Incoherence from Above: The New Bells and Announcements

Incoherence+from+Above%3A+The+New+Bells+and+Announcements

The routine ringing of bells and the announcements of third period were abruptly changed a few weeks ago. Now, instead of a single tone beep to signal passing time, we have a collection of beeps which sound similar to an airplane boarding call or a garbage truck going in reverse. These seemingly mind-numbing beeps are incredibly loud in the social studies wing, yet barely audible in the portables. To follow this theme of lacking consistency is the new announcement system. Incoherent and filled with static at times, since implementation, the announcements have usually been cut short or not said at all. Yes, these adjustments are not actually harmful to Hall students, however many still find concern with them.

Why this change came no one truly knows. Budget cuts are the usual cause of blame for most problems at Hall, but they don’t make sense in this circumstance because the change must have cost some sum of money.

One teacher (who asked to remain anonymous) told Hall Highlights that they played a collection of possible new bell sounds at a faculty meeting and this was “the most pleasant sounding”.  While hard to believe, it is rumored that the other sounds were the weeps of faculty that had to be let go so administrative staff could purchase standing desks and a fish tank for the library. This teacher also discussed how there was no legitimate justification given for the change in announcement and bell sounds; that it came as a total surprise with no reasoning behind it.

Most people have already voiced their disliking of the new bell sound and have offered comparisons to what they feel it sounds like. Some of the most popular are below,

  1. A truck backing up
  2. An elevator pasing floors
  3. A (nuclear) warning signal
  4. Airplane boarding call
  5. Baggage claim noise
  6. When you scan items at a self-checkout register
  7. The sirens from “The Purge”

 

The initial reaction most students had to the new bells was just one of pure confusion. The traditional old bell system was fine – no one really saw the need for update. Regardless, this new sound of a truck backing up seems to be here to stay so we just have to adjust. The student body may now only reminisce of a simpler time: a time with one long beep instead of multiple short ones.