Goodrich-Though Goodrich High School has been operating on a block schedule for approximatly ten years, it may be unclear to many just exactly what a such a schedule is.
Differing from a traditional class schedule in both the number of classes a student takes each semester and the amount of time spent in each class per day, the block schedule splits the school day into four classes. This is opposed to the six classes students attend daily on a traditional plan.
Each class is and hour and a half long, compared to approximately 45 minutes spent by students in the other situation.
For some parents, the idea of their student attending school in such a different manner than they themselves did is uncomfortable.
‘Change is hard and traditional schedules are what all of our parents went to school on,? said Mary Lavengood, assistant superintendent for education and learning for the Genesee Intermediate School District.
Goodrich High School Principal David St.Aubin said he supports the schools block schedule format.
‘I think block scheduling is one of the best educational platforms around,? St.Aubin said. ‘It enables students to learn at a faster rate.?
Other benefits of the block format, said St.Aubin, are: students receive eight credits as opposed to six or seven; students can immerse themselves in only four classes instead of focusing on six or seven and absent students miss only four classes.
Staff benefits include having 90 instead of 180 students, increased planning time and extended lab time, said St. Aubin.
However, there are complications inherant to a block schedule.
‘In a lot of ways, the block schedule does tend to be a little more expensive and can require a little more magic to make your schedule work,? Lavengood said.
‘You teach differently in a 90 minute block than you would in a traditional block,? Lavengood said. She explained instructors must adapt their teaching style to fit the longer class time.
‘It just depends on what fits with your current staff,? she explained.
St.Aubin said Goodrich High School teachers were instructed on how to teach in a block format. He said teachers at the school enjoy the format.
‘It’s very positive, it’s very good,? St.Aubin said of the classes.
Some classes are simply better suited to the block format than others.
‘It ran into a few difficulties with 90 minutes in a choir class and in the band,? Lavengood said.
Also complicating the matter is the elimination of two classes each semester, making it more difficult for some students to devote such a large portion of their school day to a subject such as a music class.
‘For those types of classes it made it a little bit tougher because you locked those kids in for a whole year,? said Lavengood. ‘It can be a little tricker to schedule.?
Ultimately, Lavengood said she prefers the design of a block schedule, despite any possible downside of the arrangement.
St.Aubin agreed.
‘A block schedule is good for Goodrich. It’s good for the high school,? said St. Aubin. ‘We match up with the state requirements that are going to be coming down very well because of the block schedule.?
‘I have either taught under a traditional schedule or been an administrator under a traditional schedule,? said St. Aubin, ‘and block schedule blows traditional out of the water.?