DHS Administration: Listen to students’ voices

Posted by ameet sharma on Mar 23, 2012 in Telegram Past News

Many in town are familiar with the issue of the color black surrounding Dixon High School and Principal John Barsotti. I have done some research and found that changing colors at Dixon High School appears to be another attempt by Principal Barsotti to exert his influence on the school in a place where he may lack authority. What was viewed as a minor issue is quite deeper than what I had thought it would be.

The first issue with Dixon High School administration changing, or exerting influence on, school colors is that it should not be an administrative issue. Enrollment is projected to be down, teachers are expected to be cut, and we are amidst one of the worst budgetary situations in decades and the DHS Administration doesn’t like the color black? The color black is the biggest issue on hand?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics describes the job of a school principal. Nowhere in the description does it state that the principal should be involved in any activities that do not directly have to do with the learning process. The administration gets paid great amounts of money to do their job and it would really be helpful if they would actually stick with doing their assigned jobs.

The second issue with the color policy is that the Associated Student Body has already resolved the issue. Many years ago the student body declared in its constitution that black is a an official school color. In Article I section II of the ASB constitution, it clearly states, “ Green, White and Black shall be the official school colors.” The issue has been resolved and students have already chosen official school colors- thus it does not appear to be in the jurisdiction of the principal to attempt to change the will of the students. Doing so could appear to be a clear violation of student rights.

The third issue with the color policy is that in most cases, players are arranging for their own uniforms with little or no help from the principal.  If the DHS administration wants to exert influence on the sports programs’ uniforms, then why not first arrange for sufficient funding for sports and uniforms before making suggestions on how they should be? They should not order mandates on items they have not fully contributed towards.

Finally, all things aside, if students want to have black then let them. The school ultimately belongs to the students. I am not so deeply bothered by the colors as I am by the process. One person under our belief in liberty does not have the right to decide the preferences of others. Members of institutions have always decided the basics of the institution, if Coca Cola can change color of cans, and Pepsi can change Logos 8 times, students at Dixon High School can add a third color to their uniforms, which they have done through the ASB Constitution anyway.