Experiment With Longer Class Periods Draws Positive Reviews

The New York Times (6/2, Anderson, Subscription Publication) reports on the Calhoun School in New York City, which has adopted longer class periods to allow students to explore class topics in more depth. "High school students at Calhoun intensively study three to five subjects in each of five terms, or modules, that are 32 to 36 days long." Over time, the scheduling change "became a sort of evangelical mission to make progressive education more, well, progressive: embracing depth over breadth, allowing for more experiential learning in Central Park and at nearby museums, and, administrators said they hoped, reducing stress." The trend is gaining popularity at private schools across the US. "Nearly a year into the experiment, teachers interviewed said they enjoyed the flexibility of longer classes, which allowed them to take students out of the classroom and collaborate more, both with other teachers and students." Parents and students were also largely positive.