The Race Against the Tardy Slip
This picture is of a tardy detention slip that is given to students who are caught during tardy sweeps.
March 1, 2022
As chatter fills the air and herds of students journey back to their classes, a sudden voice can be heard cutting through the announcement speaker. It’s echoes across campus cause footsteps to halt and heads to crane back, leaving many to await the unknown news. While the words, “we will be holding a tardy sweep” travel to all of those in sight, the sound of sighs and groans can be heard accompanying it. It is a statement that springs frustrated students into a timely race, one against receiving a dreaded tardy slip and self-serving to a 30 minute after school detention.
As of March 1, students who are more than 20 minutes late to 1st or 2nd period or late at all to periods 3-8 will have to have a tardy slip in order to enter class.
Although the controversy regarding tardy sweeps is no mystery to any Millikan student, teacher, or staff member, there is still much debate that surrounds its continuation. Many, including myself, have taken the time to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of it.
As much as I can acknowledge that tardy sweeps are intended to boost student punctuality, I must admit that I believe they only add stress and pressure to those who have been on time. Especially students who must hurry from one side of the school to the other.
I myself have struggled after lunch to rush from the 200 building to the 1100 building to prevent being caught by school administrators. Others have faced issues trying to get to the bathroom during a tardy sweep.
I think that constantly urging students to race to class only does the opposite. Having to listen to a repeating voice irritates me and doesn’t encourage me to rush to class.
Unable to receive the insight of Millikan’s assistant principal Mrs. Filer, I sought out to interview fellow students instead.
MBA junior, Wyatt Crippen, says, “I can see how tardy sweeps are beneficial to getting to class on time, but I can also see how they add stress on us. Who needs more stress during an already stressful time?”
“Tardy sweeps make me dread passing period,” MBA junior Jack Woods adds.
On another note, conducting tardy sweeps can also lead to students being punished for their tardiness over something that wasn’t their fault.
Ultimately, I believe that Millikan’s tardy policy should be modified to reduce the stress and pressure on all student’s lives.
Josh Tenold • Mar 4, 2022 at 12:11 pm
Kassie, I agree with your opinion on the late slip policy. I have never experienced having to walk across campus and risk getting caught up in the tardy sweep but I am sure it can be stressful for the students that have to do it. Why did Mrs. Filer not comment on the situation? Is it because she disagrees with it and can not publicly speak on the issue? At least the students are not afraid to voice their opinion and not be scared. I think it shows a lot of guts to stand up against new policies the higher-ups make. Can we talk about the bathrooms being locked that came along with this new policy? That is just as dumb as the tardy sweeps. Why are new policies even being made? What made them think that these policies were a good idea? I would have liked to see some results or statistics, maybe we could have taken a look at the attendance forms from before the policy was made and after to see if there were any real results.
Kassie Sainz • Mar 9, 2022 at 11:02 am
Thank you for reading my article and responding back to me with a comment! Regarding your questions, Mrs. Filer did not comment on the situation because I was unable to schedule an interview with her. It is purely due to the fact that she was busy and did not respond to my emails.
Linked below is an article that a fellow Corydon member of mine wrote. It will solve all of your questions about the bathrooms being locked.
https://millikancorydon.com/1709/opinion/locking-restrooms-is-this-right/
Kassidy Echnoz • Mar 4, 2022 at 12:03 pm
In issue 5/2022 (Published on March 1, 2022), Kassie Sainz wrote an article titled “The Race Against the Tardy Slip”. In her article Kassie wrote about the recent tardy policy that Millikan put in place. She interviewed different students and they said things like “Tardy sweeps make me dread passing period,” (Jack Woods). I also think that the new tardy policy is lame. I don’t feel like students are purposely late and like Kassie mentioned in her article, often times it’s not the students faults. There definitely should be some type of punishment for being repeatedly late but not for the one or two times. I understand the need for the new policy during the day but it makes passing periods stressful, especially if you have to use the restrooms. Most of the buildings are closed now during lunch so if a student needs to go before fifth or sixth period they are forced to risk being late even though it is not their fault the bathrooms are closed to begin with. Overall I see the need for the new tardy policy but I feel like it is ineffective and there are better alternatives. Thank you for bringing attention to this topic Kassie.
Mathew • Mar 4, 2022 at 10:57 am
Dear Corydon Editor
In Issue March 1, 2022, Kassie Sainz wrote an article titled “The Race Against the
Tardy Slip.” The article mentions how Millikan are doing tardy sweeps due to students who don’t
show up late to class. “ As much as I can acknowledge that tardy sweeps are intended to
boost student punctuality.” What Millikan doesn’t know is that it tends to add more stress to
the students and can be very overwhelming. As Kassie mentions in her article, it’s hard
when you have a class located in the 11000 building then you have to walk over to the 200
with only 7 minutes. You have to walk around everyone. People walk fast and slow so you
have to keep that in mind. You can be stopped by administrators at times which also kills
time. This is only causing more stress. “Having to listen to a repeating voice irritates me and
doesn’t encourage me to rush to class.” I agree with kassie because they continuously
remind us about having tardy sweeps and making sure to show up to class on time but
when you constantly hear the same lines being repeated, it’s tiring and annoying to the
point were just are not going to listen. An experience that I had this week was I was walking
from the 800 building to the 200 building to walk my next class and the bell rang right as I
got up the stairs of the building I wasn’t even not even a minute late to my class and was
still sent to go get a tardy pass even after going through that trouble trying to get to my class
on time. It makes my passing periods more stressful which should be the case whatsoever.
Sincerely,
Mathew Jurado, Grade 11