Recently, Lowellville has downloaded a new software called SmartPass, a digital hall pass which makes schools safer and is a solution for hallway management. The system monitors students' movements around the school during class hours. SmartPass replaced a traditional paper hall pass and is designed to provide teachers and staff with a way to observe, approve, or deny students' requests to leave the classroom.
SmartPass is simple to use, students can request permission to leave the classroom for various reasons, such as using the restroom or visiting the school nurse. When a student requests permission to leave the classroom, the teacher can approve or deny the request using a digital interface and the student is issued a digital hall pass that can be monitored as they move around the school.
SmartPass was introduced to the students on February 15, 2023, and many students were very opinionated about it. It was hard to sit in the classroom without hearing everyone complain about it, especially how it is “too difficult to use.” However, on February 16th, the students were obligated to use the app and students started to reconsider their original opinions about it.
Shannyn Phillips, a junior, had originally disliked the idea of having “complicated digital passes” but after actually using it, she has changed her perspective about it. Shannyn thinks that having these new passes makes it so much easier to travel around the school. Not only does she believe that the program makes it easier, but it provides a safer environment for students. SmartPass is linked to students’ and staff members’ profiles and the app shows teachers and administrators where students are at all times.
Sophomore, Madison Esposito, strongly dislikes SmartPass. She said that it is too difficult to use in the app whereas a hand-written pass is much easier. Maddie feels that the app is limiting where students can go and takes away students’ freedom. She feels like she can only make a certain amount of trips a day.
At first, I did not want to have SmartPass used at our school but I am glad that we use it because of all the great benefits it has. SmartPass can increase students' accountability because the system provides a clear record of student movements, which can help teachers and administrators identify patterns of behavior or potential problems. A great benefit of using SmartPass is the reduced paperwork. The system eliminates the need for traditional paper hall passes. This can save teachers time and reduce paper waste. The app is extremely easy to use and saves a lot of time. Mrs. Deluca, a high school teacher at Lowellville, agrees and says that the system is not difficult to use and thinks many students are realizing it is not as difficult as they thought it would be.
Although some students find the system inconvenient, it was a great idea to switch to SmartPass. The system is used to provide various services and benefits to students, teachers, and staff. Furthermore, the program can be used for many purposes such as attendance tracking, time management, and most importantly student safety. Considering we are living in a digital age, switching to SmartPass was probably inevitable. How do you feel about the new SmartPass system?
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