Besides computers in teacher’s classrooms, students can use 55 computers located in the library during Saxon Time. But with the addition of computer labs, which sit empty just down the hall, that number would jump to 155. Until a few years ago, three computer labs were open for student use during Saxon Time. Now, they sit unused except for teachers who reserve them for their classes.
The main reason the labs are closed is because of a lack of available teachers and faculty members. “It’s been an issue of having available people to monitor the rooms,” said head librarian Philip Clark. “We have a history of students destroying the equipment. We can’t have a room open with a bunch of students in them without an adult.”
Up until the labs closed, teachers from the Humanities Department monitored them during Saxon Time. “I do think the humanities teachers thought that manning the labs was a burden,” said Social Studies Department Chair Steve Plunkett.
When the Langley administration tried to spread the duty between all the different departments, some departments objected. “No department wanted to do that,” said Assistant Principal Jessica Statz. “It wasn’t fair to have one department man the labs.”
However, students feel they would benefit from the open labs. “By closing the labs, students can’t properly study because of the new online textbooks and our new dependence on technology,” said sophomore Class President Fakhri Naji.
Senior Jenna Dean has also been affected by the lack of available computers. “You’re staying up to 3 a.m. and you have some assignment that you didn’t prioritize for and you go to the library and they’re already turning people away,” said Dean.
“Five out of six times last year, I wouldn’t turn in a homework assignment because there weren’t any computers in the library,” said sophomore Nirosha Beekhuysen.
“We have the computers for a reason. We should be able to use them, otherwise, it’s just a waste,” added freshman Kerry Bush.