After four years of high school, one thing that stands out as unnecessary is the need for hall passes. You might as well be on an alternative campus if you’re found in the hall without a pass. There have been numerous times when APs are skeptical on whether or not my pass is real just because it’s written on a sticky note. Perhaps the problem isn’t the need for passes, but the execution of their use. 

I understand why administration is adamant about teachers writing passes whenever their students leave the room. However, an apparent high percentage of students who get stopped in the halls are those who the APs don’t need to. It seems to many of us that APs will stop students who they aren’t familiar with and ask for a pass, but let students they know keep walking without asking for one. Admittedly, I benefit from this, but am still stopped by APs who don’t know me. Other teachers and administrators who know me have had to vouch for me just because I wasn’t carrying a pass.

Writing passes also takes away from valuable class time. Due to our requirement of signed and timed passes, teachers have to stop their classes to write one if a student wishes to leave. Not only does this negatively affect the teacher having to stop class, but it affects the students in the class as well. When a student leaves and gets their pass checked in the hall, administrators often ask multiple questions about why the student is out of class. This takes time from the student when they could be going to/from class.

While passes do keep students from skipping easily, they are still able to avoid areas where APs monitor. Most of the APs monitor a static position and leave many spots for students to hide and skip. If APs were to wander and monitor different parts of the school, students would be less likely and able to skip. 

If administrators are adamant on keeping passes in use, I and many others believe that they don’t need to be timed/signed. If a teacher keeps a pass on a lanyard behind their desk, teachers will be able to give the pass without stopping class. In addition, they could have students sign out with the time so they can monitor how long a student is gone. For all these reasons, the administration should change the current hall pass system.