Starting next year many schools, including Lakeland High, will be separating freshmen from upperclassmen in various educational classes and other day-to-day activities.

The freshmen will receive a building just for themselves starting next year because of a new rule passed by school officials. Electives will still be merged with all classes, but educational classes will be separated.

The freshmen will have a lunch just for themselves away from the upperclassmen.

According to Assistant Principal for Curriculum Tracy Collins, freshmen get in the most trouble regarding school and also receive very little attention from guidance councelors. Collins said giving freshmen their own building will help them adjust to high school life such as lockers and class changes.

“Giving them their own building will help to not overwhelm them and the freshmen teachers to know more students names,” Collins said.

Teachers think this will help freshmen not be badly influenced by upperclassmen. Teachers like English teacher Jim Fream said, “the freshmen are often influenced by the upperclassmen because they think since they’re older they’re cooler.”

Many students think this will not work.

"The freshmen are just going to skip out of their building and go mingle with the other kids anyway,” says Michael Daniels, a junior.

“If they pay so much attention to the ninth-graders other classes will be neglected,” said Mary Gartrell.

Many students are worried about how his is going to work out but school officials and teachers have high hopes.