The dead of winter is here, and students are bundling up to beat the cold. However, renewed district initiatives reaffirm that coats are not allowed inside the classroom.

This measure is not a new one; it has been in the school handbook for several years. But its enforcement and practicality has waned in recent times. Between metal detectors, cold temperatures, students traveling to and from Abrookin, and the possibility of tardiness when putting jackets away, many saw it as simply more convenient to enforce the rule leniently.

Recent events, however, have necessitated stricter enforcement of the policy. Tragedies such as the Newtown incident have demonstrated the need for tighter school security, and Albany High is no exception. Above all else, the forbidding of coats within the classrooms is a matter of safety, as weapons can be concealed within bulky jackets relatively easily.

The question is, where do we go from here? As previously mentioned, the measure is not new, though it is newly enforced. Yet as of press time, the renewed initiative is already losing steam, as several teachers are already dismissing it.

In the interest of constructive criticism, this is exactly what needs to be changed about Albany High. Initiatives are enacted, then forgotten in a matter of weeks (anybody remember the water bottle checks of December 2011?). Students and staff alike are given no time to adjust to the rules, which are abandoned without any manner of discourse.

Perhaps the coat initiative is a step in the right direction. Continued yet reasonable enforcement should lend Albany High policy more credibility. Safety is an ultimate goal of any school, and it cannot afford to be compromised by mixed messages. Thus the coat initiative is representative of a struggle Albany High has faced for some time. Actions taken in the coming weeks will prove pivotal in determining where the Falcons go from here.