The new principal of Rock Island High School, Dr. Patty Ulrich has administered a new policy in which there is no longer any Pride Time. Pride Time was a system where students could sign up on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays to go see another teacher for homework help or test retakes and makeups. With the new change, if students need to see another teacher in order to retake or take a test, or to get help with homework, they now must receive permission from both their homeroom teacher and the teacher that they are going to see. Dr. Ulrich said that this new policy was introduced because “I want to gear it (homeroom) more towards student goals and student reflection on their goals, developing student’s six year plan.” Dr Ulrich also stated, “I didn’t want to start the year with any kind of chaos happening.”
Dr. Ulrich also stated that she wants “to create something where students are more engaged, and they’re learning, and where it is more college and career focused.” The principal also mentioned that she wants all students to leave Rocky with a plan of what they want to do in the future, and create a more engaging classroom by getting rid of Pride Time. She said, “I think that part of our job is to make sure that kids leave here feeling like they have the tools to be successful in the world.” Dr. Ulrich also believes that this new policy is helping with student engagement in classes.
Teachers, however, are still making the adjustment to the lack of Pride Time. Mrs. Vroman, a chemistry teacher at Rocky, and others, have had some difficulties with the lack of Pride Time. “There has been a couple of teachers that were pushing back and not letting kids come, so they had to come after school,” Vroman said. Mrs. Vroman also believes that only having a homeroom makes it easier to check her students’ grades, and also to engage more with her homeroom class. Mrs. Vroman believes that homeroom could be successful, but not every day. “I think homeroom could be successful, too, if they allow for study hall days. We’re not constantly doing a curriculum with the kids.”
Overall, the lack of Pride Time has helped students be more engaged in class, and is helping them to develop a plan. However, it is also hindering them because it is making it more difficult to take tests and get help from other teachers.
