This year, Longfellow implemented a return period into our schedule. A return period is a time when students return to a certain class to do unfinished work. The class you return to is on a rotating schedule.  

The idea was to give students dedicated time to retake tests or get extra help from a teacher without having students traveling throughout the halls.  It seems the system still needs to work out a few glitches, however.

“I think the return period could use a lot of work,” said 7th grade language arts teacher,  Jennifer Bergstrom. “There are many pros and cons to the return period, but I still believe that there are too many issues.”

History teacher Stephanie Haley pointed out a few flaws as well.

“The initial idea of the return period was for students to visit their teachers in case they missed any work,” Haley said.  She pointed out, however, that a few years ago, Lancer time, which was a period where students could travel to different classes to make up work, was much shorter, at 20 minutes long, rather than the current 40 minutes.

The teachers agree that the return period can be really helpful, but something needs to be changed.

“One of the good things about the current return period is that hallway traffic is down,” said Ms. Bergstrom.  “The bad thing about return periods is that you really can’t introduce new material,” she added.

Another thing teachers have noticed is that students are using the time to play games on their computers, rather than address their homework. 

“Return period is a helpful time for students who want to learn, but it is more of a free time to students who don’t,” Bergstrom said. 

Others think the return period is a positive change.  

“I love the return period,” said chorus teacher Ms. Dawson. “When the Learning Seminar is with the same kids all the time it gets boring. The only thing I’d like to see is loosening up on the ability to have kids come take makeups.”

The jury is still out on whether next year’s schedule will include a return period.