Texas’s new vape state law and CHS’s new dress code policy has stirred up controversy between the halls of our staff and students.
The new dress code policy calls for no hiding of piercings and facial hair with either masks, tape, etc. Texas House Bill 114 requires all school campuses to place students who are caught with electronic cigarettes in the disciplinary alternative education program (DAEP).
“We are assigning five days of DAEP for the first offense and ten days for the second offense,” said Assistant Principal Mr. Jones.
On top of DAEP, you would have to be removed from school for at least a two-day suspension until a DAEP hearing occurs.
“I’m hoping that it’s a situation whereby presenting the students with the information and the consequences of this won’t affect any student who are associated with our extracurricular activities.”
With the new law, Principal Mr. Bryant said he was “caught off guard” of how detrimental it could be. He shared his concern saying students might not understand the health hazards and consequences contained within vapes.
“When the state passed the law, I felt like it was a big jump from what we currently have done in the past by just giving students simply ISS if they were caught with vapes. But I understand with the rising concern about the effects for vaping,” said Bryant.
Bryant continued to say his concern for students involved within programs and organizations and how “they might not think it’s a big deal” when the consequences are significant. He said it could be concerning “if I was a coach”.
Athletic director and football head coach Coach Cavalier said, “I have tried to advise our football players of what the consequences are, and I want them to take those into consideration, so I’m hopeful that they love their teammates enough where they choose not to do that.”
Just like Cavalier explained his thoughts, Senior football captain Luke Flowers said he thinks it’s better there’s more strict rules as vaping can hurt you and prevent some physical capabilities.
“I’m happy it’s a thing. I think it’s needed not really just for Canadian, but for everywhere. I think it’s a problem and this is a good first step being taken,” said Flowers.
Another coach who shared his insight with us, head girls basketball coach Aaron Marks said he was glad when he heard about the law being passed because it allows vaping to be cracked down on kids and has no concern for his program ever being at risk.
“If kids are going to make bad choices, then we’ll have to deal with that, but we’re going to have some trust in our young ladies and athletes to make the right decision,” said Marks.
From sports to our theater department, theater teacher Mistie Walser said her concern about her program with the law being very stern and wants her students to be very aware of it.
“I hope that it’s a deterrent,” said Walser. “I hope my kids make good choices, because if someone does get pulled, there’s no way they’ll be able to keep their place in a play.”
Senior Myra Herrera who is heavily involved in the theater program says vaping shouldn’t be an issue for anyone who works to keep their parts in plays.
“I think that if people want to be a part of the play, or any extracurricular activity for that matter, then they’ll think twice about vaping,” said Herrera.
Coming from voices from our very own staff and students regarding the state law, we also have been provided with concerns about the dress code.
A former student who has been dress coded in the past, Senior Chanlee Adcock says regular and normal piercings and hair color shouldn’t matter as long as everyone is provided with the same education.
“If our school is so okay with others expressing themselves, then why is facial hair a problem for the boys?” Said Adcock. “CHS is supposed to be a safe place for all students to feel comfortable in all aspects, considering the dress code. However, most of us don’t feel comfortable and feel extremely targeted when going to school.”
Senior Kinlee Dunbar similarly said the dress code for facial piercings can be unreasonable. In her case, she said a nose piercing is different from having any other facial piercings.
“I had a nose piercing and I explained to Mr. Bryant how my hole would close, but he still demanded for it to be out,” said Dunbar. “I thought that putting a clear stud would be fine since it was clear, but I still got dress coded again.”
“We clarified that only ear piercings are allowed and only ear studs for boys,” said Jones. “Our dress code has always said facial hair wasn’t allowed and we had several people who were trying to hide facial hair with masks. There were no changes to the dress code just some clarifications.”
