Article “School District of Lancaster studies block schedule” reports:
“Implemented at the start of the 2009-10 school year, the program included 137 freshmen enrolled in McCaskey’s technical and business careers small learning community. The students attended classes in four blocks of 85 to 102 minutes per day instead of the regular schedule of eight 49-minute periods…
“Data on the pilot classes was compared with data from a control group of ninth-graders from the same SLC who followed an eight-period schedule the previous year…
“Attendance rates for both groups were comparable, but the block students had half as many disciplinary offenses (367 vs. 892) and fewer violent offenses (34 vs. 54) than their control group peers, according to the report. Disciplinary offenses ranged from a student cutting class to a fight. Violent offenses included fights and drug violations…
WATCHDOG: The article is indicative of the improved journalistic standards at the Lancaster Newspapers. In the past, less qualified reporters simply collected a few quotes and filed an article, often not understanding the issues and, as a result, often misreporting. The article like the above required interviews, careful study, comprehension of the subject matter, lucid exposition.
A wag of the tail!
