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Show By TOM BUSSELBERG The Davis School District is faced with housing 9,000 additional elementary school students w ithin the next five years and its cupboards are nearly full and would be overflowing many times over unless more shelf space is found. THAT LEAVES several alternatives open, ranging rang-ing from continuing a building program through bonding for financing; year-round schools, extended school day or double sessions. In a continuing series exploring alternatives open to the district, double sessions will be covered this week, relying primarily on the views of three parents . whose children experienced it in the Kaysville area several years ago. One parent considers herself a "product" of double sessions, as well. UNDER SUCH a set up. a school building is used to operate two separate sessions in the morning and afternoon, similar to shifts at a plant. In explanatory material provided by District Public Pub-lic Information Officer Bonnie Durrance it's noted that. "One major criticism is that students are 'short changed' and may not be able to complete work normally included in a year's program. It's estimated that students lose 20-30 percent of their instructional time under this plan w ith an overall decline in grades. Shanna Page, PTA president at Burton Elementary Elemen-tary School in Kaysville during the four months of double sessions, called double sessions "very disruptive dis-ruptive to family life." Youngsters attending the afternoon session developed "bad habits" of staying up late, sleeping in and fritting away the morning, she said. AND LEARNING seemed to be impaired, as well, she said, because of the late starting time classes began at noon and went to 5:30. "It seemed that whatever they (teachers) did the last 1'; hours was babysitting." She was quick to relieve teachers of blame, having taught herself for seven years. Children "just aren't functioning" as well that late in the day. Mathematics and reading are usually taught first in the morning in traditional classes when students are fresh. "I FELT the (academic) material was there but they were not getting what they needed," Mrs. Page added, noting preference for half-day first grade (similar to kindergarten scheduling) vs. double sessions. ses-sions. Family cohesiveness is disrupted, such as when some family members have already left for other activities before others get home from school. The "normal" after-school activities such as scouts, ballet bal-let or music lessons are hampered as well, she said. EDRICE Christensen, who is now serving as a regional PTA president, attended double sessions in 4ih-Sih grades in Salt Lake City. "The pro was to give parents a little more private time. Once they (children) adjusted. I felt good about it." But she remembered problems of her own in growing grow-ing up with double sessions, indicating she feels her whole age group was "short changed" in Salt Lake City. And having to travel after dark she recalled, "It scared me to death. I felt lost in the dark and had a miserable time." IN ADDITION, she said "I didn't have time to do things" such as take dancing or gynnastics lessons. "There was no real relaxation time. It would take strict planning. You don't fit into a cornmunily" because others operate on a different schedule. "You can't participate in things." She feels her age group "got into more trouble" with late-night pranks and added that "parents feelings feel-ings were mixed." TAKING a generally positive view was Margery Harvey of Fruit Heights. She admitted though, that her children were on the morning schedule and indicated indi-cated herfamily arises early normally for music practice. prac-tice. "The only thing wrong 1 found was that I had to send my kids to catch the bus early in the morning they didn't seem to mind." She had time with the children after they got home from school but said she felt it would be possible to adjust to the afternoon schedule as well. "If a whole community was involved in-volved I'm sure it would work out. It would probably be hard for working mothers. I'd rather see year-round." year-round." ALL THREE stressed carefully studying building aternatives with one mentioning building schools completely out of portable units, or building now when "it's a real bargin." The extended school day i will be viewed next week. , |