High school students are no strangers to worksheets, especially those that pile up into mounds of procrastination. We watch the clock quickly approaching midnight as we wonder why the stack of to-dos is so large. If only school started an hour later to allow enough sleep, or we had enjoyable homework that didn’t feel like never-ending paperwork.
Believe it or not, some countries have the exact school schedules we fantasize about. Later start times, less meaningless homework, more time exploring interests, and fewer required classes. And what does this lead to? It leads to happier students who go to school because they want to, not because they have to.
I believe just a few changes could revolutionize the American education system, leading to better performance and more engaged students. Although some may be harder to achieve than others, each change brings irrefutable value.
First, start times. Although some people worry that a later start time could lead to less learning, that is far from the truth.
“The myth that American students spend less time learning than students in other industrialized nations is not actually true,” Executive Director of the Network for Public Education Carol Burris said.
According to the Sleep Foundation, by pushing start times back even just an hour, students and teachers could get more sleep and feel less rushed in the morning. In addition, a family breakfast or a small homework session could boost the morning mood.
Students have experienced a taste of this through our Monday late starts. Think about how much later your alarm clock is set just due to that extra 45 minutes. Imagine having that extra time every morning.
The next item to change should be the class structure. At MN we have every class every day for 48 minutes. This can lead to a rush simply to finish material, causing fast-paced lectures and little hands-on learning.
“Block scheduling creates a ‘saner school day’ by slowing down the pace, reducing homework and freeing up more time for hands-on learning and collaboration.” co-founder of Challenge Success Denise Pope said.
I can attest to the benefit of block schedules as I previously attended a school utilizing block scheduling, Brownell Talbot. With 75 minute class periods, we were able to engage in deeper learning through experiments and projects. On top of this, homework from one day wasn’t due the next day as we had four of our classes on “A Day” and the next four on “B Day”.
The last change, and in my opinion, the most important, is to create a variety of classes and class types that accommodate all student interests and future career paths.
A study from Azusa Pacific University shows that students who are offered a variety of classes are more satisfied in their chosen careers. School is meant to prepare students for the real world and the jobs they will have. As of now, the majority of jobs don’t occur in a small desk within four walls.
As Michael Horn, the co-founder of the Clayton Christensen Institute said, “We should see schools as a gathering place for students to work on a variety of endeavors—academic projects and extracurricular activities. No longer will days be organized in strict time blocks of “classes,” but instead-students will progress when they master concepts, not based on the calendar.”
When we keep student well-being and interests at the forefront of a school schedule, achievements and performance will follow. It has been proven time and time again that students who are happy at school will thrive.