Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29
Pupils Take
Split Sessions
WithoutCripes
By Susie Kaplan
10. 4-7368

4 10. 4.7368
Even though double sessions
for seventh and eighth graders at
Wheaton High have meant more
homework and confused home
schedules, these students seem to
have adjusted to the split hours
very well.
To find out what effects the
double sessions have had on the
students and the school, l march
ed up that hill to Wheaton High
to meet some students, teachers
and principals in charge, and find
out just what was doing.
Mrs. Baker, assistant principal
was full of information. She said
that it is true, enthusiastically, it
hasn't been an easy job at all.
Re-arrangment of schedules
seem to be more the practice than
the exception. What with two full
grades attending school only half
days, a great deal of rearranging
has to be made. Eighth graders
go from 8 am. to 1901 and 18th
graders from 1908 to 4:10.
Every bit of space is used to
keep the classes down to 80 pu-
pills or less. The dressing room
behind the gym and the browsing
room off the library are being
Used as classrooms though neither
room has a blackboard Natural
ly, there are limitations to these
makeshift rooms.
Nathan Pearson, teacher of his
tory and English, thinks the time
table was working out satisfactor-
lily. He said Il have IS pupils in
my class. Accidentally they are
not losing out. There have been
few conflicts. l taught such a
double program at Shippesburg,
Pa. but at this school the prepare.
ton was much better"
Albert Burkhardt, eighth grade
science and seventh grade math
teacher, had this to say: students
buckle down to work Immediately.
If the teacher is honest with the
pupils, there is a great deal more
cooperation. Of course there is
more homework, because of the
10 minute shortened period. 1 do
feel, however, the loss of time for
extra-curricular work such as a
science club.
The students were at first dis
appointed and apprehensive when
told of the double shift. But now
That they have been attending
' school for more than two weeks
they have adjusted quite well.
Buddy Paylor, seventh grader,
claims he can sleep later in the
morning and then finish his home
work.
Beverly Nestler was hesitant
but remarked with more home
work and more responsibility, it
helps you grow up faster. It's a
little harder, but it's going to help
me in the long run"
At the Ullman house, Ann is a
seventh grader and June, eighth
grade, so the house routine has
been disrupted. Mrs. Ullman says
she feels that she spends the en-
tire morning in the kitchen.
June said she doesn't like rising
so early in the morning, but she
loves getting home around noon.
John Clark and June Rzeszat
echoed what the others said. With
most of the eighth graders it was
the early rising that was number
one on the grippe list.
Mr.. Williams, another assistant
= principal, felt that Operation
] double-shift could not have been a
success without the cooperation
of the parents and the youngsters.
There have been very few com
plants" He also said that the
staff is working very closely with
the PTA.
At present there is plan afoot
whereby the PTA will try to work
out some activities with the Coun-
ty recreation department so that
they set something up at the Glen.
mont Center for the'teeners either
morning or afternoon.
The big problem is to get across
the feeling that the children aren't
left out of anything at the school.
AT best it is too early to see what
the entire effect will be, but every
one in charge assured me that it
was working as smoothly as it
could. OF course they are keeping
their fingers crossed that the new
Wheaton Junior High will be
ready for occupancy by Septem.
Der sc.