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High school leaders need to explore both the advantages and disadvantages of the 4 x 4 schedule. If this innovation is implemented without discussion of how to ensure rigor while using time flexibly, it may be sabotaged by those who fear the disadvantages and question the advantages. This article and its companion piece examine what students and teachers think about the block schedule.
American high schools are beginning to experience substantive changes-changes that often challenge years of ritual and tradition in a powerful socializing institution. One such change is the move away from the traditional six or seven-period day to a block schedule. A popular variation of the block schedule is the 4 x 4 schedule, which blocks classes into four 90-minute periods that meet each day for a semester. Students take four classes each semester, allowing the possibility of eight subjects per year.
A study recently conducted in western North Carolina explored the ways that students and teachers viewed the implementation of the 4 x 4 schedule in five high schools. Each changed to the 4 x 4 schedule in fall 1994. Their enrollments ranged from 350 to 768.
During spring 1996, after all five high schools had been on the 4 x 4 schedule for three semesters, we conducted open-ended interviews with 37 students, approximately 6-9 students from each school. Interviewees were selected from a cross-section of students, those whose interests were vocational, college preparatory, or unfocused. Interviews each took approximately 30 minutes.
Advantages
In general, students were overwhelmingly in favor of the 4 x 4 schedule. When asked if they wanted to return to the six or seven-period day, 35 of the 37 students said no. In a separate survey conducted in one of the five schools, students indicated a preference for the 4 x 4 schedule by a 131-23 margin.
Academics
Students reported they liked the new schedule because they were getting better grades, they had more time for in-depth study, they received more individual attention from teachers, their lives were less hectic, and they had a fresh start after the semester.
The following quotes reflect their perceptions of the advantages of the 4 x 4 schedule:
A lot of the students that I talk to... like it 'cause they...