Detentions For Tardies?

Every day, many students arrive at school late. With morning traffic jams, adults driving to work, seniors commuting, and parents dropping off children, tardiness has become a serious problem. Almost every morning students arrive late and end up in detention because of a new policy that states every three tardies result in detention. Many people believe this policy is unfair, since traffic is often not the students' fault. The roads are congested each morning, making it difficult for everyone to arrive on time. Even school buses have been arriving late; almost every morning the main office secretaries announce that teachers should NOT mark students late because of bus delays.

This problem has grown large enough that many students are serving detention as a result. In addition, a majority of these students participate in multiple after-school activities, which can make mornings more rushed and increase the chance of oversleeping. This frustrates some teachers, who see repeat tardiness among students involved in clubs.

Tardiness should not automatically lead to detention. Detention is intended as disciplinary action to help students learn from mistakes and correct misbehavior. A single late arrival does not necessarily indicate misbehavior. If a student is chronically late and exhibits behavioral problems, firmer consequences may be appropriate. However, well-behaved, high-achieving students should not be punished with detention for occasional lateness. If this issue continues, the Board of Education and our superintendent, Mr. Jeremy Davies, should discuss possible changes to the policy.

While the issue is being addressed, here are some tips to help students arrive at school on time:

1) Leave a few minutes earlier than you think you need to. If traffic occurs, being ahead of schedule increases your chances of avoiding delays or arriving early.

2) Eat a balanced breakfast. A good morning meal helps wake your body, gives you energy, and clears your mind for the day.

3) Wake up earlier—about an hour and a half before school starts. Extra morning time helps you get ready calmly and reduces the risk of being late.

In conclusion, morning traffic and resulting tardiness have become a major problem for the school. Even the drop-off area is congested, especially since sixth grade moved to the middle school and out of Harding. Hopefully these issues will be resolved soon. Morning traffic is often beyond anyone's control, so follow the tips above if you need help arriving at school on time.