Changes Proposed To Princeton Schools Schedules

PRINCETON, NJ — During a brainstorming session earlier this year, the Princeton Public School District found that it needed to reduce the amount of stress students face. More than 80 percent of students said in a survey that they are often or always stressed by schoolwork, and only 15 percent said they truly enjoy learning during the school day. Students are also spending between three and three and a half hours a night on homework, and getting between six and six and a half hours of sleep a night.

This week, Princeton Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stephen Cochrane introduced a proposal to begin the school day an hour later at the high school, the Princeton Packet reports. The school day at both the high school and the John Witherspoon Middle School would run from 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., and from 8:10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. at the elementary schools.

Currently, the high school day runs from 7:50 a.m. to 2:51 p.m.; John Witherspoon Middle School students are in class from 8:30 a.m. to 2:55 p.m.; and elementary school runs from 8:25 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to the report. The district will get feedback from parents, teachers and students before making any final decision.

During a review of the survey in April, the district learned that about 47 percent of students miss one or more days of school each month because of a stress-related or emotional problem.

Read more about the results of the survey, designed by researchers at Stanford University, here.

Patch file photo