WS might have just put itself in a more stressful and exasperating environment for the upcoming 2016-17 school year. Malicia Braxton, Director of Student Services at WS, has reconstructed the school policy of in order to be offered the privilege of receiving a study hall, a student must take the minimum amount of 4 AP classes, instead of 3.
“I found that, that particular class [study hall] was being oversubscribed without any rhyme or reason,” said Braxton.
It was stumbled upon that students in study hall could be taking the minimum amount of APs for the study hall while there are other students taking a full schedule of APs in the same class. That is why this policy was redone, so that the students who desperately needed that study hall to manage their time more efficiently, would fairly receive it.
“The class is overcrowded, but it is really nice to have,” said Junior, Ryan Harper.
Some students believe that their fellow Spartans will push themselves into taking the extra AP in order to get that study hall. And depending on the students work ethic that could potentially hurt their grades.
“I don’t think it will benefit the school because it puts more stress on students after school if they don’t have study hall,” said sophomore, Troy Golzalzadeh.
Students who have endured the process of taking multiple AP classes know it can be very stressful, but it’s a step students must be committed to in order to take. The key to taking AP classes is time management and focus. And one of the main problems most students face is taking an AP class that they’re not interested in, which makes the whole process a lot more difficult.
“Our goal is to provide assistance, and not necessarily a free study hall; but we really want kids to think about the classes that they’re taking,” said Braxton.
This has now become an eye-opening opportunity for students to seriously contemplate which classes they should be taking.
Especially if the student participates in a sport or extracurricular activity. That is why the staff of WS has been working hard to form a “clear vision” in the student’s minds of what kind of work the class they’re interested in offers through activities like the elective fairs, and the many counselor visits students participate in before finalizing their classes for the following year.
“I don’t think the school made a mistake since it lets kids who are taking a lot of APs and who aren’t necessarily interested in an extra elective to have time to devote to their homework,” said sophomore, Lauren Woods.