Debate On Block Schedule

This is one of several pages on the problems of block scheduling a major educational reform that is being implemented across the country in spite of serious evidence that it is harmful to education.

Debate on block schedule. In an a b block schedule each day of the week is designated an a day or a b day. The block schedule debate students weigh in. But is the magnitude of harm really as trivial as the proponents of the block claim. Is it a flexible scheduling alternative that benefits students or is it a fad that s sure to pass.

If a student misses a day under the block schedule he is actually missing the equivalent of nearly two days. But the shift from block scheduling may not be a done deal while school officials say how the day is structured is the purview of the principals school board members approve bell times and not all. The move to block scheduling however has sparked controversy. Block scheduling seems to be the talk around stamford public schools and many other school districts over the last couple of years.

The merits of block scheduling are a subject of great debate. I am a first year high school math teacher. In a block schedule teachers typically only see students four times a week such as monday tuesday thursday and friday which means that students lose continuity on the days they don t see a given teacher. High school s undergoes a change from eight classes a day to four a block schedule more time to learn by giving the student only four classes to deal with at a time he or she can devote more concentration and time to each subject.

In a traditional block schedule not to be confused with a traditional schedule a student attends the same 4 classes every day for 90 days. When it comes to human performance in education there are hundreds of factors that affect student performance. This is an excerpt from a letter written to a charlotte north carolina newspaper in 2002 by a first year math teacher a man who was vehemently opposed to block scheduling. Schools throughout the united states are adopting block scheduling in dramatically increasing numbers.

My school operates on a block schedule a concept i had never even heard of until i accepted this teaching position. On a four block schedule students could receive eight credits per year. During the second semester the student takes 4 new classes. If block scheduling isn t helping academic performance but may even be hurting it then we ve got a problem.

The debate on academic harm. A block schedule differs from the traditional six or seven period rotating schedule in that there are. Over the course of the year the student takes 8 different classes. The switch from a schedule that allowed students to take four 80 minute blocks each semester to a daily class scheduled comprised of six 60 minute classes continues to cause controversy nearly 30 days into the school year.

Block scheduling debate may not be over some school board members say more discussion needed. Block scheduling cons. The case against block scheduling part 2.