Bear Tracks Hunts Down Principal Tim Wald For An Interview About The Six-Period Day

The six-Period day is headed our way--like it or not; starting next year White Bear Lake North and South Campuses will be switching from a four to a six-period day. Opinions of this new schedule vary; some students are upset over more classes in a day, others are in favor of shorter class periods. Though most know that a change is on the way, many do not know what specific changes will take place and what will directly affect them.

I had a chance to interview Principal Tim Wald to learn what will actually happen when the new schedule is implemented next school year.

The idea of the six period day is justified by the school board for a few reasons. They say that the four-period day worked in White Bear for the last few years, but now it is not ideal. This is where the six-period day comes in. “It is the ideal thing for White Bear right now,” said Principal Wald. It will benefit the students overall, by giving a full year of instruction in important subjects like math and language, which require everyday teaching in order to master the material. Students will get a twenty-three percent increase in instruction in these courses." Everyone wants an answer to the ever important homework question: will there be more homework because we will have six classes a day? “No, teachers will compensate,” says Wald, “They will have twice as many days to teach it.”

In regards to college planning and class choices, the new plan will be relatively easy to merge into. “Students will have six choices a semester instead of seven.” Principal Wald said that it is one flaw in the plan but he believes that overall it is very beneficial. For college bound juniors they will have to cope with one less class choice, but classes that are separate will merge into one; Trigonometry and pre-calc will become one year-long class, for example. Study Hall will be totally eradicated, along with any early release or late start. Gym and health will still be required at North Campus, but in a way that students can choose to take more gym or more health; this way students get more options.

The six-period day will in truth give students less classes, and sometimes even more on our plates at once, but in the long run hopefully will be beneficial to our education. Many others schools have taken up the six-period day including: Mounds View, Woodbury, Park and Stillwater. Next year will be a change, but a change that we can all make work out for the best.