By MIKE FAIRHEAD

Our system of classes is heading toward becoming antiquated. For five days almost every week, most students come to school and sit through nine periods of classes.

With each class lasting approximately 42 minutes, a teacher has just about enough time to go over homework, give a lecture, and assign the homework for the next day. Of course there are exceptions; but the fact remains that the period system is outdated in terms of present teaching methods.

The major functions of school are for students to gain knowledge and become responsible. It would seem that the school would try to use the system that the students would benefit the most from.

Under a modular system of scheduling, school could be split up into different periods of time. For example, a school day could consist of 16 modules. A

module would consist of 25 minutes. The entire school day would be six hours and 40 minutes.

This system would constitute a complete change of the present classroom procedures. Teachers could plan longer, more varied systems of teaching. A class could consist of a 30‑minute lecture, then small discussions or time to work on different assignments. Instead of going for 42 minutes every day to a lecture, under a modular system a student could hear a lecture and have time to discuss it or apply it to assignments within a set time period.

It would have to be taken into consideration that a project such as a change of the whole system would cost money, time, and energy. One would have to completely change the scheduling process of teachers, students, rooms, and the procedure of the attendance and deans' offices. In other words, the whole school system would have to be changed.