While the creation of a Professional Plan Period, which is used as a time for the teachers to meet with other teachers and plan lessons and exams, was well-received by most teachers, the large class sizes and the dropping of classes has raised concern among teachers.
Although in support of the addition of a second plan period, science teacher Julie Schwarting said that having larger classes was not exciting to her. She said that she wishes that schools would limit the number of students in a classroom, because it hinders learning and makes it challenging to create a safe learning environment in a science classroom where labs are taking place, and students are in need of guidance.
“It’s just a bad idea for students to cram them in a little place and then say we’re going to give them an individualized plan of study, which a teacher cannot implement with a class of 30,” Schwarting said.
The increasing number of students in classes not only affects the teachers. Schwarting said that having a large number of students in a small space also made the students less likely to participate in the activities.
In addition, both French teacher Karen Gipson and Spanish teacher Amanda Williams said that they preferred having a shorter class each day rather than a block schedule because it provides more consistent exposure to the students.
Also, both teachers said that it was difficult for the students to pay attention for the entirety of a block schedule class.
“If we could have class every day for about the same amount of time, honestly, that’s a lot better just because of the continuity, the less disruption and it’s just the right amount of time that I can keep them engaged,” Williams said.
Math teacher Laura O’Neil said she is also disappointed with the large class sizes, but that it was more of a continuity than a change from the previous years. On the other hand, she said she is happy with the creation of the new plan period, because it helps her collaborate better with the other teachers of the same subject, and it makes her workload easier.
“We write the test and then work together on edits, and then discuss how our kids did and what we can do to help,” O’Neil said.
Gipson said she is disappointed because French 4 is not being offered as a class next school year. She said that, because the class was only offered for one hour of the day, it made students unable to pursue their language studies. While Gipson said that she understands that students have had to make the decision between core classes and language classes, she said that knowing a language can give you a significant advantage later in life.
“It just opens up the whole world to you … so it’s just as important as the classes that are going to lead you to your career decision. It’s a big part of your career,” Gipson said.
