Merit and Demerit System:

"I think the merit and demerit system is not fair because, it is supposed to be based on your academics and not for coming to school late; or the clothing your wearing"! This statement came from recent graduating class of 2011 Kaleema Butler when asked how do you feel about the merit and demerit system. Many people disagree with the standards of the school, and wish to find a way to change it. The merit and demerit system was enforced in fall of 2008. Class of 2010 and 2011 are not familiar with this system and are not used to the changes. The past two years there was not a merit and demerit system in place, but the school still had rules that needed to be applied. If broken detention was put upon you, and you would have to attend after school.
This year there was a bright side put into our school system which was called a "Merit". When asked Ayanna Matthews has she ever gotten a merit and why she said,"Yeah, I helped a teach put away the laptop computers away". She gained 5 merits for doing this task which is considered being a good citizen. In this case, it was not a difficult task to accomplish to gain good points. To get a merit you have to follow all directions and fellow teacher or staff of the school has to give it to you for a certain reason, like doing something nice for a student or teacher. Merits are a way of making students do the right thing.
There is always darkness to the light. This darkness is called the "Demerit" system one of Constitution students in the sophmore class; Taneah Martain- Allen states she gained demerits for being late. The school system sees this as being disrespectful for not being on time.. Not following directions is the way most teachers see it and there are many other ways you can get a demerit. For example, lying, theft, fighting, threats and much more. You have to follow directions so you won't be in debt with the school.
Many may say the system is unfair and needs to be changed. Fellow sophmore Brittany Chapman was asked have she ever gotten a demerit and why and she says," Yes, I don't know I just be getting them, I guess good grades"? It seems like merits are given to students more easily when they are not in trouble all the time and it is harder for students with a behavior problem to gain them. It may seem unfair and just wrong, but that is what it seems like in the students point of view.
"Free from bias", that is what the dictionary says the word fair means. In the schools case they may want the school to be that way;but that is not how some teachers act. It seems that the rules are applied to others more than others by the way the students act or their grades. Brittany Davis says," I think the merit and the demerit system is not fair because it is supposed to be based on your academic and not when you come to school late;or your clothing.
In conclusion, the school needs to sit down with the students and come up with a way they can work together to accomplish rules that are not bias or ways not to let it seem that way. Constitution High has come through many things and this is just a bump in the road that needs to be fixed. In other words the system is a good one but it has to be more detailed so that students understand it more.