editorial,
Editorial: "Charged" with Charging
As UPIS students, we have undoubtedly used our gadgets for multiple purposes – completing requirements, passing them through email, contacting teachers, etc. Because of this, we have become dependent on charging our mobile devices and laptops to meet those needs. Hence, most of us rely on charging through different sockets spread around the school.
The UPIS Handbook recognizes charging as a form of “unauthorized use of school property and equipment”. After teachers reported that charging in the school has become rampant, the UPIS administration decided to take action.
During the flag ceremony last March 5, Assistant Principal for Administration Prof. Portia Dimabuyu reminded the UPIS 7 – 12 student body that charging is a “violation” of Rule 4.3 of the handbook, causing mixed reactions among the students.
According to Prof. Dimabuyu, some students charge their gadgets for non-academic purposes such as playing games and using social media, among other activities. In addition, charging consumes electricity, and the school only has limited resources.
It should be noted that the use of power outlets is a “violation,” since we are not officially given permission to do so. However, we must recognize our right to the use of facilities for school-related activities.
As stated earlier, many of the students’ requirements are technology-related such as researching on the internet, making an infographic, coding a website, or writing and editing a thesis. All of these need gadgets, and such gadgets are also in need of charging. If their battery runs low, charging in school will help students finish their requirements.
Moreover, if we are deprived of power supply, then these gadgets will also drain faster. This means less time to complete and submit requirements, much to the dissatisfaction of our teachers.
Besides this, students will also need to charge their phones in case of emergencies. If they need to contact their guardians in short notice, they would need to use their phone to do so.
If they have been using their phone all-day for requirements or for any other purpose, they might not have enough battery to make the call or send a text. Charging is therefore essential to this particular need of students.
Prof. Dimabuyu has said explicitly in an interview that the administration understands the needs of the students, and that all students also need to charge their gadgets to work on their requirements. She said that even teachers need to charge their equipment to accomplish their work.
She also said that according to the student handbook, only unauthorized charging is not allowed. If we go by this logic, so long as we ask for permission from a teacher to charge our gadgets, charging, for a valid purpose, would be allowed in the school.
We suggest that the school allocate certain areas for charging, specifically the library or specific hallways. A lot of students prefer to study in both the library and in the hallways, and often need their gadgets to do so.
Allowing charging inside the library will not only increase the convenience for the students studying, it will also allow supervision over gadget use while charging since there are teachers and librarians in the library.
Although to be on the safer side, as students we must also cooperate with the admin to enforce discipline in our actions. Yes, it may sound unreasonable at first to hear that charging is not allowed, but by giving it some thought, it is evident that they are only trying to control the use of gadgets within school premises.
If it is clear to all of us now that we may charge at school for academic and emergency purposes, then there should not be any more traction from our part.
Instead, we should be able to cooperate with the admin's flexible implementation of the policy by doing our part in controlling ourselves from abusing the right to these privileges. To put simply, we must only charge in school for valid reasons.
Good insights on this school issue
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