I'm sure most of you have heard about the controversy of the activity period. Although, for those of you who don't understand it let me explain it to you. The activity period would be held 8th hour. Except last year it was 10th hour because of the 10 period schedule. So durnig 8th hour if you were involved with a sport you would go to your practice. If you weren't you would go to class like normal. This year we didn't have it "because of covid."
There are many benefits to keeping the activity period. Keep in mind this isn't "Harlan High," we are Harlan Community. What that means is that we aren't just Harlan. We are also Panama, Difiance, Earling, Westphalia, and more. The activity period was put in place to allow the kids that don't live in harlan to not get home so late from practice. Without the activity period the students that live outside of harlan could get home as late as 6. Students who do sports still need time with their families. The activity period allows the same amount of practice time and more time at home with your family, and time to do homework. It also helps if you have an away game and you miss 8th hour you aren't going to miss an important class to make up. Also the teachers that are coaches don't have to miss their 8th hour classes leaving the 8th hour students to not get the same quality of teaching.
The one benefit that taking away the activity period is to allow students to take more classes. Some people say it will improve our academics but their is no way of knowing that. I know for sure that taking one extra class will not improve our ACT scores or our Iowa Assessments. Another argument is that it allows kids to take more college classes. This can allow students to graduate at the same level as a sophmore in college. Now that is great, but this is highschool not a college. I think we need to focus on being in highschool. I believe that now in highschool is our time to play sports and we can worry about academics in college. Yes, athletes who are very good will play sports in college. Although, for average athletes, like me, now is our time to play because we won't play in college. Even if athletes play in college it just isn't the same experience as highschool. A good point I heard someone make was, "This change only benefits the already high achieving students who want to take more classes. For our extra curricular programs and the majority of students, it's a huge disadvantage."
For more information email me @kkenkel2024@hcsdcyclones.com
What is your opinion on the activity period?
Do you think it will really benefit us students?
Replies
I think the activity period was beneficial in some ways. Being able to go to sports earlier was helpful and coaches missed less class time to leave for sports. However, the kids who aren't in sports don't really benefit from taking a class period away. If they were to add this activity period again I would say MTSS shouldn't be used because we don't have time in the day for both. I think part of the issue is that coaches can't be paid double when they're coaching since it is still technically school hours when they're getting paid to also teach. I don't really think this activity period is as big of a deal as everyone is making it out to be because it's 30 minutes long. It doesn't make or break a sports team. If you're going to be in sports, part of the commitment is playing after school and getting home a little later than kids who aren't in sports.
I've heard from several students that having this for sure studyhall was actually helpful to them and they think it is good for kids who also aren't in sports. Also someone who takes a lot of classes, like me. Needs that MTSS because I don't have study halls. I thinkwe have plenty of room for both.
I think we should have the activity period because living in manilla I do not get home till pretty late after practices. I feel like I am never home. I think keeping it will benefit us so then we can get home earlier if we live out of town. I understand getting home leter on game days but I would rather have some more time to get hoemwork done instead of practicing late and not getting home till late.
I think that we should keep the activity period because it helps kids get home at a better time to spend more time with their family. I think the activity period was great because kids wern't leaving classes early to leave for sporting events. So then kids wern't getting behind in classes. I think keeping the activity period will benefit students, I think getting rid of the activity period could hurt us though.
I wasn't here when we had the activity period but from what I've heard about it I think we should have it because people will have more time to study for tests that are coming up and not have to worry about getting home late and not getting time to study and failing the test I think that if we go the activity period then our test scores and homework scores will improve.
I agree. They say having an extra class will improve academics but I believe it will do the opposite.
I do not think they should take the activity period away because that would make so many people get home late and miss a lot of time with their families. People out of town wil be getting home late after sports, and have no time do do anything.
I agree. We students still have lives outside of school. Taking the activity period away will hold us back.
I think the activity period is great for all students because it allows students in sports to get home earlier, and It gives students who are not in sports extra time to do school work. My experience with the activity period last year helped me get home earlier, which helped me got homework done sooner, which meant I could go to bed earlier too. However, the activity period didn't really give students an extra class to take. It was more of a study hall where students could go to different teachers for help.
I agree. It's good for all students wether or not they are in sports. It helps with so much. There is way more advantages then disadvantages.
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