CHS Reinforces Rules on Their Locked Doors

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Kevin Nguyen

Photo of Elijah Autrey, a person who were interviewed with student experiences of CHS”s locked doors.

Kevin Nguyen, Journalist

Students and teachers speak about the new locked doors at Capital High School that were added in September. A few speak their thoughts and their understanding of these reinforced rules. 

The new rules were implemented at the beginning of the school year in September 2022. This affected students and teachers regarding their safety and their convenience. 

Ending the summer of 2019 to the spring of 2020 CHS, rules on locked doors were at a minimum. It was very open to visitors and gave students easy access to the building from all the main entrances. After a few years of quarantine and students returning back to a physical school, they slowly tighten the rules on the doors of CHS. It rapidly turns into reinforced rules on the locked doors of Capital High, especially after worldly events regarding school intruders. 

Since 2019, what exactly changed, and what intentions were there when the new rules were made? One teacher, Mr. Wall, makes his statement.

“Changes seen are keeping exterior doors locked and restricting access to the main office door. That’s understanding safety for people who wanna do harm to the school.”

And since these changes are being made, Mr. Wall will be able to sink in these changes throughout his years of teaching at CHS. Though, one thing was said that stood out. 

“Mood of the building changed a lot. More like a prison less like a school. It also may help keep attendance up. Though it’s more difficult for people who left to try to come back.”

A little of both sides from Mr. Wall on the pro and cons of these rules. It’s harder to come back into the building, but perhaps not as difficult to leave the building.

“Still trying to sort it out, safety benefits for locking the building, but questioning whether the safety benefits are net positive meaning. Are we actually protecting people or quoting dark viewpoints on things?”

Though in contrast, another teacher, Mrs. Street, states her thoughts on the safety that was considered when the rules were reinforced on the locked doors of CHS. 

“Morning, last year, doors between A and B pods were always unlocked or propped open, which didn’t make the street feel safe when coming at 8:45 in the morning since security is not present. This year, it has been locked so it feels a lot safer during that time. “

With the rules intact, security measures increased and made it possible to feel safer in the school environment. Not only security was considered in the making of the rules, but attendance efforts as well.

“Ideally, students will not want to make the long walk to the lower lot; they will be encouraged to leave their home address earlier to be on time. It reinforces being on time and getting into a positive routine when the bell rings. “

A student, Elijah Autrey, had a statement that correlates with this, however. 

“When I’m late, you have to wait till the office lets you in to see if you are armed or not. And that they need to make sure you are a student of the school”

The new system keeps students in check in order to minimize any harm that may make its way into the school environment. This would also then sacrifice the time to get into the building as it checks everyone who comes into the building.

As the rules on Capital’s doors become strict, it can be seen as efforts to combat harm towards the students and school to make it a safer environment. This would also come in as time sacrificed when coming into the building as a student, or guest.

As the school year goes on, will the rules on CHS’s doors tighten or will they loosen?