^Yes, I agree with that. And if the point was learning that actions have consequences or that sometimes, we don’t understand why a rule exists until it is too late, or that there are better ways to deal with rules we think are dumb than to ignore them, all good. Most of us learn more from our mistakes and we all make bad choices. Schools get this.
But the kid has to be acountable in the end - not blame the school for a bad rule or to suggest that the rules may not apply to them. And hopefully have already learned to follow the rules.
It really depends on what the kid is conveying. I can imagine essays on this topic that would make a kid appear thoughtful and ready to adhere to the rules of the BS community. I can also imagine ones that sent up red flags.
BS have tons of rules that ultimately have to do with safety – they are responsible for a lot of young people whose parents expect a certain level of care. Most BS alums and students will agree that for a lot of kids a lot of the time, it can seem like too many, often unnecessary, rules. Because, tbh, they often are unnecessary, except when they aren’t. Some schools are three strike schools, some are one.
So this CAN be a touchy topic in an application. And for parents reading this, as you go down the road to acceptance and enrollment, make sure you and your kids know the rules and what happens if you break them. Every year, there are folks who end up surprised at the harshness of disciplinary action (as they search for a new school.)