5 students getting their stuff from their locker. This is during break time, and they have to get ready for their next class. (Eva L./The Buchhof Bulletin, 20.11.23)
By Eva L., Grade 9
New rules in middle school. Do we like them? Do we not?
Opinions have been flying around the halls since the start of school. Teacher, students, staff, just about everyone has an opinion on these rules.
At the beginning of this school year, some new rules were made in the middle school. These rules consisted of a 5-minute transition time between all classes and a no backpack rule. The rules were set by Middle School Principal, Ms. Millette and the Middle School Assistant Principal Ms. Healy. The rules were put into place to make sure that students aren’t late for class, don’t disrupt class time and to ensure hallways are not as crowded.
“The rules are problematic, “Ksusha K. said. “They don’t help us.”
4, 8th grade students getting ready for their next class. Just before the start of break, getting important things from their lockers. (Eva L./The Buchhof Bulletin, 20.11.23)
The 5-minute passing time is for students to do anything they need to before going to their next class. This could be going to the bathroom, filling up their water bottle, relaxing, going to their lockers and more. It is designed to allow students to use their time wisely and not be late for any of their classes.
The, no backpack rule, is more for students’ health but also for less crowded hallways. Not having to carry around a heavy backpack all day gives the students less back pain and will be better for them in the long run. Ms. Healy said. The teacher will also not trip over them in the classroom and there will be, overall, more space in classrooms and hallways.
All these rules are there to help students, but not everyone is happy with them. In fact, most people aren’t. The students think that they are useless and just make everything hard work.
“Es bringt nichts,” said Alex W.C (Grade 8) which, translated to English, means “they don’t do anything”.
Around 8 students from different grades, walking to their next class with their backpacks. (Eva L./The Buchhof Bulletin, 20.11.23)
Lots of the students are very frustrated with these rules. They say that 5 minutes isn’t enough passing time because their lockers are quite far away. This means they are still late for some classes and then the teachers also get annoyed.
For example, the 8th graders have their lockers in the LADC and most of their classes are in the middle school. That means that each one of them has to go back to the LADC after every class to get their stuff for the next class. All of this wastes time and the students are getting frustrated.
“We are still late to classes and get concerns for that,” Ksusha K. said.
These rules have been designed to help students and do have positive things about them.
“It gives students more freedom” Ms. Healy said.
4, 8th grade students getting things out of their locker during break. Getting their stuff for their next class. (Eva L./The Buchhof Bulletin, 20.11.23)
For example, they are allowed a small bag, like a tote bag, to bring to their classes, which would help them be more organised. Having these small bags means that they can plan what they need for their morning classes and have their stuff in their small bag and then when it’s break time they can go back to their lockers and get their new stuff.
“These rules make the hallways and classrooms less crowded, and make it safer for people walking around,” Ms. Healy said.
The teachers, such as Ms. Healy, think that the rules are good for the students and will help them be more prepared. Having the 5-minute transition time allows students to have break between their classes which Ms. Healy also thinks is good. They are also less likely to disrupt class time for going to the bathroom because they would have done it during their 5 minutes.
These rules have not been fully set in place. So, as we can see a lot of the students are upset about them, which is making teachers change/adjust the rules a bit. Middle school student council is also trying to change the rules. They are starting to send out forms for people to fill in their opinions and other things that could make the rules better. Most of the teachers would like to keep the rules because they are there to help students.