The hybrid models we have created aren’t the best solution.
By Lucy Miller, ’22.
It’s no secret that students have been struggling significantly more recently than we have in past years. Remembering what assignments are due, for what class and what time. Is it 11:59 P.M. on Thursday or Saturday? Wait, 4:00 P.M. on Friday? While the factors causing this are countless in the world’s current state, one of the main issues is the current set-up for high-schools nationwide. This includes UAHS.
While attending school only two days a week might sound appealing, in reality it’s quite the opposite. Twice as much work in half the time, strict but not-fully identified deadlines, only having one or two days a week to meet with teachers, and in many cases, spotty WiFi making at-home work extremely difficult.
I understand that the regular, everyday schedule that students and staff are used to is no longer an option for any schools nationwide, but the hybrid learning schedule we currently have is simply not working. Parents and teachers don’t seem to understand that learning this way is a huge shift from what we’re used to and it’s becoming exceedingly difficult for students to find motivation to do their schoolwork. Myself and everyone I’ve spoken to recently are complaining about poor grades and rapidly declining mental health and something needs to be done about it.
The options for this situation are limited, all things considered, however, there are other schools in Ohio that have different hybrid learning schedules that have helped their students significantly. For example, Grandview Heights High School is currently running a schedule in which the first half of the alphabet attends schools Monday through Friday from 8 A.M. to 11 P.M. For the second half of the day, students with last names in the second half of the alphabet attend Monday through Friday from 12 P.M .to 3 P.M. Their class periods are the standard 45 minutes, and there are four for each group each day.
This is beneficial because students are able to meet their teachers everyday, and also have normal length class periods that are easier to attend. In addition to this, teachers no longer have to create lesson plans for 85 minute class periods, and can continue planning lessons for time periods they are used to teaching through.
The schedule should be changed to be the standard 45 minutes. We would then be able to meet with all of our teachers everyday. As complicated as things are today, UAHS and the Upper Arlington Board of Education have done their best to handle today’s issues. However, the current schedules are far less than ideal for UAHS’s students and staff.