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 helps students, having it taken away is hard on those who are in a sport. They miss out on learning in the 8th period because they have to go to their sports meet/game. The teachers in those 8th period classes who are coaches need to leave for that sport, it puts that teacher in a rough spot, trying to find someone to watch the class while their gone it tough. Kids who also live far away tend to get home late, and then staying up even later in order to get homework done is hard on them too.
We should 100% have the activity period. I've experienced other schools and this one has the most period in one school day than any of the others I've been to. We have plenty of oppurtunity, which I'm thankful for. I know it seems like a great idea to add even more, but it'd actually increase stress amongst students. Another class or longer class periods means more homework, then a longer time after school for sports/activities. I feel like it really, really helped because it was another study hall you could know you could accomplish something in or that you'd have more time at home. Sports benefit both the school and the students, so if anything they should be pushing for this as well. I know it's messed up a lot of planning for the next year for particular activities as well, which isn't fair. Not only have we know stretched students paper thin, but now teachers/coaches/directors have to find time out of their busy day outside of school to do this. If anything, stress will decrease test scores and sport performance, plus end up in a lot less participation.
I totally agree. Yes, academics is important, but there is nothing wrong with our academics. Sports helps a lot of students with their academics because it helps them strive to get good grades.
I think that the activity period is very beneficial, and I've seen the disadvantages and problems that have arisen due to the activity period being taken away this year. Many students miss their eighth hour class which then puts them at a disadvantage because they participate in sports. Teachers who also coach also have to miss their eighth hour class which disrupts not only the eighth hour class, but classes throughout the entire day because the teacher has to change the plans in order to accommodate the coaching schedule.
I agree it is a disadvantage to students in sport even though it is our decision to go out. Although we need coaches and s o we need to make it easier on the teachers.
I think the activity period needs to happen. We have a ton of students in sports in Harlan. Lots of those students include ones that live in outside towns like Earling so they get home later than everyone else. Not having the activity period doesn't just affect students, it affects families when their kids are getting home late and then are stuck doing a ton of homework.
I believe we should be given the activity period back. Our school is very supportive of sports and how we do, so I think that allowing students to have the activity period would be beneficial to our success in being great at sports and acedemics.
Yes, I agree it will benefit our sports and academics. This gives us more time to do homework and less stress.
I don't think they need to take away the activity period away from us. If the school is so conserend about students academic credits I dont see why there putting kids in study halls. Students are passing with enough if not more credits needed to graduate. Also if the student would like more oppertuninty to take more academic classes they don't need to do every single sport. but hey thats just my opinion.
I agree if a student really wants to take an extra class they would be able to fit it into their schedual.
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