When the early dismissal bell rings, not every student goes home. Most students have reliable transportation home, but some are left standing outside waiting in potentially unpredictable weather or unsafe conditions.
Students should be allowed to remain indoors after dismissal instead of being required to wait outside.
To prepare for college, students are encouraged to enroll in advanced courses. These programs often include laboratory or hands-on with unpaid internships that require two-period blocks, frequently forcing students to adjust their dismissal timings to fit these requirements into their schedule. Under current policy, these same students are often prohibited from remaining indoors after their scheduled classes end.
Early dismissal is often viewed as an advantage for students to get ahead on homework or attend their extracurricular activities. But for many students, early dismissal creates a problem that is rarely discussed: being forced to leave campus and remain outdoors until their car or bus ride comes.
Students who don’t have immediate transportation are often required to wait outside campus grounds. According to school policies, those found on campus during school hours are faced with action that would make them switch to a regular arrival.
From freezing temperatures to intense heat, weather conditions can be unpredictable and extreme. This situation poses health risks towards students who are forced to wait outside near roads, parking lots or public areas with little supervision. School is meant to foster a safe environment, yet current policies sometimes leave students exposed to conditions that could be easily avoided.
Since many parents work late hours, students often wait an hour or more in stressful and unsafe conditions that could be easily avoided by allowing them to remain indoors. While some students leave with peers, teen drivers aged 16-19, are often to be found in fatal car crashes. According to CobyWootenLaw, Texas teen drivers were involved in 83,004 accidents in the past two years. Concerned by these risks, many parents prohibit their children from driving with peers, leaving students no choice but to wait outside the front entrance.
Bus delays have become a major issue due to nationwide staff shortage, frequently leaving students outside past dismissal. Instead of leaving at 4:30 p.m. at dismissal time, many students reported waiting until 5:10 p.m. for their transportation. Students should at least be allowed to wait in the cafeteria, possibly with supervision if the school is worried about their behavior without an adult around. According to Edutopia, structured and quiet environments improve student’s productivity for work. Students could utilize those extra 40 minutes to finish assignments from classes or study in a secure place.While the library is technically open, its limited capacity or closure for testing or events makes it an inconsistent solution. Despite areas like the IB commons, cafeteria or Health Science Academy selection offering tables and couches, students are still required to leave the area.
Although the phone ban is a law among Texas high schools, administrators monitoring places would ensure that students are utilizing their time wisely towards their studies instead of being on their phones. This could be beneficial towards students as they could get their homework done on time and have free time aside for their extracurricular activities or hobbies after school. This way students aren’t left waiting outside risking their health and safety, wasting energy and barely getting work done in the afternoon. If administrators are already monitoring the building to make sure each student is not in the hallways without supervision, they could monitor specific places that students normally stay in to ensure their safety.
Allowing students to stay ensures their academic resources by providing study lounges which are beneficial for some students who have limited space or distractions at home. Early-dismissal students should be allowed to stay in campus buildings after dismissal times because it ensures the students’ safety, keeps them productive and supports their flexible schedule for families and working students.
