Every morning, hundreds of students get stuck outside the walls of Cardozo during morning entry, whether or not it’s freezing outside.
Since November, the temperature has drastically dropped as Winter approached. No one enjoys waiting outside in the cold, especially when it’s raining or snowing. However, with morning entry procedures being slower than usual due to the metal detectors, we need to find a solution.
The Cardozo administration should allow students to come inside, especially if they arrive at school early. While that may require scanning to be set up earlier, that should be allowed to benefit students. There are times when I’ve stood outside for 10 minutes in the cold because the lines inside the cafeteria don’t move.
Moving the metal detectors further inside the cafeteria is another solution to getting students inside faster. The lines sometimes get held up, with the majority of students stuck outside, because the scanning is right at the entry of the cafeteria. Moving them in further allows students to be inside the warmth, rather than stuck outside.
The lines also need better organization. After 8:10 a.m., the entry lines get extremely long, and getting into the building before 8:20 a.m. for first period becomes a challenge. If we can’t get to class on time, the least that could happen is that we wait inside the building so we’re not freezing.
Another solution to the morning entry issues is to allow students to also scan and enter through the main building’s main entrance. Currently, the only way students can get into the school is through the 58th Street entrance. For students who have homerooms in the main building, close to the main entrance, or even for students who forget their ID, why not allow entry there?
The current procedures for morning entry clearly do not work, as students and parents voice concerns, specifically during the winter months. Eric, a current junior, said, “Even on cold and rainy days, we have to wait in long lines just to scan our bags after going through a usually even longer line for our pouch and ID.”
“It’s a very time-consuming process that usually leads me to being late everyday,” he added. Eric is not the only one who has to go through this process every morning, a majority of the student body relates to his struggle.
So far, the administration has told students that the way around waiting in long lines is to get to school earlier. However, that is not always possible for all students.
“I can’t come early to school because of how far I need to travel to begin with and it’s a challenge getting to my first period class on time,” shared another Cardozo student. “I could fail if I don’t have enough hours present in class.”
Students have voiced that, while Cardozo cannot control whether or not we have scanning, they should have more empathy for the students who have to stand outside in the cold while the scanners are here. School administration and staff should be transparent with students and listen to their concerns. A simple survey could suffice to get enough information from students, creating an open environment that feels safe for them to share their thoughts and feel heard on problems that directly affect them.
Although there are measures that have to be taken to ensure that students are safe, it shouldn’t lead to taking time out of their classes.
Lastly, I believe communication between the police department and staff should be a priority to not face disruptions. There are still several unanswered questions regarding the metal detectors, but there should be clarity between the principal and the police department.
Direction and purpose is so important to make changes in our morning policies, and that could make a huge difference in mood for everyone who has to wait in the mornings. Hopefully, Cardozo can see new changes in the morning entry process, helping students stay warm throughout the school year, while implementing positive changes for all.
