Hungry students charge through the crowded halls to make it to their destination on time.
Northwest High School has eliminated the five-minute break between lunch dismissals. This has made the halls swarm with students.
Last year, students had a smooth transition between classes and lunch. The extra five minutes made it easier for them to go to their lockers, go to the vending machines, and meet with their lunch buddies. Now, students feel overwhelmed and rushed.
The new dismissal has created unnecessary anxieties for many students. Senior Serena Kint struggles with claustrophobia, making a simple walk to lunch a fearful journey.
“With it being crowded, that does bother my claustrophobia, which can give me a lot of anxiety,” said Kint.
The number of students in the hall gives some students a paralyzing feeling. Kint experiences high levels of anxiety when presented with large crowds, and wishes that the transition were smoother.
“I feel like there’s something [Northwest High School] could do to make it better, especially if they have added that extra time to the day,” said Kint.
During the transitions, students are faced with shoving, cutting, and even risking getting tripped by others stepping on their shoes.
According to Minga’s article Crowded Hallways in Schools: How Data, Reports & Dashboards Can Help, crowded hallways pose risks, including the potential for bullying and unsafe behaviors. Minga also mentions that when students feel overwhelmed in the hallways, it is more likely for those students to display hazardous behavior.
Senior Braydon Horsfall has experienced the chaos firsthand.
“Hectic. Everybody is just so crowded,” said Horsfall. This new system makes it hard for dual students, like Horsfall, to focus and navigate their work. “Everybody’s touching and talking, and you’re always bumping into people,” said Horsfall.
The students are troubled by this new lunch bell dismissal. Some obstacles make the transitions uncomfortable for students. Therefore, students want extra minutes, even if it is just one.
