The Saint Paul Public School Board is considering changing the schedule layout for the 2017-2018 school year. The board thinks that by changing the number of periods we have each day, and/or changing to trimesters, we as a district can save a significant amount of money per year. Here are some of the options the school board is considering.

• Having a 5 period days over trimesters instead of semesters.
• Having a 6 period day with 55 minute periods in semesters
• Keeping a 7 period day with 47 minute periods in semesters
• Having an alternating block schedule, “A days & B days”, with 4 periods of 75 minutes each period, in semesters.

Switching over to trimesters could have some benefits but also some complications. Trimesters would allow students to take more classes each year than they would under a 6 period day with semesters. Students could join a support class without risking graduation credits. Some complications with trimesters include a harder schedule to create. Also, any schedule change of the student may have multiple complications as counselors would have to schedule students 3 times per year instead of 2. Trimesters also would allow students to transition more often per year, so that could be good or bad depending on the student.

I asked 3 students their opinions on the possible schedule changes and they all had something a little different to say. Cecilia Velazco, a Sophmore, said she would like A days and B days “because it would be different everyday. I wouldn’t get bored all the time.” David Ramirez, a Junior, thinks “Having only 4 period days would get to be boring. Teachers can barely keep student attention how it is now. I cant imagine staying engaged all 75 minutes.” Mayte Rodriguez disagrees, she says “Having 5 period days would be nice. It would allow more time for teachers to thoroughly explain material.  And it might make our homework load lighter”.

Despite your feelings about the schedule change posibilities, in the 2017-2018 school year, it looks like we won’t have a 7 period day with quarters.

While the St. Paul Public School Board is still deciding whether to change the school start times, a motion for days to be cut down to 6 periods is already in motion. The current school day at Highland Park Senior High consists of 7 classes spanning about 45 min each with a lunch of 20 min in the middle of the day. This new format would have 6 classes spanning about an hour each and with the same lunch time of 20 min. This system, much like the the school start times, could benefit students and hinder them at the same time.

Many students will have one type of class that they enjoy taking, and they will take that type of class every year. For example, many students like band, orchestra, art classes, and PLTW technology and engineering classes, and they will take one of these classes each year. This can benefit the students in a few ways. They can learn more about things that interest them, and colleges will give thousands of dollars in scholarship money to students who take these classes each year. When the school changes from a 7 period to 6 period day, students will no longer have that extra period to take a class of their choice. They would likely need to take a specific class to earn the correct credits.

A benefit of a six period day is that it will give more focus on the core classes of: math, science, English and history. This can be good because some classes like study hall have the same amount of time as science or English classes. This will limit the number of classes that don’t pose much benefit, such as study hall. Giving more time to the classes that need more time to learn will make it easier on students and teachers.This will allow teachers to not rush classes or deadlines because of the short time students have in class. This might limit homework with more time in class to work on assignments.

In the end, the change to 6 periods can benefit some people more than others. Some people, such as the people who always take an elective of their choice, will be rather hindered by this change. However, people that take all sorts of classes, and do not prefer to take one specific type of class, may benefit more by the change.

Highland is a very diverse and open school. From what we have seen, Highland tries to make students feel welcomed, accepted, and feel like they have someone to talk to. While the school does accomplish that, some of the students still feel un-welcomed or that they can’t be themselves here.

As students here, we hear so much throughout the day: positive and negative. But something we have noticed is that students tend to make fun and use phrases that are offensive to the LGBTQ+ community. Phrases like “that’s so gay” or the word “fag” are still being thrown around like it’s nothing. Most people don’t think twice before they talk/say anything.

We asked some of the students at this school that are a part of the LGBTQ+ community, and supporters, about their thoughts on this situation. A member in the community, who chose to stay anonymous said, “It does annoy me. There is no point of using words or phrases like that. It’s pointless and stupid.”

Someone else we asked, who also chose to stay anonymous said, “We aren’t taken seriously. We are made fun of all the time and no one is doing anything about it. People are getting in trouble for saying the “n” word but not for using ‘gay’ or ‘fag’.”

As people that have many friends in the LGBTQ+ community, it hurts us when they’re hurt due to the things people are saying about them, or when people throw around “gay” and “fag” like nothing.

We should all work together, not only as a school, but as a community and friends, to try to fix this issue. We certainly can’t control what others say, but we can try to persuade them to be kinder.