The best part of waking up is Folgers in your…trash? I don’t think that’s the right ending to that sentence, but it has been one of the main problems at the high school lately. Whether it’s Folgers from home or an iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts, tons of students are being forced to throw their coffee away.

This is not a new rule. Last year, the rule was that students could not pass the lobby with coffees, but it was not strongly enforced. Teachers were allowed the coffee in their rooms as long as there were no problems. Now, students cannot even get into the doors without teachers hounding them about their thermoses.

“I have been drinking coffee since freshman year. My ability to do well in school and not fall asleep depends on it. My mornings are also tough enough with the morning traffic and getting up early,” senior Julia Bergeman said. “My regular cup of coffee is the only thing that keeps me sane. Mrs. Yaiser told me that it only takes one student to ruin the morning coffee for everyone. If that is true, how come no one has heard about that?”

I think this rule is unnecessary in our high school environment. There is nothing wrong with kids bringing coffee or hot tea into school. Some kids use the caffeine to wake up for their classes. Or maybe the warmth calms them after coming in from a chilly winter morning.

Another thing that is bothering the students is that they are asked to throw away their drinks. This is money the students spent to buy their coffees. The students are not happy about a money-conscious school telling them to dispose of their hard earned cash. Two bucks might not sound like a lot, but for the students who buy it everyday, it adds up.

“The coffee rule is something that came up across every district. The rule is that you can only have a clear or transparent container with water in it,” vice principal Mr. Jason Lilly said. “Allergies are huge right now, and safety is part of it. Also there are new food and nutrition guidelines. Not having coffee was always a rule.”

I disagree with this because not every school in our district should have the same rules. High school students are nothing like elementary school students. Of course not allowing little kids to bring coffee is acceptable, but teenagers?

Some of us are adults, and most of us are able to act like them. If there is not any serious reason behind not allowing us to have coffee, then why are we being so strict about it? Students should be able to have some freedom, and I think coffee is not that much to ask for.

I can understand concerns about coffee being distracting or there being spills. But seriously, how often does that happen? Last year I drank hot tea every morning, and I never had a spill or got yelled at for not paying attention in class.

Maybe the rule could be changed to something more reasonable, such as no coffees or thermoses allowed in the hallways or classrooms after first period. That way students get one block to enjoy their morning drinks, and everyone wins. Wouldn’t a compromise be better than a completely unhappy student population?

“Students should be allowed to drink coffee in school, because it helps us stay focused throughout the day,” senior Olivia Reichley said. “I want to be able to at least enjoy my coffee in the morning during announcements; there is nothing wrong with that. If you want us to behave like young adults, then treat us like them.”

Honestly, people just drink coffee because they enjoy it. Coffee is something the student body likes, and now students are ticked off. We have had coffee taken away from us when it never even caused a problem. Coffee makes this school run; our teachers have it everyday too. On behalf of the student body, we want our coffee back by any beans necessary.