Full-year School Proposal Flunks With Students

During the past few weeks, the adults of Ann Arbor have been debating the merits of year-around schooling. If 'School Trustee William C. Godfrey's idea were adopted, the "quarterly" plan of 12-month school operations would begin in Ann Arbor by the fall of 1970. This means that three-quarters of the students would be in school at all times, with onequarter on vacation at all times on a rotating basis. That would mean only one-fourth of the students would vacation in the summer. The others would vacation during the spring, fall or winter quarters. The News' Inquiring Reporter went to Ann Arbor High School to let the students have their say on the year-'round school idea. Of eight interviewed, six were predictably strongly opposed to the idea, one gave half-hearted approval, and another favored the plan. Eighteen-year-old Linda Kalmbach, a senior at AAHS, commented, "I don't think it's a good idea at all." Why not? "Because there would be no class spirit under that system," she replied. "The students would be divided, with everyone vacationing and graduating at different times." Miss Kalmbach also feels there would be problems scheduling athletic activities and making up athletic teams under the year-around system. She lives at 803 Duncan. Doug Kimberly, a 16-year-old junior who lives at 1304 Wells, also voiced his disapproval of the idea. With no regular summer school classes, it would be impossible to make up courses which had been failed, he explained. He also declared it would "mess up your vacations" to not have the summers off. Another drawback, Kimberly said, is studying during the summer months. "Most kids wouldn't like to study in the summer because of the heat." Gary Campbell, a 17-year-old junior, gave reluctant approval to the plan. "It would be good for those kids who would have their vacations in the summer," he remarked, "and good for the taxpayers because the schools would be in usé all year around." Campbell added, however, that such a plan could interfere with "family trips." He lives at 817 Loyola. Sixteen-year-old Chris Streiff, a sophomore who lives at 1603 Morton, quickly replied: "I don't like the idea because your vacation might be at the wrong time." What is the "wrong" time, she was asked. Anytime but the summer, she replied. Miss Streiff also said the 12-month plan would disrupt family vacation and job plans. "The high school isn't that crowded," she added. "I don't think we need it (year-'round schools)." Roger Jones, 17, said that any decisions wont aifect mm, since he is a senior, "but if I were going to be in school, I wouldn't enjoy it." Why not? "Because it's nice to be out of school wnen all your friends are," he answered. Jones also feels it's "too hard to study in the summer when the weather is nice- it's hard enough in the spring." Jones lives at 1701 Shadford. Terry Schultz, a 17-year-old senior, echoed some of the other students' ideas. "I don't like the idea," she said. _ lts more fun to have your vacations when your fnends do, she added. "It's no fun to go anywhere without your fnends. Miss Schultz, who lives at 2436 Colony Court, also commented that jobs during odd seasons would be harder to find. Kay Katzenmeyer, a 16-year-old sophomore who Uves at 2308 Manchester, agreed with Miss Schultz. "Going to school in the summer would interfere with my summer job," she said, "since I work at a swimming pool." She also feels "it's harder to study in the summer- you don't want to sit inside a classroom when it's nice outside." Eric Krupp, a junior who is 17, disagreed with most of his peers, however. "I think it's a neat idea," he unhesitantly declared. He liked the plan because it's "different," he said. Also, Krupp said he would enjoy having his vacation at a different season of the year, especially in the winter because he enjoys skiing. Krupp lives at 2424 Colony Court.