School schedule scrutinized

Editor's Note: Originally submitted as an email to the Coeur d'Alene School District's board of trustees.

Trustees,

My name is Rachel Gourley and I am a senior at Coeur d’Alene High School. I want to clearly voice my opinion in this email about the schedule considerations.

The standard schedule that CHS currently has now is the best option for the future of our education system in our community. There are several reasons for this. The attached link has comparison data between the two schools regarding test scores and more. I am sure you are aware of this data but I would like to point out that across the board CHS clearly provides higher scores. LCHS administers more AP exams, and yet, CHS students still continue to pass with a 3+ score more consistently than LCHS students for the past several years.

Graduation is a topic that I would also like to mention. The graduation rate of CHS continues to be higher than that of LCHS regardless of school population differences.

Although Lake City seniors graduate with more credits, they graduate with less material learned for college. With the way the schedules are built, CHS students will learn the same amount of material a Lake City student would in a year by spring break.

CHS teaches 25% more material. This is a contributing factor to the reason why CHS has always had higher AP, SAT, ACT, and other standardized test scores. The public needs to understand that credits will never be as relevant as information. Coeur d’Alene High School students graduate more college ready and accomplished.

Thirdly, I think that the type of courses taken in high school needs some acknowledgment.

Both language and math are subjects that are best mastered when practiced every day. I am currently in Spanish 4 (college level 2). I could never imagine a world where I did not do Spanish every school day and still pass that class with an A. Math is something that requires consistent practice. This is a well-known fact that has been proved over and over again by many studies.

The block schedule puts students in a position where they cannot do math every day in the presence of a math teacher. 90-minute class periods are problematic regarding math. One lesson of a math concept can be taught in a standard class period with time left over for students to practice and master the concept. Having 90 minutes will leave students with time that has no way to be spent.

“Just teach the next lesson”: There is not enough time for that. Not only is there not enough time for two lessons to be taught, practiced and mastered — there is no way the students will be able to retain all that information without practicing it again the day after.

Teachers at Lake City have to reintroduce the concept discussed and taught two days ago in order to move onto the next section. What happens when a LCHS student misses 2 to 3 days for an injury, sickness or event? They miss an entire week’s worth of learning. It is a serious flaw in the block schedule that Lake City students and administrators refuse to acknowledge because they don’t want change.

My final topic is on repeated coursework, which is a massive concern of mine. The block schedule allows Lake City students to retake several courses in the case of a failure. Although this allows a sense of security to students, it promotes languor and carelessness.

In the year of 2020-2021, 512 students at Lake City High School retook a course. At CHS, only 88 students retook a course. This is because the standard schedule doesn’t allow for much flexibility regarding failure. The standard schedule motivates students to pass their classes the way they should in college. Students can retake classes in college, but it costs money. If we want the students from our community to grow into frugal and responsible adults, we should implement the standard schedule.

I understand that schedule changes will be hard for the students at LCHS. I understand. Change is something that all humans need, but feel uncomfortable with.

However, when you factor in all the statistics, it is clear as day that we should switch all schedules to standard. This is the conclusion that will be best for our students, parents, teachers and community.

Everyone wants success — and the way to get it is through the standard schedule. Anyone who opposes this view is clearly disregarding the statistics in this matter. Opposition to the truth of this situation will only contribute to increasing ignorance in our society.

Sincerely,

Rachel Gourley