RIS introduced new IDs to students of all grades. Since this happened, many students have a lot to say. Most students don’t like the new IDs and think they’re unnecessary for school because they do not see their purpose. But some students think it is fine and like the idea of having to wear IDs at school.
In February 2026, at RIS, Mr. Gachmen announced to the 8th graders that we would have to start wearing IDs every day. Later, he announced to the other grades that they, too, had to wear their IDs. After he told everyone that we had to start wearing them, many students had different opinions on IDs. Over a few months, many students stopped wearing them because they did not like them and did not see the point.
We interviewed students of all grades and teachers to get more information about their opinions and how they feel about them. Most students said that they did not like them and thought they were unnecessary. We asked students what their thoughts were on the IDs, and Nate, a seventh grader, said, “I’m not wearing it, and nothing has happened. I don’t like them because they are extra.” We also collected teachers’ thoughts, and one of the teachers, Ms.Banic, had this to say, “It is not necessary, I feel like it takes away from looking like students and more like a work environment, and takes away from being kids. I think it helps with safety, but it seems like they’re tracking students’ every move.”
While many students and teachers had bad things to say about the IDs, there were a few with some good thoughts. Mr.Gerckens stated, “I think it’s helpful for students to have identification and check-ins and check-outs for the nurses’ office, library, and maybe even restroom usage in the future. I mean, I don’t think it’s necessary; the world goes on without them. Overall, it is a good idea”. Teachers who like them all share very similar opinions, and Mrs Trottere would agree with that. She stated,“ I do like the school ideas, and it’s helpful to get them ready for high school as well. I can see the benefit and why we’re doing it, to keep our students safe and accounted for during the school day. The IDS helps with keeping our students accounted for while they’re in our building during the school day and making sure that everyone’s safe, and we know where they’re located”.
After gathering students’ and teachers’ opinions, we wanted to interview Mr. Gechtman, who came up with the idea for the new IDS and thought it would be a huge benefit. We asked him what influenced him to want to start letting students wear ID’s. He responded with, “I don’t know, I was not really influenced, I was just able to see the benefits. At Westfield High School and surrounding school districts, regarding the ID process, I understood that our eighth graders will be high school students, and in a few short months, to get used to what the norm is at Westfield High School. As well as how it assists us in just an extra layer of Safety and Security. You know, when it comes down to if a student is going to their counselor, the nurse, or child study team, or a behaviorist, or anywhere in that nature, and they’re stopping in because they have to drop something off or they have a question. In an emergency, a fire drill or evacuation, or if anything were to ever occur when they got to their destination, they would have scanned in with their ID, so we have a record of where their last place in the building was, so we would know who they are with. I think that is always a fear of a teacher that when we have a fire drill, they’re missing three students because they let them go to the counseling office, and now they’re searching frantically for them. But knowing they signed in with the counselor, they’re currently with the counselor, and they’re safe. I think that’s just an extra layer, as well as just also tracking how many times students are stopping down certain periods. We want them in their courses, but obviously if they need something they should be able to take care of it in that moment”. Most students and teachers don’t see the purpose of the IDs, yet many teachers see the positive effects of the new IDs and the impact they can have on our school.