BY GABRIEL ALVARADO

This past Friday, many students were overwhelmed and blown away with the 76 minute class during their third period. Many students were angered and unhappy with this new arrangement that happened on a Friday out of all days. While the whole point of the period was to focus on grades and why students received them, the main focus was to help educate students on why grades are important and hopefully motivate them to do better.

Although, sadly enough, this plan and idea is not so smart. Not only does this take away class time from other periods, but it also forces the third period teacher to have to change their lesson plans. I personally feel that this new idea and concept is a waste of time that could have gone to teaching students. Time is very hard to come by as a teacher and a student, so whenever something arises and requires it, I personally feel that it better have importance.

Ultimately, grades are a big part of a student’s life, whether it be your parents talking about them, you working on them, or friends comparing them. Although, not all students really care about them or put forth the effort to get good grades. So when a program comes out like this, I personally feel it’s a last attempt to try and make students see the importance of grades. However, like the saying says, you can lead a horse to water but not make them drink it. This is just like students; teachers, parents, and administration can only do so much and the rest is on us. We cannot change people into something they don’t want to be or force them to do something they don’t want to do.

I feel that this new program will not work. Not to mention there isn’t even a signature spot for the signature that is required. That is a great way to show parents that the school has everything handled. The caring effort is great, but sympathy will never outlast or get farther than empathy. The want to do better must come from a student, not a teacher, parent, or administrator.