Larry Smith mentioned that the original question centered on the high
school change from semesters to trimesters.
I agree. But I was trying to explain that such a change does not
necessitate a change in year-long courses. Yet it appears there is some
evidence some schools are indeed trying to force a change, for example
it appears that in some instances what was a full-year course is going
to become a 2-trimester course.
Could someone explain to the list what is happening here, and why some
schools are moving in this direction? More specifically...
(1) Does the proposed HS trimester plan primarily divide the normal
nine-month school year into three sessions rather than two?
(2) Is it generally assumed that full year courses under the semester
plan are going to be switched to two trimesters under the new plan? If
so, what's the motivation behind this? Is there at least the option
that current full-year (9-month) courses can continue as 9-month
courses, or does the administration's plans preclude this?
(3) If full-year courses are indeed switched from 9 months to 6 months,
are periods lengthened so the same number of instruction hours result,
or are the courses truly being shortened. Again, what's the motivation
for such a change?
Michael D. Edmiston, Ph.D.
Professor of Chemistry and Physics
Bluffton University
Bluffton, OH 45817
(419)-358-3270
edmiston@bluffton.edu