Parking tags should not be required

Nathan Kremer, sports editor

Over the past few weeks, the administration has punished students who have not purchased a 2022-2023 school parking pass with stickers on their cars. However, these are no ordinary stickers. The combination of a car wash, razor, WD40, and soap and water may not be enough to scrub the remains of the stickers off the cars. Something as simple as a sticker has become quite a problem. 

This controversy regarding the car stickers brings up the question: why does GHS feel the need to charge its students to park in a parking lot that belongs to a public school? After talking with Mr. Craig Bruns, assistant principal, I was made aware that the money the school collects is used to repair the parking lot. It is used to repave the lot as well as paint fresh, white parking spaces. It may also be used to repair potholes or handle other issues. 

In my opinion, I have always felt parking passes were not needed. I always thought it was unfair to charge students to park in a public parking lot. It does not cost money to park at a grocery store, park, or most restaurants, so why does a public school have to be different? After realizing the true purpose of charging students to park, I understand where the school is coming from.

With this being said, students already have to pay a fee for textbooks that are rarely used in most classes, and now we are forced to give more money to the school. Some students save their money for years in order to purchase a car. Now, GHS is tampering with their property in order to get a $15 permit from each individual. Not every student has $15 laying around their house. Forcing students or their parents, who may barely be able to afford their cars or necessary items in their lives, to pay a $15 fee to park in a public parking lot seems harsh. 

I also believe there are better alternatives to solving this problem. Instead of placing a sticker that can be a nightmare to get off a car, why not enforce PowerHour detention or a similar “punishment.” If the school is going to enforce a fee to park in the parking lot, then the student should receive the punishment — not their own or relatives’ car. If a student simply cannot afford the $15 fee, setting up a system that would support and help these students would be effective. 

Overall, I disagree with the idea of forcing students to pay to park at a public school.