The bathroom vandals, the chronically late and the lunch-tray-leavers all cinch the strings of their hoodies, trying to shield their faces from passerby and block out the shame.
This scene is straight out of Del Val’s strategic plan. Today, April 1st, demolition of the old and forgotten lockers begins, initiating the first step of a new disciplinary act.
The lockers will be replaced with plexiglass ISS pods, which emphasize isolation and degradation.
Math teacher David Kirschenmann has been anticipating the lockers’ downfall for a while.
“Ever since we did away with textbooks, students have no need for the lockers,” Kirschenmann said. “I think it would be good to use that space to widen the hallways.”
The supervisor of safety, security and student conduct, Dr. Ariel Gilbert, took part of his idea and ran with it.
“Kirsch inspired the [disciplinary] act for sure, but I’m of the mindset that the hallways are already wide enough as is,” Gilbert said. “However, I would agree that they’re a waste of space.”
Recently, Del Val has had a surplus of students flowing in the ISS door. It’s a feat for the boys bathrooms to remain open for an entire day and lunch tables are being snatched from upperclassmen left and right.
Gilbert cleverly innovated a solution that merges both her and Kirsch’s wishes.
“The plexiglass will give the illusion of wider hallways, opening up the space,” Gilbert said. “The fact that they’re clear will also disincentivize rebellion by adding an element of shame and public humiliation to ISS.”
Gilbert is hopeful that this initiative will be what it takes to put a stop to misconduct. She envisions the plexiglass pods becoming a movement that sweeps across the country.
“I see them as a way to reunite mortification and punishment in the 21st century,” Gilbert said.
If the pods don’t curb despicable behavior like she hopes, Gilbert is prepared to take things a step further. She is already making arrangements to give them a dual function.
“The pods can act as both a fundraiser and a location for discipline,” Gilbert said. “Students walking down the hallway can pay $20 to take a selfie with a perpetrator through the glass. If that doesn’t discourage mischief, I don’t know what will.”
This article should serve as a reminder to students to brush up on the code of conduct and follow it closely from here on out.
Also, be prepared to trek through paths of misplaced lockers today; the demolition workers expect the hallways to be “in shambles” for the foreseeable future.
