The Securly website students use to request a hall pass. Photo by Aspen Laslie.

When Liberty students came back from winter break, they were met with work, waking up earlier and the new hall pass system. This system was made to deter kids from wasting time in the halls and yet has been received with almost no positive feedback from students. 

Some students don’t mind the switch, while many have been commenting on the system with every opportunity given. Sophomore Ethan Moe said, “I honestly believe that the electronic hall passes are an invasion of privacy on students, as it is not the district’s priority when we use the restroom. The system is not working. Even now, when the policy is in effect, I still see the same amount of people in the bathroom. I truly believe the old system of writing down the information on where you’re going, and the time worked better than the one now. It not only took less time, but if the deans/administration needed to investigate a particular student, they can go to the class to check times.”

Moe emphasized his opinion by adding, “This app only wastes time in class for students and teachers. In fact, I timed five students filling out the hall passes, and the average time took one minute and eleven seconds. On the other hand, writing down the information takes an average of only 22.8 seconds. I truly believe, no matter what system the district erects, students will find a way around it.”  

Teachers have more to lose by openly disapproving of the hall passes. Students have noted that their teachers have been discussing online passes in the classroom.

“Many of my teachers are also annoyed with these new passes, claiming that it’s such a hassle to have to pause their teaching just so they can accept a request, then having to pause their teaching again so they make sure to end the time that the student was out. Many students get in trouble for having their phones out, yet so many people need to use their phone so they can request a hall pass from their teacher, which has caused even more frustration,” sophomore Jaslyn Flynn said, “I personally feel that the electronic hall passes have become more of an issue than the physical passes.”

Sophomore Tobias Finkelstein said he, too, finds the electronic passes unnecessary, claiming; “It has caught people messing around and skipping when they’re supposed to be in the bathroom, but it is hard to use when you actually try to make the pass. Most actually dislike it and have complained that it adds too many steps.”

Contrary to student reactions, the staff found the electronic passes to be a useful tool to monitor students. Dean Stephen Kynor said, “Overall, the online pass system has been going very well. It has significantly reduced the number of students in the hallways, which is important because the majority of behavior incidents were occurring there. Students are using this system as intended, and it has given us much better visibility into who is out of class, for how long, and where they are going. It has also helped support teachers by giving them a clear and consistent process for managing passes. Overall, it has helped keep students where they need to be and created a more structured learning environment.”

It is unknown whether the e-pass system will remain or not. That being said, students are voicing their concerns and have communicated their hope to be heard when administrators reevaluate the pass system, which Kynor said is to happen with both students and staff before the fall of the next school year.