Fly on the Wall: Before You Ask for the Late Pass

JÜL Fly on the wall · taking notes so you don't have to

Let’s do a little fly on the wall. Picture the room. First period. The door opens. A student walks in late, backpack half zipped, eyes on the floor.

Now picture the teacher. Not a bad person. Tired. Behind. A schedule to keep. She looks up and says the first thing that comes to mind: “Where’s your late pass?”

Here’s what the fly saw that she didn’t. That student may have had to get a little brother to school. Or pick up a family member. Or take a different way in because the usual way wasn’t safe. Or just barely held it together long enough to make it through that door. We don’t know. That’s the whole point. We. Don’t. Know.

Not long ago there was a shooting at a school. A teacher had no idea what her student had been through that morning, and instead of a welcome, that kid got, “Where’s your late pass?” Sit with that for a second.

Nursing taught me this early. You don’t start with the paperwork. You look at the patient first. Are they okay? Then you handle the rest. A kid walking in late is a vital sign. It is not a citation.

So here’s what I’d do instead. Greet them by name. Say, “Glad you’re here.” That’s it. The late pass can wait. The check-in can happen in two quiet minutes at their desk. If lateness turns into a pattern, have a conversation, not an interrogation. Ask what’s going on. Then actually listen to the answer.

Being decent isn’t soft. It’s the job. You can hold the standard and still hold the door. Both. At the same time. Grown folks can handle it.

So the next time that door opens late, be the fly for a second. Look at the whole room, including yourself. What does this kid see when they walk in? A welcome, or a checkpoint? Welcome first. Late pass second.

Want help building a warmer, stronger culture at your school or district? Book a consultation on the Consulting page. I’ll bring the structure and the sass.

Gail Jackson, LPN, B.B.A, M.S., M.A.