The Problem of Dehydration in Mount Carmel Academy

At Mount Carmel Academy, most students who participate on sports teams and other athletic activities receive water passes, which allow them to bring water bottles to class. This keeps them hydrated so that they can perform well in any and all after-school practices and games. But, why is it that the school is focused on keeping these students properly hydrated, but the rest of the student body’s hydration is trivial? It is true that all students have access to water fountains throughout the day, but there is no time to get water between classes. The only time other than lunch that students have time to get water is during their classes. Leaving class to get water usually means that the student is missing out on essential information being taught in the classroom. Therefore, most students are unlikely to regularly drink water. The inconvenience of water fountains should be the least of the school’s concerns. Water is essential for the brain to work properly. Even if someone is only slightly dehydrated, research shows that their brain will work 10-15% slower than normal. Headaches, fatigue, and poor concentration are just a few of the other side effects of dehydration. For these reasons, it is essential for the students and the administration to find common ground in order to help students reach their full academic potential.

One way the administration can try to solve this situation is to allow all students to bring water bottles to class. They can limit it to only clear, school-issued water bottles in order to make sure that the bottles do not leak or contain anything other than water. Many members of the administration are likely to be against the idea of water bottles because of the risk of computer damage. This is a reasonable concern, especially with the amount of money the school pays for computers each year. By implementing a rule where computers must be closed in its case before the student can drink any water, the likelihood of damage due to a spill is significantly decreased. With or without this rule, high schoolers are old enough to take responsibility for any accidents that may occur. In the case of a spill, it will be the student’s, not the school's, responsibility to pay for the repair. If these changes are made, the problem of dehydration in schools will begin to improve.

The changes stated prior are going to help both the student body and the school. By allowing water bottle use in classrooms, the students now have better access to water which will allow them to be able to stay hydrated. Keeping students hydrated is extremely important in preventing problems like headaches and fatigue. Granting students easy access to water bottles will help to improve these problems. This solution also benefits the school financially. The school-issued water bottles will be sold in the Cub Shop which will help to bring in more money for the school. Since these water bottles will be the only ones allowed in classrooms, students will waste no time buying them. By implementing rules restricting computer use around water bottles, the likelihood of spills on important materials, especially on the computers, will be prevented. With the few changes made, students at Mount Carmel Academy will be on track to a healthy, hydrated, and happy high school career.