Debt Due Approaches Sooner Than Before
Participation in upcoming events can be affected by new overdue deadline.
By Atreyu Weber
Participation in upcoming events can be affected by new overdue deadline.
By Atreyu Weber
Due dates for books and fines have been brought back to be much sooner than before. This year, upperclassmen have until March 29 and underclassmen have until April 5 to pay their fines to the school library. Seniors and juniors who have yet to pay risk their opportunities to go to school organized events.
“It is important that students take responsibility for paying fines for their borrowed materials,” said librarian Satu Sharman.
A change in the due date has caused a mixed reaction from students, primarily seniors and juniors. Darin Krum, 12, has a $101.05 fine owed to the school for HP Chromebook 11A and $26.25 fine for two books. Krum said the damage to the Chromebook was because of the poor quality of the device.
“It’s dumb, I don’t want to pay one hundred dollars for something I didn’t do,” said Krum.
For certain students it may be difficult to find the means of paying. An earlier due date gives those who come from lower income families, and do not have any income for themselves a tougher time. However, it is important that students take care of their responsibilities, especially since they’ve been on notice well before the due date.
“Students must learn to manage their money and obligations to pay their debts,” said Sharman. Upperclassmen feel that it is unfair that only their due date has shifted to be sooner, while the underclassmen remains the same as it always has.
The consequences for not paying your debt could be missing out on big moments of their high school experience. Sofia Chichizola, 12, feels it’s unfair to students that can’t afford to pay the fine.
“I think a lot of seniors are going to miss out on their senior events because of it, and for people who can’t afford to pay back their fines are being punished for something that isn’t necessarily their fault,” said Chichizola.
These consequences were put in order to prevent an increase of students having debt. The intentions are to motivate students to take good care of their items and return them how they were given.
“Students learn that there are consequences for losing or damaging library materials, and I want them to take better care of the items they borrow. Setting a due date for fines on lost and damaged materials promotes responsible behavior, and students adopt a sense of ownership over shared resources,” said Sharman.
Sharman feels this experience provides students with the opportunity to use these debts as a learning experience on how to manage their finances.
“Some students may not comprehend the impact of their actions on the library's resources or understand why fines are necessary. Unpaid fines can accumulate and lead to financial consequences for students. Students must learn to manage their money and obligations to pay their debts,” said Sharman.
There is a responsibility students have to manage their items from the school and be held accountable for the way they treat them. This change is not meant to prevent students from enjoying events, but meant to hold them accountable.
“We want students to be able to participate in memorable, fun things. Students with outstanding materials or fines have been aware of this for a long time, and now they should take action to settle any fees or return their overdue materials,” said Sharman.
“It is important that students take responsibility for paying fines for their borrowed materials,” said librarian Satu Sharman.
A change in the due date has caused a mixed reaction from students, primarily seniors and juniors. Darin Krum, 12, has a $101.05 fine owed to the school for HP Chromebook 11A and $26.25 fine for two books. Krum said the damage to the Chromebook was because of the poor quality of the device.
“It’s dumb, I don’t want to pay one hundred dollars for something I didn’t do,” said Krum.
For certain students it may be difficult to find the means of paying. An earlier due date gives those who come from lower income families, and do not have any income for themselves a tougher time. However, it is important that students take care of their responsibilities, especially since they’ve been on notice well before the due date.
“Students must learn to manage their money and obligations to pay their debts,” said Sharman. Upperclassmen feel that it is unfair that only their due date has shifted to be sooner, while the underclassmen remains the same as it always has.
The consequences for not paying your debt could be missing out on big moments of their high school experience. Sofia Chichizola, 12, feels it’s unfair to students that can’t afford to pay the fine.
“I think a lot of seniors are going to miss out on their senior events because of it, and for people who can’t afford to pay back their fines are being punished for something that isn’t necessarily their fault,” said Chichizola.
These consequences were put in order to prevent an increase of students having debt. The intentions are to motivate students to take good care of their items and return them how they were given.
“Students learn that there are consequences for losing or damaging library materials, and I want them to take better care of the items they borrow. Setting a due date for fines on lost and damaged materials promotes responsible behavior, and students adopt a sense of ownership over shared resources,” said Sharman.
Sharman feels this experience provides students with the opportunity to use these debts as a learning experience on how to manage their finances.
“Some students may not comprehend the impact of their actions on the library's resources or understand why fines are necessary. Unpaid fines can accumulate and lead to financial consequences for students. Students must learn to manage their money and obligations to pay their debts,” said Sharman.
There is a responsibility students have to manage their items from the school and be held accountable for the way they treat them. This change is not meant to prevent students from enjoying events, but meant to hold them accountable.
“We want students to be able to participate in memorable, fun things. Students with outstanding materials or fines have been aware of this for a long time, and now they should take action to settle any fees or return their overdue materials,” said Sharman.