Senior Abigail Beimer waited a week to switch from an intolerable fifth-period class to a class that has brought her much relief this semester.
Before the switch, Abigail said some classmates were disrespectful towards her and called her names. While she gave them time to reconsider their behavior, the students did not apologize – and Abigail had enough.
So she told her teacher, and requested to switch to a TA class. Abigail said she was prepared to involve the principal if the counselors did not allow her to change classes.
After a stressful week of waiting, counselors changed her class, which she likes because she gets her work done faster and does not have to deal with any disrespect of her classmates.
Senior Tabasom Ahmadi has also been through the process of schedule changes and said her counselors changed her classes quickly.
“I like the classes I changed in because I can focus more and get my work done,” Tabasom said, adding that she does not have to worry about any class distractions.
Other students change their classes to be with their friends.
Freshman Chloe Miller also went through the process of schedule changes and said she didn’t have to wait that long. She turned in her class change paperwork and her counselor called her to their office and easily changed her classes, she said.
“I have more friends in my classes than I did before and they’re more fun,” Chloe said of her schedule change, noting she switched her language arts class to basketball because she knew her friends were in basketball the same period.
However, counselors and teachers urge students not to change classes just to be with their friends.
Counselor Britnee King said the process of changing students’ classes took counselors about two weeks and it has been a “stressful” process. Her suggestion for students is when they register for classes, students should pick the classes they want to do.
“Students shouldn’t pick a class because their friends are going to be in it, but on what they would wanna learn more about for themselves,” King said.
King noted when students switch their class to be in another class with their friends or to have a different lunch period, it is not fair for other students who have to wait longer for their class change.
English language arts teacher Karyn Williamson teaches a semester course with all new students this semester, as well as a full-year course with no new students.
“I always enjoy getting to know new students, and don’t mind having students transfer into my class, but I imagine it is harder for students to switch teachers during the semester because they have to learn a new system and new expectations,” Williamson said.
She believes when students stay with their current teacher from the first semester they can build a stronger relationship with them. Some teachers teach differently, and that might be hard for students to acclimate.
Williamson said ideally schedule changes should happen earlier than waiting when second semester starts to avoid the disruptions of students moving in and out of classrooms.
Williamson lost a few students this semester due to schedule changes, but gained approximately seven students back.
She strongly believes that students changing their classes just to be with their friends should be a lower priority.
“Of course kids want to be in classes with their friends! BUT I think that counselors should prioritize need over want when it comes to scheduling.”
