Even when school ends, students are expected to uphold a scholarly demeanor. This expectation is in place because teachers themselves often have tight schedules and expect that students will find time within their own schedules to fulfill academic responsibilities. Depending on the student, managing their schedule may be relatively easy to adapt to. Many teachers assume that students have enough time outside of school to complete class work and study. However, there could be many reasons why students may or may not engage in studying, with one factor being the tight schedule that could affect their ability to do so. In other cases, students may prioritize personal time over academic responsibilities.
The article “How Many Hours Do We Spend In School?” by Maria Sanchez highlights that, on average, high school students in the United States spend approximately 30 hours per week to school-related activities, including both class time and extracurricular activities. However, the exact number of hours varies depending on individual school schedules. This emphasizes the significant time students dedicate to school per week, leaving them with only a limited amount of time outside of classes. Despite spending six hours in school each day, the time left for other activities is further limited by factors such as personal time, employment obligations, and responsibilities for younger siblings. Consequently, students might struggle to focus on schoolwork after returning home, especially while trying to unwind and maintain a consistent bedtime routine, with some choosing to go to bed earlier to ensure they get the recommended eight hours of sleep.
Let’s talk about schedules. How can anyone manage to fit in extracurricular activities with such demanding schedules? Not everyone has a flexible schedule, whether they’re students or teachers. It’ll always be difficult to change plans or find more free time. Many students have limited time for themselves and may not choose to study during their free time. During an interview, a friend named Destiny shared, “After school, I go to club until about 4:50-5pm, then I get home around 6. Once I’m back, I either take a nap, eat, or do both. After that, I take time to wind down to rest, eat, and have a little fun.” Students might feel burnt out and struggle to force themselves to get up to do any extra work, especially after just returning from other activities.
Now that we’ve examined a student’s schedule, let’s delve into the duties of teachers and what they expect from students beyond studying. Most teachers also lack a flexible schedule, so it goes without saying that perhaps the school schedules could be adjusted to ensure everyone has enough time before and after school. According to world history teacher, Ms. Fallon, for teachers like her, “To change class schedules, I would need to ask my department to change the class schedules, but only before the next year.” She expects students to participate in sports, coach classes, care for younger siblings, and keep up with their studies. Regarding free time, she suggests for other teachers to find a way to fit it into their schedules. Just like students, teachers have many things to prepare for before and after school. However, unlike students, teachers classroom schedules are tightly controlled by their department and may require waiting a year for changes to be implemented. While students’ free time may be dictated by their parents, teachers can at least attempt to make some time for themselves, although this may prove challenging for both teachers and students.
Everyone, including students, teachers and parents, has their own responsibilities, with others often expecting them to fulfill certain tasks after school or work. Everyone has their own problems, including managing assignments and studying, which can create significant pressure. Additionally, there’s an expectation to act a certain way even after school. Perhaps, rather than putting so much pressure on each other, we should aim for a more understanding approach.
Nearly 30% of students are employed for a portion of the school year, while 31.4% work during high school, as of 2022. Studies show that it is beneficial for students to work during summer as it keeps them busy. The benefits for students working include learning responsibility, gaining financial independence, and meeting individuals from diverse backgrounds.
While working can be beneficial for students, balancing school and work can be a common challenge. Depending on their work hours, many students find themselves lacking the time to do complete their schoolwork, resulting in students not getting enough sleep for the following school day. When I asked some students about how they manage their time, they expressed that they often don’t get enough sleep and feel too tired to attend school the next day.
Some cons highlighted by teachers include a decline in students’ academic performance when they work long or late hours. Students may experience a decrease in attendance and a lack of socialization. Teachers also deal with the challenges associated with students working, such as managing behavioral issues and and having to contact home more often and do more coach classes. Furthermore, working late can interfere with students’ study hours, leading to less free time outside of school, which they then try to make up for during school hours. These cons are concerning as they can lead to a decrease in academic achievement.
