You spent too much time talking with your friends, you’re running late – rushing, pushing people out of the way, can’t be late. Everyone looks at you when you walk in with that flustered look on your face.

Sorry kids, but those days are nothing but a speck in the rear view mirror. The Tardy Tracker is here, mounted on the wall of the office and looking as if it was just brought in from the nearest Wal-Mart check out lane. It’s spreading fear among students at Blue Valley Southwest. After last year’s high number of class-skipping and unexcused tardies, Southwest has introduced the Tardy Tracker to crack down on its slow-walkers and kids who just don’t care.

The Tardy Tracker is here to solve my problems. One of my biggest peeves is when the teacher is deep into an important conversation with the class, and the stragglers make their way in. They interrupt the class for a good five minutes or so, just to get excuses sorted out. When the teacher reengages in the conversation, they forget what they were about to say or change the subject. I’m left to wonder what is going on. The Tardy Tracker enters like a superhero and eliminates all these problems. The stragglers usually know to go get a slip, or the teacher simply tells them to do so, and less class time is wasted messing around with lame excuses.

I can honestly say that part of the reason the Tardy Tracker is successful is because it scares people. The Tardy Tracker is something that takes no excuses, so there’s no getting out of it. Eventually, you’ll end up with the daily special: detention. I am one of those people who is actually scared of the Tardy Tracker.

I don’t have time to get a bunch of detentions with all the other things I have to do.

Another reason the Tardy Tracker is so effective – and scary – is because there is no escaping detention. If you get one, you will serve time. There is no: “Oh well, I just won’t go.” Those office folks will track you down. As nice as those people are, I don’t want them chasing me in the halls.

So, if it hasn’t clicked yet: the Tardy Tracker helps keep students in class, and on time, by using scare tactics. So far, it’s working. Kids who are notorious skippers are seen in class more often. There are less interruptions and hallways are empty because all the students are right where they need to be: in class and learning. So, the next time you want to be dissing that scanner in the office, think twice: the Tardy Tracker is here to turn Southwest students into punctual students.