The elevator landing after the couches were taken away. Photo courtesy of Tasfia Hasnat.
Citing excessive noise from a group of ninth grade students, school administrators removed the furniture across from the third floor elevators on February 26th. Their removal came after numerous warnings to the students to pipe down. In place of the couches, a whiteboard was left displaying the ominous message ‘a word to the wise was not sufficient’, in direct contrast to H-B’s motto, verbum sap sat, which translates from Latin as a word to the wise is sufficient.
“They were a constant disruption,” attests Catherine Frum, 12th grade English teacher, whose room opens onto the elevator landing where the couches once were. “Eventually, it got to a point where I couldn’t teach a full class without disruption.”
Graham McBride, assistant principal, was closely involved in the removal of the couches. Instead of being removed from the premises, the furniture has been distributed throughout the building and is still available for student use. When asked about the reasoning behind the decision, he notes that students were “throwing things, bothering people exiting the elevators…disturbing nearby classes, and generally disrespecting adults who confronted them about their behavior.” He concludes: “at some point, verbum sap sat expires. The point is, they’re our couches – not yours.”
While staff members rejoice at the banishment of the couch frequenters, some students disagree.
“They’re not only our couches, they’re for the whole community,” says Ajan (‘28). “I’ve told other members of my group to stop and be quiet, so I’m annoyed.” However, Ajan completely understands why they were taken away. “We were throwing around crutches, there was a lot of cell phone usage, we were really loud,” he remembers.
Graham is providing indignant students with a path to getting the furniture back: “anyone who frequents those couches can play me one-on-one in basketball for the return of the couches. Any time, any day.” The Current looks forward to seeing if anyone will take him up on his offer.