For many Hackley students, the school day begins with a race against the clock as the administration holds a policy of lunch detentions for students who arrive late to first period. Is there a fine line between encouraging punctuality and punishing students for things that are not in their control? My investigation will determine if there are more sufficient ways to handle students’ lateness, without giving lunch detentions.
The biggest issue about this rule is that it doesn’t balance real-life situations with the expectations of the school. For example, traffic on the way to Hackley can be a nightmare for students. One small accident can add up to twenty minutes to a student’s drive. Students cannot control what happens on the highway, yet are the ones who have to pay the price. Students with older siblings who drive them often have to park all the way up at the Johnson Center, which is practically on the other side of the campus. Students have to walk from the Johnson Center to their first-period classes as fast as they can. To add on to that, cold weather comes with snow and ice on the ground, making it even more difficult for these students to get to their classes on time.
Does the punishment fit the crime? The ongoing question is: Is being late to school deserving of a lunch detention? Lunch is a time when students get to take a break from their long day full of academics and work. Lunch is a time when students clear their heads and finally get to reunite with their friends. When a student is forced to sit in a silent room for another half hour, they lose that important break. Will these detentions make students be more punctual, or does it just leave them feeling frustrated or angry?
The stress of losing a lunch break can negatively impact a student’s mood for the rest of the day. High school is already full of stress, tests, projects, and homework. It is vital for students to have this midday break. Yes, these students have more time to do work or study, but it is inevitable that they will be far more tired, annoyed, and less productive during the afternoon. This consequence does promote punctuality among students, but only to an extent. For the students who are late because of traffic, siblings, or parents being late, having to attend lunch detention is like having to go to jail because of a crime they didn’t commit, unlike students who sleep through their alarm, or just don’t feel like rushing to first period.
Is there a way that Hackley School can enforce punctuality for students who are late without an excuse, instead giving all students the same repercussions? Yes. Hackley can create a system that separates preventable lateness from unavoidable accidents. Some examples of preventable lateness could be oversleeping or leaving the house too late, which are things that can be prevented, and therefore deserve light consequences the first time, unless they happen more than once. Some examples of unavoidable accidents are highway accidents, extreme weather, or mechanical problems. If a student can prove or show that the reason they are late was an unavoidable accident, they should not have to endure lunch detention.
To add on to this, the school could also use a method that focuses on the number of tardies per student. For example, the first three or so tardies, students could get a simple warning or email home, which covers the students who can’t avoid being late. But after the third late, students should begin having consequences, because constantly being late suggests a pattern or a habit amongst the students, and the school should start giving lunch detentions, or begin with meeting with the students to discuss why they are constantly late.
By changing this policy, trust is built among the students and the teachers because students feel as though their teachers understand them and will listen to them. This new policy would also promote fairness instead of consequences no matter the situation. Hackley School should think about making a new policy regarding students’ lateness if they want to encourage a more positive, productive, and supportive environment for everyone on campus.
