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Why The 15 Minute Rule Should Exist

Why+The+15+Minute+Rule+Should+Exist
Amy Perelberg

We have all been faced with the decision: what to do when the teacher does not show up to class. Do you take advantage of the fabled “15 minute rule,” (or ten depending on who you ask) leave, enjoy an extra free period and hope the teacher or a substitute doesn’t show up? Or do you wait it out he or she finally comes, if they come at all?

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the 15 minute rule does not exist according to assistant principal James Farnen.

“If a teacher doesn’t arrive to class, someone should go to the AP’s office and/or Dept Office to let somebody know,” said Farnen.

However, the 15 minute rule should exist.

Staples has a double standard when it comes students and teachers arriving late for classes. If a student is late, he or she gets marked tardy. If a teacher is late to a class, the only thing that happens is that he or she now has to cram about one hour worth of material into 45 minutes, which negatively impacts the teacher and the students.

Teachers need to be held responsible if they are late to class and since they can’t be marked tardy, let’s give kids a “limited” free. If a teacher shows up 15 minutes late and tries to cram a 50 minute lesson into 35 minutes, it would be unfair to students.

Also, students have spent 15 minutes sitting there thinking about a potential free. They have been willed up and are not exactly ready to learn.

At the same time though, students cannot just leave class since they still need to be accounted for. So, students should be required to stay in the classroom, but they would be able to do any homework they need to do. This would basically be an extra study skills.

Now teachers would be held responsible for arriving late to class and that double standard would be abolished. Students may not be getting 45 minutes to go talk with their friends, but one cannot complain with 45 minutes to study or do homework.

Teachers would also be less likely to arrive late to class if they knew that they would lose their entire time to teach. Students though would also be less likely to leave and go take a free period since they are getting free time, even if its not social time.

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Bailey Ethier, Editor-in-Chief
Editor-in-Chief Bailey Ethier ’15 has self-described himself in one word as “Texan.” Growing up in Texas, Ethier dreamed of being a professional athlete. Soon enough, however, he realized he didn’t have the athletic ability to do so, and turned to the next best thing, in his opinion: journalism. When he moved to Westport before ninth grade, he decided to join Inklings given the fact that he enjoyed a seventh grade project on sports broadcasting. As a sophomore, Ethier was a Web Opinions Editor, and was then a News Editor as a junior. He is ready to lead Inklings as Editor-in-Chief this year, and is fully committed to the paper. “I absolutely love this paper,” Ethier said. Deeply committed to journalism and hoping to pursue it in the future, Ethier is constantly trying to improve his journalistic skills. This summer, he attended a journalism program at Columbia University in New York City. He then headed to Texas for his eighth year at Camp Champions summer camp in Marble Falls, Texas, completing a three year senior camper program. During his senior camper program, he learned many valuable lessons, including how to lead by example. He hopes to carry his leadership at camp to Inklings this coming year. Ultimately, Ethier hopes to accomplish much during his final year on Inklings. “When people think of highly acclaimed newspapers, I want them to think of The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Inklings.”

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