For my new long-term assignment, I have three periods of math (two are co-taught) and three periods of computer science. Sixth period is computer science. It was Wednesday.
Tardiness has become a huge issue on campus. (Since they did away with tardy sweep, we have students who amble in at any time during class as if they don't have a care in the world.)
So, when Reid walked in almost fifteen minutes late, I inwardly grumbled and noted the time. (I note very late arrival times in the attendance.)
Immediately behind Reid was Kate from security. Uh oh...
Kate asked what Reid had been doing out of class.
Reid: "I had a bathroom emergency..."
(It's become a thing, mostly with the boys, if they've been out of class "to the restroom" for longer than reasonable and they are questioned on it, their answer is long, involved, and poop-filled.)
Reid's pause carried certain implications.
Kate wasn't buying this. Reid hadn't asked to go to the restroom, so he was considered tardy. (If a student asks to use the restroom during passing period, I don't mark them tardy if they get back to class after the bell.)
And Reid hadn't been near the restrooms. He had been with several other boys, and they were peeking around corners, looking out for security most likely.
All of this was part of the lecture Kate gave Reid. That was all he got, for now. Once he was settled into class, Kate asked me his name, which I gave her.
I don't know if Reid fully realized it, but he is now on security's radar. Certain students aren't allowed out of class during class time without an escort because they have a tendency to wander. This was step one of being added to that list.
(I wonder if he knows Austin. If not, I should introduce them. Austin might be able to warn Reid of what happens if Reid continues down the roaming campus path.)
It's not just the tardy student who loses out, it must disrupt the class so everyone gets distracted and loses out. Boys, huh? In my day the girls would cut and then say they were hanging out in the bathroom with "period cramps."
ReplyDeleteYes, part of it is the attention they get from spinning a story. Sadly.
DeleteAustin will probably just give Reid pointers.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the expression "mess around (except it isn't mess) and find out".
ReplyDeleteDidn't I make a similar comment...? Oh, that was last week, wasn't it? These days run together after a certain point.
DeleteGotta be tough dealing with some of these problem students. Nice to have security on premises to keep the order.
ReplyDeleteWhy do they get rid of things that work, kinda work. Tardiness shouldn't be tolerated and I wad one who could be tardy.
ReplyDeleteThere's been a shift in the culture. State-wide, they've pushed for less draconian punishments. Less punitive, more growth-minded. Fewer suspensions, more restorative to the classroom stuff. So, tardy sweep got pulled, and now we're dealing with just constant tardies. It's insane.
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