Every so often the announcements on The Neersyde will inform the middle school that it will be a “Week 2 schedule.”  However, more often than not this year, we have followed a “Week 1 schedule” and club days have been postponed numerous times.  In fact, of the 36 academic weeks this year (excluding the two weeks reserved for mid-terms and finals), Club Day was scheduled only 13 times. In addition, several of those club days were reserved for sports awards and other special assemblies, meaning clubs met less than 13 times this year.

To make up for this discrepancy, some club advisors had their clubs meet before or after school, or during extended lunch on Tuesday and/or Thursdays. However, many teachers were not able to meet during those times because they needed it to offer extra help to students or had their own work to do.

“I don’t think that clubs meet enough,” admitted Head of Middle School Charles Hagy.   “In order to give the students the best experience possible, we need more days.”

Yet more club days also means less class time as classes are cut by 10 minutes during club days to ensure students have 80 minutes of club time at the end of the day.  “I believe we should have more club days, but then at the same time we have less class time, so I feel like I wouldn’t be learning as much if we had more club days,” said seventh grader Kiran Houri, a member of the Foreign Language in Film Club. `Mr. Hagy has proposed more club time next year by meeting with clubs once a month for lunch, in addition to the hopeful once-a-month meeting on a Week 2 schedule. But is 40 more minutes a month enough to allow students and teachers all they want to accomplish in their clubs?

Of course, other schools hold their clubs at the end of the day so that it doesn’t interfere with class time.  However, this is a problem for Benjamin because TBS mandates a sport requirement.  As a result, many students aren’t available after school as they are fulfilling their sports requirements by participating in practice or a game right after school.  Students are also required to join a club each year, so what’s the solution?

“I don’t like [the amount of club days] because I like my club, and I wish we had more club days,”  commented seventh grader Lexi Balduzzi, who is part of the Yoga Club.  Again, clubs are supposed to meet once a month, and Mr. Hagy has admitted that the current system is flawed. “Club days are scheduled, roughly, once a month,” Mr. Hagy said.  “In order to give the kids the best experience possible [with their clubs], we need more [club] days.”

The amount of club days we have had this year made some students upset that the clubs they signed up for only got to meet a few times.  “I don’t think it’s fair for us to sign up for clubs if we’re not going to go,” said seventh grader Dazzy Capre, a member of the Sewing Club.  One problem with the lack of club days we have had is “the fact the some clubs actually require them to meet a lot to get stuff done,” explained Odyssey of the Mind member Scott Pignataro.  Clubs like Odyssey of the Mind, Art, TV Broadcasting etc. need multiple club days to learn, refine, and produce work that is both meaningful and productive.