Students arriving late to class is a problem at our school that can be fixed.
Many schools in New York City are planning to increase their passing time so students will not be late to class. Schools are taking away one minute from class time to give their students more time to getet to class, due to the escalating numbers of students in high schools.
It is unfortunate that our school is yet to have a passing time.
“The three minute leniency period that we have is good enough, so three minutes is good,” said the science teacher Ms. Kimberly Lombardi, who is also the United Federation of Teachers Representative of our school.
Not everyone agrees, however.
Still, a passing time is not a requirement in New York City public schools, and there are many schools besides ours that do without them.
Some students also agree with Mrs. Lombardi.
However, the three minute leniency that has been enforced unofficially is assumed to be enough for students to get to class on time.
The issue has come up in staff meetings even before we moved off the college campus, and Principal Ms. Aimee Horowitz agrees that three minutes is enough time for students to get to class.
Three minutes is considered enough time, but is it? There are more than 400 students moving through the hallways between each class.
“We do need a passing time because every one needs time to relax a little after class”, said sophomore Bola Taiwo.
And students who are going from the cafeteria or the music room to the fourth floor do not have enough time.
No passing time has also taken a toll on school safety agents who have to deal with the students going through the hallways.
“I recommend two bells, one at the end of class and another at the beginning of class, and a passing time should be four minutes,” said school Safety Agent Pappalardo.
When Pappalardo is on duty, he has to deal with kids going through the halls in between classes and its not easy to control.
“What’s happening is, kids are staying in the hallways longer than they’re supposed to, making them late for class and disturbing other classes that are in session. Although students are good, what I recommend is that teachers stand outside their classroom doors during passing to help with the over-abundance of students clustering,” continued Pappalardo.
Passing time is crucial to education, and spending three minutes of class time in the hallways pushing your way through
