MHS to adopt block scheduling

Starting this school year, Marianas High School is set to adopt an alternative form of class scheduling intended to fortify student learning at Saipan’s lone public high school.

Block scheduling, a scheme embraced by 50 percent of mainland schools, presents many advantages for both students and faculty, according to the MHS administration.

This non-traditional form of scheduling allows students more hours to absorb knowledge they acquire in the classroom as they are given approximately 95 minutes to spend for one period.

Acting MHS Principal Peter Le’au cited many advantages to this scheme, including the reduction in high school years from four to three or less since students would have more flexibility in completing the 180 days requirement in 90 days.

Mr. Le’au also said this could maximize the use of students’ time by finishing high school earlier than expected.

The new plan is also targeted to lessen the burden on MHS teachers who normally handle over a hundred students a day under the traditional scheduling.

Under the present setup, teachers usually average six teaching loads per day handling over 150 students. Under block scheduling, teachers will take a maximum of three classes a day, with enough time to conduct one-on-one interaction with 60 students.

The expanded class hours is projected to enhance student learning among high school students.

During the last school year, MHS was organized with a six-period instruction, where the length of each period lasted 50 minutes and an allotted five minutes for changing classes.

MHS Principal James Denight first introduced the block scheduling concept to students and teachers which drew questions from skeptics.

About 10 percent of the MHS faculty expressed reluctance on the new system while the remaining 80 percent pledged willingness to try it out.

“This is beneficial because we look at different strategies to teach children. This is also a breakaway from traditional methods like lectures. . .our children don’t always learn from that,” Mr. Denight had said.

The high school is set to implement block scheduling on Aug. 7 when school year 2000-2001 officially opens.

Prior to this date, a block scheduling workshop will be facilitated by Mr. Denight and two presenters from the University of Guam on Aug. 2 and 3.

If the new scheme proves to be a success, Rota and Tinian high schools will also be adopting the same system during the next school year. (MM)