A Reocurring Nuisance (Mark Zhang)
An irritating issue that has become evident throughout this school year is that far too many fire alarms have been pulled. What might seem like a joke to some is actually a serious problem.
Aside from real fires and scheduled drills, the correct number of fire alarms going off during the year should be zero.
However, at our school these annoyances seem to be arising more frequently. The severity of the problem has increased more this year than any other in our recent history.
As of this year, the fire alarm has gone off at least once per month, much more than the three or four times in all of last year.
You may be thinking, “Why should I care how many times false fire alarms go off?”; or maybe you even like waiting out in the parking lot and missing class time. Yet, it’s a real problem for Mountain students.
First of all, that missed class time means more homework or rushed lessons since that time will have to be made up somehow. Second, each time the fire department shows up for a false alarm, the school has to pay some few hundred dollars despite the fire department being just down the road. That is simply wasted money — money that could have been used to buy new gym equipment, better textbooks, improved Wi-Fi, faster computers, or other school improvements.
Third, each time that the fire department has to make a trip to our school for a false alarm, we are taking up and wasting their time; what if while they are investing a false claim at our school the Department gets a call for a serious, life-threatening fire?
Added to these concerns is the problem of our school’s exceptional reputation being tarnished.
If nothing is done about this problem, there is a real possibility that the school may resort to installing cameras in the hallways to monitor students. I know that may sound like a needless and unacceptable invasion of privacy to most of you, but it has happened before in schools like Burnaby North. The culprit who pulled it then was caught as a result. Aside from repercussions at school, imagine the embarrassment the person would feel?
So to all the past and potential perpetrators out there, think twice about pulling that alarm. It is costing us money, time, and it has the potential to cost a life. Is missing out on a test you were too lazy to study for really worth it?