Story by Hal Goodtree | September 1, 2009 | Tags: early release, Education, nc, Opinion, wake county
As Matthew Eisley wrote in the News & Observer yesterday, Wake County’s weekly early release on Wednesdays is giving a lot of parents heartburn.
Turns out it’s giving student-athletes heartburn, too.
As noted in the N&O, students who play sports have to hang around for an hour until the teachers finish their meetings. At Green Hope, athletes are herded into study halls which function, for all intents and purposes, as a form of detention.
No talking. No cell phones. No trips to the bathroom or for a drink of water. Forgot your sneakers and want to call your Mom? Forget it.
Everybody knows teenagers just want to fool around. But there has to be a better solution that quasi-lockup.
Will anyone quit their team because of the inept application of early-release? Probably not.
A better question: Is it fair to student-athletes? What have the the students done to deserve this virtual punishment? Joined a team?
And, finally, what exactly are teachers doing with this extra hour? According to one report from a high school student who wishes to remain anonymous, the teachers “just mope around, grade papers and complain about having to stay.”
Add this to the N&O’s complaint about the stress it puts on families with two parents who work outside the home and early-release Wednesdays may need an early retirement.
What’s your experience been with early release? Do you have a high school athlete in your family? Leave us a comment.
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Cathy
September 2, 2009 at 11:52 am
Leadership needs to come from the teachers here. Sounds like some of the teachers are not using this time for its intended purpose – to meet with peers to discuss instruction, curriculum and student success/needs. Im’ a teacher, and I these activities directly impact student learning.
Principals are responsible for setting goals for teachers during this hour. Sounds like the Principal at Green Hope has low expectations of his teachers. Rules during the hour for students MUST be relaxed. If students have to stay, they should be provided a place to study OR relax, whichever they choose/need.
Sarah Redpath
September 2, 2009 at 4:57 pm
I heard that Moms are now starting call chains to remind each other that its Wednesday and they have to go early and pick up the kids. Wacky Wednesdays. Gotta love WCPSS. Vote Oct 6 everybody!
Hal Goodtree
September 2, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Thanks for the comments, ladies!
Cathy – you have a unique perspective as both an educator and a GHHS parent. What have you heard from your student-athlete?
Angela
September 2, 2009 at 5:43 pm
so, how well thought out was this??? on a three school campus with three tier buses, two MYR’s get out 2.5 hours early, the Traditional HS 1 hour early……do the math=MS=12pm, ES=1:15, HS=1:28…..and these buses travel MUCH farther (read SE Raleigh) than 15 minutes to get BACK and pick-up high schoolers who are now waiting in the media center being supervised, (hopefully) by teachers/staff/ who should be attending the PLT’s….not to mention the traffic from ES carpool now mixing with HS carpool and HS drivers, it will be a miracle if nothing or no one gets hit!
how’s that working for everyone?