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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]As someone who grew up outside the US, I find this very amusing but not in a good way. In fact, we noticed the same thing with our child.

Here's how it works elsewhere: first of, even in middle and high schools, there are breaks between classes: at least 10min, one break (where milk could be bought and brought-from-home snacks be eaten) of 15min, and one outdoor recess of 20min. Until 12th grade. Second, lunch facilities were built such that everyone could have lunch at the same time (none of this taking turns in 6 shifts and seeing only half of each grade). No weird 52 minute periods when your period overlapped with some other grade's lunch time because the cafeteria seats only 150 kids (in a school built in the 2010s!).

When I compare this to today's insane schedule of 4min class changes and a single 20min lunch break I'm wondering why we're putting up with this.  Kids that aren't packers (but have to buy their lunch) often spend half of that time in the lunch line. The remaining recess time was stolen as well and crammed in "study hall" or "intervention/enrichment" time (which I understand is usually just a waste of 25min where kids need to read a book or be otherwise quiet).  The other day our child didn't make it to their next class between periods because they had to run from the gym on one end of the building to the other and back to a different wing to get their materials for the next class. To avoid being marked tardy, they are now working out a special exception where the school materials are dropped off in the classroom a period earlier (even though it's against the rules).

This all seems utterly insane and actually reminiscent of prison - I can't think of any other place with a similarly regulated schedule that is purposely designed to cut out any downtime.  Note also that there's almost no time for socializing because each of these time periods is with a randomly assigned group of kids, particularly in middle school before AP classes and with few electives.  The predictable result is that many kids talk during class, sometimes over the teacher, something that was taboo (and occurred infrequently) where I went to school. It prevents kids who want to use class time for their work from doing so and generally kills concentration.
Grabbing granola bars between classes needs to be done furtively because eating in the hallways is not allowed, and in any event, you'd get run over if you don't pay attention. Yes there are teachers who recognize this and allow snacks like in 8th period for early lunchers or before lunch for late lunchers like in this post.

Do Americans even remember a time with quiet class periods where you could concentrate, 10min class changes, a breakfast snack, consistent 45 minute periods, and a long recess where you could talk to your classmates and didn't feel the need to talk in class?  Most people I talked to who went to school in the 90s or later think that this was always this way.  I don't believe that's true, though, or is it? 
 
Why is there no revolution? Why is everyone putting up with this?
[/quote]

First, I don't know why we put up with it. My kids have to throw out lunch that they don't have time to finish. I've told them to sit there and eat it if they are hungry. Or take it with and eat in the hallway. The teachers forcing them to trash it and vacate can talk to ME.

We did not have recess or down time or milk break, but there was always time to get to your locker, chat a bit in the hallway, and have a decent length lunch. If we could just progress back to that it would be huge. [/quote]

Unfortunately they had to limit time between classes to prevent fights and bad behavior. Like kids vaping in bathroom or whatever. Blame the parents raising these little sociopaths.[/quote]

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