Flexible thinking during W4

    “Flex isn’t a bad idea,” said marketing teacher Kyle Graumann, “but [students] need something to do. Kids take it as a time to hang out and not do work.”

    Many teachers and students at AHS have trouble answering the question, what to do during flex?

    According to the AHS teachers’ handbook, Flex is a period to provide students with more time for better academic success. Flex can also be used for events such as pep rallies, class elections and standardized testing.

    However, as most students know, every teacher has a different interpretation of Flex. Some teachers believe Flex is just like any other class, expecting students to bring their books to class and use the time to teach new material, despite the fact that the AHS teachers’ handbook states teaching new material or assigning required work is against guidelines.  This is because some students need to Flex out and may miss a Flex period.

    The teachers’ handbook recommends teachers use the 40 minutes for individual help, re-teaching a concept, re-testing material, make-up work, extra time for projects, quiet studying, homework, or make-up labs.
   
    Junior William Risse said, “I don’t like Flex because teachers expect you to work and I don’t always have my books with me.”  

    Geometry teacher Dr. Virginia Long said she uses Flex to, “get caught up on class work.”

    Another area of disagreement among AHS teachers is Flexing out. The teachers’ handbook states that students must prearrange and make changes in their Flex period with their Flex teacher. The arrangement must be made in advance with the teacher requesting.
   
    “I think Flexing out is a good idea, but I have a hard time keeping track of where kids are going,” said Graumann.

       Long said she allows students to Flex out “at the beginning of the year but at the middle of the year I don’t because of all the work we have.”

    “When I Flex out I go to the library or hang out with friends in the halls,” said freshman Madeena Haidari. “Teachers should let [students] Flex out or do homework or work for other classes.”

    Some AHS students choose to Flex out to avoid work while others use it to get ahead. Clubs and other organizations use Flex to get work done that they wouldn’t be able to finish without the extra time. The Antenna yearbook, the A-blast and SGA all use the extra time during white days to get their jobs done.

    SGA recently used Flex periods to present candidate speeches for their annual elections. Speeches were presented via AHS broadcasting and viewed throughout the entire school. “It was a good way to present candidates,” said junior Daniel Loo who watched the program in his English 11 class.
   
    “I don’t think [flex] is a horrible thing,” said Graumann, “it’s just taken the wrong way and could be more productive.”

    Long said that without flex, “we would have more work during regular class and it would be more difficult to get caught up.”