New schedule: not so bad after all?
Cartoon by Margaret Cross
February 12, 2010 • written by Lauren Haley
Filed under Opinions
Lately students and teachers have been hearing a lot of rumors concerning next year’s schedule.
Luckily, The Panther’s Prey’s own Jessica Ferrell cleared up the rumors up in her “6+1=7, right?” article.
Next year, the bell schedule will not change. All students will still be arriving at 7 a.m. and leaving at 2 p.m.
The change occurs in fourth-period classes. Because freshmen are required to have an extra two credits to graduate, they will have an opportunity to earn seven credits each year by taking two full-credit classes during their fourth-period.
The only real disadvantage is that “Channel One” time will no longer be a part of fourth period. Channel One time was originally a time set aside for students to watch a thirty-minute program set up by students. However, this student program is no longer broadcast, making that time available for a short study hall in which students can complete their homework assignments.
Some students may complain about the loss of Channel One time because they may have tons of homework or may have to make up an important test one day.
However in reality, many teachers currently do not really acknowledge this thirty-minute period and continue to teach. Besides, many students who have homework will most likely do it whether the teacher is talking or not. Teachers may not realize it all the time, but while they think that teens are “taking notes” in class, most students are probably doing homework that that they forgot about the night before. As far as make-up work, students can take care of that before or after school.
Students might also argue that 90 minutes spent in one class is asking way too much of them, because, lets face it: 50 minutes is quite enough for most of us. However the administration assures us that teachers will break the class period up into different sets of activities. What teacher could lecture that long? Heck, what teacher would want to lecture that long?
Students are just going to have to adjust. One 90-minute class is not going to kill us, people.
Upperclassmen may not experience any change next year. Since they are not required to have 22 credits, there is no need for them to take any extra classes.
However, if they are smart and willing to learn, juniors and seniors may choose to take some of the new electives that Bartlett will be offering next year.
These new courses (including Criminal Justice and Teaching as a Profession) could be fun, and could help students decide on a future career.
Unfortunately some upperclassmen have failed a course or two; the new schedule can accommodate core classes that they may need to retake, virtually eliminating their need to attend summer school.
The new schedule basically offers something for everyone, so complaining students should relax and realize why we are all here: to receive an education. The expanded schedule and course offerings can only help us achieve that goal.
Comments
Feel free to leave a comment...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!