Have you thought about the constructive and obstructive effects of your school schedule? School schedules determine how students, teachers, and other educational institution staff manage their time. All these factors profoundly affect students from school start to end time. Lunch and other required classes can also be taken into account to show the importance of time management.
Considering the main points of frustration students and educators have, school schedules should be carefully thought out to accommodate their staff and students to their best capacity. Providing students more time in class, support for school material, and opportunities through tutoring, extra lessons, clubs, or extracurricular activities can result in impactful results. Eighth grader Tiana Townsend mentioned her preference for an additional class period for students to relieve themselves of schoolwork, “I would prefer if school could add a free or study hall period so students can do their uncompleted homework and classwork,” she said.
Additionally, educators and students have considered the option of longer class periods. Often, educators don’t get to teach the necessary material in the time available. With this change, more class time allows teachers to introduce concepts of greater depth and expand upon more complex topics, likely beneficial to student’s academic skills. Longer class periods allow for deeper discussions and more time spent on critical thinking. Students can analyze and reflect on class materials, debate new ideas, and work through problems at a more educational and thorough pace and level. Special Education teacher Ms. Erin Anderson said, “There should be more opportunities for a study hall for students or longer periods for academic content.”
Though some schedule changes may impact the other necessary structures of the school schedule, many current issues require attention such as the mental and physical health of teachers and students. Educators and students, work, teach, and learn throughout the six and half hours required five days a week which can be distressing or even discouraging. Students experience different courses that require time, energy, and motivation throughout the day. These factors contribute to how students actively participate throughout the day which can vary in the student and time of the day. Energy levels are typically expected to decline towards the end of the day. Vocal music teacher Stephen Markowski expressed his observations about student behaviors and varying engagement in his class throughout the course of the day, “Students participate differently at certain times of the day,” he said.
Though times between classes may seem like a trivial part of a student’s day, it plays a crucial and significant factor in a physical and mental transition even if it is only for a few minutes. This time offers a brief relief for students from the intense academic work students perform daily. Students often feel distressed not being able to socialize and just work for hours on end which can raise anxiety levels, and deteriorate mental health. Time for going to the bathroom before class, mentally preparing, and socializing, these seemingly minor activities can help students focus and stay engaged throughout the day. Additional social time for students to communicate with their peers and teachers can contribute to an increase of positive mental health behaviors. Sixth grader Eli Carter disclosed his disfavor for the current time available for students to get to class. “More time should be added between each class so students can get to class on time and take time off class,” he said.
