I, along with many others in our community, have experienced the frustration and hardship of having our school ID cards stolen. The financial burden of replacing these cards - a $5 charge each time - is not something every family can afford. This issue has led to unnecessary detentions when students are unable to present their IDs due to circumstances beyond their control.

At Dawnwood Middle School, we believe in fairness and understanding. We must reflect these values too. Therefore, we propose that the school should not give detention the first time a student forgets their ID card. Instead, there should be a warning system in place.

This approach will ensure that students who genuinely lose or have their IDs stolen are not unfairly punished for an incident they could not prevent. Moreover, it will help alleviate some of the financial pressure on families who cannot afford constant replacement costs.

According to data from National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), over 15% of students aged 12-18 reported being bullied at school during the year; theft was one form this bullying took (NCES Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2019). By implementing this change, we can also indirectly address such issues by removing one potential object of theft – the school ID card.

Let's work together towards creating an environment where all students feel safe and treated fairly regardless of their circumstances. Please sign this petition urging our local schools to implement a warning system before giving detention for forgotten ID cards.