Reply to What's wrong with "shift schedules"? (APS)

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Every time we talk about potential solutions to high school overcrowding in APS, people darkly mention "shift schedules" as if that is some terrible idea that will destroy the high school experience.  But why?  I think it sounds like a very sensible solution.  I am disappointed my rising 6th grader didn't win the HB Woodlawn lottery, and to be honest, the thing I find most attractive about that school is the 9:30 - 4:00 p.m. bell schedule.  I would absolutely love for my kids to have the option of a 9:30 or 10:00 am start time in high school -- it would be so much more conducive to good sleep and good learning.  The only drawbacks I can see are (1) it could complicate after school activities/sports, and (2) how to deal with school buses.  But if you had half the student body on a "later shift," they would have to find solutions for those issues -- right?  For  the bus issue, maybe walkers would all be on the later shift.

If you deplore the idea of shift schedules, I would love to hear a detailed explanation of your objections (other than the fact that it is not the "best" solution to overcrowding -- which, I believe most agree, would be a fourth comprehensive high school).

For definitional purposes, I am assuming it would work along these lines:  you would take, say, a 7-period day (not having a high school student yet, I'm not sure if this is the correct number of periods in APS, but you get the idea) and make it a 9-period day, and students would either attend periods 1-7 or 3-9.  Or am I misunderstanding what is meant by "shift schedules"?[/quote]

What they have talked about are schedules really far outside of normal hours, like evening classes, not a matter of shifting between 3 periods. I don't want my HS kids sleeping until noon and then going to class until 7 pm. Also, part of the reason we want a comprehensive HS is for sports, and the practices would have to be held at a set times. Then what you'd have is a HS segregated by interests. The jocks and kids who do the honors clubs and other after school activities all go at one time, while the kids who have to work outside of school go at another time? That's insane. And what if too many kids want one bell schedule? Then you don't get your preferred bell schedule and can't do that sport or activity?

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