Revised Class Schedule at Hellgate Sparks Diverse Student Viewpoints
New School Schedule Introduces Mixed Reactions
A new school schedule, characterised by shorter class durations and unconventional end times, has been met with a mix of positive and negative feedback from students and teachers.
The schedule, designed to simplify daily planning and improve transportation logistics, has its advantages. For instance, a consistent bell schedule throughout the week eliminates block days, making it easier for both students and teachers to plan their days. The lack of block periods means that classes meet daily, which could potentially aid students in retaining information better and maintaining steady study habits. Additionally, unconventional dismissal times can help reduce congestion and make pick-ups smoother.
However, the schedule also presents some challenges. Shorter class periods can limit deep dives into complex subjects and reduce time for activities or discussions, frustrating teachers who prefer extended blocks for project-based or hands-on learning. The absence of block scheduling removes longer periods that some students find beneficial for focus and immersion. Unusual dismissal times can conflict with family schedules or after-school activities, causing inconvenience. Last-minute schedule changes, such as classroom relocations due to building issues, add to adjustment challenges, especially for middle schoolers.
Benefits and problems identified by different individuals have led to mixed opinions about the new schedule. For example, junior Ben Bryant prefers the new schedule as he likes getting out earlier and prefers early out to late start. On the other hand, junior Story Land finds the Thursday class periods of 34 minutes inconvenient, especially the short duration and the long morning before lunch. Hadley Henderson, a sophomore, finds starting earlier more productive but shares the same concern about the Thursday early out schedule feeling too rushed.
Anna Bacon, a teacher, finds the start and stop times beneficial for students in activities after school. However, her comments suggest that the benefits of the new schedule may not yet be fully realized for teachers. She expresses concerns about the impact of the 7 period day on teachers, causing frantic work, and the potential issues for students who take the city bus with the earlier start times.
Overall, while the uniform daily schedule improves predictability, the trade-off is often a loss of extended instructional time and occasional logistical inconveniences. The balance of benefits and challenges depends heavily on individual teaching styles and student preferences. Anna Bacon acknowledges that the start and stop times may confuse students, particularly with the use of numbers like 38 and 12.
As the school community continues to adapt to the new schedule, it remains to be seen how these challenges and benefits will be addressed and whether the schedule will ultimately prove to be beneficial for all involved.
[1] Simplified daily planning for students and teachers. [2] Adjustment challenges for middle schoolers due to last-minute schedule changes.
[1] The new school schedule, designed to simplify daily planning, may bring convenience for both students and teachers in terms of predictability.[2] However, last-minute schedule changes can present significant adjustment challenges, particularly for middle schoolers, who may find these unexpected changes difficult to manage.
