The reaction of the student body to the school administration’s efforts to remove study halls from all schedules going forward was strong, to say the least.
Many students believe that study halls are valuable work time that allows students to do homework, project work, and more.
“I think getting rid of [study halls] is dumb, since they let people get work done,” said junior Anders Raines. “Study halls work as a class where you’re stuck in one place, which is the opposite of M-Block.”
Teachers seem to be a lot more understanding of the subject. The school has strict rules to follow and adhere to, and study halls are a complication.
“I understand the administration’s reasoning behind getting rid of the study hall – the fact that it is unstructured and not considered time-on-learning,” said English teacher Michael Kelsen. “I think M-block is their way to help alleviate some of the pressure and stress for the lack of study halls. It is still a time where students can work independently on HW, projects, or even take a necessary break.”
The question of M-Block versus study halls is a tough one. Some see M-Block as a suitable substitute for study halls, while others think that both are necessary. The ability to move around during M-Block is very helpful for seeking help from teachers in other classes during a dedicated period. Study halls take place during regular class periods, so students cannot visit other teachers for help.
However, study halls can still be a great way to alleviate stress from other classes by having a full-length period to decompress and finish up work.
Some students are very understanding of the administration’s efforts.
“I think that the school is just trying to do what is best for the students and wants us to succeed,” said junior Ada Paglierani. “However, I do believe that study halls are very useful for students as they can use this period to study and get their work done.”
Some students are very happy that the school administration was unable to get rid of study halls completely. Some people are a little more concerned.
“I wouldn’t say I was happy, but more so that I knew it would not be logistically possible,” said Kelsen. “Now I feel that we are in a challenging in-between where students have been told no study halls, but some get some and others do not.”
Everyone has their idealized versions of what they want study halls to be.
“I would let people move around in study halls, to go sit in on a teacher’s class,” said Raines.
This could get very messy, however. Students just sitting in on whatever class they want could quickly become a problem.
“I do like the idea of an M-block making a “study hall-esque” period for all students as it is an equitable way for everyone to get a break in the day,” said Kelsen. “Making M-Block a real opportunity for students to access teachers they need in real time. This way, the period can count towards time on learning while at the same time being a structured avenue for students to get immediate attention and support. I think the district has created a good start to an M-Block, but further tweaking could allow for the lack of study halls to be more manageable.”
In the end, there’s no perfect system. There could be a way for study halls and M-Blocks to coexist. Many want to get rid of the long block and make M-Block a full period. These things are trial and error. It will take a while to get it right.