In high school, I was a band kid. I frolicked with the others and we shared many happy times. No one was ever in a bad mood, but if they were, they knew where to go, the band room!
It was the ultimate sanctuary, we could go in anytime, get a pass and forge the teachers signature without him minding... virtually we were all untouchable to the school system. Like with all good things though, it had to meet its end.
Last year we knew we had to watch ourselves if we wanted to keep this resource handy. One angry teacher could bring an end to this paradise, and it didn't take much to do so.
As i said it was a dream in the beginning, sure enough people started pushing the limits, they would stay without passes, and began writing ridiculous reasons on their ticket out of class. They began bringing their lunches up, leaving their trays behind when they had finished, thus accumulating a pile of stinking food accompanied with gnats. Sharing traits with their rotting food these same people began bringing their friends along with them into the band room knowing that things were starting to get fishy.
One day as we sat in our "home" waiting on homeroom, Mrs. Bence barged in red faced... We were forced to leave the room. The following day, it was announced by our band director that we were not to enter the band room from this point on in the mornings.
We had a resource that was unmonitored except by those of us in band, but through selfishness we lost it all. A perfect example of the tragedy of the commons. My sister, a band person now, said the other day it was announced they were no longer to enter the room unless it was their band period...
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