Here at Glen Edwards Middle School, we’ve never had tardy sweeps before—so did the school just randomly decide to add this new rule into our daily routine?
Not exactly. The school didn’t implement tardy sweeps without a reason. There has been a noticeable increase in the number of students arriving late to class. To address this issue, the administration introduced tardy sweeps to help students understand the importance of being in class on time and ready to learn when the bell rings. When students arrive late, it disrupts the lesson and the teacher’s ability to keep the class on track.
Principal Fernandez mentioned that the rule has been very effective so far—likely because most students don’t want to risk getting lunch detention just for being a few minutes late. If you’re late and there isn’t a tardy sweep that day, teachers may still give consequences based on how many times you’ve already been tardy.
Now, you might be wondering: What if a responsible student with good grades is just a few seconds late and gets caught in a sweep? Well, if they’re truly responsible, they should be in class on time and ready to go before the bell rings. That’s the whole point—being prepared and punctual helps the whole class stay focused.
A little history: back in the 1950s, being tardy usually just meant the teacher marked it down in a roll book—no real punishment. But by the mid-20th century, schools began adopting stricter policies inspired by workplace models and even military discipline. This shift was meant to teach students the value of structure and responsibility—skills that are important in both school and life.
In short, tardy sweeps weren’t created just to be strict. They were put in place to improve our learning environment, reduce disruptions, and encourage discipline that helps us succeed both inside and outside the classroom.
Panther Press serves as the voice of the journalism students at Glen Edwards Middle School. The views on this site do not reflect the views of WPUSD or the admin at GEMS. Our goal is to promote student expression and provide a platform for diverse voices and viewpoints within our campus community.