Staff Editorial: a 7 period schedule may be a good idea

Posted: May 24, 2022

The pros and cons of a new schedule

As many of us know, the school has been in the midst of a huge debate about next year’s schedule. Recently, the discussion has shifted towards potentially switching back to a seven-period schedule.

In general, instead of having eight class periods on a block schedule, with 2-4-6-8 “even days” alternating with 1-3-5-7 “odd days,” as the Upper School has had during the past two pandemic-altered years, the school would return to the schedule it used before COVID-19, and students would have up to seven classes. For example, Tuesdays and Thursday would be 2-4-6 even days, while Wednesdays and Fridays would be 1-3-5-7 odd days. During five-day weeks, students would go through all seven periods on Monday. 

There would be other details, too, but this change would mean that fewer students would have scheduled free hours, everyone would have a seven-period day (called “traditional” days) once a week on a majority of weeks, and some students would lose an extra elective.

Although it’s kind of upsetting that free hours would be less common, the seven-period schedule is overall a better idea. For students, it would be good to have each class three times a week. Certain classes require more repetition.

Additionally, the schedule would be a huge relief to teachers. Many students are unaware that an eight-period schedule causes many teachers to be overworked. A seven-period schedule would be a much-needed relief to teachers.

Despite some reluctance and frustration about losing a free hour, the seven-period schedule would ultimately be a benefit to both students and teachers. 

You may also like…

PWHL Minnesota season in review

From underdogs to champions, PWHL Minnesota had a whirlwind of a season As the last buzzer sounded, Minnesota’s gloves and helmets went flying. Only this time, it was for real.  Game four of the PWHL finals went into two overtime periods before Minnesota's Sophie...

Timberwolves end dramatic season

This year, the “Let’s go Wolves” chant really meant something A “Let’s go Wolves” chant serenaded Target Center as the final buzzer of the best Timberwolves’ season in the last 20 years rang out. On Thursday night, the Wolves lost Game 5 of the Western Conference...

Churches Pushing Assimilation

In 1493, following Columbus’ arrival in the New World, the Doctrine of Discovery changed the scope of European involvement in the Americas for centuries. Signed by Pope Alexander VI, this Doctrine permitted Europeans, the Portuguese and Spanish in particular, to claim...

Track and field record-breakers

Click the photo below to view a galleryAthletes smash school records! (This story has been updated to include end-of-season records.) It’s been yet another record-breaking season for the Minnehaha track and...

Are high-school grades accurate?

How grade inflation is affecting the current generation of students In the education system, grades are everything to a student… or are they? They often are used to help others rank your work ethic and mentality. However, these numbers are starting to steer far off...