Advisory: Added Break or Daily Interruption?

Franklin+High+Schools+everyday+school+schedule+as+of+the+2022+school+year%2C+which+now+includes+Advisory.

Franklin High School’s everyday school schedule as of the 2022 school year, which now includes Advisory.

Bella DeCrescenzo, Writer

A change in the FHS schedule with the introduction of Advisory every morning has many students still trying to adjust to this new addition to their morning routines. First period was shortened by 15 minutes, followed by a 10-minute advisory block. The National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance are played, attendance is taken, and Panther News is watched on Fridays. Advisory was established by the administration to allow each student to have a consistent, predictable part of their schedule at the same time every day where every student and teacher can receive school-wide communication at the same time. But what do students think about this awkward transition time?

The schedule for Franklin High School’s half days that are affected by the Extended Advisory period.

When Rachael Taylor, a senior at Franklin High School, was asked about her feelings on Advisory and its effects, she shared that she enjoys how Advisory “gives a little bit of a break from real classes.” However, she is not sure how effectively this time is being spent in Advisory as these ten minutes from day to day seem to not have a larger purpose.

Advisory gives a little bit of a break from real classes.

— Rachael Taylor

When Emma Brown, another senior at Franklin High, was asked about how her time in Advisory has been spent, she shared that while she and others have not been able to connect with their Advisory teachers, Advisory givesher a “good chance to catch up with people”, showing how many enjoy Advisory as a social break in their day.

It’s a good chance to catch up with people.

— Emma Brown

Senior Georgia Harvey added, to many people’s agreement, that Advisory seems to make the day feel longer with more passing periods and an added class period that the students are not used to in their everyday routines.

Overall, many students seem to be conflicted over the added Advisory period as many enjoy the added break to the day and shortening of first period while also considering this period an interruption to their usual schedule as they question the effectiveness and purposefulness of these ten minutes.

An example of the World of Difference club’s objectives for one of their lessons to the freshman Advisories.

Another aspect of this added Advisory period is the addition of Extended Advisory on some half days. Extended Advisory takes place after first period and is about 40 minutes long while cutting all the other periods on a half day to only 27 minutes. While this Extended Advisory for grades 10-12 is spent practicing mindfulness and completing a variety of activities, freshman Advisories spend this time learning about bias and diversity through lessons created and facilitated by the World of Difference club.

Norah Anderson, a senior at Franklin High School who is a part of the World of Difference club, shared how these lessons are “especially important for freshmen coming into the high school as they start their journey as young adults”. While many people agree with the importance of teaching these lessons to younger students within the high school, many teachers are not happy with the shortening of already shortened class periods on half days and older students continue to question the effectiveness and productiveness of these extended periods.

As students and teachers alike try to adjust to this new change in the school schedule, conflicting opinions over the importance of these periods continue to circulate around the Franklin High School grounds. As the year moves forward and people settle into their routine for the year, only time will tell whether these dueling opinions about Advisory will persist or fade with every passing school cycle.