Choate’s introduction of a new schedule this year has shaken up the routines of everyone on campus. Seventy-minute blocks, earlier conference periods, weekly [always been weekly school meetings] form meetings, and staggered lunch blocks have required students and faculty alike to adjust their work, free time, and sleep schedules. While there are problems with the introduction of the new schedule, such as the increased difficulty of getting lunch, these can be expected with change, and, really, are nothing to worry about. Additionally, members of the Choate community have found that the benefits of the new schedule outweigh the costs. The new schedule represents a willingness on the part of the administration to improve the lives of students.
The sincerity with which the administration approached the schedule change deserves praise. Various groups were consulted, both inside and outside of the Choate community, before designing the final product. Choate ensured that student life would be positively affected by the changes through learning how longer-block schedules have worked at other schools, including Loomis Chaffee. Thus, before making the decision to switch the schedule, Choate ensured that the change would benefit its student body.
In addition, prior to implementing the schedule, the administration appropriately trained faculty in a manner that allowed the changes to be effective immediately. Teachers attended seminars and conferences on how best to conduct longer classes, and how to divide the block into elements that keep students engaged. Classes across campus appear to be flowing smoothly, and teachers seem more committed than ever to the idea that a dynamic class is the best way for students to learn in the classroom. Be it through discussions, in-class work, or presentations, the division of the class period has allowed classes to lengthen without feeling drawn out. Different subjects require different strategies, but each department has fittingly worked their curriculum into the longer time period.
To be sure, there are certain faults to the new schedule. For example, lunch has been crowded every day of the week thus far into the year; every table fills up quickly, the lines extend out the doors of the servery, and food oftentimes runs out, forcing students to stand in line even longer. However, with time, the administration will hopefully make the appropriate changes so as to ensure that lunch becomes a guaranteed mid-day activity, and students may adjust to finding a less popular time to eat in their lunch block. However, we hope that with time, the student body will adjust to the new times and spread out their lunches throughout the entire lunch block. In addition, jazz band’s rehearsal is now placed in the middle of the day, and this has caused some prospective members to not be able to participate. However, such hiccups can be expected from the implementation of any new system, and the schedule change has undoubtedly been beneficial as a whole.
We thank the administration for aiming to create an environment that best suits the needs of the students. It has been easier to get more sleep, homework has been easier to get done during free periods, and the class day itself feels less stressful. We look forward to the administration’s continued efforts to bring about positive changes in the lives of the school’s students, faculty and staff.
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