Parking Panic at Scituate High School

“It’s not fair.” “Shouldn’t have been changed.” These are just some of the fifty comments that were received from juniors at Scituate High School in a survey, asking about their thoughts on having their parking spots designated to the Gates Middle School back parking lot. Yet, it isn’t the student body’s complaints that are the most significant issues that we should be focusing on, but solely one thing–safety. Every day, the protection of student drivers, primarily newly licensed drivers in the junior class, are put at risk walking into Scituate High School.

In a study conducted as part of Forbes magazine, researchers in North Carolina found that new drivers struggled in the three common areas of failure to reduce speed, as well as inattention and failure to yield. With many students either having their license or being close to obtaining their license, many adults have been reciting the same speech–don’t text and drive, don’t get distracted by your friends, don’t drive recklessly, or something along those lines. This same speech has probably been shrugged off, with students thinking that they would never be so clueless and distracted to endanger to themselves or others. Without having these road signs, sidewalks, or crosswalks for students to adhere to on their walk to school, it becomes an everyday threat to these students’ safety.

Two years ago, when construction began for the new middle school, some SHS teachers were prohibited from parking where they normally would, and as a result, their parking spaces were relocated to the new Gates lot. However, before the 2018-19 academic year, these teachers advocated for moving their spots back to the SHS campus, relocating to the old senior lot. These teachers were tired of having to carry multiple bags as they trekked from the Gates lot to their SHS classrooms. Despite sometimes having to carry more bags than students, the teachers were able to enter the high school from the middle school building. (Instead of walking around the school toward the gym, the teachers were able to cut through the middle school, which is significantly safer, and faster. )

This year, SHS students who have permission to park at the Gates lot are not permitted to walk through the middle school to access the high school. In fact, part of the argument for students to park at the Gates lot was because the administration determined that it would be easier for students to have a longer walk as compared to some of the teachers, but in practice, this does not necessarily make sense if a large body of students have to walk a much further distance, with more safety risks. It would be easier for students to physically make the walk every day but safety is an important component that is at risk which the teachers did not have to worry about. The issue of parking should not be observed as students were simply too lazy about having to walk an extra five minutes into the building but instead, as a safety issue.

Even observing national statistics, according to the Department of Public Health, between 2008 and 2012, pedestrian injuries were the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths between the ages of five and eighteen within Massachusetts. If we take a look at the projected pictures, pictures that were taken just two days ago, we can see that there is not a crosswalk for students to get across the street to reach door D2, the designated entrance for students parking in the Gates lot, or even a slow down sign or pedestrian crossing sign for students to be able to cross.

Another factor that must be considered is the fact that winter is less than a month away, and with this time approaching, students will also have to worry about leaving even earlier to get to school, due to the harsh weather conditions and be extra cautious on their walk into the building. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from 2011 to 2015, an average of 800 Americans died yearly due to winter weather conditions including snow, sleet, hail, and many other conditions. On top of having almost no safety measures taken for students along the walk from the parking lot to school, it only further increases the risk of a possible disaster.

It is understood that this issue is a lot more than just switching parking spots between the staff and the students and students aren’t asking for an immediate solution. This solution did allow more students to be able to park and, according to Principal Wargo, has “fixed” the problem, as it has allowed for “getting more student spaces” and for every student who wanted a parking space to get a parking space. But, the problem goes farther than this. The student body asks for an assurance of safety in the place that is often looked at as a safe place. The Scituate High School handbook advocates for the safety and well-being of its students, stating how the high school strives to “provide an environment conducive to the fullest possible development of each student” and “engagement through student-centered and collaborative learning.” Why is it that Scituate High School prioritizes its students solely within the classroom rather than acknowledging their overall safety as members of society?

Students ask for their guaranteed safety, simply trying to receive their education every day. The main concern is not the distance that students walk but rather the danger students are put in due to the new parking situation. With no crosswalks for students to get to the designated entrance, and an ending sidewalk forcing students to walk directly alongside traffic, it would simply take one speeding student driver and an unaware pedestrian for some truly horrid consequences. The Scituate High School community should be pushing for both a safe environment within and outside of the building, especially when it comes to as a matter as serious as this.