Do you constantly need more time in the halls during class change? Do your parents get on you about tardiness? You may not be at fault. Did you know that most Lafayette High School clocks are incorrect?
One day before fall break, The Times took an informal survey to see which clocks were telling the correct time. Excluding the science hallways, only one clock in Lafayette High School displayed the proper time. The rest of the clocks displayed a time ranging from a one-minute difference to a three-and-a-half-hours difference. One minute may seem insignificant, but students who rely on the clocks could be tardy and eventually penalized for being late. While most students have access to some form of technology, not everyone has that privilege.
Lafayette’s mission is to provide all students with a safe and inclusive learning environment. Having students guess how much time they have left during class changes can be anxiety-inducing for students trying to rush through already crowded halls. Leaving these students without access to the correct time puts not only themselves but also their learning at risk.
Coming in late can create a stressful and resentful attitude towards school. In addition, the clocks being off provides a lack of reliability. For instance, the school pays a lot of money for maintenance, and wasting money on inefficient equipment is not beneficial to anybody.
While it may seem like a minor inconvenience, we all would benefit from having working clocks.
Students who rely on these clocks will be relieved and will not have to worry. The halls will be less congested if everybody can see how much time they have left. Less tardiness will result in better attendance and set up a more relaxed and ready-to-learn mindset.
The Times interviewed counselor Darnell Rawls, a staff member at Lafayette High School. Rawls agreed that “Yes, it makes students uncomfortable and panicky, and not having a [time] source could be very frustrating.” It is very important to have the clocks fixed so students do not feel pressured. The clocks might not affect the whole school, but they bother many students. The clocks need to be fixed so they no longer inconvenience our students.
