As all GHS students and teachers know, there have been some recent changes to the second semester schedules, particularly in regards to our Flex/Tribe Time classes. These changes have been met with very different responses from students and teachers.

Last semester, on Mondays students went to their regular flex class, basically like a homeroom. The rest of the week students got to freely choose the classes or clubs they wanted to go to during one of the lunches, as well as whichever lunch they wanted to attend. This semester, the schedule changed. Students now have to go to first block on Mondays, second block on Tuesdays, regular flex on Wednesdays, third block on Thursdays, and fourth block on Fridays. If your class is upstairs, in the gym, at the Institute of Innovation, or in the basement, you attend first lunch. If you’re downstairs you must go to second lunch.

Two Indian Post staff members, Haylee Freeman and Tricia Blackwood, interviewed staff members and students concerning these changes. The students and staff members were asked if they liked the new Tribe Time schedule. Every student interviewed said that they did not approve. Some students felt the new schedule is, “terrible;” one student said that “it is too confusing and unnecessary.” Another student said, “it is awful and I hate it,” and they received a lot of “I just don’t like it.”

Student body Vice President, Berkley Richards, stated, “it is too confusing if you’re in multiple clubs. We should just institute holding people more accountable without having such a strict schedule.” Teachers and staff were also asked the same questions, most had very different opinions than the students. Almost all staff members agreed that the accountability is great, considering that accountability was not enforced last semester. A couple teachers stated, “having a consistent lunch schedule is great.” However, the staff members did talk about how students no longer have “their time.” Most teachers agreed that it is a better schedule it just gives students very little freedom, which is great to a certain extent.

Last semester was “complete chaos,” as every student did whatever they pleased every day, according to one teacher. Now, we have a system of “organized chaos.”

Is this “organized chaos” punishing the students who follow the rules? A few teachers, who would like to remain anonymous, do indeed think that taking away from the excelling student’s freedom is a bit much. They believe that we should award certain academically excelling students the right and privilege to maybe leave and go get lunch or some other freedom certain days a week. This would give deserving students more freedom, and hopefully encourage others to abide by the rules and to work harder for that reward themselves.

As you can tell, a lot of students are not on board with the new Tribe Time/flex schedule. Teachers are to an extent, but should the new schedule be revised once more?