Why Lake Stevens School District should make the switch to a Block Schedule System

What feelings do you experience on a  busy day full of tasks? Stress? Anxiety? Anger?    If 1/2 of these duties had been canceled, or rescheduled for some other time,  a great relief would cross your mind, I’m sure of it.  Students wish they could feel this same relief in their school schedules. Not only are their days full, but they are so packed with many different things, different subjects, different concepts and different routines.  This overwhelming, dreadful, anxiety-causing feeling many students get from school can be avoided by adopting some form of block system for classes. A block system is when we have fewer, but longer classes, this meaning we won’t actually be reducing school hours.  Students would have 3 classes per semester. This system could be more effective because students will have more quality time with teachers and classmates, a smaller workload for students, and more student mental health support.

The first reason why we should adopt the block schedule is that students would get to spend some more time with those we are in the classroom environment with. Studies have actually shown that students are more likely to resolve issues between each other. Available Data from REA shows that “students on a block schedule are less likely to cause discipline issues.¨ This is because students and teachers are rewarded with spending more time with each other, forming better relationships. The average block class is 90 to 120 minutes, meaning that kids are also filled with many more opportunities to converse with teachers, get help from them, and calmly finish assignments without worrying about due dates.

Another benefit of the block system is that student workloads will be much lighter. Families who are undergoing the traditional school schedule have reported that ¨their children struggle to complete homework. One in five believed their children always or often feel overwhelmed by homework, and half of them reported their children had cried over homework stress. Parents are struggling to help.¨  (Today) But after the change in the system, students’ assignments were cut in half, because they have half as many classes during a given time. 86% of respondents of a survey performed by the  REA (Research, Evaluation, Assessment) said that ¨the block schedule strongly supports their academic needs.¨ This supports the idea that the block schedule will help create a smaller workload for students because not only do we have less homework, we and families have noticed that we are more comfortable doing that work. This leads us into our next idea why the block schedule can be so effective, Student mental health support:

Although I could talk about this all day, the final reason why we should adopt the block schedule is because it relieves so much stress from the students. REA Says that those schools with the block schedule have reported fewer general absences from school. This is because kids enjoy the new system. The longer classes mean that students will have more time to form good relationships with their classmates, making them feel like they aren’t alone. Finding new people who generally care about them, and then have more time to strengthen those bonds, making students feel like they belong at school. The feeling of sense of belonging can always be improved and this is a way we can do it.

It is for these reasons that I believe Lake Stevens school district would greatly benefit from this block schedule. Those schools who have used the block schedule system said that these reasons are why the system is ¨favorable.¨ (REA)  Although it takes effort to implement it, students deserve change, change for the better. The traditional school system has been the same for decades. It’s time. The block schedule change can help, like it did other schools. This is because students will have more quality time with teachers and classmates, a smaller workload for students, and more student mental health support.