4-period days pose serious difficulties

You have covered a few stories on the decisions of Superintendent Eric J. Smith, who wants to change all schools in the Anne Arundel County Public School District to a four-period schedule starting in the 2003-2004 school years.

My name is Jamie Haab and I am a sophomore at Old Mill Senior High School and I would like to give you a look at a student's perspective of this decision.

I think that the four-period schedules will [result in] an increase in classes for students to handle, an increase in the disciplinary problems in class and an extension of time between the academic classes; thus, I do not agree with the four-period schedule.

The Board of Education believes that changing to a four-period schedule will increase the standards of education in Anne Arundel County. They argue that students will have a better chance of earning extra credits under the new schedule. Board members also think that by using a four-period schedule there will be fewer discipline problems in the transition time between classes. They believe that under the new schedule ... there will be more continuity in the learning process.

From my point of view, as a student, I see all of these "advantages" in a different light.

Under a four period schedule, eight total classes -- two more than the six classes of this year -- would be given to students of Old Mill Senior High. This would put additional work upon us every day and especially for final exams. I feel that this is unfair to the students who are already taking challenging classes, such as honors and advanced placement courses, because more of this level of work will be required of them.

Although Board members believe that through the use of with a four-period day there will be fewer disciplinary problems during class changes, I find this to be a totally misleading statement. With longer classes students will want the short amount of change time they have to socialize with friends and just stand around in the hallways. Plus, even if transition time discipline problems stopped, the discipline problems in the classes themselves would increase. Students can barely get through their 55-minute class periods now without being bored to death and/or falling asleep during class. With the amount of students that fall asleep with 55-minute classes, I can only imagine what it would be like with 86-minute classes.

I do not understand how the Board can say that there is more continuity in the learning process with a four-period day. First, if the core classes are spread out among two days, then it gives the students the chance to either forget the material, which would then have to be re-taught every class, or procrastinate, making the quality of work done by the student depreciate. The schedule does not allow for students to have daily classes, so if they do not understand something they won't be able to ask for help for two days and thus become way behind in their work.

I believe that the suggested four period schedules will not benefit the students in extra credits, lessening disciplinary problems, and continuity in learning as much as the Board believes.

Jamie Haab

Glen Burnie