During the school year, students are often asked to attend school assemblies. Some students enjoy assemblies, but others think they are boring and not very useful. At Skyline High School, this brings up an important question: should students be forced to attend school assemblies, or should they be optional? I believe students should not be required to attend, because assemblies are usually not very informative.
Some students think assemblies are a good thing. Adric Gordts, a Junior at Skyline High School, believes students should attend assemblies. He said he goes to most assemblies, because they are “enjoyable and entertaining to enjoy with friends.” For Gordts, assemblies are fun and give him time to hang out with friends. He also said the biggest benefit of assemblies is “school spirit and interacting with others.” Gordts would suggest that other students attend assemblies to “enjoy school activities and to show your school spirit.”
However, even though Gordts likes assemblies, he still thinks students who don’t attend should be allowed to leave campus. Gordts noted, “There is not enough room in the gym for everyone to attend every assembly.” This shows that even students who support assemblies understand that they don’t always work for everyone and should not be required.
On the other hand, Ruby Bond, a Freshman at Skyline, believes assemblies are not very important. She said she’s gone to zero assemblies this year, because she “just doesn’t think they’re that important.” Bond explained that, while assemblies sometimes give information and show school pride, she already gets all her information from school announcements. Because of this, assemblies feel unnecessary to her. When asked if students who skip assemblies should be allowed to leave campus, Bond agreed. She said, “Instead of going to assemblies, I usually [hangs] out with friends or [go] to get food.”
Both students make good points, but overall, assemblies are more about entertainment than learning something new. Since students can get announcements and information in other ways, assemblies should not be required, in my opinion. Making them optional would give students more choice and respect their time while still allowing students to enjoy assemblies if they attend. Bond put it best: “If you don’t want to go to the assembly, then why would I stay at school?”
