Block Scheduling Controversy in Milford School District
This is the second part of a series inspired by a recent article in the News Journal about State Testing Results in Delaware. You can find other parts of this series filed in the “state testing” category.
In the article, Mr. Bob Smith, superintendent of the Milford School District, credits part of Milford’s success to Block Schedules for Students. The basic premise is that students spend 90 minutes in a particular class. By spending twice as much time with one teacher teaching one subject, the students get to really focus on the subject and also spend less time in the halls changing classes (prior to block scheduling classes were 45 minutes long).
On paper, block scheduling seems to make sense. The consistently high marks achieved by the MIlford School District indicate that block scheduling could be an effective method to help students learn more. I have no doubt that it really does.
However, parents that I talk to are not entirely happy with block scheduling. Some parents of Milford High School students assert that part of the 90 minute block is used by some teachers as “in class homework time” or as we called it back in the day: Study Hall. I am sure that this is not what the School Board and Administrators intended when Block Schedules were adopted.
Parents complain among themselves that most nights their kids come home with no homework to do for the next day. Four years later, their freshly minted high school graduate arrives at University unprepared for the workload outside the classroom. Their study skills are lacking or nonexistent. More than one Milford grad has returned home to attend a local college while study skills are developed under Mom and Dad’s roof.
I don’t argue that block scheduling seems to make sense in the current climate of accountability for teachers and students. But if what I am hearing is true, then the Milford School District needs to establish guidelines for teachers and students to follow. It’s great that our kids in Milford are testing so well, but what a pathetic waste of time and money for students and parents if they can’t cut it at University!!
Please be aware that the information in this post is not from my personal experience. My kids are in Elementary and Middle Schools in the Milford School District. This post is based on informal conversations that I have had with parents of high school students.
Let me know if what I am hearing from other parents is true. Please leave your comments whether you agree or not. Thanks. Dean Geyer
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Block Scheduling.