As a student at Carbondale Community High School from August 2021 to May 2025, I have noticed that hallway congestion has progressively worsened over the years. As upperclassmen graduate and move on to college or other pursuits, larger incoming classes continue to replace them, leading to increased crowding.

When I interviewed Mr. Kevin Stamp—The Legend—I asked him about the main challenges with hallway congestion nowadays. He replied, “Getting the seniors to go to class.” I then asked if it was just the seniors causing issues, and he responded, “Well, we have one particular class—I’m not going to say their names, but it’s the group between the juniors and freshmen—that seems to have trouble behaving at school. So that’s an issue.”

I completely agree with that statement because, whenever I’m trying to get to class, I often see the same group causing disruptions. One proposed solution is reopening the campus, allowing students to leave during passing periods. However, while this might help alleviate hallway congestion, it also comes with significant drawbacks.

Opening the campus could make the school more vulnerable to security threats, as people could leave and return with weapons or other dangerous items. It would also likely lead to increased absences, as students might take advantage of the freedom to skip class. Additionally, an open campus could make it easier for intruders to enter the school—something that has already been an issue in the past. Given the current environment, it might not be the best idea for the school to implement this change.

The overall maturity level of students today is not what it once was—it has declined significantly. To improve hallway conditions, I believe the school should consider shortening passing periods. This would reduce the time students have to engage in unnecessary activities in the hallways and encourage them to move efficiently between classes.