A Solution to the Flaws of the Athenian Schedule
Students and teachers alike believe that it’s essential to have consistent class meetings for each subject. However, the sporadic frequency of C period has constantly thrown them off schedule, especially during special weeks when the periods are often moved around to ensure that all classes meet twice per week. Students often have had to do their homework at the last minute or refresh themselves on what they learned in the previous class. Because of these effects, Athenian should modify its class schedule in order to balance period frequencies, allow for students to have more time when preparing for assessments, and support the mental health of both students and teachers.
Many C period students are so busy with major assessments and projects from other classes that it’s only when they check the schedule that they realize that they have to work on a homework assignment that they barely remember being assigned. Meanwhile, students who have an F period class often have to meet three consecutive days in a row. If an F period teacher assigns a test on day three whilst teaching the class concepts they must know on day one, students only have two days to fully prepare for the test. However, this is not just limited to test-based classes, as students may also have similar experiences with essays and mini-papers. Having a schedule that breaks this notorious three day F period streak will provide students with the opportunity to prepare for an upcoming test or create more thorough presentations and essays, allowing them to fully demonstrate their knowledge of the topic.
The current schedule may also prove to be difficult for teachers as well. It can be challenging to switch topics, especially if you meet with one period three times (cough cough B period) before you’ve even had your second meeting with another (C period). There have been instances where teachers ask the class if they introduced them to a certain concept, wondering whether they’ve covered it in another section. Because of the schedule, teachers are forced to keep mental tabs on the different materials covered in their different sections and must quickly pivot when transitioning from one period to another. With the extreme variation in gaps between certain periods, students and teachers alike are bound to encounter confusion or stress. A new schedule, if implemented with the necessary changes, would serve as a major improvement for the Athenian community, lowering stress levels and allowing teachers to keep better track of what material is covered in each class.
The schedule could be improved by replacing Thursday C period with Wednesday F Period, replacing Wednesday F period with Friday E period, and replacing Friday E Period with Thursday C period. With these changes, F period students will be given an extra day to effectively prepare for any assessments or homework assignments they may have, while also providing C period classes with a better flow and pace, as there will be fewer students who will need refreshers on what they covered in class. Furthermore, it would also allow students who don’t have an E period class to start their homework early, providing them with more time to focus on any assessments or major assignments they may have.
While these changes can provide relief to the schedule problems that the school currently faces, some members of the community might think that there are too many period swaps with this proposal, making it difficult for people to adjust to the new schedule. Even though this proposal may be viewed as too drastic of a change, there have been various other situations where Athenian has been forced to adapt and discover a different approach in how to educate students. A major example was during the pandemic, which forced schools to teach through an online format. Athenian was able to effectively adapt its curriculum to Zoom and create a stable learning environment despite these unexpected circumstances. If students and faculty carry an open mind and a willingness to experiment with the schedule, these changes will allow for a more consistent flow for C period classes and provide students with more time to prepare for any assignments they may have for their F period. With a schedule that has more balanced period frequencies, the Athenian community will be free of the stress and confusion that stems from the current schedule.
