For most students lunch is an important part of the day. It’s the one time students get a break during the school day.
It’s not just about the food either. Lunch is a chance to catch up with friends, decompress or recharge for the rest of the day.
But at FVHS not all students have the same privileges. Currently only juniors and seniors are allowed to be off campus during lunch, leaving sophomores and freshmen to stay on campus. Some students are now raising the question: should sophomores be allowed off campus too?
“I don’t really see why we can’t go,” said sophomore Hamza Daoudi.” We are definitely responsible enough, and a lot of us have friends to take us off too, so it feels unfair.”
Some people believe letting sophomores off for lunch would cause too much traffic congestion in the parking lot, leading to safety concerns for faculty and students. The parking lot is already very packed with lots of cars and people maneuvering through it. More students driving or getting picked up could make it even more difficult to move in and out of the parking lot safely.
On the other hand, many students argue that allowing them to leave campus actually helps reduce overcrowding in the cafeteria and halls, it also gives sophomores a sense of independence. Some people even suggest a permission-based system where responsible sophomores with good grades and a clean behavior record can earn the privilege of off campus lunch. It could be a way to reward responsibility and encourage students to stay on track.
Ultimately, the question isn’t just about lunch. It’s about trust, fairness, and giving students a chance to prove themselves. If sophomores are expected to act like young adults, they should be given the opportunity to show the same responsibility outside of it.
