This year, the administration and Principal Wright have installed a new way to motivate students to attend class on time. During the last minute of the passing period, various music plays to motivate students to hurry to class.
“This was an idea that the middle school developed a few years ago,” Mr. Wright said. It was recommended to Dr. Toberman last year, and again to me this year. I thought it had potential to be effective, and Dr. Skertich loved the idea.”
The new minute bell music has shown a positive effect.
“I do think that it has made a change,” Said Mr. Wright. “Our tardy rates dropped more significantly when our first tune, Jeopardy, began playing at the one-minute mark.”
“The music is getting changed in an effort to keep it fresh,” said Mr. Wright.
“I do like some of the music. I won’t say that it is my favorite, but the goal is also to choose based on students’ ability to know when the song is nearing the end. 1-minute selections are not typically built into song design by musicians…”
Some staff think that this could change or has already changed students’ behavior when it comes to getting to class.
“I do feel like the minute bell music has decreased tardies some. Students seem more motivated to me to hurry to class because the music is playing for the entire minute, rather than just the short bell we used to have one minute before the final “tardy” bell.” Said Mr. Schusky.
“I mostly don’t like music at all. But, I have to admit to a certain fondness for both The Office and Star Wars (and to a lesser extent, Benny Hill — look it up. On second thought, don’t….) so I don’t mind those so much!”
Ms. Johnson said, “I think the minute bell music reminds students to get to class on time more effectively than the minute bells. I like the music if it’s upbeat like the music from the TV show The Office or Jeopardy.”
But not everyone is on board with the music for the one-minute bell.
“It gets annoying sometimes, I like when they change it up but when they keep repeating the same song it gets tiring.” Senior William Taylor said.
Others seem to like the new music change to the minute bell.
“It depends. But the current music that is playing, yes.” Senior Madyson Mitchell said.
“I do enjoy when they change it up. Because it gets annoying when its the same thing everyday, like the mario music. And the jeopardy music got old pretty fast.”
The minute bell music is here to stay. And some students can’t wait to see what other music the one minute bell plays in the future.
