four minutes passing time was Open House

[Guest guest]

Jan wrote:

And, would you believe that they give the kids 4 min. to get to classes.

My response:

I teach in a building that also gives four minutes to get to classes.

Every year new parents are very concerned about this until they realize that

every year approximately 2200 students, teachers, and staff in my building

are able to do make it to class.

Four minutes is a blessing - too much time gives students time to notice and

pick on others.

Think about it. The four minutes is unstructured. While teachers and hall

monitors are in the halls, it is the first time for many students to be

without direct supervision. Sometimes if a student is having a meltdown, we

aren't in the hall, but helping that student in the privacy of the room.

Students hustling to class, coming from the gym or cafeteria and climbing

three flights of stairs don't have time to bother other students.

Problems begin when students have a class right next door to their previous

class. Then they have three and a half minutes to focus on others. Of

course, many are unpacking and starting the 'pre-class' activity, but for

some students, it is their time to get attention in undesirable ways.

For students walking with friends, it is the best four minutes of the hour.

For the student walking friendless and anxious about being alone, the four

minutes are 240 seconds of torture.

Only four minutes? What a blessing!

E.C. Bernard

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