To the relief of about half of the students and parents at Bel Air High School, there will be no four-period day next year. Instead, the Harford County school will stick with its seven periods a day.
Principal William M. Ekey wrote in a letter to parents, "As professionals devoted to . . . finding the best learning environment for our students, we will continue to explore more effective scheduling alternatives."
Mr. Ekey hoped to become the second high school in the county to adopt the schedule, which calls for four 80-minute classes a day each semester instead of seven 45-minute classes a day.
Joppatowne High School initiated a four-period day in September. Its principal, Doris L. Williams, said, "I am elated at what has happened at Joppatowne High School since we've gone to a four-period day."
She said the school is calmer because the children change classes less often and that grades had improved because students are able to focus for a longer time in each class.
Bel Air parents, however, were skeptical. At a meeting on the proposed four-period day last month, John Moffa, the father of an eighth-grader, called it a "new vogue program" that didn't have a proven track record yet.
The four-period day has been in existence in Maryland since 1992 when Gov. Thomas Johnson High School in Frederick instituted the longer classes. Now, there are 24 schools in the state that have a four-period day.
Mr. Ekey sought Bel Air parents' opinions before making the decision to postpone the four-period day. Sixty-one percent of 1,139 families responded to a survey on the schedule.
They were almost evenly split. Forty seven percent favored the four-period day and 48 percent said they wanted to keep the seven-period day.
"Clearly, parents in the Bel Air High School area are interested in their children's education, and that is encouraging," Mr. Ekey said.
Kathy Carmello, president of the Bel Air High PTSA, said that the group had not taken an official position on the issue.
Even so, she said, "I would support the four-period day as a parent. I think the concept is good. I really admire Bill Ekey for making everyone as aware as he did, including parents."