Students miss core academic classes, parents and the School
Board want solutions, but the resistance to change at Gilroy High
is formidable
After two years witnessing hand wringing, it’s hard not to get riled up about the schedule at Gilroy High School.
Students who participate in extra-curricular activities, mostly athletes, miss an inordinate amount of core academic class time for travel reasons. It’s one of two fundamental scheduling problems at Gilroy High that many parents and the board of trustees has recognized. But, unfortunately, the solutions for the scheduling problems are simply not forthcoming.
The common-sense answer to the first scheduling challenge – to schedule athletes for physical education at the end of the day – prompted this from Gilroy High School Principal James Maxwell: “There’s no way I can justify favoring athletes for their schedule in a school day over others. I could never justify that to other parents.”
The answer rings hollow. Why?
n Locking in athletes to P.E. at the end of the day actually gives them less flexibility in their schedule, so it’s hardly preferential treatment. If we must tilt at windmills, let us consider athletics a prerequisite for final-period P.E.
n That’s the way nearly every high school in America handles the issue – and any GHS graduate from the 1980s or before will tell you that’s exactly how we handled it in this community.
That this issue has developed into some kind of stand-off between the staff and school board – with the students and concerned parents caught in between – is truly sad commentary.
The school board shouldn’t have to be forced into a position where its micro-managing the school. It’s their job to direct policy shifts on major educational issues of community concern. This certainly qualifies.
It’s Mr. Maxwell’s job to find and implement the best solution. It’s uncanny that this issue – so easily taken care of 15 years ago – is now rocket science.
Schedule athletes and other students involved in extra-curricular activities for final-period P.E. Do it because it’s the right thing to do academically and organizationally. Students missing class, leaving early and making up work are headaches for all, and clear reasons to solve the problem. If Gilroy High needs to add some early morning classes to resolve this,
Mr. Maxwell should propose that.
Additionally, the current schedule of two-hour class periods makes little sense. Are teachers really trained and able to deliver two hours of quality instruction? That’s a tall order at any level, and an unfair burden on teachers.
Frankly, the school board should have directed the interim superintendent to write to other school districts about the two-hour class period. Good luck finding one.
The direction to ask other schools about athletes missing time is silly. We know the answer: schedule final period P.E. and early classes. Let’s just get the job done.
