cord. The rules allow students to personalize that cord a bit, which makes the mind boggle. I mean, here’s a moneymaking avenue I never considered before.

“At Lanyards-R-Us, we have all your school ID needs. Choose from a wide variety of neck cords, including Charlie Spartan, the Stars and Stripes, Napoleon Dynamite and everyone’s favorite — Harry Potter. Come in today and we’ll laminate your ID for free when you buy three lanyards or more. Lanyards-R-Us: where everyone is in one a-cord.”

Once my brain returned to reality (well, as much as it ever does), I began feeling a number of mixed emotions. It’s not a clear-cut situation, as the state of our online forum on the subject would seem to demonstrate.

First came my own knee-jerk reaction. I’m not all that fond of “required” school wear, whether it’s badges or uniforms. Now, before I get a ton of mail from the private schools in town, I’ll concede that many uniforms are attractive, that they may help in maintaining discipline and maybe even a certain school solidarity. Even so, it’s always seemed a little too cookie-cutter for my comfort, as though students were just interchangeable parts rather than unique individuals. Again, just my personal feelings.

On the other hand, it would address one worry I’ve always had — safety. When I was fairly new on the school beat, I used to try to see how far I could get in a school without signing in or being stopped by a staff member. Most of the time, especially in the high school, I could make it all the way from the front door to a classroom. IDs would at least show someone didn’t belong.

It’s still not a cure-all, though, for at least two reasons I can think of. First, almost every major school shooting I can think of — including Virginia Tech — began with a student. IDs don’t help there.

Secondly, let’s face it. We’re talking teenagers here. And while I love teenagers, “responsibility” isn’t always part of the job description.We’ve all known (or been!) kids who lost a textbook. Or left their homework at home. Or loaned somebody a pen and forgot to ask for it back.

I know, I know, plenty of kids can probably keep track of an ID without problems. But I’d bet my lunch there will be somebody who drops it in the hall, or loses it on the way to school, or something. Every time that happens, it’s a chink in the wall. If somebody finds it and walks in wearing the magic plastic, how closely is anybody going to look and see if the photo matches? Probably about as much attention as anyone pays to a security measure until there’s a crisis.

It’s an idea. And I give the school district full credit for trying to think about the subject instead of just saying “It’ll never happen here.” But for now, my advice is keep thinking. This may help a little, but it’s not a final answer.

Besides, weren’t we always told not to put the card before the course?

Scott Rochat’s e-mail address is rochat@emporiagazette.com.