Walk This Way

VIEWPOINT

Hallway Etiquette: A Beginner’s Guide

By Maggie Kieser and Kara Conley, Current Staff

It is seventh hour on a Friday afternoon. It has been a long week and patience is non-existent. All you want to do is get to your last class, and you are so close, but an obstacle is lying ahead. You turn onto the X hallway, the most crowded hallway, and the slowest of walkers is in front of you. You begin to worry that you are never going to make it to your class a mere three doors down the hall. After what seems like hours, you arrive to your class just before the bell rings wondering how hallway walking became such an issue.

Is there no decency among the students of West Bend regarding hallway etiquette?

It appears that the current generation has lost some feeling of empathy towards those who have to rush to class to get there on time. There is no established rule book for hallway walking etiquette, but luckily we’ve created one for you! Here are numerous tips that one can follow to help keep our hallways free from the constant traffic jams that occur daily.

Walk This Way

Part 1: The Walkers

• The Usain Bolt: Everyone can appreciate this person. We respect you have somewhere to be and you get there in a timely fashion without impeding the rest of our travels. Strive to make this minority the majority.
• The Average: This person keeps a good enough pace, and sticks to their side of the hallway. They are respectful, and keep the flow of the hallway smooth.
• The Zombie: Everyone’s tired, but we still need to shuffle along at somewhat of a constant speed. The zombie’s class may be nearby and hopefully you don’t get caught behind them for long.
• Three’s a Crowd: Great! You have friends, but unfortunately the walls of the hallway weren’t expecting your group of 3+ people. Use the buddy system and walk in rows of two. Getting stuck behind this mob of people can be frustrating, but if you have to squeeze past them, may the force be with you.
• The Cyber Walker: Texting while walking does not only slow you and everyone else down, but can also be a dangerous venture. The same rules for driving apply to walking. We understand your time to text in between classes is short, but please watch out for poles and other students as you grace the hallways.
• The Lovebirds: Congratulations on finding love, and we hope we receive invites for the wedding! Hopefully you’ll walk down the aisle faster than you walk down the hallways. Just keep together and keep a nice speed.
• The Hybrid: You may encounter a walker who is a mix of the above. Be on high alert for they may be the cause of your anxiety in the hallways.

Part 2: The Don’ts

• Do not walk precisely in the middle of the hallway. If people have to enter the other lane of traffic, you know you are too far over.
• Do not text, as mentioned above. It can wait until you cross the threshold into your next class.
• Do not zig-zag as you stroll through the corridors. It may cause distress to those around you who don’t know your next move.
• Do not make any abrupt stops, especially in the middle of the hallway. You may startle those behind you and cause a collision.
• Do not crowd around open spaces or within the center of the hallways. If you need to chat with your friends, think about a group message so you can carry on the conversation without impeding the flow of traffic. (Remember, though, no texting while walking.)
• Do not walk as slow as possible. We know that sometimes you don’t want to get to class right away, or your class may be nearby. Keep in mind that there may be other people who have a longer distance to travel in a short amount of time.

Part 3: The Do’s

• Do follow all of the above rules. That’s it. That is all you have to do. It is the easiest thing you may even do all day. Avoid doing the acts mentioned above and you are golden. Have common sense and be respectful.

We hope this guide helped bring some common sense back into the halls of WBHS.  Hopefully, these rules help to make the passing periods less stressful and more efficient.

Together, we can make a change.