Many students are in a consistent hurry to get to their next class after the passing period time changes. photo by Emanuel Morales-Gomez
As the school year starts, many at TJ have found the addition of new rules to have both pros and cons.
The schedule at Thomas Jefferson High School has changed multiple times over the past couple of years. It has proven difficult for the schedule to appeal to everybody. Whether it’s the addition of advisement or a late start, the schedule has changed over and over again. This year, TJ is once again debuting a brand new schedule. The bell schedule has changed, and grades now have different lunch times. Additionally, students must put their phones away in every class so they are out of sight and out of mind. The new rules have caused a lot of controversy, even though they have proven to help the general well-being of students at TJ.
TJ has started to separate lunches between 10th-12th grade and 9th grade. The older grades still have the same fifth period lunch, but now 9th grade has it a period earlier, during fourth. People have begun to realize that many freshmen are unable to join clubs. This change could cause separation for the freshman from the rest of the school. Therefore, some clubs have started to meet after school, though this provides a challenge to students who have other after school activities. In addition to this, freshmen are no longer allowed to go off campus. Freshman Nesi Saribal expressed her dislike of the separate lunches. Saribal feels like the new rules have caused TJ to “feel like middle school” as she still can’t go off campus.
Along with the lunch change, passing periods have shortened from five minutes to four minutes in the new bell schedule. Tuesdays through Fridays have the same schedule: periods are 48 minutes, though third period gets an extra eight minutes for Spartan Edition, making it 56 minutes. However, on Monday, classes are only 45 minutes. Classes on Mondays are cut down to make room for a new TJ addition, Spartan Time, which is 28 minutes. This time creates a well-needed opportunity for students to attend office hours and adds another way for clubs to include all grades in their meetings. Spartan Time may be an imperfect solution to the problem of freshmen not being able to join clubs, however. Many 9th graders who want to be in multiple clubs can only join one, as there’s only one Spartan Time a week. Students are only allowed to go to three places in the school: classrooms, the library, or the lunchroom. English teacher Joseph Smorol has expressed his excitement for the new schedule. Smorol explains that the separate lunches help keep his students coming to class on time. While Smorol’s students used to often be late to class, now if they are, it’s by “only one or two minutes.”
One of the most controversial rules right now is the rule that students have to put their phones away in every class. Many students have consistently responded negatively to the new rule. Saribal explains that the new rule affects her greatly. She states “there’s certain websites that you can’t access,” so a student would typically use their phone to access the website; however, they no longer can. Some students dislike this rule because of safety concerns. Many are concerned that they might get an emergency text or important phone call and not have access to their device. However, many teachers have observed that students’ ability to pay attention and finish their work has increased, as they now have limited access to a world of distractions. Smorol brings up the fact that he no longer has to take phones away. In fact, since he “hasn’t had to take a phone all year,” he likes this new rule as many students no longer are consistently on their phones, ignoring the lesson.
Overall, the new rules at TJ have both pros and cons. Students have been working well with the new rules. However, several rules have made some students feel more unsafe and more disconnected. As more individuals get used to their new schedules and wake up earlier than normal, the rules will become more comfortable and routine for everyone.
