The commonly believed "15-minute rule" — that students can leave a class if the teacher is more than 15 minutes late — is largely a myth and not an official policy in most educational institutions.
General Consensus
- Most schools and universities do not have an formal policy allowing students to leave after 15 minutes of a teacher's tardiness.
- It is often considered an "urban legend" or an unwritten rule that students follow informally, but it is not enforced or officially recognized.
- In many cases, policies specify that students should wait or notify authorities if a teacher is excessively late, but leaving the classroom early without permission can lead to consequences.
Specific Situations
- Some tertiary institutions or universities may have a broader understanding that students can leave if a professor is significantly late, typically more than 15 or 20 minutes, but this is not universally accepted or enforced.
- In primary or secondary schools, students are generally required to stay unless the school explicitly allows leaving or has procedures in place for teacher absences, like calling the office or waiting for a substitute.
Conclusion
Unless there is a specific official policy at a given institution, leaving a class solely because a teacher is late beyond 15 minutes is not a generally accepted or permitted practice. It's advisable to follow the institution's rules and notify a school authority if a teacher is excessively or unexpectedly absent.
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