High school is a time not just for education, but for memories. It is a time to have fun and fit in every experience you can, before the real world strikes post-graduation. When we listen to alumni or even our parents, they talk of memorable times during high school. After graduation, what will we—specifically students of Barnstable High School—have to remember, besides our grades?

To be completely honest, not much. Parents, kids, and faculty are becoming more sensitive to certain social and political cultures. This is apparent in student and staff privileges, activities, and fun at BHS.

Normally a time for Raiders to show their pride, the Spirit Week tradition was given a whole new meaning this November. The traditional themes that included USA, Decade, and Twin Day were replaced altogether by Jersey and Tie Dye day. Why, after many years of students enjoying this festive time and displaying their school spirit, was it taken away from us now?

There’s not just one answer to this overarching question. When we put the blame on ourselves, due to a portion of our student bodies questionable decisions, it is justified to why these certain days were removed. Decade Day was an excuse for Holocaust and KKK related costumes to be worn. Some students manipulated the meaning of Spirit Week by displaying racist attire as a joke or even a dare.

Regardless of what day it is, dress code is always present in any school day of the year. According to page 82 of the Barnstable High School Student Handbook, student dress will not: “Provoke disturbance, mock, ridicule, demean, be drug/alcohol related or be vulgar or obscene.” Given this, any outfit, regardless of it being free speech, can be judged by these rules. Why couldn’t the students who abused their Spirit Week privileges have just been told to turn their shirt inside out, change, or be sent home, like normal dress code violators would be? Instead, all 3,000 (will get actual number) of us are being punished for the actions of a small handful.

Similar to decade day, USA day was another controversial theme for this year’s Spirit Week. Many were in agreement that this day could have been changed to “Nationality Day” to represent our school’s diversity, instead of removing the theme altogether. Even students dressing like Donald Trump could offend other peers who may be affected by our president’s recent decisions.

To have our Spirit Week include the days it did, more effort was exerted than it seemed. Faculty presented the idea of a Red Day, a White Day, and a Red Raider Day. Student Council had to fight for Jersey Day, and Tie Dye Day, which was only allowed because it was a “combination of all the class colors.”

The rule-creating nature of our public high school is being taken to the next level. No matter what ideas are implemented in this school system, someone can and will find a way to ruin it. Maybe the objective shouldn’t be to take the privilege away from the majority, but instead remove the abusers, and make a point of it so future incidents don’t occur.

Take the girls powderpuff football game a few years back for example. It was all fun and games until a fight broke out. The mistakes that were made ruined the fun senior activity for all future generations at BHS who were looking forward to this tradition. Similar to Spirit Week, instead of addressing the problem, the privilege was diminished altogether. There was no second chance.

This lack of “fun” at BHS may be rooted in a lack of student voice; or the lack of listening to student voice. For example, a petition was started to display student bodies opinion on the recent change in color of graduation gowns. Despite the many signatures on the petition, the idea was merely shut down. Another petition was started with over 393 signatures to put USA Day back on the Spirit Week calendar. Again, to no one’s surprise, this idea was pushed to the side. Even the idea of hosting a pep rally to show our school spirit was ignored.

Sports teams, like volleyball, for example, are able to dress up in themes on game days, like USA day, so why can’t the rest of the school do so? This would bring together the student body into one place—not separated by grade or sport involvement. What about the students who focus solely on their academics, who don’t play a sport or are a member of a club? What separate day of the year from the normal 180 do they get to show their school spirit?

Communication is the biggest and most important part of our society. It is what makes us human. A lack of communication, however, is often times where problems arise; friend group drama, half a class doing the homework that the other half didn’t hear about, and even when it comes down to Spirit Week at Barnstable High School.

Barnstable High School students are smart. We are innovative. We are passionate and strong headed at times, but it is only because of that passion that drives us to fight for what days we get to dress up as at BHS.

There will always be kids that break the rules. We, as a community, cannot be so naive to think that there aren’t immature people who would take advantage of Spirit Week. But there’s also a majority of kids who wouldn’t, and just want to display their school spirit. Why punish the majority for the actions of the minority?

In the end, the steps students need to take are simple. To reach a resolution, we must keep moving forward and and fighting each battle we come across. Do not sit back and let your spirit be taken from you. More importantly, participate: it will show that we actually care.

To upperclassmen: we are role models, and our actions influence all grade levels. If we make the best of our Spirit Week, so will those around us.

To administration; compromise. Value the opinions of those you implement your rules on.