NON-STOP changes have hit Granger High, and now there’s another new idea being tossed around — adding a 5th period. It’s not exactly what you think. They wouldn’t be adding an extra period to everyone’s schedules. Instead, they’d offer an alternate schedule for the students who want a later start each day. You’d still attend four classes, but you’d start with 2nd period and finish after 5th period. 

In this situation, students can choose the schedule that works best for them. 

Although this idea may sound smart and good for students who need it, it may not appeal to others. There are benefits and disadvantages for everyone.

“I think sometimes the school system here is a little bit rigid. We ring a bell, you need to be in class, sit down, shut up, learn, do this, do that. We kinda do that to students a little; this new schedule doesn’t solve that problem, but it raises the question of whether a later schedule is better for students. It is cool to think we would have that option,” Dr. Wright, the principal, said. 

Dr. Wright says that if it’s better and it suits the teachers and students’ schedules, then he would go along with this proposed schedule. If they didn’t want to, it wouldn’t make sense to force it onto them. “I’m willing to try anything to make school better for everyone,” Dr. Wright said.

The benefits of this are that students can start school later at 9 a.m. instead of 7:30 a.m., for students or teachers who work late or have things they’re busy with the night before school. 

Studies show that students’ brains work more effectively later in the day. Also, this can give students the opportunity to get more classes finished and get the ability to graduate early.

A disadvantage is that students have limited class choices for 5th period because there wouldn’t be as many teachers as on the regular schedule, and coaches with after-school activities wouldn’t be able to have a 5th period because it would interfere with their time. In addition, students wouldn’t be able to take the bus because they don’t have buses that would come later to the 5th-period students. 

Students at Cottonwood High are piloting this program, so there will lots of useful information available as Granger decides what to do with a 5th period.

There are obviously perks that would need to be fixed if this were to happen, but currently, this is what’s happening with the whole situation.