Superintendent’s Chat

Richard McClements, Shonto Preparatory School

The rules of the road are meant to protect each driver. We do not pass on a double solid line because any reasonable person would agree that road circumstances, such as going around a corner or up a hill, suggests that both you and people in another car coming toward you would be at great risk for a collision. You should only pass another car if you can clearly see ahead and if you can reasonably pass and return to your own lane without endangering someone else. If the speed limit is 75, and you see a sign showing a curve ahead and a recommended speed of 45, you had better slow down or your chances of making it around that curve will diminish. On the other hand, there are some rules of the highway that people do not always follow but present a lesser risk to others. An example might be the speed limit. It might be 65 mph, and you do 70 mph. There is a stop sign, and you do not come to a complete halt before moving on. While neither of the last two examples are right, the person who does so does it knowing that there could be consequences. A police officer can verify on radar that you are speeding or can witness the fact that you did not completely stop. He can then issue you a traffic citation, and you will have to pay a fine.

Life is very much like the rules of the road. There are things that we know are the correct things to do or say in our society and in different situations. We know, for example, that we would not go into a public library and play our music at full volume, nor would we talk in loud voices. If we go out to an expensive place for dinner, we would not allow ourselves to start juggling water glasses. If there is a line at the bank, we know we do not move to the front. The examples of complying with societal rules are endless.

The point is that schools also have reasonable rules, and if all students obey them, the learning environment is better for all.