Every week, we are given two 45-minute blocks that are set aside for us to study, finish homework, and get extra help if needed. The idea behind this is to give students time to keep up with their rigorous course load. But too often, this time is taken up by mandatory assemblies and surveys, leaving little to no room for actual academic work. I believe strongly that this time should be dedicated solely to studying and academic support.
After talking with many of my peers, it’s clear that this isn’t just my opinion. I talked to five people from each grade, 20 total, and all 20 unanimously said that they want Academy to be specifically for studying and academic support. This is very understandable as Academy is one of the few times during the school day when we have some control over our own academic needs. When it’s taken up by mandatory events, we lose that rare opportunity to stay on top of assignments, especially those with close deadlines. For many of us balancing difficult classes, extracurriculars, or part-time jobs, this time is essential. Missing it means we’re often forced to finish assignments late at night, which leads to stress, less sleep, and burnout. Another problem that many students brought up is that often when there are assemblies and surveys scheduled for an Academy, most people don’t know about it. This often leads to students thinking they can use their Academy to study for a test they have later in the day but then having their Academy taken up and showing up to the test unprepared. Mandatory surveys and assemblies should be scheduled on class periods if necessary, otherwise they should be made optional. If the school doesn’t feel that these events are important enough to take up class time, then they shouldn’t take up independent study time either.
While assemblies and surveys are important for gathering students’ input and educating the student body on new things, there should be other ways to fit them into our schedule that doesn’t interfere with this essential study time. Reserving Academy periods solely for academics would send a message to the students that our school values our time and recognizes the challenges we face in managing our workloads. Often I have found myself relying on Academy to study or finish homework only to find that there is an assembly scheduled for that day. If I had the certainty that Academy would be for me, I wouldn’t have this problem. I feel frustrated that these blocks, which could help all students stay on top of their work and reduce stress, are being repurposed for non-academic activities that could easily be scheduled elsewhere.
Administration says they really care about student voices and input. We’ve seen this through their recent surveys trying to gauge students’ opinion. Well, the students are speaking now and they say they want Academy for studying. It makes sense that when opinions are unclear, the administration can step in and make the choice. However, in this case, it is clear what the students want. We want the time to study and for academic support as was promised to us. We students have spoken. We need Academy for studying and academic support, and we need it consistently.
