No finals will be taken early this year at Morton East High School.  

Many students in the past years have took the final exams for many classes earlier than when the test should’ve been — due to family emergencies, vacations or holiday traditions students had. This 2018-2019 school year, Morton East High School won’t be allowing students to take their finals before the scheduled dates. All students must take their tests following their finals schedule for the week of finals. A score of a 0 will be given to all those students who do not take their tests on the day and time indicated. There are many opinions around the school about this new ruling. 

“School values every second of class. Students have a large time for vacation,” said Randal Borgardt, Assistant Principal of Morton East.  

However, maybe it just has to do with the fact the school wants to enforce coming to school since students are missing too much.  

“If it’s district rules it’s district rules. It’s important that you guys [students] aren’t missing school since you’re missing school already,” reported Matt Dugan, Dean of Students. 

It’s understandable that most staff and administrators would agree on this ruling. However, there are teachers and staff that don’t agree and have the student’s side on this new idea. 

“I’ve worked here for 20 years and there’s always a time during the holidays where some students are gone, and my understanding is that it’s cheaper to get airfare a week prior – as teachers we are supposed to acknowledge and identify the culture of our student community,” stated Journalism teacher Kent Frankfother, “and wouldn’t those students who vacation early be a part of that cultural understanding.”   

Students as well have a big saying in this decision the school made. They are impacted the most on this issue and have their own opinion. 

“I think it’s unfair because sometimes it can be a family emergency or family reunion, so it is kind of unfair because you [students] have worked every single day and they [the school] aren’t doing much for you as you are for them,” said Senior student Syed Saldana. 

It can’t be told if students will obey this new ruling. The only thing the school can do is enforce the new rule to make students take their final on time, however, students and their families might continue to follow their cultural vacationing traditions.