Rules are created to maintain order, outline acceptable behaviors and establish limits. All too often, students disobey rules out of impulsive behavior or disregard for authority. These tendencies to disobey must be corrected and stopped.

Academy students have strict guidelines for clothing, including winter wear and acceptable jackets. The school has addressed the weather issue by allowing cardigans, windbreakers, a variety of jackets and navy blue leggings over the past few years. Despite these conveniences, too many students disregard the uniform options and continue to use their own articles of clothing, including blankets, unapproved jackets or plain white socks.

Rule violations are unnecessary and create irritation for observers, including faculty, and demonstrate selfishness on the part of students.

Doing the right thing and following the rules are not hard, yet people knowingly choose to do the wrong thing. Student reasoning behind breaking school policy is that rules are ridiculous, a minor thing or they can be ignored.

Students fail to realize, however, that such rules are instituted for the sake of equality, order and civil behavior.

Teens will encounter guidelines in future careers in the form of company handbooks, including attire and behavior requirements. If such rules are broken, it is not unlikely that one can be fired from a job.

Although violating regulations may seem minor and inconsequential, it is detrimental to students’ social and emotional growth. The negative consequences of disobeying rules should be reason enough to correct rebellious habits.

Rules exist everywhere throughout life. Whether we like them or not, we must become accustomed to obeying them for order, discipline and respect.