Homeroom’s Purpose and Popularity is Changing

Homeroom+does+not+have+organized+activities+so+many+students+socialize+and+go+on+their+laptops

Terra Waymire-Rozman

Homeroom does not have organized activities so many students socialize and go on their laptops

Homeroom classes are a staple of high school. Many students use homerooms for similar purposes, but the perception of its usefulness has changed over the years. Many students now question if homeroom is as essential as once thought.

Full time teachers are often placed as homeroom monitors. Homeroom teachers have the responsibility to monitor students in their classroom which has gotten easier over the years. “I think the addition of the laptop has helped…When we didn’t have laptops, I think kids were going stir crazy and they didn’t sit still and they talk and they scoot around. But now that there’s laptops and everyone’s addicted to those, I think they all find ways to stay busy by getting online,” biology teacher Bob Lyons said.

The biggest reason that the administration decided to reinstate homerooms coming back from Covid-19 was to make it possible for some clubs to try and meet during this time. However, that isn’t always the impression from students.“I don’t really think homeroom is used for club time. I think the clubs meet normally after school or before maybe. There are some [clubs which meet] during homeroom, but [It’s not common],” senior Elex Waterson said.

Homeroom offers 20 minutes of free time for anything students need to do or accomplish. It can also offer time for clubs to gather, or meetings to take place. “For me, I take attendance and then I let the kids unwind and get caught up on their homework and relax and relieve stress. It’s a time where hopefully they can be productive. But there’s nothing planned each day,” Lyons said.

For me, I take attendance and then I let the kids unwind and get caught up on their homework and relax and relieve stress. It’s a time where hopefully they can be productive. But there’s nothing planned each day

— Bob Lyons

The time in homeroom classes has no dedicated purpose. Due to this, some people are curious about other ways to use the time in homeroom. “I think that it would be a good experiment this spring for the fourth quarter to not have a homeroom and we get out at 2:10. Many kids leave eighth hour early for sports… From a teacher’s perspective, and the students perspective, the percentage of kids that are in a spring sport with golf especially, educationally eighth hour isn’t really that sound right now for the students,” Lyons said.

Many students love the freedom that homeroom gives to finish work or relax. This year, students feel as if they are more restricted in homeroom than in previous years. “…the school [has] closed things down so much more now. I wish there [was an] option [to] being able to go out and get food or to meet with other teachers. You can’t really do that. It’s pretty closed off, you [have] to stay [in your homeroom],” senior Margo Anderson said.

Students have voiced concerns about homerooms and have felt that new rules were created this year. But the administration is really just enforcing previously existing ones. “I think the rules have always been in place. Students need a pass to be in the hallway and there shouldn’t be any food in the classroom. It’s always been in effect but not really enforced by many teachers. As a school, we’re looking for more consistency across the board,” Lyons said.

Even though students have felt the pressure of newly enforced rules there are still many things which students enjoy. “I like that I can sleep. I can catch up on my work and not be tardy for classes or have missing work…I think [homeroom] is good the way it is. I wouldn’t want it to be any longer or any shorter. It’s perfect naptime for me honestly,” Waterson said.