Administrators implement new directive for students leaving classrooms
Tiffany Ou-Ponticelli conducts at Midwest
On Jan. 10, at the beginning of second period, administrators announced over loudspeaker the implementation of a new bathroom pass system. Students are now required to carry a red pass out of class to use the bathroom and were instructed to take no longer than 10 minutes before returning to class. Assistant Principal Courtney Carlomagno explained that these measures are to ensure both student safety and equity. 鈥淲e notice that oftentimes, students [are] out and about and certain students are being approached more often than other students,鈥� she said. 鈥淸They say], 鈥業 see other students who look different from me, and they鈥檙e not being asked why they鈥檙e not in class.鈥欌��
Administrators are also concerned about not being able to locate students in case of emergency as well as discerning between students and campus visitors. Assistant Principal Harvey Newland explained the importance of identifying students versus strangers. 鈥淟ast semester, there were people who came onto campus and sometimes it takes a moment to figure out what their business is,鈥� he said.
Students and teachers, however, have expressed frustration over the bathroom passes, calling it overstepping or not truly equitable. Junior Toni Minion said that the passes provide a superficial solution to a deeper issue. 鈥淸The hall passes] are the wrong way to solve administrators鈥� issue of biased reporting,鈥� she said. 鈥淔or example, Hispanic students or Black students are always being asked what they鈥檙e doing [out of class] even if they鈥檙e working quietly. If they鈥檙e going to patrol the [campus] and make sure everyone鈥檚 in class, they should either ask everyone who鈥檚 loud, ask everyone or ask no one. I don鈥檛 think the answer is huge passes that are around [students鈥橾 necks and are unhygienic.鈥澛�
Minion added that the passes are an unnecessary addition to teachers鈥� list of responsibilities as well. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not really fair to teachers who are at risk of getting sick, and also places more load on [them] in that they have to monitor how long students are gone and how many can go,鈥� she said.
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