Starting at Rocky, there is soon to be a new pass system. The electronic passes arose as an idea to limit bathroom abuse and students skipping class. The main goal is to create an environment where students stay in class learning. Along with this, the hope is to better monitor the amount of students in the halls.
The main question around the passes is how much time will be allowed per pass? Assistant Principal John Campbell says, “The time will be adjusted primarily by the teacher. Time will not be set by admin, so depending on the pass usage, the time will be adjusted appropriately.” This means that if a student needs to stop by their locker or needs extra time for the bathroom, a conversation with their teacher would have to be held, and then the teacher would decide how much time the student should be allowed.
With the talk of the new passes, the debate of whether or not this new system is the best for our school is arising. Campbell says, “Whether it is the best solution depends on how staff uses it, how admin reacts to it, and how well students get acclimated to it. If it is the best for our school will be based on the results and how everyone responds to the passes.” Along with this, student Ulana Richey says, “ I feel this will benefit students more than just having the bathrooms locked. But, if it is best I cannot tell yet.” Teacher Nicole Regan says, “I’m not sure if it is the best solution, but I truly think we need to try something else to help clear the hallways. I know there are students that take advantage of getting a pass. This will help keep track of who is in the hall, for how long, and how many times per day they get a pass.” Overall, right now, whether or not this is the best solution cannot be answered. If the electronic passes are the best solution will all be determined by how everyone in the school responds.
Along with time, repercussions for abusing the passes will also be set mainly by the teachers. Campbell says, “Teachers can make an addition to give referrals and minimize the amount of referrals that they will be given to students a week before getting deans involved. Or also, simply say no to students using the bathroom.” Regan says for her classroom, “If it becomes a habit to abuse the electronic pass system, I’d probably call home and let them know I will be restricting passes if the habit continues.” In addition to individual consequences, those who abuse the pass and do not return to class in time will receive detention.
Other solutions to add to the electronic passes mostly revolve around limiting the amount of students let out of class. Richey says, “I feel like the best solution is to limit the amount of people teachers let out, and to make sure that the students aren’t out for extended amounts of time.” Along with this Regan says, “I think having more security in
the hallways would help limit students skipping.” The overall consensus is that to limit skipping there needs to be more monitoring of students.
Along with other solutions to the passes there has been a rising debate of if the electronic system is actually a fair system to make students follow. Regan states, “I do think this is a fair solution. I don’t think it will affect the students who consistently do what they are supposed to do. It’s just a simplified pass system. They no longer have to worry about having a planner or losing their pass in the hall.” Students who do not do what they are supposed to, they will continually get the consequences they brought upon themselves. Richey says, “I think it will be fair because it’s the easiest way to make sure people aren’t skipping class. And also, students can still use the bathroom without them being locked. ”
The hope that this system makes a difference is strong. Richey stated, “Hopefully, it will work so that the bathrooms remain open and are not locked anymore.” Additionally, Regan adds, “I hope it does. Students not in classrooms need to be held accountable, and if tracking their locations and time in the hallway helps, I’m all for it.”
As different debates and opinions on the new pass system continue to arise, more pros and cons continue to develop. But the main purpose for the passes will be to track the students. To track the students behavior and or usage of the passes and whether they abuse it or not. To limit people in the halls the pass system only allows a certain amount of students out of class at a time per floor. This creates a school wide data tracking system of how many students are out of class.
