Parents, staff, and time. Things that are obstacles for students trying to stay for help past Student Teacher Time. Students needing time after school to talk with their teacher about assignments but then being forced to leave at 3:10 unless they have a club or sport. When time runs out and if they still need extra help, they’d have to find another time to go to the teacher. Being kicked out has been a challenge for many Leyden kids; them seeking help but only to be kicked out, trying to pick and choose their work for the limited thirty minutes where they might not even have time for them.
As student teacher time became a thing, to help students with work and more one-on-one time with a teacher, but once it struck 3:10, all students were kicked out unless they had a club or sport. This became a problem for students whose parents couldn’t have their parents pick them up before a certain time or take the bus. This leaves students waiting outside or having to walk home, and with weather conditions coming up, this will be more of an issue. Many say it’s a security issue and others say it’s because of staff work hours. An article that was based on a school in California stated, “Some school districts may be reluctant to open school property to the community after hours, concerned about the legal risks and any costs in case of injury or property damage.” (Liability for Use of School Property after Hours).
Security has always been a concern among schools but also work completion with students. Many parents believe that it’s good to have the 30 minutes after school for students to get help with work and also create a bond between their teachers. Cheryl El-Issawi, a parent of a West Leyden student, shares her view on student teacher time: “I think it’s a good idea. It helps the student build trust into the teacher, and it makes their relationship grow stronger.” Her husband, Ahmed El-Issawi, agreed that students should have trust with their teachers.
At Leyden, students’ views are important on what we have here. Do many kids use Student Teacher Time or is it there for nothing? Talking to a senior, Marissa Esthela Ramirez Alvarez Escarpita, she shared her view on Student Teacher Time: “It’s extra time with your teacher. If you need help understanding a concept or something, you miss something, it’s helpful.” as well as adding, “It’s just beneficial to your overall grade, and then also the understanding of each class.” Schools are a place where students shouldn’t have to worry about their safety and the schools have to enforce that. It’s easier during the school day but when it comes to staying after school, there is less security. “A school district may be concerned about being liable, or legally obligated, for a tort—property damage or the injury to or death of a person.” (Liability for Use of School Property after Hours). With activities comes permission forms but when it comes to staying for extra help, there’s nothing from keeping the school responsible. Staying after school helps many students who need to make up tests, homework, or getting additional support.
After the designated time for that extra help, students are forced to leave even if they still need help or to complete other work. Many say how helpful student teacher time presents itself, Mrs. El-Issawi talked about how she viewed it as a good idea and how each student should get time with the teacher. She understood how student teacher time was also a good time for students to wait for their parents, having it happen to her as well. “At times, because I also have to pick up my husband too, at a certain time. So when the time changes, it’s hard because I have to arrange my pickup time with my husband.” She stated, showing one of the struggles parents have to deal with. Teachers have their own work times, making it where they can’t stay after all the time and aren’t expected to work after their set school time.
Kicking kids out after a certain amount of time has always been practiced at Leyden, having it turn 3:10, you’re out. Teachers have their own work times, making it where they can’t stay after all the time and aren’t expected to work after their set school time. Talking to Henry Rothenberg, he said, “I think they should keep the campus open for maybe, like 10 or 15 more minutes longer, so that students can wait for the ride if the weather is not cooperating, but I also understand, like there are staff here who need to get home to their families, and so yeah, it’s double ended sword,” Rothenberg also stated, “However, I will say an example I can provide related to this question is that I have students with a teacher who share a classroom with me, but he teaches at East Leyden, so if they’re here, He’s not here.” Teachers have to contractually move between the East and West campus so if a student needs help on one campus but the teacher is on the other, there is no way for that student to get help till the next day during class. Having an open campus does pose an issue, though, not having enough security or staff to keep the students safe, leaving them in trouble if anything happens to the student. Teachers and the school can’t risk getting blamed for anything even if it wasn’t their fault but it happened on their grounds. As Rothenberg said, they do all have families to go home to, not being able to stay as long. “They feel at all. Then I shouldn’t have come in the first place so I’ve seen that example where the teacher has to travel.” He adds on, talking about the student point of view.
Being kicked out after Student Teacher Time is difficult and popularly disliked among students and staff have sympathized with students. Safety concerns have been shown as well as teachers paid time and time in general. Schools don’t want to be liable while students want to get help on missed or misunderstood assignments, there doesn’t seem to be a middle ground due to both issues coming in hand. As Rothenberg said, it’s a double ended sword at hand.
Work Cited
Liability for Use of School Property after Hours, sdcoi.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/10-LiabilitySchoolUse_FactSht_v3.pdf. Accessed 13 Dec. 2024.
