THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 26, 1995 TAG: 9503240203
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TONYA WOODS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
FEWER CLASSES WILL mean longer class periods for Western Branch High School students next year.
It will become the first Chesapeake school to use a block scheduling system of four 90-minute classes a day.
Students, parents and administrators have varied opinions about switching to the new system. During a PTA meeting Monday, parents found out what it would mean for students.
Beth Moore, whose son will be a freshman next year, said she's convinced the pros for block scheduling outweigh the cons.
``From what I've heard tonight it's a good plan,'' she said. ``Students will not be bombarded with so many subjects, so they won't have as many assignments at one time.''
Assistant Principal Movane J. Smith said students will be able to spend more time learning with hands-on activities during class, build better student-teacher relationships, earn more class credits and take more elective classes like technology, chorus and catering.
James E. Freedman, whose daughter is a freshman at Western Branch, hopes block scheduling will give students more substance and not just the opportunity to take easy courses.
``The world is very demanding, and we don't want our our kids spending too much time in pottery or band,'' he said. ``We'd like to see our kids become more experienced in world history and geography. If this can do that, I'm all for it; if not, I'm against it.''
Smith assured parents Monday that students can only gain academically with this type of scheduling.
``High school learning will not change, but organizing time for learning will,'' she said. ``We have to find the best way to utilize time and teachers' talents.''
Terry B. Wiliams, chairman of the social studies department, said the steering committee that deals with making the transition has given careful consideration to the new plan.
``There are advantages for every level of students,'' she said. ``Instead of a child choosing between world history and geography, he can take them both.''
Smith also pointed out that students who fail a class required for graduation can take that class again the following semester and still be on schedule to graduate in four years. Next year, incoming freshmen will be able to earn 32 credits toward graduation instead of the traditional 24 credits.
Now, students attend six 52-minute classes Monday, Thursday and Friday. But on Tuesdays they take their second-, fourth- and sixth-period classes and on Wednesdays they take their first-, third- and fifth-period classes for 104 minutes each.
Some say that's enough block scheduling for them.
Freshman Jeannie S. Chung believes students will lose interest in learning.
``It's going to be like having two days of school in one day,'' she said. ``The learning level will be faster and harder to comprehend.''
Junior, Shawna L. Sherman, 17, said she hopes the new scheduling will help prepare her for college.
``The way we take classes now, a teacher can say, `Turn this in by the end of the nine weeks,' but next year we'll have to turn things in a lot sooner,'' she said.
Some parents who oppose the change say they need proof that students' academic performance will not suffer.
``I know that math is something students need to be given enough time to work on for it to sink in,'' said Linda B. Koutoufas, whose daughter will enter Western Branch next year.
She believes students will not have ample time to master math and sciences effectively.
Math and computer teacher Sharyn R. Jones believes block scheduling, which also gives every teacher a daily 90-minute planning period, will enrich classroom time as well as increase it.
``That 90-minute planning period will give us more time to schedule our classes,'' she said. ``We can cover more material, and students will get more hands-on learning.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Supporters of a block scheduling system of four 90-minute classes a
day field questions at Western Branch.
KEYWORDS: EDUCATION BLOCK SCHEDULING CHESAPEAKE SCHOOLS by CNB