HUDSON — For many years Hudson High School has included an ARC block everyday after the second class. No matter what day of the week it was, students were able to complete a majority of their homework before going home to an afternoon of chaos and distractions. This has all changed with the new schedule at Hudson High.
One major issue with the new ARC schedule negatively affecting students is with my E block AP Physics class. AP Physics is a challenging course that comes with a lot of homework, but with the new schedule E block is after ARC so no matter what day of the week it is I have to go home and do my homework that night. As a result, students spend most of their night working on homework a,nd becoming more tired during the school day.
ARC is not only used for homework, there are also enrichments that many students love, taking place a few days a week. These enrichment activities include a variety from gym activities in gymnastics to drumming practice in the arts. ARC can also be a time for a mental break. Students can take a few minutes off academics and focus on their mental health. In a research about students’ mental health, current studies show teenagers report higher stress levels than adults during the school year.
Although many younger students may not use ARC as a productive block, the upperclassmen taking challenging classes need the limited amount of time a week to get their homework done. As students start taking AP classes, the homework doesn’t just become unfinished work; it becomes an entirely new project for that night. According to a report from Stanford University 56 percent of the students considered homework a primary source of stress. If ARC is available every day, it reduces a majority of the stress in students’ lives.
Another important benefit about ARC has been the availability of all teachers. The availability of all the teachers is an incredible way for students to get the extra help they need. If a student ever misses a class for any reason, then they can always go to the teacher’s ARC the next day to make sure they didn’t miss anything and if they did miss anything, then making up the work in ARC is a great way to solve this. The article What Students Are Saying About the Demands of High School from the New York Times suggests students are struggling with homework at home because of the absence of teacher support and leading to a decline in growth.
Overall, ARC is a necessity for students to succeed in their academics and eliminate the stressful nights of homework they have, but to also use their time wisely as a study block.
