I am going to guess this is not really locking students in, but locking out people who are late. It’s NYS law, I believe, that doors in classrooms and such cannot be locked on the inside for just the reason you stated...the need to quickly evacuate in an emergency.
Nothing like breaking a key in a lock because you’re in a hurry.
>I am going to guess this is not really locking students in, but locking out people who are late. Its NYS law, I believe, that doors in classrooms and such cannot be locked on the inside for just the reason you stated...the need to quickly evacuate in an emergency.<<
Surely you are right - or in a fire they would likely roast.