by Paloma Illanes ‘25

MCPS recently mandated a policy for students to wear their IDs at all times. If teachers or security at Sherwood ask students in the hallway for a form of identification, it’s expected they have one present. MCPS implemented this rule vaguely, with little explanation as to why it’ll work, or what its intentions are. On September 30, Principal Tim Britton announced the new policy to Sherwood students. Teachers distributed lanyards as Britton introduced expectations for students to visibly wear IDs. However, Britton shared in the same message that if preferred, students can have their IDs on their person instead. As a result of the lack of urgency and clarity about the policy, there is no guarantee students will follow this mandate.

Theoretically, the policy has admirable intentions for better ensuring school safety. However, very few, if any, students are seen in Sherwood’s hallways with lanyards around their necks, and there has been no mention of consequences for students not having IDs with them during the school day. If students were given clearer reasons and incentives for wearing their IDs, more of them may have been compliant. Instead, the situation with student IDs remains nearly exactly the same as it was before Britton announced the new policy.