Hi, my name is #786. That girl over there is #1435. Oh, and he is #357. Yes, it is true. Now every student at The Benjamin School has a number. So why, when The Benjamin School expresses individuality and respects and loves each and everyone of us for who we are, why are we now numbers? Well, there is a very good reason for that.

Security and ease at pickup and dropoff are top priorities at the Benjamin School. “[We switched from last names to numbers at pickup for] added security for students and their families during pickup,” said head of middle school, Mr. Charles Hagy. “The Lower School went to this system last year, and we made the change this year to be more consistent between divisions.This way, parents who have lower and middle school children only need to worry about one system, one number and hang tag, during pick up.” This security measure began in the Lower School, and the administration makes a good point as to why numbers may be better than names.

“The Lower School implemented the number system last year at the suggestion of a professional school safety and security consultant,” explained Mrs. Robyn Quaid, the head of the Lower School. “The numbers protect the identity of students and their families. None of us can assume that only ‘authorized’ people are present at dismissal each day. Names broadcast over walkie talkies can compromise security.  We work hard to protect the identity of each student; using numbers supports our efforts in that regard.  Each student is precious to us; the number system is but one of the enhanced safety and security measures implemented on our campus last year on behalf of our students, families, faculty and staff.”

So there you have it. Security is priority one. And while students may find this new system a little alarming and startling at first, Mrs. Quaid says have faith. “While it [the new system] might be difficult at first to respond to a number instead of a name, it only takes a few weeks – if that – to make the new association automatic. Faculty as well as students learn the numbers and soon connect the number with all the children assigned that particular number. Families will keep the same number throughout their years at Benjamin.”

However, some students are still confused during pick up as they are still getting used to the protocol. Who goes to which car, when can students go to their cars, whose number is what, etc? “I think it’s more complicated,” said seventh grader Ned Murphy. “I can forget my number more easily. . .sometimes I forget [my number] and start talking at pickup, so I wish it was just last names because I know my last name way better than I know my number.” Considering that we live in Florida, a generally hot state, faculty and students want to get pickup over with as soon as possible and go home, and the confusion that the new number system has brought during the first few weeks has not been helpful.

Safety, though, not what’s easier for students, is the School’s overall concern. “This is a proactive change that was suggested to the school during our security reviews with the police department and consultants over the last few year,” added Mr. Hagy. Some students may dislike the new system at pick up, some may miss the old system, but the The Benjamin School only wants the best for their students, and this new system could possibly be the best.”