Recently, break blocks were removed due to them being a disruption to class. This decision sparked a series of conversations about the issues and goals of this decision.
The reason for this change was explained by Abigail Cooksey, Assistant Principal of Salida High School. “Because of student tardiness, school-ordained breaks were lasting approximately 10 minutes per class. Over the course of a week, that is 11% of available instructional time,” Cooksey stated. “We rearranged the schedule to ensure that students have a 45-minute lunch and opened the gym to allow students to get activity. 90 minutes of class time is a reasonable expectation for students to remain in one place. We are working with teachers to provide professional development around creating more engaging activities and helpful in-class brain breaks to better support students.”
Although teachers and staff view this change as beneficial for the school, students like freshman Maggie Hughes, said, “The removal of breaks has made my days feel longer and has made me more restless in class.” Hughes added that even getting a short in-class break is not as beneficial as being able to leave the classroom to walk around, stretch, or take a moment away from the desk.
Another student also expressed concerns about the change. Sophomore Zy Boone said, “Longer class periods without scheduled breaks have made it harder to stay focused, especially later in the day.” Boone added that while she understands the school’s reasoning, adjusting to the new schedule has been challenging.
Some students and staff members say the transition to the new policy has required an adjustment period. Changes to daily routines, class pacing, and movement throughout the building have altered how students experience the school day. Administrators say they are continuing to monitor how the policies affect students and staff.
Cooksey has said that the goal of this decision is to increase instructional time and decrease student behavior concerns. Another recently implemented rule is having to sign out to go to the bathroom. The hope for this regulation is to help keep track of students who are frequently in the restroom to identify if those students need more support.
Cooksey also said that, “It helps teachers manage only having one student leave the class at a time.” According to Cooksey, safety also played a role in the decision, as the administration believes the safest place for students in the building is in the classroom. The school has determined the new policies to be successful and plans to keep them in place indefinitely due to increased student focus and instructional time.
Cooksey stated that, “Students with known behavior/medical concerns already have plans accommodating their need for additional breaks. In truth, no one in the building is being stopped from taking a break.” While students no longer leave class all at once, Cooksey said, “Students may still individually get water, use the restroom, or stretch their legs.” According to Cooksey, breaks are still hugely useful for students and the only difference now is that the whole building does not take a break at the same time.
When asked her biggest regret Cooksey said, “My only regret with the break policy is ever allowing breaks in the first place. Students are at school to learn and with a four-day week, a 45-minute lunch and large amounts of athletic absences, we need all the time in classes we can get.”
Reactions to the changes have varied across the student body, with some students emphasizing the importance of scheduled breaks while others say they are still adjusting to the new structure. While some students view break blocks and bathroom sign-outs as a disadvantage, Cooksey said the administration believes the changes benefit staff and will remain in place.
