The hallways at RHS are gradually turning into a major headache as more students enroll each year, with the construction certainly not making matters any better. From one passing period to the next, each with its own hectic seven-minute rush hour, as students hope to avoid getting caught up in a tardy lockout. When students push past one another, walk excessively slowly or stop in the middle of the hallways to chat with friends, it poses the question of where students’ sense of decency and common sense have gone these days.

After years of schooling, one would expect that students would know how to walk and act appropriately in the hallways, yet many do not. However, there are a few basic hallway etiquette rules that can be done to make the headache-inducing hall traffic stop or at least improve:

1. Avoid walking too slowly, especially if the bell approaches. Keep up a good pace! Those who are behind you have classes to get to.
2. Avoid abruptly stopping in the middle of the hallway while walking. Keep moving! However, if you must change direction, do it carefully and proceed to the other side rather than simply turning around.
3. Keep right, just like the rules of the road. There needs to be some sort of traffic control as there are many students moving through crowded hallways. If students could also do this when utilizing the stairs, that would be great.
4. Use the door on the right not the left door to avoid creating a small traffic jam. Another student may seek to enter or exit at any time, even after the door has just been opened with noticeable space to squeeze through. Do not be lazy and use the correct door to maintain the flow of the crowd.
5. Avoid shoving or pushing as it is unnecessary, especially when there is a crowd of people in front of you. This is incredibly disrespectful and will not get you anywhere faster; if it was an accident, say a simple “I’m sorry” and continue on about your day.
6. Avoid stopping and conversing with the opposite side of the hall. Due to the congestion this causes, people are forced to move in all directions on both sides of the hallway. Texting is always a great option as it allows for conversation while saving the students’ time who would otherwise waste it twisting around to avoid you.
7. Passing periods are not a gym class, so refrain from running down the hallways. I’m not sure if students believe that sprinting will keep them out of the busy hallway traffic, but by doing so, they are part of the problem. Many students arrive at their destinations on time without running. Running down the hall is not only reckless, but it is also immature.
8. Avoid playing loud music from a speaker because rest assured nobody wants to hear trashy music coming from inside a random backpack. Please wear earplugs; they were designed for a purpose, and it is human decency to avoid subjecting others to unwanted music.
9. Avoid yelling and screaming in the hallway as it is obnoxious and immature. Not once have I laughed at something someone has yelled, despite the fact that I laugh easily. Most likely, at the end of the day, many students just want to leave school and avoid hearing random profanities shouted across the hallway.
10. Be mindful of PDA because quite frankly nobody wants to see that. Couples, I love that you’re in love, but holding hands with six feet of space in between each other is annoying, nobody can get between you. I don’t have anything against PDA; a quick kiss or a small side hug while walking is fine, but don’t prevent students from getting to class because of it.

We can all strive to do our part, but I know that when one student doesn’t abide by these unspoken norms, everyone else will start to stray from them too. However, students should find these hallway etiquette guidelines useful as they remember to be considerate, not to block others, and to keep the flow of hall traffic as smooth as possible.