Zero period, a class to be held before homeroom, will confront students next year.
This plan, devised by the Atlanta Board of Education, and used previously during World War 11, will enable students with five book subjects and an activity to participate in athletics. They will be allowed to attend seven periods, but students who do not need to, will not.
The day's schedule will be as follows:
0..........................7:45- 8:41
Homeroom.........8:45- 8:56
1 ........................ 9:00- 9:56
2 ......................10:00-10:56
3 and Lunch ....11:00-12:26
4 ......................12:30- 1:26
5 ......................1:10- 2:26
6 .......................2:30- 3:26
All athletics will probably be scheduled to start at 2:30 and all competitions
will be held during that time.
Students with five subjects and two activities will be given the zero period.
Seniors and underclassmen were allowed to request it when subject elections
were made May 26.
Mr. Roger Derthick, principal, is now consulting teachers about taking
classes the zero period. He will try to supply one teacher for each subject.
Zero Period Useful Now
By Ann Roberts
The Atlanta Board of Education is instigating a new -schedule for next year. This will give a longer time for study, but students will not be compelled to lengthen their day if it is not necessary.
The new policy will insure much greater use of existing facilities. More students will be taught more without additional strain on teachers or funds.
By not making use of the zero period compulsory to students or teachers the administration has shown understanding and concern for them.
Likewise it is good that the new schedule will give those students who have five book subjects and two activities (i.e. military and Southerner) a chance to take the necessary work load and still exercise their interest in certain extracurricular activities.
HELP FOR ATHLETES
Athletic competitions, however, will be held during the sixth period. This
will benefit those participating for they will be home earlier. It is a
great disadvantage to students who have classes during that time. Next year,
more than ever, athletes can expect to be playing before only other members
of the team. How can school spirit be increased if the potential supporters
must be in class?
Generally this change in schedule is both necessary and useful. In many individual cases, more time is needed; in the general case, better use of facilities is also required. Both will be brought about by this new policy.
If in the future, however, those in charge see fit to make the schedule more strict, if it is made compulsory, if certain special classes are scheduled for zero period only, then the schedule will be in serious danger of losing all usefulness. What is today a good thing would be turned into an utter burden.
These students are definitely to be commended. They will not settle for a summer of idleness and loafing. Each wants to work, to learn, to strive, to achieve proficiency in his particular field of study.
We are sure that there are other students who would like an equally-prof i table vacation. Many institutes and programs exist. It is the job of the student to find these. The National Science Foundation publishes a bulletin of its programs. Others, in such fields as language, journalism, dramatics, may be discovered in individual colleges, through department heads and publications.
We congratulate those outstanding students who will attend these institutes this summer. We urge as many students as possible to learn about such programs and we sincerely hope that many will participate next year.
Either because of or despite these changes, the Southerner has won two first place awards and a trophy for editorial writing and editorial page. The staff feels that these changes are good, that they are progress.
Next year, we hope to do more work in this direction. We are looking forward to larger papers, more sports stories, and more features on individual, outstanding students.
However, the Southerner wishes most of all to be a paper that the students will read, enjoy, and support. We want to give the students what they want, but we must first know what they want. If you don't like what we do, tell us. Write the editor and praise or complain.
Above all, the Southerner hopes to serve the school. Help us in this.