Have you been forgetting about your homework lately? The new schedule may be to blame. The new A day / B day schedule has some benefits, but also some drawbacks. With the end of the quarter quickly approaching, it’s time for us to take a look at this new schedule, and decide whether it’s helping or hindering students' progress.
The 2021-2022 school year came with some big changes: a new grading system, new teachers, and, of course, a new schedule. Teachers and students alike were anxious to see how the new schedule would connect with block scheduling, and now that everyone has had time to adjust, let's examine what the students think.
PRO - It helps prepare students for college-style learning. This argument seems to be the drive for implementing the A/B day schedule. In college and grad schools alike, many students will not have the same classes every day. A/B scheduling helps students take more responsibility in their education, by making sure they are aware of what classes they have that day and the work that needs to be done.
The 2021-2022 school year came with some big changes: a new grading system, new teachers, and, of course, a new schedule. Teachers and students alike were anxious to see how the new schedule would connect with block scheduling, and now that everyone has had time to adjust, let's examine what the students think.
PRO - It helps prepare students for college-style learning. This argument seems to be the drive for implementing the A/B day schedule. In college and grad schools alike, many students will not have the same classes every day. A/B scheduling helps students take more responsibility in their education, by making sure they are aware of what classes they have that day and the work that needs to be done.
Things to do during flex time 1. Newspaper Club
2. Astrology Club 3. Student Tutoring 4. Teacher Tutoring 5. Yearbook 6. Crimson Feather 7. Start a club 8. Work on homework 9. Seniors: College Applications 10. Read "October in the Chair" by Neil Gaiman, or another book. |
“I like it. It helps me get my work done because I have more than one day to do my homework,” freshman Sam Owens said.
CON - Many students forget what assignments are due each day, and even more are forgetting about important tests that now count for 80% of their grade. It’s time to address the elephant in the room ‒ no high schooler can remember everything. For juniors and seniors who previously had been accustomed to block scheduling, the new implementation of A/B scheduling has been a difficult adjustment for some. Numerous students have no idea when test dates are, when homework is due, or even which classes they will have the next day. Some teachers have tried to combat this by posting announcements in Google Classrooms stating what days they will have certain classes, but this is not school-wide. One can argue that A/B scheduling now puts even more pressure on students to measure up or risk falling behind. “It’s very different, and we’ve all had to make adjustments. It’s a lot to handle,” sophomore Mary Baker said. PRO- Flex time is an added benefit. With the additional stress placed on students’ shoulders, it's easy to understand how some students may be struggling in classes. Flex time is a great opportunity to work on homework, get help from teachers, and enjoy a break in between classes. |
“It really helps break up the day. You have lots of options during flex time,” junior Maria Fire said.
Not to mention, the interval between classes allows students to relax with friends, instead of being in class all day.
CON - If you're absent, you are now behind in everything. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, absent students are not uncommon, especially for longer periods of time. Students who come back after being absent for just two days are now behind in every class, and possibly have missed tests that are important for their grades. It's crunch time for these students to get everything done as soon as possible so they don’t miss anything else ‒ which could contribute to low ACT and SAT scores. Students are now more focused on cramming to get everything done quickly, instead of taking the time to learn the material.
“It’s just really difficult to keep track of everything already,” senior Jenna Frommelt said. “Being absent makes it ten times worse.”
Do these criticisms outweigh the benefits of the new schedule? That’s up for you to decide.
Not to mention, the interval between classes allows students to relax with friends, instead of being in class all day.
CON - If you're absent, you are now behind in everything. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, absent students are not uncommon, especially for longer periods of time. Students who come back after being absent for just two days are now behind in every class, and possibly have missed tests that are important for their grades. It's crunch time for these students to get everything done as soon as possible so they don’t miss anything else ‒ which could contribute to low ACT and SAT scores. Students are now more focused on cramming to get everything done quickly, instead of taking the time to learn the material.
“It’s just really difficult to keep track of everything already,” senior Jenna Frommelt said. “Being absent makes it ten times worse.”
Do these criticisms outweigh the benefits of the new schedule? That’s up for you to decide.