Our high school is returning in the fall to a traditional schedule of seven periods per school day. This comes after the past several years of working on a 4x4 block schedule. I have taught both and can list my personal pros and cons of both.
Our district trustees were up front about the change having nothing to do with learning, but everything to do with finances. Facing a $1.6 million shortfall in January, they supported a few major changes to cut $1.2 million, one of those being a return to the 7-period day. I do, however, disagree with a statement made in their publication Across the Board of April 20, 2009 that the cuts will not adversely impact educational programs. I believe that is an inaccuracy. We cannot change from a block schedule back to a traditional schedule without some adverse impact. If I am wrong, please, tell me how. The publication offered no insight to that statement.
I have done a literature search of the schedule issue. I found no significant data that supports one schedule over another. It seems that support of one over the other comes from personal preference. As a vocational teacher, I preferred block simply because the time allowed for in-depth work on long-term projects. As a language teacher, I can debate the pros and cons either way. From an employee perspective, I find a 7-period day more physically demanding.
I know that as a teacher you have very little, if any, say on the schedule in your district. I would like to hear, however, what you prefer and why. If you have found any research supporting one over the other in a significant manner, cite it. I want to review it. If you feel strongly from experience about one over the other, I want to hear that as well.
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My high school also recently switched to a 7 period schedule from a 4x4 block because of finance isssues. The irony in it is that we actually don't have the money to buy workbooks because the 7 period schedule is making it too expensive! It's really annoying. We also can't fit all the students into the lunch room at once. Some of us have to stand up or just not eat.
ReplyDeleteNumerous students called in to protest the change, but the school board doesn't really care about us apparently.
Is it like that at the school in which you teach?
Thank you for your response.
ReplyDeleteWe have the same problem with the lunchroom, so we have 4 lunch periods. Even worse, New Braunfels ISD has decided to reduce staff by six per year over three years at the High School to control costs. That's in spite of an increasing population projection.
Please stay tuned to the post as I will speak to this at a later date.
cheers.