Cartersville High School has been thrown into turmoil ever since the month of November. The month where someone decided that block schedule needs to go. Pick a random student, they'll probably prefer block, ask a teacher with no consequence, I'm willing to bet their opinion follows suit. Yet the students don't have a say, the teachers can't complain and this is up to one person. Not to bash the superintendent, but in a democracy its the people's choice.

An article with the audacity to insinuate the good reasons for going to a six or seven period schedule have obviously neglected certain reasons toward keeping the block schedule. What of the seniors who planned in advanced, like most freshmen are told their first year, to put off a class here or want their favorite elective their last year of high school? What about the kids who are athletes and stay up with enough homework now? Finally what of the teachers, whom the students love, that will be laid off because of this change?

The article composed this past week wrote of the advantages that a 6 or 7 period had over block scheduling: Increased instructional hours per year-long course will occur, because of this change. The statistics being180 hours on a 6 period day or 150 hours on a 7 period day against the 135 hours of a block schedule. Although, the paper neglected the fact of the lesser amount of actual learning time will be in a class. In a 4x4 block schedule the class times consist of one hour and thirty minutes, this gives a chance for more work, more test preparedness, and more student/teacher time in the day. Students who need aid actually have extra time in class to discuss their problems. This also allows a student to be able to focus more and put more effort into each course. According to Schoenstein, 1995 students in a 4x4 block schedule have better attendance, fewer late arrivals, higher grades, and a reduced failure rate.

College has also been a major concern during this dilemma. The newspaper article in question derived that high school students in a block schedule come into the college life unprepared for the harsh conditions of a 6 or 7 period schedule. Regardless of this fact students in our high school are adapt to this transformation, as seen from the moving of eight grade into ninth grade. With the conversion of the class periods to 6 or 7 periods a day their will be four less periods in the entire four years. This cuts down not only the amount of electives someone can take and even potential other academic classes. (i.e. if someone wanted to take psychology and another history class it wouldn't be allowed) Most colleges look for two language classes, which will still be available, but they also look for a variety of academics and electives that a student has. In truth it is easier for a student coming from a school such as Cass or Woodland to transfer into a 6 or 7 period schedule it is not impossible for them to modify into Cartersville's routine and actually allows for more credits.

These are just a few of the listed reason and granted the positives of a 6 or 7 period schedule are there, according to some sources the cons definitely outweigh the pros. Students are going insane at this ludicrous claim of how much better it will be and how change is "hard". Change happens all the time, but it is the good kind of change that should happen. Students screaming for petitions, teachers are scared to death of losing their jobs and for what? Year long classes? Better reading skills? Ask someone, take stand, and realize what this school is asking.

Jessica Branton

Cartersville