Block vs. Bells: Which is Better?
    
Over the past couple of years there has been many arguments by educators as to whether or not block scheduling is an effective learning atmosphere. As a student who went from a 7-bell schedule to block scheduling I would have to argue that the benefits far outweigh the negative side of this. Many other high schools in the city of Virginia Beach have recently moved from 7 bells to A/B block. A/B block is when you have 4 classes on "A" day and 4 on a "B" day. A set calendar of alternating "A" and "B" days is used. Another type of block scheduling used in the Hampton Roads area is the 4 and 4 schedule. With this schedule students take 4 classes a semester. In both situations classes are usually about 90 minutes long. There is absolutely no reason why the remaining Virginia Beach high schools should stay on block scheduling. The best benefits for the students happen on block and there is no reason that some should have these opportunities while others do not. 
        The benefits of block scheduling can be felt by all, with the students benefiting the most. By having an A/B or 4/4 block schedule students can take up to eight classes in a year allowing them to expand their education without having to stay at school longer or come in earlier then their peers. This also makes it easier for a student who is accelerated to graduate early without having to go to summer school. If they take 6 classes per year, as most students do, they are allotted an entire block for extra help, study halls, lunch, and tutoring. Athletic teams can be grouped together for the last block of the day which allows them to cut down on time spend traveling to away events and let their coaches keep a close eye on their study habits and grades. A/B block scheduling also allows for more time to complete homework and other assignments. The student can attempt the assignment on the day it is given and if they have any problems, they can receive extra help before the next class period. A/B block also allows for more study time in between class meetings so the student can have better comprehension of the material. I believe that the biggest benefit of block scheduling is the length of class time. Longer classes allow for several different topics to be taught in one class period. It also means that the teacher can spend more time with individuals making sure that each student has a complete understanding of the subject matter at hand. For science classes these longer class times are almost a necessity. Labs can be setup and completed in almost a single class. Longer classes also mean that teachers are able to give more comprehensive tests. By doing this, students are better prepared for the much longer semester and final exams. Teachers also benefit from block scheduling. They are given more time to plan for lessons, making them better and more extensive. They are able to cover more material and teach with different styles when given this much time as well. Another positive thing about block scheduling is that the negatives to block scheduling are few and far between. Some people think that when given 2 days to do homework you will get 2 days worth of work. But as a student who has experienced this firsthand, I can tell you that I receive no more work now than I did before. Actually I feel that I receive less work to do outside of class since the material is covered so extensively during class. A downside to A/B block is the amount of time between class meetings of students who are learning a foreign language. The best way to learn a foreign language is with repetition so when a student doesn't hear it, study it, or learn it everyday it makes it a little tougher. This leaves it up to the student's responsibility to review their foreign language assignments daily. Another thing students tend to do is to wait until the day before the homework is due to complete it which mean that they will lose out on the opportunity to receive extra help before it is due if they should have any problems with the assignment. One of the problems found with the 4/4 system of block scheduling is when students have advanced placement classes in the first semester. If they wish to take the AP exam they have to wait until the beginning of May which may cause them to neglect previous information learned and do poorly on the exam. 
    As shown, there are many more positive aspects to block scheduling versus negative things. Students and teachers alike greatly benefit from the opportunities that block scheduling presents to them. With a few remaining schools still on regular 7 bells a day schedule, I urge those parents and our school board to have a block scheduling system put in place in their school, to give those students the same opportunity that the majority of the other students in the city are receiving.