Imagine you’re sitting in class listening to an important lecture. Suddenly, the bell rings, leaving your teacher’s presentation unfinished as everyone rushes to pack up.
The recent switch from 70-minute to 50-minute class periods has made this scene increasingly common throughout the district, sparking debates amongst students and teachers.
According to Knight Life News, classes have been shortened due to the new semester schedule recently implemented throughout Kalamazoo Public Schools.
Especially during the first class period of the day, time management can be more challenging than other classes. While school has started at 7:27 a.m. in years past, it now starts at 7:33 a.m. This shift, on top of the morning announcements taking place at the beginning of first period, has made it a struggle for some teachers to adapt to the new schedule.
“We essentially lose ten minutes a day between starting later and announcements,” said history teacher Matthew Porco. “That adds up to a whole class per week we’re losing. It’s a real challenge trying to figure that out.”
Porco continued by explaining that oftentimes he must cut certain assignments from his first-period lessons in order to stay on track.
Research from The American Association of School Administrators reveals that shorter class periods can disrupt learning, especially in hands-on subjects like art, lab sciences and other subjects that depend on extended time periods. Students in these classes may feel rushed, while teachers struggle to maintain productivity.
However, not everybody views the shift as a setback. History and psychology teacher James Johnson says that he has seen shorter class periods display many benefits for students.
“As a teacher, it’s more work now. With five classes last year, I liked having fewer students and less grading,” said Johnson. “But I like how fast the classes are now. In a 70-minute class, students will look at the clock and realize they have 45 minutes left. I think shorter classes are better for students overall.”
A study conducted by Brighton Academy reports that longer class periods often lower attention spans and retention rates. Meanwhile, shorter periods may improve focus and reduce conflicts with teachers or peers.
Students’ opinions are divided as well. While some say that the shortened class periods makes classes feel more stressful, others prefer the quicker pace.
“While I like the seven-period schedule better overall, I think both have disadvantages,” said sophomore Suri Pawlowski. “Even though there’s more work in a shorter period, the days end up feeling way shorter, which can be a good thing.”
Ultimately, shortened class times have created a complex environment throughout the school. As many continue to adjust to this change, students and teachers alike have experienced both advantages and disadvantages. As this change is still relatively new, there is still time for new problems and benefits to be discovered.
