As we walk into the school building each morning, we are immediately faced with a whirlwind of hallway chaos: a group of freshmen yelling at the top of their lungs, someone walking through the crowd in the opposite direction, a huddle of students stopped in the middle of the hallway to chat, or a couple saying their dramatic goodbyes before being separated for ninety minutes. Every morning feels like an obstacle course.
Many of our fellow students would likely agree; it is astounding that most students are not aware of the people and space around them, even after years of attending public school. We believed that proper walking skills were common knowledge from our experiences in high school, but we have learned that this is not the case. A skill that high schools should emphasize more is how to properly behave and walk in the hallways, which promotes proper etiquette, awareness, and time management, ultimately setting students up for successful futures.
At Tallwood, students only have five minutes to transition from one class to the next. In those five minutes, some students are trying to get to class, while others are stalling. Regardless, the hallways still fill up, quickly becoming overcrowded.
Other students from schools across the country also experience this difficulty. A school newspaper in Maryland stated, “In some of the most heavily trafficked areas of the hall, students will gather in groups, making it extremely difficult to go by.” This creates bottlenecks, or hallway traffic jams. Instead of a simple walk to class, students are stuck navigating through crowds of people just to make it to class on time.
With so many students packed into the hallways, personal space quickly becomes a problem. Most students can agree that they are stepped on, bumped into, or cut off in the hallway at least once a day. Being aware of your surroundings and respecting others’ personal space is essential for keeping our hallways safe and easy to move through.
Another common issue we observed is that students spend too much time talking or doing other things in the hallways that they miss the bell and have to get a tardy pass. If this frequently occurs, that means students are missing essential class time and content that could be beneficial to them in the future.
Having a well-rounded education is important for achieving future goals and leads to a more positive outlook on academics, so it is time well spent to be present in class for the whole block rather than roaming the hallways. Learning to get where you need to be on time is a skill that doesn’t just apply at school; it applies in multiple aspects of life.
Some students argue that passing periods are the only chance they get to see their friends; however, this is not entirely true. Lunch, for example, is a great way to spend quality time with your friends, without being in a rush to get to another class.
Even with the cell phone policies in place during school hours, students are still able to talk and connect outside of school using their personal devices. These options show that there are plenty of opportunities throughout the day for social interaction, which makes stopping in the hallways during passing periods less necessary.
Overall, hallway etiquette is about more than just getting from one place to another. Respecting others’ space, being aware of your surroundings, and managing your time effectively are skills that extend far beyond high school. These habits will continue to be useful in college, at a job, or any space that is shared with other people.
If Tallwood students can learn to move through our school with courtesy and intention, they’ll also learn how to act in the world outside of it. Hallway etiquette may seem like a simple concept, but it sets the foundation for being a more thoughtful and respectful person in society.
