Recently, Hinsdale South High School made it mandatory for PE students to scan their IDs for attendance. Last year, scanning was required for all classes except Early Bird PE, but now even that has joined the trend. This change has sparked a lot of frustration particularly among students in Early Bird. At first glance, the idea of scanning in doesn’t seem too bad. It’s efficient, right? Scanning streamlines the process for teachers and students alike. But when it comes to gym class, does it really make things easier?
Previously, PE worked smoothly without all the tech. We would change into our gym clothes, line up in our squad lines, and the teacher would take attendance manually. Then, class would start immediately with physical activity—whether it was Early Bird or regular PE. Simple. But now, things are different. For Early Bird PE, students are expected to scan in before 7:00 AM. Afterwards, they have to change into gym clothes and wait until the teacher finally calls for squad lines. After all that, attendance is still taken manually. By that time, we’ve wasted 30 minutes just preparing for the class, and we barely have time left to exercise. Early Bird PE lasts 50 minutes, but students are given 15 minutes to change back into their regular clothes and head to their first-period class by 8:00 AM. So, we’re left with around 15-20 minutes for actual physical activity. Is it really efficient to scan in if we’re spending more time waiting than exercising, which is the whole point of the class?
Students are feeling the impact. Jerusalem Rassi, a junior who’s been a part of Early Bird PE since freshman year, said “I don’t think it makes a lot of sense that we come in at 7:00 but then have to sit around for 15 minutes.” Rassi also continues to say that “It’s inconvenient because we get less time for fun physical activities.” Another Junior, Sakeena Wardhawala adds, “When you’re running late in the morning, the only thing you’re thinking about is scanning in on time, not your own well-being. It’s unnecessary.” The frustration is clear. Scanning IDs for PE, instead of improving efficiency, has added unnecessary stress and wasted time to a class meant for physical activity. It’s time to rethink if this system really works, or if it’s just another burden on student’s already packed schedules.
