What Capritto can do to improve his image

Ryan Nagy
Staff Reporter

As this is the last issue of the Forge of the year and my last perspectives piece for this school newspaper, I would like to go out by sharing some of my ideas to the school.

First of all, to those who will continue school here: enjoy the moment. It’s easy to look into the future, especially when you become seniors and have universities and opportunities just months away; but try to remember that when you graduate, it’s all over. High school is over and there is no way of going back. So get involved with what the school has to offer, like clubs, or group activities.

I would also like to say that my four years are up, but the timing is fine because I am not exactly a fan of our principal.

Dr. Capritto, there are several things I would like to suggest to you to help how you do things at this school. After having three principals in four years, I would consider myself somewhat experienced with principals and their interactions with the students.

It appears as if you do not have a lot of fun with your job because you are nowhere to be seen during the day. Do you hide in your office, trying to avoid kids? I have seen you only a handful of times on campus between classes and I cannot recall you being on a bulletin this year. Maybe you were on the first one to introduce the new year. Our former principal, however appeared almost weekly to say something to the school.

And yes, although Mr. Turnbull ditched the students for more money, he was in the hall with his shades, talking to students and like Mr. Meister, saying, “Get to class.” But at least he was enjoying surrounding himself with students and in a way, going to high school again. So I encourage you to be visible to the students.

When I do see you, however, you do not do a sufficient job of connecting with the students. For example, when you speak to the students at an assembly, half of them do not pay attention to what you are saying. At least when formal principals Dr. Robertson or Mr. Turnbull spoke to kids, they were captivating, outgoing even and could communicate to us on our level.

So when you are walking around on campus, try to say hi to students, or talk to them.

Many of the administrators have fun with students and I have never seen, or heard of you doing that. For example, during the King of Hearts saga starring Michael Bagdasarian, Mr. Hodges showed up and played a role of an administrator who told Michael that no girl wanted to go to the dance with him. It was hilarious.

But that’s what working at a high school is all about. Of course there needs to be discipline and organization, but that needs to be balanced with a nurturing of the things that makes us kids. The teachers, counselors, security guards, coaches, and everyone on the faculty, understand this (and I hope you can demonstrate this too).

For instance, you took away the two-minute bells to confuse students about the time and prohibit them from socializing. Please don’t say that the two-minute bell is “confusing.” I do not think one of the thousands of students here, at the junior high or anywhere across the nation is confused by this two-minute bell concept. I am glad that they are back, but the fact that they were omitted in the first place, I believe, shows that you cater to the parents, or someone else other than the students, which I find unfortunate because I feel like the students should be your first priority.

Finally, never come after the Forge, or any other school production like you did when Karl Sandrich made his jokes. That was awful how you singled out Danny Langhorne and Ms. Bartz. Your approach to the situation was uncalled for and unprofessional. What’s worse is that even after parents gave you heat, I heard that someone asked you how you would handle the situation differently and you said you would not have changed anything. Dude, wrong answer.

Students need a gregarious, outspoken leader and this year you did not seem to be that way. I hope that next year you can relate to students better and be with them.