Grand Haven High School is changing their student hall passes. The new electronic hall pass (E-Hall Pass) is a program students have on their Chromebooks. GHAPS purchased this system for the semester to “try it out”, and if they like it, it will be in Grand Haven to stay.
Apparently, it is common for students to ask to use the bathroom during class time, and the administration would like to know which kids are abusing this privilege. In other words, which kids are using hall passes to get out of class time? Rather than having a simple staff meeting for teachers to discuss which kids may be abusing hall pass privileges, the administration is moving to the E-hall pass software solution.
Here is how the system works. First a student must fill out an electronic form where they select where they want to go from a list of check boxes. The options include locations such as bathroom, locker, student services, cafeteria, and main office. For some locations, students must justify their request with a reason. Once the form is complete it gets sent to the teacher who must approve the request. Excursions are timed. In some cases, the teacher or E-hall Pass program sets a time limit, and in other cases the student tracks their time. For example, bathroom visits may have a pre-determined amount of time. If a student is gone longer than the allotted time, the teacher is notified. Upon return to the classroom the student must check back in.
Additionally, students are limited to ten hall passes per week, and only one student may leave a classroom at a time. If a student has to use the bathroom and another student has gone to their locker, they have to wait for that student to return. There are also limits on how many students can be in one area at a time. For example, the restriction may be six kids in a bathroom at a time. So, the students have to wait until a spot is available. All para professionals have access to the program and monitor the hallways. They can stop students and inquire who they are, and look to see if the student is where they are supposed to be.
Here is an interesting comment from a student who had an E-hall Pass system implemented at their school.
Here is a social media post that talks about E-Hall Passes.
Several Grand Haven High School students have said most of the kids and teachers are complaining about the E-Hall Pass system. They say sometimes they want to just leave to go to their locker outside the classroom, but now they have to take out their Chromebook, spend a minute filling out the form, and wait a minute for the teacher to approve it. The students also say they prefer to use certain restrooms, because some are “gross”. Unfortunately, the way the program is set up, they have to pick a restroom in advance. The entire E-Pass System is a huge distraction to instruction, teaching, and learning.
Instead of teaching students to be trustworthy, it is conditioning them to being tracked at all times. Once the E-Hall Pass system is accepted by students, teachers and parents, more tracking capabilities are likely to be added. They only place that tracks people to this level is…………………..PRISON!!!
The only way this program will be successful is IF the teachers and students comply.
DO NOT COMPLY!!!