In the past year alone, roughly four in 10 WCHS students have received tardies a minimum of twice per week. This alarming trend is largely attributed to the lack of proper hallway infrastructure, leading students to be two-five minutes late on average. Yet, there are simple solutions to the problem at hand, and so many at that. Over the last five years, high schools in Taylor county, Maryland have successfully implemented a handful of measures, most notably: water slides, moving walkways, light railcars, lazy rivers, among many other modes of transportation. It is time for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) to get with the times and adopt the infrastructure that will decrease tardiness and keep student’s minds engaged.
It is often said that “a happy student is a learning student,” and that could not be more applicable than in the case of hallway transportation. According to the Ministry of Non-Vehicular Transportation (MNVT), unconventional modes of transportation, such as waterslides and rollercoasters, can increase several key identifiers of the “happy” feeling, on average by over 250%. This in conjunction with a 2011 study conducted by the Institute of Unorthodox Learning (IUL) correlating key components of happiness to an increase in material comprehension and synthesis, proves that the installation of such infrastructure is beneficial to students by means of promoting punctuality, as well as increasing learning quality.
One of the most promising examples of unorthodox hallway transportation is rollercoasters. Rollercoasters, as seen throughout amusement parks worldwide, are not only an efficient means of transportation, traveling upwards of 60 miles per hour, but are an excellent time-management tool. With clearly scheduled departures between periods and strategically placed drop-offs outside each classroom, students would no longer wander the halls aimlessly, but rather be able to strap in and arrive at their destination in record time.
Another option is the installation of lazy rivers gently winding through the hallways of WCHS. Unlike the high-adrenaline efficiency of rollercoasters, lazy rivers offer a calmer, more reflective commuting experience. Students could simply hop into an inner tube outside their previous classroom and drift peacefully toward their next destination, guided by a steady current. This approach would dramatically reduce hallway congestion, as students would be neatly organized into single-file aquatic lanes rather than chaotic clusters near lockers. In addition, the soothing sound of flowing water has long been associated with reduced stress and improved mental clarity, meaning students would arrive to class not only on time but also mentally refreshed. Few educational investments could simultaneously solve tardiness, hallway crowding, and student stress while also giving the school the relaxing ambiance of a tropical resort.
Ultimately, if MCPS is truly committed to reducing tardiness and improving student success, it must begin thinking beyond the traditional hallway. Creative transportation represents a bold step toward a more efficient, engaging and student-centered learning environment. While skeptics may question the practicality of installing amusement-park infrastructure inside a public high school, history shows that innovation is rarely welcomed at first. If WCHS hopes to remain competitive in the modern educational landscape, it must embrace the future of hallway mobility.
