‘Year-Round Challenge’

The L.A. Unified School District, as well as some smaller school districts, has worked diligently to increase the quality of education and alleviate overcrowding in schools. While many commendable programs have been put to task, I feel that the year-round school program is a desperate measure that discourages family activities and imposes hardship on working mothers.

I feel that the following ideas would abate the problems of overcrowding in schools and promote higher academic standards:

1--Establishment of an active, productive, six-week summer school--possibly mandatory.

2--Half-day school on Saturday mornings, mandatory for students who need to make up missed assignments, serve detention, require special education, and elective for library studies, study hall, accelerated programs, extra credit capsules, and optional programs.

3--An eight-period school day (7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), Monday through Friday, with each period and passing time totaling one hour. Students would be required to carry a full study load of five or six periods (classes or subjects) and one period for lunch (available during period 4 or 5 or 6). Students would study either from 7:30 a.m. until the early afternoon or from 10:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The early morning program would be beneficial to students who have responsibilities after school and the late morning program could reduce tardiness among late-risers.

4--Expansion of hiring practices to include part-time teachers. I am particularly fond of this idea because of the potential influx of qualified, talented teachers who cannot teach full time. Ideally, our children would benefit from the vitality, creativity, and special expertise that part-time teachers could bring to two or three classes a day.

INTA A. KIPPER

Mission Viejo