Forum Thursday on High School Opening and Tunnel Closing

As it now stands the Swampscott High senior tunnel is a thing of the past.

But the tunnel discontinuation and opening day will be topics for discussion at a community forum Thursday at 6 in the high school auditorium.
The forum is open to anyone who wants to attend.

New Principal Ed Rozmiarek has reviewed footage of last year's tunnel event, read news accounts and spoken to people about it, and come away with serious concerns.

They include concerns about intimidation, student safety and the tone that the activity sets for the school on opening day.

He subsequently spoke to the superintendent and senior class advisor about discontinuing the tunnel activity, and has a meeting scheduled Tuesday to discuss it further with this year's senior class officers, he said in an email.

For further comment from Principal Rozmiarek on opening day, here is a link to an open letter to the Swampscott High School Community, posted on the school's website.

Below is part of the principal's response to an email we sent him asking about opening day and the discontinuation of the tunnel. 

"I would say that my decision has been made, but I will listen to what I hear from people on Tuesday and Thursday.  If someone can convince me that there are good reasons for this practice to continue, I would reconsider my decision.

Across the state and across the country, attention has been raised over the past few years about preventing bullying, harassment and hazing in schools.  Each fall, our coaches and club advisors are expected to instruct their students about the meaning of hazing and the penalties that come from engaging in hazing.  Based on what I have read in news reports and what I have seen in videos of last year, the senior tunnel comes very close to the definition of hazing.  I am concerned for those younger students - or even other seniors - who do not appreciate the noise and chaos of the senior tunnel. It is my duty to present a safe and welcoming environment for everyone at school, and I do not believe that the senior tunnel does that. In news reports a year ago, the principal and superintendent were quoted as saying that the practice was allowable because those students who did not like the tunnel were free to use a side or back door to enter school on the first day. But in my opinion, that is not a sufficient answer. Every student, of any age, grade, or tolerance level, should be allowed to enter the front door of his or her school without being made to feel uncomfortable.  We should be welcoming all students on the first day, not yelling and screaming at them.
 
I am also concerned for the safety of the seniors who participate.  I saw video coverage from last year of students riding to school in cars, leaning out the windows and standing up out of sun roofs - obviously not wearing seat belts.
After the tunnel ended, they came into the building and ran full speed through the halls, in large crowds.  This is simply not safe behavior, and I don't think we need to wait for someone to fall and get hurt before correcting it.

Finally, I simply do not believe this activity sets a good tone for the first day of school.  The school is the place of work for our 100 or so faculty and staff members, and it is meant to be the place where students come to study and learn. I am asking the seniors to respect that.  Yelling and running through the halls on the very first day, however briefly, do not help establish a positive learning or working environment. I understand that this year's seniors have seen the senior tunnel from prior years and may have come to expect this as their "turn."  However, I hope they will reflect on how this behavior could affect younger, more sensitive students. Instead of looking at my decision as the loss of their activity, I hope everyone will instead consider this year as their chance to be part of making Swampscott High School a more positive and welcoming place for everyone."