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Wayland Student Press

The student news site of Wayland High School

Wayland Student Press

The student news site of Wayland High School

Wayland Student Press

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Grade segregation persists in Commons

Seniors confronting a freshman on their vent. (Photo Illustration: Eli Lord/WSPN)

For as long as Wayland High School students can remember, there have been clearly defined sections for each grade in the cafeteria, known as the Commons.

Many students say that it can be uncomfortable to sit with people not in the same grade. Peer pressure is common at many schools, and Wayland is no exception.

“You feel pressure because other people aren’t in your grade,” said James Park, a freshman.

Sophomore Colleen Mullen said,“If you sit on the senior vent, seniors glare at you.”

However, some students don’t mind the grade-segregated commons.

“It doesn’t really bother me because it’s by grade and by choice,” explained freshman David Coutu.

“It doesn’t bother me at all because it doesn’t matter if you sit in the freshman section,” said Jason Goodman, a sophomore.

Brett Baker, a senior, had his own explanation as to why the commons segregation plays out the way it does. He believes that grade segregation naturally happens because people want to sit with people in their own grade because they know each other better.

Although he feels no pressure on the matter as a senior, he did admit that when he was a junior, he felt more pressure to stay in the junior section. This indicates that grade segregation in the commons could just be a power play.

Laura Huizinga, a French teacher, added, “It’s a power thing. [Brett] has the power to do that because he’s a senior, but the freshmen can’t do that, right?”

Although most students do recognize this distribution of power, it doesn’t seem to faze them. Sophomore Jonathan von Mering said, “I go wherever the wind takes me; I don’t pay such things any mind.”

Many students agree with this idea; they feel the power play doesn’t affect where they eat. However, not everyone is fine with pressure to sit only in their designated area.

“I feel we should sit wherever we want,” said Barbara Raphael, a junior.

Huizinga shared this sentiment. “Kids who want to sit wherever they want should be able to,” she said. “When I first started to teach here, someone told me this is where the freshmen sit, this is where the sophomores sit… etc. They told me that right away.”

When asked if something should be done about the segregation, 65% of surveyed students replied no.

“If it causes problems, it should be changed,” Park said.

Coutu agreed, adding, “I think it’s fine the way it is. I personally don’t believe that there are many complaints.”

Editor’s Note: Grade segregation in the Commons is a topic of discussion at Wayland High School year after year. What are your experiences? Should the grade divisions be abolished, or is it no big deal?

View Comments (9)
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Comments (9)

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  • W

    WhoeverApr 11, 2011 at 1:05 PM

    Every day, I sit at a table with some of my fellow juniors, and some sophomores that we are good friends with. People accepted it. Grade segregation is by choice, it isn't enforced in any serious way. People just want to sit with their friends.

    Reply
  • N

    nobodyNov 15, 2010 at 7:18 AM

    I remember being a freshman and doing orientation and having my peer connector point at the Freshman Section and go, "This is where all the freshmen sit. I mean, you can sit anywhere, but you really should sit here. No one will like you if you sit in like the Senior Section."

    Reply
  • ?

    ???Nov 9, 2010 at 10:44 PM

    I personally think it's more important to become close with your own grade before you become close with others. In the end, the three grades above you will leave, and you'll be stuck with your own grade.

    Pro-grade-segregated commons.

    Reply
  • G

    Graduated '09!Nov 9, 2010 at 1:58 PM

    Grade segregation in the commons has always occurred. Back when I was a freshman we had to sit in the freshman section, and so should every other freshman. Then you can move along the ranks, working your way up to the Seniors section. My Senior year the juniors tried to start expanding into the Senior section and it was really annoying. We didn't try to sit there the previous year, so why should they take our tables away? That's just the way it is.

    Reply
  • P

    pssshhhhNov 9, 2010 at 9:52 AM

    grow up and stop worrying about what people think and just sit wherever you want

    Reply
  • I

    ima juniorNov 9, 2010 at 9:05 AM

    I mean i am a junior and i have friends that are freshmen and sophmores and i see no problem with me sitting with sophmores. I sit with them inside the commons. I dont sit with the other juniors. Its not a big deal, no one makes it that way. When we used to have the annex all grades were allowed in there and it was no big deal. Now that we dont have it, people make it a big deal to sit with other grades in the commons. really its not. Go sit where you want no big deal.

    Reply
  • S

    Susie KeyesNov 9, 2010 at 8:38 AM

    Back in prehistoric times (mine) we ate in the commons by groups – drama, music, sports, latin club, etc – all in the same area every day. But your grade did have some connection to which chairs you sat in within the group. Seniors always had first choice – best seats – and sat together.

    Reply
  • I

    its normal...Nov 8, 2010 at 4:29 PM

    I am not a senior, and I like the commons being divided by grade.

    It naturally happens because most of the people you want to sit with are in the same grade. People sit at the ends of tables or middle tables with their friends from different grades all the time- its not a big deal.

    Reply
  • G

    Gardy BarksNov 8, 2010 at 11:20 AM

    This is a tradition that stems back many years. Some things you just do not mess with. It has been the system in place for generations of Wayland students. I personally see nothing wrong with the segregation. The freshmen are new and do not know too many other students out of their grade so they have their area. The Sophmore, Junior, and Seniors sections are not as bad is this article makes out. There is plenty of overlap in all three sections. There is no written code forbidding the mix. The reason why most seniors despise when underclassmen sit on our vent is because we never did that. We waited a long three years before we inherited our section. If you are not a Senior and sit on our vent you are asking for the negative attention. I agree with the point that most students feel more comfortable with their closer peers; which are normally in their own grade. If you truly want to have a change of scenery there are plenty of tables that are mostly vacant during lunch. There is absolutely no need to sit on the seniors sacred vent. Wait your turn like everyone else. : P

    Reply
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Grade segregation persists in Commons