Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 15, 1994 TAG: 9401180003
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Principal Thomas DeBolt presented the findings to the Pulaski County School Board Thursday night, with a reminder that the survey was taken only about 13 weeks into the year when block scheduling, put into place last fall, was still relatively new.
At that time, 64 percent of the students who returned surveys preferred the four 90-minute periods; 17 percent still preferred the previous seven shorter periods; and it did not matter to 18 percent.
Ninety-four percent of the teachers said they preferred the new schedule, as did 70 percent of the parents.
DeBolt said he had once favored squeezing seven periods into what had been a six-period school day, thinking more was better. He no longer believes that, he said.
Students now get eight classes a year during both semesters, and they get them in more depth, he said.
Teachers get to know their students better with the fewer, longer classes and the students seem to be mastering the material better, he said.
Representatives of school systems in other parts of Virginia as well as other states are interested in how the new schedule is working, DeBolt said.
His office has received hundreds of inquiries, and groups from about 20 schools have visited Pulaski County to see firsthand how block scheduling is working out.
Ninety percent of the students in the survey said they were learning as much or more than before, and 95 percent said they understood the lessons as well or better. Ninety-four percent of the teachers believed that students were learning as much or more, and DeBolt said both grades and attendance have been up slightly.
Sixty-five percent of the teachers said student participation and performance was better under the four-class system.
DeBolt said teachers see students engaged in more active learning, and students like having more time to complete their work. They also like having homework for four classes instead of seven, he said.
Eighty-five percent of the teachers said they are able to experiment more with instructional approaches. Half the students agreed that teachers were providing more variety, although DeBolt said many students also said they had at least one teacher who lectured too much.
Sixty-five percent of the teachers said they are able to cover as much or more material, 75 percent reported better student mastery of important concepts, and 74 percent said there are more opportunities to develop analytical and critical thinking skills.
Fifty-two percent of the parents who returned surveys said their children complained less about being bored in school.
In other business Thursday night, the School Board approved a technology plan prepared by its research and development staff which calls for equipping more teachers with personal computers and increasing the use of technological innovations in classrooms as technology continues to change.
How much of the plan will be carried out depends on the availability of money over time. It would take $500,000 a year to completely fund it.
It also voted to seek proposals from companies that offer energy management systems that could be used by the school division.
Pulaski County Education Association President Shannon Turner outlined the Virginia Education Association's statewide funding proposal for school systems. School boards in Arlington, South Boston, Halifax and Roanoke County already have endorsed it.
The Pulaski County board will study it for a month before deciding whether to add its endorsement.
by CNB