Not a single student at Morristown Beard can claim they never go outside during their day. It is actually impossible, given that the Math and Science Center is not connected to the English, Language, and History buildings (Beard Hall and Grant Hall), which is not connected to the Athletic Center. By all means, this spaced out, quad-based campus is a blessing. The burst of fresh air between classes is just as refreshing as it is stimulating throughout an otherwise quite routine day. However, the line between cooling and freezing can get a little blurred during the winter months at school, especially when snow is on the schedule.
Starting in November and going towards the end of January, New Jersey weather can get a little frosty, and most students find themselves needing to pull out the old jacket from their closets to bring to school. While some decide to ditch the extra layer on the bench outside the library after getting off the bus, others opt to carry or wear it to each of their classes. No matter what, the school is left with a messy looking bench that overflows onto the hallway, classrooms littered with jackets, and sweaty students wearing giant coats all day as there is nowhere else to put them.
While full-on lockers may be unnecessary for high schoolers that bring their materials to all of their classes, perhaps coat hangers in classrooms or other convenient spaces could pose a better solution. Riley Algazy ‘26 said, “I think that we could use [hangers] to put away our jackets and sports stuff so that the school would look better.” Algazy also suggested that a cubby system in a centralized location could benefit the student body. She said, “I think that people would want cubby areas, so that everything is more organized. People lose their coats all the time because there is nowhere to put them.”
Some students have simply stopped bringing jackets to avoid these issues. Brook Tannen ‘25 said, “The reason I don’t bring my jacket [to] school is because I don’t have a place to put it. [But] it’s freezing.” Like Algazy, Tannen stresses the need for a designated place for coats because simply braving the cold is not the answer. Whether it be cubbies, lockers, or hangers, jackets need a place to go–especially when it starts to snow.
