The Emporia School Board has given fair warning. Since last spring they’ve given students, teachers and families ample notice that by this time next year Emporia’s elementary-aged students may be starting school around 9:30 a.m. and ending around 4:30 p.m., the latest release time in Emporia schools’ history. The older grades would be starting and releasing earlier in the day.
In the words of every student who will have to adjust to yet another change in their school-year schedule next fall, our reaction — along with many, many parents out there — is pretty simple:
“Seriously?!”
In fact, it is serious. Emporia School District is already struggling to meet AYP, something that’s going to be increasingly more difficult to achieve in the next couple years. Add in another schedule change, one that doesn’t take advantage of students’ biological make-up, and it isn’t going to do students any favors when in comes to academic performance.
The school board may need to spend an afternoon in a room full of five-year-olds (whose traditional “rest time” was one of the more recent pieces of the kindergarten routine taken away not too long ago, in an effort to squeeze every ounce out of them) to be reminded that children don’t last all day. Especially young ones.
The research is clear. Elementary-aged students peak earlier in the day than teens. Hopefully math and reading will be scheduled as soon as the bell rings at 9:30 a.m. because asking a kindergartner, first- or second-grader to be mentally acute at 4 o’clock in the afternoon is senseless.
From bus schedules to high school athletic schedules, the school board has offered several factors being taken into account as they make a plan for next year’s school day. However, the most obvious factor — how children and teens are biologically wired to perform during the day — appears to be ignored.
We hope it will be no longer.
Of course, a schedule adjustment that puts elementary start times ahead of secondary start times may take some creativity and flexibility. But matching up the school day schedule with the natural bent of students is already being done successfully in other schools across the country. It’s time Emporia schools did the same.
In the meantime, while August 2012 may seem like a long way off, these decisions are being made now. And now is the time for parents, caregivers and teachers to let the school board know if a 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. school-day schedule is really in the best interest of our students.
The next school board meeting is Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. at Mary Herbert School. Let them know what you think.
christym123 (anonymous) says...
A 9:30 start time is such a bad idea on so many levels. Thank you Mrs. Walker for trying to bring this to the attention of parents. Hopefully this will help get parents motivated to do something about it.
September 8, 2011 at 2:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Let's face it, the 9:30 to 4:30 schedule has nothing to do with student readiness. Or are they adopting this because too many high schoolers can't seem to get out of bed in the morning?
A schedule change wrecks everybody's schedule, especially for parents who must make arrangements for caregivers if they work at 8 or 9 in the morning.
I hope everyone involved shows up at the school board meeting.
September 8, 2011 at 4:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Glitterbird (anonymous) says...
What is the reasoning behind this? DO they have a reason?
September 8, 2011 at 4:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Unintended result of closing Lowther north and south?
Or, intended result of closing Lowther north and south?
September 8, 2011 at 5:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
I can hear it now. "We either change the times or we will have to buy a dozen more school buses and hire drivers for them."
September 8, 2011 at 5:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
i don't have a dog in the hunt, or a kid in school, but:
How much are the superintendents being paid to come up with these asinine ideas?
You parents better speak up loud and clear NOW.
September 8, 2011 at 5:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
booker5m (anonymous) says...
They are being paid way to much!
September 8, 2011 at 8:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bubbadleroy (anonymous) says...
Hell everybody in all jobs are being paid to much.
except me I'm not being paid enough.
Cut everybody else's wages, but leave mine alone!
There you have it! Time for a wage and price freeze.
September 9, 2011 at 12:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Malique (anonymous) says...
create,
Please read the article, "The older grades would be starting and releasing earlier in the day."
I don't think it has to do with high school kids sleeping in.
You've just been Malique'd!
September 9, 2011 at 10:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
romano1784 (anonymous) says...
This is ridiculous. They wonder why families don't have the same quality time. When my wife gets out of school we only have about four hours together as a family during the week. After this goes into effect we will have less than that. I am opposed to this change vehemently. When I was in grade school we started at 7:30am and ran until 2:30pm, and suffered no ill effects from this!!!
It pains me to agree with anything that Walters has to say but in this I do. Children under 13 are more active earlier in the day. By afternoon they need to recharge, its just simple physical biology. Also I attend ESU and had my schedule set to 9:30am to coincide with my son's 8:55am schedule. Now I have to rearrange all my classes to this ludicrous improvisational change!!!!
September 11, 2011 at 6:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
romano1784 (anonymous) says...
Sorry folks I meant when my son gets out of school we only have about four hours together as a family.
September 11, 2011 at 6:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
I foresee many kids attending other schools in the surrounding areas, then the school board wondering why attendance and revenue is down.
September 11, 2011 at 6:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sunshine (anonymous) says...
If I still had kids in elementary I would be extremely mad about this. This is not in the best interest of the kids, families, teachers...must be some new tactic at "saving money"? I don't see how, but its the only motivation I can think of for this type of schedule change. What is wrong with and 8-3 schedule?
September 11, 2011 at 10:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gooseylucy (anonymous) says...
My kids live in the country. Their bus ride is almost an hour long. This proposed time change will totally disrupt our home life!!
If school started at 9:30, they wouldn't get on the bus until 8:30 or a little later. However our work starts at 8:00. Who's going to watch our kids for a half hour every AM?
Then if school gets out at 4:30 or so, they wouldn't get home until almost 5:30. That only gives us 3 hours together as a family every evening. And by the time you do homework, have dinner, do baths etc, there is no time left to just be a family!
Your argument about starting them earlier and getting on the bus in the dark, doesn't make sense because they would be coming home in the dark. So what's the difference? Also, if the younger kids have the most capacity to learn in the AM, why would you not take advantage of that?? JMO.
September 12, 2011 at 9:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )