Tardy sweeps are a big issue in Cesar Chavez High School. They cause unnecessary detentions and unwanted pressure on students, and the time it takes to write a student a tardy slip hinders the student from actually getting to their class. Ultimately, tardy sweeps either should be eliminated or passing periods should be extended for students to get to class on time.

     The passing period is simply not long enough to get to class on time because Chavez is a big campus; getting to the F building from the M wing takes five minutes if you run. Also, students should have the time to use the bathroom during their passing period, and five minutes is no where near enough because only one bathroom is open at Chavez. The girls’ bathroom is especially filled with long lines, and it takes about eight minutes for your turn. Tardy sweeps are implanted to set students up for detention because passing periods in general are too short for students to use the restroom and walk (not run!) to class.

    In the contrary, principals and CSM’s may believe tardy sweeps are important to motivate students to get to classes on time. However, tardy sweeps are ineffective because they cause students to be even later for their class. For instance, on the day of my Spanish final, a CSM stopped me right outside of my class (The bell just rang and I was literally five steps away from the classroom door), and it took a good 10 minutes for the CSM to check my ID and write my tardy slip. As a result, I was 10 minutes behind on my Spanish final, and losing that time was detrimental. Why should we have tardy sweeps when teacher’s are already required to check attendance and mark students if they come late? Tardy sweeps just cause unnecessary pressure and constraint on students.

     Tardy sweeps are not useful and they do not benefit a student’s education. Either the principal should extend the passing period time, or students should sign a petition to end tardy sweeps at Chavez for once and for all.