SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS Administrative and Service Center 815 Fourth Avenue North Seattle 9$ Tfeshington PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SCHEDULE Present Schedule Proposed Schedule Beginning Time Primary Recess 8:50 10:15 - 10:30 Intermediate Recess 10:30 - 10:1^0 10:15 - 10:30 10:30 - 10:U0 Kindergarten Dismissal 11:30 11:30 - 12:30 11:30 11:30 - 12:10 Intermediate Lunch Primary Lunch Beginning P*M. Kindergarten Primary Recess 11:50 2:00 - Intermediate Recess 2:15 - Primary Dismissal 3:00 3:10 Intermediate Dismissal 1:00 12:30 9:00 12:10 - 1:00 12:30 2:10 2:20 2:00 - 2:10 2:15 - 2:20 3:00 3:10 CHANGES IN SCHEDULE 1. The school opening time has been changed from 8:50 to 9:00 2. The noon period for intermediate grades has been changed from 60 minutes to bP minutes, and for primary grades the period has been changed from 70 to 50 minutes. REASONS FOR CHAMPING SCHEDULE 1. 2. Seattle is the only large school district in King County and one of three in the state where school begins before nine ofclock. The proposed nine ofclock open ing will conform with the opening time of neighboring school districts* The present schedule of 70 minutes for primary lunch and the 60 minute inter mediate lunch period was established so that most pupils could go home for lunch. A recent survey in eleven Seattle elementary schools shows that 76.2$ of the elementary pupils stay for lunch in the school. Working mothers and an attractive school lunch program have to a large degree been responsible for this change. This situation has brought about undesirable crowding and congestion in the lunchrooms and on the playgrounds. Some schools with very limited lunchroom aad playground facilities are using a schedule similar to the proposed schedule with good results. The long play period creates difficult supervision problems when all children are on the playground. Children become over-stimulated, are tired from hard play and are involved in numerous accidents. In the primaxy grades short rest periods are necessary before pupils resume their studies after lunch. - 2 - EXPECTED DESIRABLE OUTCOMES OF THE PROPOSED SCHEDULE 1. The proposed schedule will relieve crowding and congestion in the lunchroom and on the playground. The intermediate and primary pupils will not be using these facilities at the same time. 2. The total school day for pupils will be shortened by ten minutes. actual time in class will be increased ten minutes. However, the The teacher's day will remain the same. 3e There will be fewer accidents on the playground. U. Children will be less tired and stimulated in the afternoon and can better apply themselves to their lessons. 5. Teacher supervision duties will remain approximately the same but will be less difficult. 6. This schedule will allow for the maximum use of the lunchroom, playground, playcourts and gymnasiums by all children during the noon period. 7. The proposed schedule can be adjusted with minor changes to any situations that are peculiar to individual school buildings. PROBLEMS THE PROPOSED SCHEDULE WILL CREATE 1. Teachers have less time during the school day for preparation. 2. The automatic bell systems in all elementary schools will need to be changed. 3. The forty minute period between the first and second serving of the plate lunch will present some problems. Miss Priem has indicated that lunchroom personnel could make the necessary changes to adjust to the proposed schedule. U. Parents would need to be informed as to the specific changes and with the reasons why this schedule is an improvement over the present schedule. 3>. There is a possibility that the proposed schedule will induce still more pupils to remain for lunch. 6. Tardiness may increase at the noon period. CONCLUSIONS 1. The proposed schedule will solve many of the objectionable features of the present noon period in the elementary school. 2. In elementary schools where a similar schedule is being tried experimentally it has been most successful. It has been accepted by all persons affected by the change. Schools that have tried a similar program are: Beacon Hill, and Summit. Mann, Minor, •3 - 3. Reactions to the proposed schedule from principals and teachers with whom this schedule has been discussed. Madrona Primary teachers felt the changes were helpful. Intermediate teachers expressed some concern about the short recess periods. All teachers felt that the pro posed noon hour arrangement was excellent. Loyal Heights Nine of the sixteen teachers felt they would favor the proposed schedule. None of the rest were opposed to the idea but disliked certain features of the plan. Some of the points raised were: 1. The morning session would be too long for primary grades. 2. Some upper grade teachers felt that their morning would be too short and suggested a noon period beginning at 11:U5* 3. One first grade teacher felt that those who had playground duty at noon would not have sufficient time to eat lunch. Actually this would be a problem for upper grade teachers too. They were encouraged that some thought is being given to this problem but many of them were aware that committees have worked on the same problem before. Lafayette Teachers do not have any intense feelings about the matter, one way or the other. Some welcomed the idea that the proposed schedule would provide more time in the teaching day. The schedule would have to be adjusted to meet the conditions that are peculiar to Lafayette School. Suggestion: Intermediate noon period from 11:30 to 12:10 Primary from 11:£0 to 12:1*0 Allen All teachers and the principal endorsed the proposed schedule as a decided improvement. Northgate Teacher reaction at first was enthusiastic in regards to shortening the noon period. Intermediate teachers agreed wholeheartedly with the proposed schedule, but primary teachers had some reservations. 1. School should start at the present time - early morning is the best time. 2. Parents are not likely to keep their children home any later. Teach ers would have ten minutes more of ground supervision duties. 3. First grade day is too long now. U. If the noon hour is shortened the dismissal should be twenty minutes earlier. Shortened noon hour is fine but when can a teacher on duty have time to eat? Northeast Area Principals* Group The proposed schedule was presented to the Northeast Area Principals1 Group at one of their regular meetings. The majority reactions are listed below: 1. General objection to lengthening the instructional day by ten minutes. 2* The shortened noon period does not provide sufficient tme for teacher relaxation and classroom preparation. 3. U. 5. 6. Recess periods for the intermediate grade pupils are too short. Principals did not feel the present crowding and congestion in the lunchroom and on the playground to be objectionable. It was felt that there was insufficient flexibility in this schedule to provide for conditions that are peculiar to individual buildings. It was suggested that school start at nine a.m. and the noon period be shortened only ten minutes. Colman Colman teachers and the principal agree that the shortened lunch period is desirable in the elementary school. Primary teachers expressed some dissatisfaction about the proposed schedule in that it provides less free time for the teacher. The general consensus of opinion was that the changes outlined in the schedule are desirable. Green Lake Green Lake teachers expressed some concern about the length of recess periods in both intermediate and primary grades because the primary morning is longer and the time of the intermediate afternoon session has been increased twenty minutes. The teachers were, however, willing to try the proposed schedule and think it would be beneficial to boys and girls. Teachers of the Report Card Committee The proposed schedule was presented to the teachers of the elementary Report Card Committee at one of their recent meetings. They were most enthusiastic and pleased to know that some attention was again being given to a long-standing problem* Those teachers felt that the advantages of the proposed schedule far outweighed any dis advantages teachers might experience in the loss of time for rest and relaxation. West Woodland Mr. Reeves made the following comments about the proposed schedule without having had an opportunity to discuss the matter with his faculty. 1. The proposed schedule will improve the lunch period in the elementary school. 2. The schedule is flexible enough to provide for conditions that are peculiar to individual schools. 3. U. 3u The shorter noon period will probably be questioned by a minority of vocal teachers at firsts but will probably be accepted when teachers are able to observe the benefits of this schedule to boys and girls. It is important that the proposed schedule be discussed with representative teacher groups before definite decisions are made. Starting school at nine o1clock and reducing the noon periods by only ten minutes will probably not create any controversy among teachers. However, this change would provide only a partial solution to the present noon period problems. -5- Suggested Teacher Playground Duty Schedule for Proposed Noon Period Proposed Schedule Present Schedule Before School 8:30 - 8:50 20 min. Int. Noon 11:50 - 12:25 Primary Noon 12:25 - 1:00 8:1*0 - 9:00 20 min. 35 win. 11:50 - 12:10 20 min. 35 min. 12:30 - 30 min. 1:00 Suggested Teacher Lunchroom Duty Schedule for Proposed Noon Period Proposed Schedule Present Schedule Intermediate 11:30 - 11:55 25 min. 11:30 - 11:55 25 min. Primary 11:50 - 12:20 30 min. 12:10 - 12:U0 30 min. Suggested Patrol Schedule for Proposed Noon Period Kindergarten and Intermediate Dismissal 11:25 - 11:35 10 min. Primary Dismissal 12:05 - 12:15 10 min. P. M. Kindergarten arrive 12:15 - 12:30 15 min. Primary return to school 12:1*5 - 1:00 15 min. SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS Administrative and Service Center 815 Fourth Avenue North Seattle 9, Washington January 29, I960 SUMMARY OF THE S.I.R.S.ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DAY SURVEY I960 Median Seattle Seattle Tacoma State Present Pro SpokaneHigh- Shore line line Renton Belle- Everett vue posed A.Beginning Time All Grades 9:00 8:50 9:00 9:00 9:00 ?:00 9:00 9:00 9:00 2:30 2:30 3:00 3:00 3:00 3:10 3:00 3:00 3:00 3:10 2:U5 3:00 3:20 2:30 2:30 3:00 3:30 2:30 2:30 2:30 3:30 2:30 2:ii5 2xli5 2:U5 2:ii5 9:00 B*Ending Time Grade 1 Grade 2 3:05 3:15 Grade 3 Grades U*5*6 3:00 3:00 3:10 3:20 3:20 2:30 3:30 3:30 2:20 1 2:20 ' 3:05 3:05 ; ' . C.Length of Recess 25min. 25min. I5min. I5min Grades 1,2,3 Grades U55*6 25min. lOmin. 30min. lOmin. 30rain. 30min. l5min. lOmin. ; l5min. lOnin. 30min. lOmin. 30min. 30min. l5min. lOmin. • D.Length of Lunch Time Grade 1 Grade 2 60min. 70min. 60itdn. 7Cmin. '5Qmin. 90min. 50min. 90min. 55min. 70min. 50min. 70min. 55min» 60min. UOmin. 60min. Grade 3 Grades ^,556 90min. 60min. 60rain. 60min. 60min. 60min. 60min. 60min. 55min. 55min. 55min. 55min. 60min. UOmin. UOmin. 60min. UOmin. U0min# 60nin. liOmin. UOmin. 60min. UOmin. U0min# Hr.Min. Hr.Min Hr.Min Hr.Min Hr.Min Hr.Min Hr.Min Hr.Min Hr.Min RrMftn E» Length of Time in Classwork Grade 1 Grade 2 U 15 h 20 U 50 5 05 Grade 3 Grades U,5*6 h 35 U 35 U 35 5 00 UU5 UU5 UU5 5 10 U h 05 h 00 h 20 h 50 \h h UO h 50 :u 5 5 00 h 50 20 20 50 20 u u h 5 05 05 05 05 U h 5 5 00 00 00 00 h U h u 50 50 50 50 h h 30 30 5 5 15 15 i Hr.Min Hr.Min Hr.Min Hr.Min Hr.Min Hr.Min Hr.Min Hr.Min Hr.Min Hr.Min F* Length of Total DayGrade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grades k9596 j. 5 5 20 6 30 6 6 6 10 20 6 6 10 10 10 20 6 6 6 6 00 00 00 10 5 U5 6 6 6 6 00 00 10 6 6 6 00 20 20 20 5 30 5 5 30 5 6 00 5 6 30 6 30 30 30 30 5 5 6 6 30 30 30 30 5 U5 5 U5 5 U5 5 2*5 5 20 5 20 6 05 : 6 05 ; /0^ SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS Administrative and Service Center 8l5 Fourth Avenue North Seattle 9* Tfeshington January 29, I960 SURVEY OF THE NUMBER OF ELEMENTARY PUPILS WHO STAYED FOR LUNCH FROM NOVEMBER 30 THROUGH DECEMBER 11, 1959 School Primary Intermediate Total Cooper 87.2 % 89.9 % 88.6 J Broadview Interlake 92.0 92.0 92.0 76.0 56.1 68.0 76.0 59.6 76.0 57.9 72*0 70.0 77.7 81.0 71.2 71.U 7U.5 89.0 7U.7 85.0 Loyal Heights John Muir Harrison Dunlap Bryant Lafayette 85.0 6U.0 97.0 78.2 85.9 Briarcliff Crown Hill 73.0 65.0 62.2 69.0 Total % 75.5% 11.0% 76.2 % 60.0