Wolf Larsen

Juniors Jordan Rosenberg and Haley Zexter “hard at work” in PASE on Friday, February 9.

DHS recently made significant changes to its PASE period, a 40-minute period in which students used to have the freedom to choose the teacher with which they spent the time. However, due to a high number of students being unaccounted for during this period, and a general feeling that the time was not being used productively, the DHS Administration decided to limit students’ choices to their present class teachers only.

Controversy ensued.

Here is what DHS had to say to the Spectrum.

Sophomore Caitlin Falcon said, “I think it restricts my American freedom, and I cry myself to sleep because of it.”

Junior Matt Jorge said he understands why they did it, but he doesn’t think they should have taken away the responsibility and right of getting to choose where they go to PASE as high school students.

Biology Teacher Scot Boudria said, “I like the changes. It was chaos before. I felt kids were taking advantage of what they needed to do.”

Sophomore Olivia Rapoza said that they changed PASE to second period because it makes the morning go by faster, but I don’t like having to go to an academic period.

Sophomore Simone Tavares said, “I hate it.”

Senior Sydney Campanale said, “For people that don’t have work to do in classes, it is a pain because they can’t see their friends and are penalized for not having classes with their friends.”

Sophomore Sloane Brodsky said it is really unhelpful because if you need something explained by a certain teacher and you don’t have the teacher, it’s really hard to get there. And all of the academic teachers’ classrooms are now really full. 

Sophomore Tristian Almedia said, “It’s just stupid, especially now that you need to schedule a teacher you have. Freshman year they told us that PASE was a time to chill and relax between periods in classrooms of teachers you didn’t have. PASE was supposed to be something you could schedule yourself to get away from the classes you are taking.”

Freshman Caroline Madruga said, “I like it because I feel like it’s going to help people academically and give more support to the people who are struggling even if they don’t want the help. Also if you need to work on a project with someone and you’re in the same class, it’s easier and not a big issue because you can only go to teachers you have.” 

Junior Mike Burke said, “It’s made it harder and more discouraging to use PASE effectively. It’s given teachers way more work than is necessary. It puts a lot of this burden on to teachers. Instead of a student going to the PASE they want, they have to go ask the teacher they want to see. The teacher is supposed to check the student’s grade first, then write a pass, then send the student down, then the other teacher has to pull the student in.”

Senior Lilly Melo said, “It’s really just about everyone’s own independence and responsibility. Being productive in the future. When you’re in college no one’s going to tell you to show up to lectures.” 

Freshman Mia Li said, “It is more difficult to get together with friends to work on certain things. And like we can’t go see previous teachers we might have enjoyed talking to.”

Freshman Cole Bouchard said, “It’s horrible. The idea that I am getting the passing grade and am still not able to go to the class I want is ridiculous.”

Spanish Teacher Melissa Lomba said, “I think that the new changes are positive because previously students who needed their academic teachers could not book them because the PASEs were filled. Students who need PASE to see their academic teachers would not sign up because they were intimidated by upperclassmen in their PASEs. I saw a lot of that. The changes make it difficult for students who have been using PASE properly and want to visit non-academic teachers because they can’t schedule for them.”

Sophomore Molly Bell, “Basically, teachers spend 40 minutes changing students’ PASEs rather than meeting with students who need help.”

Sophomore Brady Beauparland said, “I dislike the PASE rules because if I’m struggling in a class like math, and I don’t like the way that teacher’s teaching, I’d rather go to a class where I can learn from another teacher with a different perspective.”

Science Teacher Dr. Peter Bangs said, “I think most of the teachers support [it], because in my case, when we do that, my PASE fills up and students who actually need help can’t book my PASE. PASE is not meant to be recess. The changes let students get help from the teachers they need and cuts down on the recess-aspect of PASE that many students enjoy.”

Sophomore Lily Duval said, “I don’t like it because I can’t see some of my favorite teachers. I love Mr. Bianco, and I can’t see him because I don’t have his class anymore.”

Sophomore Juliana Mellows said, “I think it’s really annoying because there’s also a cut-off time for the time you can schedule PASE. If all your teachers are full or one of your teachers is absent, you can’t schedule new teachers. Also, I’m in Mr. Bianco’s show choir, and I can’t go to ask him questions about show choir during PASE because I don’t have his class.”

Sophomore Reiss Alves-Ford said, “It takes away our rights to freedom of choice. It violates our first amendment. I thought PASE was supposed to be a time to relax during the day but now they want to force us into one room and make us work.”