The Bell Doesn’t Dismiss You, I Do
BY GABRIEL ALVARADO / PHOTO BY GABRIEL ALVARADO
The bell throughout all high schools has gone to symbolize freedom and tranquility. No matter the subject or time, when the bell rings, a sense of freedom and happiness kicks in and it automatically triggers a response that usually leads to a sudden rush to get out of the classroom as fast as possible.
A irritable type of behavior, although not apparent in all teachers, has been on the rise. This would be the idea that teachers dictate when class is and is not over. Often times this is followed by the phrase, “The bell doesn’t dismiss, you I do” with a John Wayne stare.
With this type of response and attitude, teachers are going to be asked the question, “Then what is the dang bell for then if it obviously doesn’t mean class is over?”
This argument often always happens and a heated debate is followed. In the end, the teachers do not dismiss the students the bell does. It would be like the teachers having a set time to leave, but students overrule that time and decide when it is necessary.
Teachers would not like this idea just like students do not like the idea of having a bell and no freedom. Granted, some students do need to be held back due to their behavior and lack of work, but this is high school. Not everyone is here to mess around; some students just want to get their classes done and get out.
In addition some students may have a job and need to be out of class quicker to beat traffic. Or a student wants to beat everyone to get his lunch so he could go to his sports meeting. There are many different reasons why students deserve to leave when the bell rings.
When someone gets arrested officers do not punish innocent citizens for being there, instead they help and protect them. If an officer doesn’t punish innocent citizens, then why should a teacher keep a whole class back at lunch or any period when only specific people acted up. Not all students cause a problem or disruption, and will ultimately pay the price for something they did not do or take part in. If a student simply walks out the class after the bell rings he/she is not breaking any rules and they are simply doing what the bell means, class is over you may leave.
With the simple adjustment of teachers not telling students when they can leave, and not punishing everyone for one student’s action, students and teachers will be happy.
Sawyer Nabors • Dec 5, 2023 at 1:17 pm
I am doing a EAST project about bell dismissal and I think that the teacher does not dismiss you the bell does because kids need to have time to get to class.
alex commings • Sep 24, 2021 at 5:38 am
the teacher does not dismiss you the bell does in happens in middle school to it is so anoying when she says wait then 5 min later we get to leave and i get detention it is so stupid just let us leave like we have school.teachers dont control time only god can.
Morbintime • Jan 26, 2023 at 9:42 pm
I imagine some worn out teachers who feel inadequacy in life, use that as an excuse to gain control. “I control your life! Me!” As if they actually do.
I’ve seen it and I imagine every other student has at least once as well. It’s so strange.
Maybe if teachers were paid more and were treated like their jobs were important they wouldn’t get these feelings. Idk I’m no expert.
Jayden Richard • Jan 21, 2021 at 6:48 am
I think it’s fair to leave class when the bell rings, if them taking the class into overtime means you get a tardy for something you had no control over then I think it is fair. Most schools have a policy where if you get more than a certain number of tardies, you get ISS or detention. If I was ever in this situation, I would prefer to leave when the bell rings so I wouldn’t end up having to sit in detention because a teacher is bad at time management and seems to take it out on his/her students. Now if you get in trouble and the teacher wants to talk to you, that’s a different story. If you got in trouble, then you should have to stay back and hear what the teacher wants to say to you. Even though, just because you end up staying back to talk with the teacher doesn’t mean that other students should have to wait as well. I mean, what’s the point of holding the specific student and the rest of the children who were not involved back after the bell, you wanted to talk to the student in private, so why hold all the other students back. Although, leaving class when the teacher tells you not to could sort of change how the teacher sees you in terms of your ability to listen when given instructions. In my opinion, if you have a reason to leave right at the bell like your class is on the other side of the building, then you should to avoid getting tardy.
......... • Nov 10, 2020 at 11:37 am
Yeah, DR HENRY
Ghost • Oct 29, 2020 at 2:58 pm
Thanks I wish I could of showed this to my last year math teacher, but instead I’ll show this to any teacher I have because I tend to not to be late for class, and to be honest this was a relief. Though I can only imagine the rage after I show my teachers ;-;
Sam • Jun 11, 2020 at 2:48 pm
My teacher would regularly keep us after the bell rang. My next class was on the other side of the building so I would literally have to run to get there on time. I brought this up to both teachers and they said I needed to manage my time better. After my 2nd tardy I started just walking out as soon as the bell rang.
Drew • May 8, 2020 at 4:29 pm
It’s just illogical and harebrained for teachers to resort to this tactic. Don’t they know that students go to more than one class a day? Unless it’s violent or incredibly egregious, i don’t care WHAT the students in question did, it’s not a good excuse to waste their time and make them late to their next class for something that not every person did! “bUt bEInG lATe tO tHeIR nExT cLaSs iS tHeIr pRoBleM!” I don’t think so! If you are qualified to be an educator responsible for disciplining kids, you should be able to come up with a punishment that doesn’t affect them in their their other classes and only affects those who actually did what you’re punishing them for!
Zedrei Balane • Apr 21, 2020 at 1:50 pm
*bell rings* Teacher: OH WAIT WAIT, the bell does not dismiss you, I, dismiss you, Me; Not Mr. Davin, the bell doesn’t dismiss me, it dismisses you
Joey2tones • Apr 16, 2020 at 5:38 am
Man you children that get held back by a teacher need to stand up for yourselves. First day of class on my senior day this teacher tried to keep us after the bell. I stood up and grabbed my stuff, she told me that the bell doesn’t release you that she does and that’s how it is in the real world. I told her off, told her how she knows nothing about the real world, she went from public school to college then back to public school to teach. Told her I was going to the real world and go work to go pay my real world bills. Next time I come to class she could either teach me her course, or be petty and not teach me and have me switch classes. Goodbye.
Emma • Mar 9, 2020 at 5:00 pm
I am writing an article based on the problems of the school. Thank you for this. It’s amazing!!!!!!!!!
madison • Feb 27, 2020 at 10:30 am
I Think that taechers are never ever allowed to dismiss you with there words EVER! AND SAME THING GOES WITH THE CELLPHONE POLLICE IF U WANT MY PHONE OR U TAKE IT WITHOUT MY PERMISSION IMMA COUNT TO 10 AND IF ITS NOT IN MY HAND IMMA BEAT U UP OR CALL THE POLICE!.
caratina • Feb 27, 2020 at 6:42 am
Why is there even a bell if teachers dismiss you???!!!!???
Someone • Feb 24, 2020 at 12:38 pm
In my class I got held back for five minutes and it caused me to miss my friend that I walk with and if it happens again on Thursday I have to get to a different state and I will say that I need to be in a different state by 5:00 and this is literally illegal to keep me here so if you don’t let me go I will call the cops for keeping students after school without permission
Malai • Feb 18, 2020 at 8:13 pm
If the bell doesn’t dictate when I can leave class it can’t dictate if I’m late to class. My science teacher held my whole class in for 1t minutes after the bell and then didn’t write any of us any passes so we couldn’t be excused for missing a part of class.
Braden • Feb 12, 2020 at 10:03 pm
Honestly I’m going to bring this up the next time my teacher does this and if he argues with me I’ll just tell him off and walk out
richard • Feb 11, 2020 at 7:00 am
i am just going to walk out of class then because now i know my rights
Lucy • Feb 11, 2020 at 4:58 am
My math teacher does this sometimes which STINKS because my next class is literally on the other side of the stinkin school
madyson • Feb 5, 2020 at 7:14 am
the bell rings when the given/limited time the teachers have is up. therefore, i will leave the class to be tortured by another teacher for another hour of my 8 hour long day. thank you for coming to my ted talk.
cosi • Jan 7, 2020 at 6:13 am
wiwi
thats my truth
Ashley • Dec 13, 2019 at 12:17 pm
My German teacher did this today, and he often does this. I have orchestra after his class, and to get to the orchestra room we have to exit the building and go to a whole different building. All within four minutes. It’s ridiculous for teachers to hold back students after class because THEY are not good at time management. He always says “Wait! You can’t leave until I say you can!” And today he made us stay two minutes after class to watch another students project when even that student wanted to leave. That left all of us in orchestra only two minutes to get to the orchestra room, unpack, and get in the tuning line.
Andrew Wolford • Dec 2, 2019 at 12:02 pm
This wierd The bell never dismisses me ever
daniel rosales • Oct 10, 2019 at 7:19 am
why does my teacher keep me in after the bell then cause last week they held us in about 15 mins it was stupid cause i got iss for being late to my other class
Leo • Oct 10, 2019 at 4:00 am
I think collective punushment like this happens to often and should not go unnoticed
dakas • Oct 8, 2019 at 6:15 pm
the bell dismisses you
bob • Oct 2, 2019 at 8:38 am
please send this to the teachers in the school dristrict of oswego(308)
daddy • Sep 27, 2019 at 6:39 am
its not right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MathTeacher • Sep 16, 2019 at 10:07 am
YOU WHAT! Your saying that I can’t keep my students after class! No I dissmiess them I keep the hostage.
-Math teacher- I’m fired bu-but how. 🙁
-Me- You know what you did crazy B****.
YeetMasterG1 • Sep 16, 2019 at 10:04 am
Hmm thanks now I can leave the classroom without my math teacher keeping us hostage to punish one student.
Jason Xie • Sep 10, 2019 at 11:51 am
But it is illegal for teachers to keep the class after the bell as a punishment. It violates the Geneva Convection’s laws on collective punishment.
saverio san lorenzo • Sep 5, 2019 at 8:56 am
Ok, i go to a private school. Is a teacher allowed to keep us after the bell if I go to a private school.
etta • Sep 3, 2019 at 6:19 pm
What is the best way to tell this to a teacher considering, they could get you in trouble for disrespect or backtalk if this is brought up?
bellalina • Jun 5, 2019 at 8:20 am
I completely agree with this article, legaly teachers are not allowed yo keep students after the bell.
jorge • May 29, 2019 at 1:46 pm
this does give me anything
james • May 20, 2019 at 5:24 am
i think this article good . i like it alot .
bob • May 8, 2019 at 12:55 pm
did you know when the bell
The bell throughout all high schools has gone to symbolize freedom and tranquility. No matter the subject or time, when the bell rings, a sense of freedom and happiness kicks in and it automatically triggers a response that usually leads to a sudden rush to get out of the classroom as fast as possible.
A irritable type of behavior, although not apparent in all teachers, has been on the rise. This would be the idea that teachers dictate when class is and is not over. Often times this is followed by the phrase, “The bell doesn’t dismiss, you I do” with a John Wayne stare.
With this type of response and attitude, teachers are going to be asked the question, “Then what is the dang bell for then if it obviously doesn’t mean class is over?”
This argument often always happens and a heated debate is followed. In the end, the teachers do not dismiss the students the bell does. It would be like the teachers having a set time to leave, but students overrule that time and decide when it is necessary.
Teachers would not like this idea just like students do not like the idea of having a bell and no freedom. Granted, some students do need to be held back due to their behavior and lack of work, but this is high school. Not everyone is here to mess around; some students just want to get their classes done and get out.
In addition some students may have a job and need to be out of class quicker to beat traffic. Or a student wants to beat everyone to get his lunch so he could go to his sports meeting. There are many different reasons why students deserve to leave when the bell rings.
When someone gets arrested officers do not punish innocent citizens for being there, instead they help and protect them. If an officer doesn’t punish innocent citizens, then why should a teacher keep a whole class back at lunch or any period when only specific people acted up. Not all students cause a problem or disruption, and will ultimately pay the price for something they did not do or take part in. If a student simply walks out the class after the bell rings he/she is not breaking any rules and they are simply doing what the bell means, class is over you may leave.
With the simple adjustment of teachers not telling students when they can leave, and not punishing everyone for one student’s action, students and teachers will be happy.
John • May 2, 2019 at 4:49 pm
It is true teachers are dumb to not let us out after the bell they should be truthful and let us leave like they always say
tanya • May 2, 2019 at 6:16 am
I feel its illegal to keep kids after the bell because they have to get to class and be prepared.
westwood middle school • Apr 26, 2019 at 8:42 am
this is so true right a response if you agree
grace • Apr 2, 2019 at 12:09 pm
my teacher told me to spit out my gum aftor the bell and i said” no you have no power over me aftor the bell” the teacher often holds us in past the bell to clean and we almoast miss our busses and im fed up! and now im wondering is it technecly leagle to do that or not?
willow • Oct 9, 2018 at 2:35 pm
my son got told if he walked out the door to go home he would of got RPC so now my son can show them this and walk out with out getting i trouble