by Samuel Andrade
Students take a variety of classes during their time at Irvington High School. Most of these classes take up one period on a student’s schedule. However, science classes take up 2 periods every other day. Why is that?
Science classes such as Biology and Chemistry consist of two periods. They have a regular period and a lab period. The main reason for this is because there is a set number of lab hours required to pass the class and take the regents, which is the end of year exam.
However, time is essential and I feel that having two periods for the same class gives up a free period or another class that a student could take. If other classes don’t need two periods, why should science classes have them?
A valid counterargument would probably be the fact that science classes only have two periods every other day. While this is true, this doesn’t eliminate the fact that students could possibly have another free period to do work or relax if there wasn’t a second period. School is stressful, and free periods are crucial.
Many students have different opinions regarding this topic. Some value the extra things they learn during the second period of a science class. After all, labs are the most fun part of science classes in my opinion. However, most of the time we don’t even do labs during the lab period. Oftentimes we just do another period of note-taking.
Because of this, many students ,such as myself, argue against the second period of a science class and are in favor of clearing up a period on our schedules. Anil Huprikar, a sophomore, thinks, “While two periods of science classes certainly helps us learn more, I think the additional time that clearing up a period on our schedules would do is more beneficial.”
Even though the added period of science classes offers some benefits in the form of education, I strongly believe that removing one of the periods would help foster a greater school environment where students feel better.
