crowded grounds + expensive food = FLEEING STUDENTS: WHAT DO WE DO?
No school would ever want its students to wander public streets during school hours, without the knowledge or permission from the teaching staff. To particularly determine how large the problem is in UniHigh, volunteers were stationed at 4 main and secret exit points from school grounds and discretely jotted down numbers of year 7 - 11 students leaving during recess/lunch for one week. On average, every day roughly 95 non Year 12 students leave the grounds during both recess and lunch. This may seem like a small percentage of the 1,750 students currently enrolled in University High, however, the lives of each pupil attending UniHigh should be regarded with the utmost importance. If any one of those 95 students goes missing, is abducted or sustains serious injuries outside of school while allegedly still recorded as being in school, the blame will be on the school's back.
Why do kids in University High even feel the need to skip or leave school altogether? As one of the best-funded schools in Melbourne, shouldn’t UniHigh facilities be accommodating enough for its 1,750 students? Anonymous interviews have been conducted with several students from a range of year levels to truly grasp the depth of this problem.
Several students complained about the overcrowdedness of available spaces during lunchtime. “It’s almost a first come first serve competition, where we have to fight for seats in the library or else we would be left stranded. It’s just easier and more breathable if we leave school. After all, we wouldn’t have to fight Year 7s to sit down.”
“I agree with (Person A). You get more fresh air when you leave school for a bit.”
“Especially with the cold and rainy weather lately, it’s like the Hunger (profanity) Ggames to get a seat in the library and feel the warmth.”
“There’s literally nowhere to sit inside with heaters at our school, and the places that can, you can’t eat.”
Other students also raised the issue of getting, purchasing and eating food. “The canteen [is] overprice[d]s and sells a limited selection of foods and snacks. I don’t have enough money to afford those items. So, I resort to going outside to get me some food.” When asked about other options such as packing lunch to bring to school or grabbing food before school, other issues came up such as no time, living far away from school, public transport delays…etc. “It’s not just buying food, it’s also about like where to eat? If you don’t come early to get a table in the quad, you’re basically doomed. And if you even leave to buy food, you would lose that spot and then you’re just holding food in your hand.” Other students nodded in agreement. “Plus, do you know how long the lines are at the canteen. Bet, I’d spent the whole lunch just waiting in line. How am I supposed to get a table to eat, buy food and eat it all? I might as well just go out of school, buy a cheap snack from 7/11 and eat at the park. Then peacefully walk back to school. I also get a decent amount of exercise (laughs)”
Our interviewees were then informed of the possible consequences and punishments they might face if caught leaving school. Detention, informing their parents and/or possible suspension could all be one of the many punishments they will face. The interviewees simply shrug, “If we have detention, then we will just skip detention. Our tummies need to be fulfilled and our lungs need fresh air.” Even after being notified of the possible outcomes of getting caught, our interviewees were not phased. The root of the increasing numbers of people leaving school is the overcrowdedness of UniHigh facilities, and the shortage of production to meet demands.
How do we combat this problem, provide students with sufficient resources and keep people on school grounds? There are two clear answers, an expansion of indoor eating spaces need to be adapted to rising demands as well as food prices and variety need to be applied immediately. If students’ needs and requirements are met on campus, they would no longer need to leave.
When we raised this solution to our interviewees, surprisingly, they were extremely welcoming of adhering to school rules. “I know leaving school all the time like this isn’t…the best. But if the school can improve on indoor spaces and food, I don’t think I would need to leave at all. I mean, although it is great, walking is tiring and the fact I have no time when I have to get back before the bell rings is a lot of pressure. Plus the feeling of fear of getting caught every time I enter and leave school is not worth the risk.”
In conclusion, the problem of students leaving school during recess and lunch times can be resolved through adaptation and improvements. The only question remains in the University High School’s Board of Education’s palm; are they willing to implement these changes shortly, or will the number of students leaving school continue to increase?