Late teachers (Editorial)

Ethan Orrey

Hr-7

Teachers Showing up Late

It has happened a couple of times already this year where teachers have shown up for their own class late.. When asked why teachers give out tardies, many of the responses are similar. They all state, “Because it gives the student discipline when they show up late, and teaches responsibility.” But why do the students need to show up to the class on time when many of the teachers show up late to their own classes?

I have multiple classes throughout my day where I'm stuck waiting outside my class for 5, and sometimes as many as 15 minutes, before the teacher eventually shows up. “If a teacher shows up late to a class, I feel that they should have some type of discipline,” says Kevin McCarthy. It makes sense when a teacher arrives to a class a couple minutes late because, like students, they’re coming from another class, but when they show up 15 minutes late there should be no excuse. It doesn't take 15 minutes to walk from one end of the building to another, which raises another question. What can teachers possibly be doing while they're taking their time getting from class to class in the 15 minute span they take?

Students have always wondered that if a teacher shows up late to a class should the students need to stay in the class. An example of this would be a case where a teacher is more than 20 minutes late, should the students have to attend the class. Most of the class time that has been given for instruction is already been gone, just by that teacher showing up late to their own class. In my personal opinion, I feel that teachers should not be able to give out tardies when they fail to show up on time.

I guess it comes down to respect.  If teachers expect their students to be respectful and show up on time to class, students should be able to expect the same level of respect from their teachers.