The school is already buzzing about the senior class, and not in a good way. As I have heard from five different faculty members, the senior class as a whole has a bad reputation going around the school.

It all started with nearly the whole senior class plagiarizing on the English summer reading assignment. As a fellow senior, I understand how hard the summer reading was and how online resources could make it much easier. However, there is no replacing reading the real deal. It was clear that many of those who plagiarized did so unintentionally, as during the lecture over plagiarizing there were numerous comments along the lines of, “That counts as plagiarism?!”

The thing is that there are even more problems going on with the senior class. From mass ditching on two occasions, to senior pranks the list goes on and it’s barely October. The problem is so big that even different grade level teachers talk about it in their teacher meetings.

As seniors we need to get our acts together. Harding is a 4×4 school, meaning that to graduate you need to pass all your senior core classes. The course load is already tough enough; you do not want a teacher tipping the scale against you.

As we start applying to colleges and for scholarships we are going to need letters of recommendation. With the majority of the faculty angry at the class, the chances of getting a letter go down significantly. It is a small world. Do not burn bridges. Even for the students who do not get in any trouble or think that they can “get away with” what they are doing, the teachers who actually agree to write a letter of recommendation are humans and the bad reputation of the senior class could influence their letter. So encourage your fellow classmates to act right.

On a side note, on the subject of letters of recommendation, please realize that teachers not only talk about your academics, but also your character. They do not stay in their classrooms all day; they see you in the halls, too. It is not uncommon for teachers to use what they see in the hallways as a judge of your character. So be mindful of what you do and say in the hallways (i.e, cussing, hitting, yelling, etc) because that could influence your chance at getting into the college of your dreams.

Though here at The Marionette we do not condone hijinks, pranks, and skipping school, such acts should at least wait until May. In May some teachers are looser on the rules, they know you are ready to graduate. However, if the senior class continues down this road, the school could crack down on the rules and at the end of the year what is supposed to be a fun time, will just be hard times. Also word to the wise, remember you are only allowed nine absences (excused or unexcused) before you lose credit in a class, all seniors still need to go to a college fair.

So in the words of our principal Justin Hunt, “seniors, get it together!”